The Arizona sentinel., 1886-06-19
JOHNNY'S VICTORY.

He Remembered Just in the Nick of
 Time, and Stood Bravely at His Post. Johnny was all alone in the house, rocking baby Lulu to sleep, and the big tears were rolling, one by one, over his red cheeks, and down his straight little nose, with alarming per- tinacity. He wasn't crying! no, not for the world would he acknowledge that he was crying. But what was the matter?
 Johnny was the "best boy in the world, so his mamma said, and I'm sure she ought to know if anybody should; and ever since God took his papa home to Heaven, mamma would leave little Lulu in Johnny care while she went out to fit the ladies' dresses for them. And then, when she came home, he always had such a bright, cheery fire in the winter time; and in the summer would run and draw a clear, cold glass of water when she came in tired and warm.
 Mamma was gone now, and Johnny had been rocking baDy long, long time, it seemed to hls tired little arms. But that wasn't the cause of the trouble-oh no! He didn't mind that one bit. Let us follow Johnny's gaze. Away down at the end of the street, right on the square, but almost hid by the thick foliage of the naples that line each side of the street, we see what? A great awkward form, that looks ike-can it be?-an elephant! And then, we are sure-those are camels, we can sec their humps. And that group (the people crowd so we can't half see)-that must be the dear little ponies! and oh, the monkeys!
 Johnny's mamma had said that he might go and see the procession that morning it was show that had come to the village; but she thought she would have time to go and alter Miss Meriweather' basque for her be- fore the procession would start. So here Johnny sat, rocking the baby, in- stead of making one of that merry crowd of boys and girls watching the procession down at the end of the street.
 Now, don't give our little boy too much credit. His first impulse, when her he hsaEs sf ahay ths mHy0 KKgs KKggs S Rat 6RY her in the crib. when he remembered. Then he cried aloud: Mamma, O mammal in real agony. But Miss Meriweather's house was quite five blocks away, and mamma couldn't have walked home fast enough for him still to go, even if she had heard that poor little cry. And, with that dis tracted music sounding in his ears, aud the dim shapes of those wOndrous creatures from another world just visi- ble, what wonder that the tears rolled down his fresh little face, wink bravely as he might to keep them back.
 1 said that Johnny remembered; and just in the nick of time, too. Indeed, if it had not been for his remembering, I doubt if he would have stood so bravely at his post. But first l must tell you little secret; and, as all this happened so long ago, l don't think Johnny will care. The very top pin nacle of Johnny's ambition and happi- ness was to be a soldier. His dear papa knew about this desire of his heart, and not long before he died he talked with Johnny about it, and said: ''Son, remember, a soldier must never finch, but stand like a rock at his post. :" These words had taken deep hold on Johnny's young mind, and so it was he remembered; but oh, it was so hard! He was soldier, he was at his post, and stand he must, like rock. And so he did, brave little hero!
 The gay parade and the bewitching music are gone now, and mamma comes in, all flushed with walking so rapidly. She takes in all at glance; the brave little face that would not cry, the sleeping baby. She quietly takes baby and puts her in the crib; then (wise mother) she lifts her soldier in her arms, and, in mothers lap, he no longer tries to check his tears, but, close to that loving heart, sobs it all out.
 Look up, little captain! Dry your tears-put on your brightest smile; for you have played nobler, braver part than if you had marched at the head of regiment and captured a city!- Edna SheLdraEe, ts s. s. Times.