The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-08-24
JOHNNY's POOR RULE.

lOI SOiutLiiIc W lcteNeF ne WAS dSkbu 10 uO
anything he did not exactly-want to.
And when be once began yielding TO the
inclination to refuse obliging people, it was
astonishing how the tendency increased to
do less and less to help others.
%Johnny's kind parents did all they could
to make him happy, and his m es-
pecially tried every way she could think
of, to show the little boy how wrong and
selfish it was to want only to please him.
self. No matter whether little sister Mat
tie had a good time or not, Johnny didn't
care, as long as he enjoyed himself, and no
matter how tired mamma was, Johnny
never could be made to feel it was his duty
to help her.
And things went On from bad to worse.
until actual disobedienee began, which
was so promptly punished that Johnny
made up his mind it was no use to try
breaking rules, but he went as far as he
could without mourning punishment.
On night, Mr.. James came home and
found his wife very much discouraged.
And to his kind inquiries as to what
troubled her, she said it seemed impossi-
BILE to make Johnny do right. She had
coaxed and punished him; she had read to
HIM from the Bible showing how God
hated disobedience, aud a naughty, unwil-
ling disposition; had read and told him
stories of children who were not kind and
obliging, but it was of no use, Johnny
pouted and muttered, and only obeyed
when spoken sternly to and obliged to.
She had told him three times through
the day to &c to the post office, and he de-
clared he had forgotten it; and when seut
for a dozen eggs, he had managed to care
lessly break three, and didn't seem in the
least sorry.
Well said Mr.. James, I'll talk to
johnny
That evening he took Johnny and said
in a very kind but decided way:
Now my boy, your mother and | have
tried every way we could, properly, to
make you a good boy, but as all our efforts
have seemed to fail thus far, | think we
must try a new plan. Did you ever hear
it said, Johnny, that it's a poor rule that
won't work both ways?'
No, Johnny had never heard of that.
We'll, now that MEANS explained his
father, that il is a poor rule which will do
for one person, but won't do for another.
For instance, how do you think it would
do for mamma and me to treat you as you
treat us? Suppose we disregard Your wants,
forget to do what you ask us and forget or
neglect to treat you politely or with kind.
ness, how do you think it you'd do?'
Don't know said Johnny sullenly.
Very WE'LL continued papa, now
warn you, my little son, that hereafter we
may try what seems to be your rule, and
if it doesn't please you, why there'll be
only yourself to blame
This talk set Master Johnny to thinking,
and all the next day he took care to do as
he was told, and really avoided any direct
naughtiness. But bad habits are not easily
conquered, and the second morning after
the talk, papa called to him before break
fast and asked him to so and get a morn
ing paper just in the next street.
Cant Matte go?' he whined, Iain't got
my boots on
Put them on then,' said papa. 'Iwant
you to go. not Matte
His papa heard the muttering and fling
ing of things around so customary when
Johnny was displeased, and the moments
went gliding by until the breakfast bell
r.ng, and no Johnny had appeared.
Just as all were seated at the table, a
eross-faced boy appeared, and seeing break
fast all stcaming on the table he asked
fretfully:
Cant | so for the paper after break
fast?'
No. said papa. in get it myself after
breakfast
Johnny looked satisfied and went direct
ly to the table.
why, where's my plate?' he whined
again, and my napkin, and
oh we didn't feel like giving you any
breakfast said papa, in so surly a tone
that Johnny looked at him in surprise.
I want my breakfast dreadful! said
Johnny half crying.
well, you can't nave it if you do! |
don't feel like working all day just to get
breakfasts and dinners and suppers for a
little boy who never feels like doing any
thing for anybody bnt himself, SO run away
and don't bother us.
But there's milk toast and omelet, my
two favorites.' said Johnny really crying.
WELL, so there was a speech from my
fayorite speaker in the morning paper,
said papa; but I've had to do without it,
It's a poor rule that won't work both ways,
my boy, so now go into the library at once.
Johnny thought there never was such an
abused boy as he, when he was actually
| obliged to make his breakfast ON a slice o.
bread or nothing at all, but the lesson
proved a good one, for Johnny remember
cd it for some time; then he began falling
into the same trying old habits again.
Papa asked him to weed the flower plot
one morning, but at night he said he had
| forgotten it. Mamma asked him TO please
| stay in the house with Matte, Wednesday
| afternoon, because she had a cold and