The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-03-09

HOW THE TAX WAS PAID.
And W nv Johnnie Browns Mother Think
Her hoy VIII Make = Man.
The Brown'swerc rather poor. They
lived in their own small house. but
you will guess that il was not much 81
4 place when tell you that the tax on
II was just two dollars. Widow Brown
lived py washing for her richer neigh
bors. and supported her two children.
Johnnie and Daisy.
Last year Johnnie. being past ten
years old. aud u strong boy. under.
took 10 pay the tax himself The bill
came in November. and was due about
the middle Of December. Johnnie had
been saving every penny he could
earn. and had already eighty -scveu
cents put away in a tins old
pewter pitcher on the high
shelf OF the cupboard He had.
moreover. a job on hand that wa.
likely to last long enough TO make up
The whole sum. Deacon DcWitts old
storchouse had been pulled down. and
was TO be rebuilt on the opposite side
Of the road. and there was a grca, pile
Of bricks to he moved over. and john
ME was moving them IN his own little
wooden cart Back and forth. back
and forth he went in the mornings be
fore school hours. and after school was
out at night. his wooden wheels creak.
creaking under their load. the pile o.
bricks steadily growing smaller on
one side Of the road and larger on tho
other. and the pile OF nickels and pen
mics as steadily increasing.
There were two mornings IN eacl
week that Johnnie could not work;
the days that bis mother vas away a
her washing he must stay at home and
take care Of little Dasg. So he hat
but four working days in each week
The mornings grew shorter ant
colder. December came in. and tn
air was frosty to Johnnic's % wher
he put Il out the door before the SUI
was up. aud the bricks were frosty t
his fingers. and they wore out his init
tens 80 fast that there was nearly al
WAYS n hole in them. and Johnnie
ardor began to cool. and he cuddlc'
down under the blankets for ION
more little snooze'' 50 many morning
that it began to be doubtful about tn
tax moncy being ready in time Ever
night he worked as late as his wothe
would allow him e. stay out, and wen
in resolving to be up and At IL earl.
next morning; and the next morning
his ardor was.as cool as the weather
and he couldn't seem to get il rekin
died until the sun was well up.
"What shall IDIOT make myself &c
M the minute 1 wakeY Ma ! wis
You would make me-" he often said.
And The wise little mother rs ofieI
replied: You'll never be . man unles
you make yourself do the right things
my Johnnie! I'm not going TO pu
you out Of bed mornings. and you pa
ten. and the only ma about III
housed"
And then johnnie would beat h
knees with his fists and say: II ciil
TWILL get up!'
And perhaps the next morning !
would. but after that fell back into n
old way again. And the days wei
BIZ steadily. and the money wasn't %
cumulaiing fast enough
II guess YOU won't manage to 2
Il all, johnnie" said his mother on
evening. II shall have 10 save
quarter or 50 10 make il up"
And Johnnie felt rather than heal
IN tho words a shado II disrespcct 4
sri,c only man about the house."
How many days are there K
before tax-dayF'' he asked.
Only six that you can work" :
piled his mother.
Only SIKH repeated Johnnl
!. sOnly six! didn't think Il was qui
10 ncar. why won't you let me 81
; out longer nights. maj"
: You do stay out about ~ long
YOU can zee. I don't think Il i b
for o % b. out after dark. X
. may get up in tho morning ~ early
YOU choose. but evenings you must
} IN tho house"
) Johnnie went 20 bed that night
. rather low spirits. He feared bis b
efforts would not now make up
thnsc lost morning hours. Hc wax
. very carly next morning. and jump
. out OF bed without 4 minutes deli
d ~. -. h~olldrossod hcforc ho djsC.