The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-20
Positive Johnnie.

supposed" or "believed." Oh, no
He was always sure he knew, and
was very persistent in his knowledge.
He was very frequently wrong in his
assertions. and each one was false
hood, although not purposely made.
We should he positive when we are
in the right, and especially about mat
ters connected with our personal and
spiritual welfare; but to be too posi-
tive, when we are in the wrong, is not
so commendable.
"Where is the chisel ?" asked papa.
an the tool l.boX," replied Johnnie ;
81 saw the handle sticking out this
morning."
II guess not, Johnnie. I just now
looked in the tool-boX."
II tell you, know it is there" af-
firmed Johnnie; II saw the handle OF
it sticking out"
"rhen 60 get it," ordered papa. .
Johnnie came back little crest-fall-
at wasn't the handle of the chisel l
saw, but of the screw-driver," he said.
MAYBE it would be best not always
to be so sure" suggested papa, with a
grim smile.
The next morning his mother took
him to task for a piece of negligence.
The garden-gate had been left open,
the evening before, and the cow had
entered the garden and eaten several
of the finest heads Of cabbage.
IL wasn't in the garden yesterday"
declared Johnnie.
but who else left the gate open ?'
asked mamma.
II don't know" was Johnnie's re-
ply. II wasn't in the garden yester-
day. am just as sure of that as that
/ am standing here"
Then his Aunt Mary spoke up:
Johnnie, you were in the garden
yesterday afternoon" she quietly said ;
II saw YOU"
why, I wasn't, and you didn't"
he sharply insisted. Don't l know
1t was some other day"
"You went in to see if there wasn't
a rabbit in the old pump-stock, lying
among the currant bushes" remained
Aunt Mary.
That's So" admitted Johnnie, a
little tardily.
. The next afternoon he came home
considerably out of humor. He flung
his hat aside and wiped his hot face.
He had just walked over to the rail
road station and back-a distance of
five miles.
"I'll not put my faith again in any
thing that Cousin Chester says" he
announced, in an irritated outburst.
"Why, what has Chester done?"
asked his sister Jennie, as she stopped
in the middle of the room, brush and
dustpan in hand.
'He promised 10 come this after
noon, to go chestnutting," Johnnie
said. "iou know the trees are on the
bluff, Oh the other side of the station.
Well, 1 went over with bag and clubs
to meet him, but when the train steam
ed up, he wasn't on it,"
"Maybe he missed the train" sug-
gested Jennie, "or is sick, or perhaps
this isn't the day he named"
"Oh, but it is" replied Johnnie,
with emphasis. Don't know what
day he named in his letter? This is
Wednesday, isn't it?"
Yes" assented Jennie.
$50 / thought. Well, he named
Wednesday. don't like to be fooled
in this way. I had the long walk for
nothing, and didn't want to go for
chestnuts by myself"
Are you sure Chester said Wednes-
day?" Jennie slyly asked.
"Oh, fudgen' cried Johnnie. "Of
course am sure. You shall not say
that I'm over-positive this time"
Johnnie" slowly remarked Jennie,
"you dropped the letter on the porch
when you started for the station.
picked it up and glanced at it, to know
whose it was. There 1t is Oh the clock
shelf. Chester says in it that he would
come Oh Thursday, and that is to-mor-
row."
Johnnie read the letter and found
that Jennie was right.
"How stupid Ive been ~ he NUT.
tered.
"And how positive ~ reminded Jen.
ME.
YES" gravely confessed Johnnie,
though his face grew very red. ~
said L wasn't over-positive, but it seems
I was. I'll just quit being so sure
about things. I'll say 'likelv,' or
maybe or perhaps I'll not say Il
know but Il think or 'believe,' or
presume. Then I'll not make fool
Of myself so often, just to I've merciless.
Iy twitted about it."
Johnnie tried to reform and succeed.