The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-09
Our 4ops ano Girls.
Positive Johnnie.


His name was Johnnie Raymond,
but his friends called him " Positive
Johnnie" He never guessed " or
supposed =" or believed" O, mol
He was always sure he kne1C, and was
very persistent in his knowledge. He
was very frequently wrong in his asser-
tons, and each one was falsehood,
although not purposely made.
We should be positive when we are
in the right, and especially about mat
tiers connected with our personal and
spiritual welfare; but to be too positive,
when we are in the wrong, is not com
mendable.
Where is the chisel?" asked papa.
g In the tool-box," replied Johnnie;
4 saw the handle sticking out this
morning"
guess not, Johnnie. l just now
looked in the tool-boX.n
L tell you | know it is there" af-
lirmed Johnnie; = | saw the handle of
ii sticking out"
Then go get it,, ordered papa.
Johnnie came back little crestfallen.
" 1t wasn't the handle of the chisel
| saw, but of screw-driver," he said.
" Maybe it would be best not always
to be so sure" suggested papa, with
grim smile.
The next morning his mother took
him to task for 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.
" | wasn't in the garden yesterday"
declared Johnnie.
" But who else left the gate open?"
asked mamma.
" don't know" was Johnnie's re-
ply. s. wasn't in the garden yester-
day l am just as sure of that as that l
am standing here"
Then his Aunt Mary spoke up:
Johnnie, you were in the garden
yesterday afternoon" she quietly said;
/" saw you"
why, wasn't, and you didn't"
he sharply insisted 9 Don't l know?
1t was some other day"
" You went in to see if there wasn't
RABBIT in the old pump-stock, lying
among the currant bushes" reminded
Aunt Mary.
That's sol" admitted Johnnie,
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 railroad
station and back-tive miles distant.
"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 to come this afternoon
to 90 chestnutting," Johnnie said
You know the trees are on the bluff
on the other side of the station. Well,
| went over with the bag and clubs to
meet him, but when the train steamed
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"
SO. but it is" replied Johnnie, with
emphasis. :" Don't know what day he
named in his letter? This is Wednes-
day, isn't ito"
Yes" assented Jennie.
$50 | thought. Well, he named
Wednesday. didn't like to be fooled
in this way. had the long walk for
nothing, and didn't want to 90 for
chestnuts by myself"
Are you sure Chester said Wednes-
day?" Jennie slyly asked.
80, fudge" cried Johnnie. "Of
course am sure. You shall not say
that I'm overposilive this time"
Johnnie" slowly remarked Jennie
you dropped the letter on the porch
when you started for the station. l
picked it up and glanced at it, to know
whose it was. There it is on the clock
shelf. Chester says in it that he would
come on Thursday, and that is to.
morrow"
johnnie read the letter and found
that Jennie was right
How stupid I've beenl" he NUT.
tered"
"And how positive! reminded Jen
ne.'
Eyes, gravely confessed Johnnie
though his face grew very red. 81
said wasn't overpositive, but it seem;
S | was. I'll just quit being so SURE
- about things. I'll say likely, Oh
- maybe, or perhaps I'll not say
, know but i think or believe o.
presume Then III not make foo
of myself so often, just to be merci
lessly twitted about it,"
! Johnnie tried to reform, and sue
ceeded at last, though he found it NJ
. easy task.
5 My little friend, are you an over
positive boy or girl? If so, try to prof
by Johnne's experience. Frank II
Stauter