Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-24
ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
MATTER FOR THE YOUNG.
Johnnie's Oration--More Vanity
Than PatrlotIsm--A Funny
Problem--A Plea for City
Play Grounds.
JohnnIe,s Grafton.

Johnnie?" asked school-boy.
mo-" said John.
"Well, / have. You'd better hurry
up"
"Pshawl what's the use?" asked
John. "You see a speech for Friday
isn't just like lessons that a fellow
ought to learn. Ever so many things
may happen, so that shan't have to
speak at all. Visitors may come in,
or some other boy may recite some
thing real long, so that there won't be
time for me. shan't bother. Maybe
I'll go out into the country that day,
and then if learned anythingit would
be OF no use, I'll wait till the time
comes"
John waited, but he did not go to
the country, and the other boys chose
short declarations, and Friday
morning was so cloudy that there was
no prospect of company. At noon
John was in a a state of desperation.
He flew here and there about the
house in search OF something that
would answer his purpose. Uncle
Jack gave him a book OF old dialogues
and orations, but before he could
learn more than line or two it was
school-time.
The others spoke, but John listened
without hearing much, and when his
own name was called he walked across
the floor with a very bewildered feel
ing. Then, staring at the ceiling, he
leaned against post in the centre OF
the room. Mr.. Gray would not accept
excuses; John knew that perfectly.
He put his hands in his pockets and
looked at the boys, pulled them out
again and looked at the clock; then
he began confusedly:
"My name is Norval. On the Gram
plan hills-my name is Norval. On
the Grampian hills my father feeds
his-his-name is Norval."
"Runs in the family, that name
does" slyly whispered a boy near him.
The others began to laugh, for they all
knew how grandly John had talked OF
not taking any trouble.
Mr. Gray began to look curiously
over his glasses, and John knew that
something must be done; so he sudden
ly said: az don't know much about
Norval, but / know something about
industry, so I'll talk about that:
Industry is good thing to have;
it's better than luck. If a boy just
trusts to luck, it may not turn out as
he expects, and then he gets
into the trouble. If a boy is
real industrious, and gets ready for
things, why-he's ready. If the man
that invented the telegraphing had
waited for luck, l don't suppose
there'd have have been any messages
sent yet. Boys be industrious; get
ready for things beforehand, and
don't wait till the time comes"
John bowed and sat down, and the
boys applauded heartily.
Mr.. Gray who did not understand
the matter so well, hesitated a mo-
ment, but finally said:
"This address seems to be original,
and l suppose we must Judge it leni-
emily on that account, though it is
very imperfectly prepared. There is
some valuable truth in it, however,
which the speaker himself may profit
by. whatever is worth do
ing at all, is worth doing
we'll" Or, rather" he added, more
seriously, "there is better motto
still that l should like to give you.
Whatsoever We do, do it heartily as
unto the Lord, and not unto men,
That will prevent all shams and care
less work"
The boys thought John had escaped
wonderfully well; but he was certain
of one thing-that if he had not learn
ed any thing to recite, he had learned
something else that day.-Kate w.
Hamilton in Nashville Christian Adj
vocate.