The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-15
WHAT JOHNNIE DID.
ASTORY or NOW HE PROVED HIM.
SELF Il MANLY Dor.
Little Bits for the Juniors-How They
Make Dolls In Parls-Our Puzzies-A
Letter From the Literary Editor.

lived In their own small house, but you
Will guess that 1t was not much of a
place when l tell you that the tax on II
was Just two dollars.
Widow Brown lived by washing for her
richer neighbors, and supported her TWO
children, Johnnie and Daisy
Last year Johnnie. being past ten years
old. and a strong boy, undertook to 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
seven cents put away In tiny old pew
ter pitcher on the high shelf of the cup
board.
He had. moreover, a job on hand that
was likely to last long enough 10 make
up the whole sum. Deacon DeWitts old
stof ehouse had been pulled down, and was
to he rebuilt on the opposite side OF the
| road and there was a great pile OF bricks
| TO be moved over. and Johnnie was NOV
ing them in his own little wooden cart.
! Back and forth, back and forth, he
went in the mornings before school hours
| and after school was out at night, his
wooden wheels creak. creaking under
|
| growing smaller on one side OF the road.
| and larger on the other. and the pile of
| nlckels and pennies as steadily increas-
ing.
There were two mornings in each week
that Johnnie could not work; the days
that his mother was away at her washing
he must stay at home and take care OF
little Daisy So he had but four working
days in each week
The mornings grew shorter and colder
December came In, and the air was frosty
to Johnnes nose when he put 1t out at
the door before the sun was up, and the
bricks were frosty to his fingers, ana
they wore out his mittens so fast that
there was nearly always hole in them,
and Johnnie's ardor began TO cool, and |
he cuddled down under the blankets for |
zone more little snooZe" 80 many morn |
ipgs that ii began to be doubtful about !
the tax money being ready In time.
Every night he worked as late as his |
mother would allow him TO stay out. and |
went I'm resolving to be up and at it early
next morning; and the next morning his
ardOr was as cool as the weather, and he
couldn't seem to get it rekindled till the
sun was well up.
what shall ] do TO make myself get
up the minute l awake? Ma, l wish you
would make me-" he often said.
And the wise little mother as often re-
Piled you'll never be a man unless you
make yourself do the right things, my
Johnnie. I'm not going to pull you out
of bed mornings and you past ten, and
the only man about the house"
And then Johnnie would beat his knees
with his fists, and say: II will, / will get
up!'
And perhaps the next morning he would
but after that fell back into the old way
nj ba HoN hV ST.
and the money wasn't accommodating fast
enough.
IL guess you won't manage to get II all.
Johnnie" his mother said one evening.
II shall have to save quarter or so to
make it up
And Johnnie felt rather than heard in
the words a shade of dlsrespect for "the
only man about the house"
How many days are there left before
tax-day?" he asked.
"Only six that you can work" replied
his mother.
"Only six! repeated Johnnie. "Only
six, | didn't think 1t was quite so near.
Why won't you let me stay out longer :
nights. Map"
"You do stay out about as long as you ,
Fan see. ] don't think II is best for you ,
10 be out after dark. You may get UP in Z
The morning as early as you choose. but
=
Johnnie went TO bed that night I'm rather (
ow spirits. He feared his best efforts q
would not now make up for those lost I
hours. b
He walked very early next morning, and \
Jumped out of bed without a minutes 5
leay. lie was half dressed before he [
discovered that II was not daylight that II
hone in at his little window up under the c
oof, but the light OF the old moon just !
Using in the east.
II don't care! Ma says / may get up G
s early as l choose, and II | get those
wo dollars ready I've got to get up terri "a
lie early. I'm going to work If tbs only o
he said d.
The clock struck as he came down
ito the kitchen and felt for his boots y
ehind the stove. He found cap and nit v,
Ems, and crept softly out. n
1.-THE old moon doesn't give very big :
ebt." he muttered between his chatter -
lg teeth. "but guess / can see TO move
ricks."
He ran down to the Dewitt corner with
Is little cart creaking behind him, and
IL 10 work so vigorously that he was
ION warm enough. y
When the deacon came and counted the y
ers OF bricks that night, his eyes twin
ed as he picked out the nickes from his &
Irse and he said: Il guess you didn't :,
: abed this morning, sonny CT
And Johnnie. laughing. answered, mo, al
RI" and ran home and dropped his money
to the pewter pitcher with triumphant q
ink. Of
Six mornings saw Johnnie at work ter
BILE early" as he had said, and the even III
& before tax-day he poured out and RI
united his earnings. and they amounted /.
two dollars and one cent. vi
The next day he went and paid his tax nj
Re a man. He brought the receipt and
Id 1t in his mothers lap, and he knew. BY
the glow of her cheek and the light In co
r eye, that she was pleased and proud.
ough she only said: you'll make a Cd
IN, my Johnnie!"-Joy Allison. an
on