The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-31
THE TRUE STORY OF
John A. JOHNSON
Continued from First Page.

The EVenSOnS were encouraged, anu SO
were his relatives and former friends at
home. There seemed to be no reason
to doubt that he was now to. develop
into an honorable and useful citizen.
1t was in this period of comparative
soberness that the woman who after
Sweden. She was an orphan and her
girlhood had been filed with bitter
sorrow and desperate struggle: In the
company of friends, she reached Chi
cago about 1852, and after living there
for a year she went to st: Peter. In,
1856 she met johnson and they. were
married in 1858. She. knew nothing OF
his early reputation, nor did anybody
in St. Peter save the Eversons, who,
believing that he was trying to re-
form, naturally felt disposed to shield
him.
After the wedding Johnson took his
wife into the country few miles from
the village, and here he opened black
the couple were very happy FOR about
three years, when, on the ground that
he would be able to earn better llv-
ing in town, and thus provide more
-abundantly for his family, he returned
to st. Peter.
The three years spent in the country
had shown a small margin OF financial
profit, and with these savings the John
sons bought a very modest home in the
OUTSKIRTS OF the town.
Old Habits Return.
With the return to town trouble be-
gan The drink habit was stronger
than perhaps even johnson had sus-
pected. He again sought companion
ship in the saloons, spent his earnings
for liquor, and added to these neglect
of his family, which soon began to
suffer for the actual necessities of life.
The children had begun to arrive with
rather noticeable regularity, and in his
contact with them johnson was sullen
and a mor9se, even cruel: The children n
sight when he was at home, partlcu-
larly if he had been drinking harder
than usual
Things drifted along in this way for
several years, the husband and father
The condition of the family, as natural
consequence, becoming more desperate
and pitiable. Johnson was seldom seen
in his shop, and when there, he was
usually unfit for work. He was in debt
to many Of the business men of the
seemed to have lost all his ambition.
Finally he disposed of his interest in the
shop to Il man who had been his part
Der, receiving 5000 in cash. This
denly left town, not even advising his
family of his plans or saying goodbye to
his wife.
Deserted His Family.
The 5000 which he took with him
kept him up for almost a year, with
what he could pick up in the way of odd
bits of work, but when his funds were
all gone he returned home, begging his
good wife to take him in in: This she 81
absence the family had lifted itse i to
plane Of relative comfort and indie
pendence. 1t was the fall of the year.
Several cords of wood had been laid
away for winter, there was cow in the
small stable, with enough hay for the
yard, and the mother and five children
were comfortably clothed. This was in
marked contrast with the situation at
the time Of Johnson's departure, fol
after he had gone, the neighbors and
articles of clothing, and took them tc
the house in such quantities as to re-
lieve the immediate and pressing de
mands. Mrs. Johnson, determined that
she would keep her children together
winner, and so she began to do washing
andironing in the village. Her second so1
John, then II years of age, begged thai
he might quit school and assist her. She
at last consented, altho with a great
deal of reluctance. She was afraid thai
if the boy were to quit school he would
never return, and this fear was fully
justified, for John did not have any
Schooling after this time. y What h
since has been able to secure in thu
night, thru determination to lift him
self as high as possible above his earl,
environment.
Young Son Quits School.
So, the mother consenting, John qui
school and went to work in a genera
store at ST. Peter at $40 month, ever,
cent of which he turned into the famil,
treasury. When not busy at the store
he might have been seen wheeling has
kets of laundry back and forth between
his home and the homes of the neigh
bors. In this way he lightened the loa
on the mother 8 heart and made himsel
indispensable in the little home. TIL
earnings Of mother and son were suff
cient to keep the pot boiling, and thu
it happened that when the father re
turned, after his year of wandering, h
found the family in fairly comfortabl
circumstances.
Whether to take him back or not tn
poor woman did not know, but he az
pealed very earnestly, with promises O
and moreover agreed to contribute regr
larly each week SIS toward defrayin
the household expenses. In momen
of weakness Mrs, Johnson yielded
She thought possibly that her husband
promises were to be lived up to, and sh
knew that if this were to happen, he
son could return to school.
Johnson gave his wife SIS to cover tn
first week 8 expenses, and this is a
s$S9 that she ever secured from him. H
began again to frequent the saloons, an
to look up his former companions. Hi
family was neglected and soon in abst
lutte want, Johnson compelling his wifi
and son to divide their small earning
with him, that he might satisfy his az
petite for liquor. But enough of tha
sad story which has been told in bar
outline and only SO far as has SCENE
- necessary. ...
Of course, the family again suffered
and the neighbors were again compelle
to help supply it with food and clothin;
These contributions from the on
side, added to the earnings of tn
mother and son, kept the husband an
father at home all winter. In til
spring he seemed to lose all desire to /
with his family, and spent his days an
nights with his boon companions, a sa
victim of an irresistible appetit
Meanwhile. the mother. gave birth I
twins, girls, and it was then that tt
father s last Pickering CLEAN of 10y
for his family showed ITSELF Il
called at the house few days aft,
had been there for many months, ar
asked if he might come in and see thel
He was met at the door by one Of tt