The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-11-05
The Slander is Being Circulated in Printed
Form in Many Places Throughout
the State.
Mr.. Johnsou's Life History an Inspiration to
Every Poor and Unfortu-
nate Boy.

Sweden. She was an orphan and her
girlhood had been filled with bitter
sorrow and desperate struggle. In the
company of friends she reached Chica-
so about 1852, and after living there
for a year she went to St. Peter. In
1856 she met johnson and they We're
married in 1858. She knew nothing Of
his early reputation, nor did anybody
in st. Peter save the Evensons, who,
believing that he was trying to reform,
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
smith shop. Business was good and
the couple We're very happy for about
three years, when, on the ground that
he would be able to earn better liv-
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
Johnsons bought very modest home
in the outskirts of the town.
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 saloon, spent his earnings
for liquor, and added to these neglect
of his family, which soon began to suf-
fer 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 morose, even cruel. The children
feared him and were not willingly in
sight when he was ut home, particu-
larly if he had been drinking harder
than usual
Things drifted along in this way for
several years, the husband and father
going steadily from bad to worse, and
the condition of the family, as a natu-
raj consequence, becoming more despe-
rate 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 town, without means of paying,
and seemed to have lost all his ambi-
ti0n. Finally he disposed Of his inter-
est in the shop to man who had been
his partner, receiving 5000 in cash.
This money he put in his pocket and
suddenly left town, not even advising
his family of his plans or saying good
bye to his wife.
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. This she
was disnclined to do for during his alb
sence the family had lifted itself to a
plane of relative comfort and indepen-
dcnce. 1t was the fall of the year. Sew
| cral cords of wood had been laid away
for winter, there was a COW in the
small stable, with enough hay for the
winter feed, there were chickens in 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, for
after he had gone, the neighbors and
friends collected food in baskets and
articles Of clothing and took them to
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,
bravely resolved to become the bread
winner and so she began to do washing
and ironing in the village. Her second
son John, then ~ years Of age, begged
that he might quit school and assist
her. She at last consented, although
with great deal Of reluctance. She
was afraid that 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. What he since has been able
to secure in the way Of an education
he picked up at night, through deter