The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18
Johnny Boys Essay.
BY HELEN DAVIS.

Johnny Boys teacher told the pupils In
Johnny's class to each write an essay of
300 words on the subject 1.-The Last Day
of School and Its Importance"
ITS dreadful long-300 words" unused
Johnny Boy. But If l must tackel it,
here goes
Then he settled himself uneomfortably
at his desk, and touching the point of
his pencil to his tongue, he began to
write: 'The last day of school is a very,
very CRATE day
Getting this far, he paused for want of
another idea. He read over what he had
written three times, and each time be
felt glad that he had used the word
very" twice. 1t made the essay longer,
and length was what he wanted. He
hdgeted about in his seat, again mols-
tened his pencil point on his tongue and
resumed: THE reason | like the last
day Of school to close Is because | won't
have to come to 1t any more for a long,
long, long time.
All, that writing the word ''long" three
times was tremendous stFokel How
became deeply interested, now that the
work progressed so rapidly. Again he
set to work and added to what he had
on nice, nice, nice, nice days, along with
the other kids. II | hatch fish, | hope
they Will be great big, big, big, big, pig
WhhppefS, Tor L reel as IL ! could eat
dozen fried whales this mint"
Johnny Boy lifted his pencil from the
paper and ran over what he had written.
GOOD nough! he ,chuekled. Then. he
looked across the aisle at Tim Sanders,
who seemed struggling with his thoughts,
for he sat kicking his heel against the
foot of the seat, his eye cooked up to-
tAtch a glimpse Of the literary muse muse in
Its smoky surface He was busy chewing
the rubber end OF his pencil and did not
youngster was trying to catch his atteu-
tion. Not daring to be outdone Johnny
wrote on corner OF his convbook this
question: How many words have you
wrote Tim?' and tore off the piece of
writing, bit It into a compact Ball and
tossed It into Tins lap when the teacher
was not looking.
Tins eye came from the ceiling and
perused the erumpled note. Turning TO-
ward Johnny he mieked and held up seven
fingers.
lily that he was almost caught In the
act by teacher, who at that moment
faced about. But he Immediately be-
came serious and pursued his work.
II will be powerful, powerful, powerful,
powerful, powerful happy. | will not
only go fishing but | will go swimming
W water err what looks 50 butiful, butlfnl,
bntiful,, butiful, butiful, butiful' butt
full"
John Seottl what do you mean oy
writing the words cool and beautiful In
such numbers? And see how you've
spelled beautiful, too. What do you
mean, sir7''
1t was Teachers voice that broke on
his ear from over his shoulder. He
started and lay his hand guiltily over
his writing. He was caught, thenl And
1t made him nervous to be thus taken
unawares. Teacher had this habit of
slipping upon a fellow without warning
and 1t was unpleasant to be disturbed
In ones thoughts. Surely, when one was
Composing one ought to be allowed
certain liberty, and If one wanted to
employ a number of adjectives to ex-
press an idea strongly one should not be
questioned about 1t. Besides, adtectiYes
did not belong TO any certain individual
since dead and had willed his big book
of words to any one who saw Mt to use
It. So thought Johnny Boy as ne held
his pndgy hand, with unkept nails ana
a number of warts on it,. over the essay.
well" said teacher, why don't you
answer me? Remove your hand from
that writing"
Johnny Boy drew his hand away and
Teacher deliberately read aloud what he
had written. The school paid attention
as II always does In case OF this kind
and after Teacher had emphasized the
repented adjectives, with due regard for