The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-13
0URB0YSANDG GIRLS
Johnny.Jum
by Maud Walker.

eOIl tdftn, out as the April rains Aal
given him such soaking, and tillel
him to bursting with water, he hal
found 1t expedient to unwrap him
self. to thrust his threadlike feet
: commonly called roots deeper intS
J the damp soil and to lift his tender
green head and arms to the top coy
er. through which he could feel The
genial suns warm rays
Then another stretch, and 10, tn,
earth opened In a tiny crack over his
head, just wide enough for him tt
put his head through, then closed III
like snug collar about his slender
| neck
After he succeeded In freeing his
arms-little green, leaf-like things
! that reached up about his neck as X
| protecting it Johnny felt much bet
ter, and getting the big head bit he
made up his mind to eat all the air
| he could and drink dew and mois-
ture from the earth and grow to an
enormous height. He felt that he
| Johnny jump-up- rear his
| head above the grass and weeds
about him.
But Johnny learned few things.
Nearby him grew common little
weed, and one day observing how he
tried to push his head skyward. she
bent toward him and said:
For your own sake | would ad-
wise you to be content to remain
down in the grass. Ii you thrust your
head above your surrounding friends
you will doubtless come to grief, for
there are beings called children
veritable giants-who roam these
fields in search Of flowers So far
as | am concerned there is no dan
ger forthese giants love not common
weeds; but just let a blossom peep
his head from under the cover and
they will pounee down on him and
rob him Of life'
Well. my dear Miss Weed, no
doubt you mean we'll by giving me
this advice, but what, pray would /
find life worth the having II It ba
quite necessary to keep my beautiful
self, hidden from sight2 No, | shall
rise above the common grass and
weeds and give out my beauty to all
who pass this way. Beauty would he |
worthless possession unless oRs
displayed 1t"
Very well, your vanity may coat
you your life. warned the weed But
shall not urge youto act agains;
your will | shall Just say Ihis. that,
Beng taller than yol ral ever be. |
come, have a wider Geld OF vision.
and when | see danger approaching |
| shall give you the signal. IL you
wish then TO escape aotice you MAJ
bend your head under shelter of my
thick leaves and be secure. Further
more, let me add that the happiness
you long for will not come through
your charms. Real hap
piness cannot come through the ad-
niration Of others.
That's a weeds view OF IT,"
aughed the Johnny-jump-up, un-
urling his pretty petals and holding
lis head as high as he could. "A
weed, having no beauty, can't feel the |
sensations that a flower feels when /
icing admired. So, thanking you for
our intended kindness, | shall have
o refuse to accept your advice. and
hall grow as tall as Nature Will al I
ow me-"
The next day found Johnny jump
ID half an inch above the green
rass spears. and his pretty petals .
pened themselves very wide as he {
,aved his head and hands in the ,
pring breeze.
Hist The giants approach"
'hispered the weed giving Johnny a
mely warning. They are plucking
our kinfolks as fast as they can. IL
GU would escape, bend beneath my
caves"
"Oh, you are only Jealous of my
eauty, you poor, plain weed" re.
1rted Johnny, rearing his head very =
Ugh, SO high that his neck almost a
roke, In an attempt to be seen and .
dmired.
oy and huge girl-coming toward "
i'm with mighty strides. They held A
ANY poor, bleeding Johnny-jump
ps in their immense. cruel hands. =
nd their great rolling eyes vera ~
,arching the meadow for more Vie
ms. Just as Johnny saw them, and n
the danger he was in.
ley saw him too. and as he was on /
le point OF ducking his vain head
nder protection Of the weeds =
ayes, they came upon him at
,und, their feet crushing the grass
at lay in their path and their
ices roaring like thunder in loud
.ss
oh" cried one, there's a fine.
II, big Johnny Jumper IN get
m" And before poor Johnny could
de or tell the whose friend
warning be nov appreciated since
was too late-H sad good-by. a
ubby hand reached down and
listed his neck in two Then, HIS
or lifeblOod o0zing from the sew
ed member. he was put beside sew
al OF his dead kinsmen to form a
Iuqet for the dinner table that
ening.
Thus through foolish vanity,
hnny-iump-up turned q deaf ear TO
e wise counsel OF less beautiful.
ouph mqra sanaihfa fgfffa ,.ffd