The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-05-23
OURBOYSANDG GIRLS
Johnny.Jump-Up.
by Maud Walker.


asleep all winter in his bed in the
soft earth, but as the April rains had
given him such a soaking, and filled
him to bursting with water, he had
found 1t cxpedlent to unwrap him
self, 20 thrust his threadlike feet
commonly called roots-deeper into
the damp soil aud to lift his tender
green head and arms to the top cov-
er, through which he could feel the
genial suns warm rays
Then another stretch. and 10! the
earth opened In a tiny crack over his
! head, Just wide enough for him to
! put his head through, then closed up
! like "a 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 II
| 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 drlnk dew and mois-
ture from the earth and grow to an
enormous height He felt that he
| Johnny ump-up-should rear his
head above the grass and weeds
about him.
But Johnny learned few things.
Nearby him grew a 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 dam
ger, forthese giants love not common
weeds; but Just let blossom peep
his head from under the cover and
they will pounce down on him and
rob him of life"
We'll, my dear Miss Weed, no
doubt you mean we'll by giving me
this advice; but what. pray, would l
hnd life worth the having If 1t bs
quite necessary to keep my beautiful
self hidden from sighta No, shall
rise above the common grass and
weeds and give out my beauty to all
who pass this way. Beauty would be
worthless possession unless one
displayed It,"
Very well, your vanity may cost
you your life, warned the weed. But
l shall not urge youto act against
your will. l shall just say this, that.
being taller than you can ever be-
come, / have a wider field OF vision,
and when l see danger approaching
l shall give you the signal. II you
wish then to escape notice you may
bend your head under shelter of my
thick leaves and be secure. Further
more, let me add that the happiness
you long fop will not come through
displaying your charms. Real hap
piness cannot come through the ad-
miration Of others.
That's weeds view of It,"
laughed the Johnny-jump-up, un-
furling his pretty petals and holding
his head rs high as he could. "A
weed, having no beauty. can't feel the
sensations that a flower feels when
being admired. So, thanking you for
your intended kindness, l shall have
to refuse tn accept your advice, and
shall grow as tall as Nature will al
low me-"
The next day found Johnny-jump-
up half an inch above the green
grass spears, and his pretty petals
opened themselves very wide as he
waved his head and hands In the
spring breeze.
Hist The giants approach"
whispered the weed giving Johnny
timely warning. They are plucking
your kinfolks as fast as they can. II.
you would escape. bend beneath my
leaves"
"Oh. you are only Jealous of my
beauty, you poor, plain weed" re-
torted Johnny, rearing his head very
high, SO high that his neck almost
broke, in an attempt to be seen and
admired.
Then he saw the giants-a huge
boy and a huge girl-coming toward |
him with mighty strides. They held |
many poor, bleeding Johnny-iimp- |
ups in their immense, cruel hands, |
and their great rolling eyes were |
searching the meadow for mor4 VIC |
Tins. Just as Johnny saw them. and |
understanding the danger he was in, |
they saw him too, and as he vas on |
the point of ducking his vain head |
under protection of the weeds |
leaves, they came upon him at |
bound, their feet crushing the grass
that lay in their path and their
voices roaring like thunder in loud
ness.
oh" cried one, there's a fine,
tall, big Johnny Jumper! III get |
him" And before poor Johnny could
hide or tell the weed-whose friend
ly warning he now appreciated since
1t was too late-a sad good-by, a
chubby hand reached down and
twisted his neck in two. Then, his
poor lifeblood oozing from the sew
erod member ha was mt heside say-