The Cairo bulletin., 1907-04-13

Johnny.Ju
by Maud Walker.

given him such a soaking, and file,
him TO bursting with water, he ha,
found 1t expedient to unwrap him
self, to thrust his thread-ike feet
commonly called roots deeper int,
the damp soil and to lift his tende
green head and arms to the top GOV
er, through which he could feel tn,
genial suns warm rays
Then another stretch. and 10. tn,
earth opened In tiny crack over hi
head, just wide enough for him /,
put his head through, then closed W
| Hike snug collar about his sendai
| neck.
After he succeeded In freeing hl
arms little green, leaf-like things
that reached up about his neck as II
protecting ii 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 mols-
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 a 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 adj
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 glants~-who roam these
fields In search Of flowers. So far
as l 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 well by giving ME
this advice. but what. pray, would
find life worth the having IL 1t be
quite necessary TO keep my beautiful
self, hidden from sight? 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 ons
displayed It."
Very we'll, your vanity may coat
you your life, warned the weed But
l shall not urge youto Get against
your Will. | shall Just say this. thai,
being taller than yol raa ever be-
come. / have a wider fed OF vision.
and when | see DANCE approaching |
shall give you the signal. II you |
wish then TO escape notice you mag |
bend your head under shelter Of my |
hick leaves and be secure. Further
more, let me add that the happiness
,ou long for will not come through
displaying your charms. Real hap
,iness cannot come through the ad-
OF others.
That's d weeds view OF It,"
aughed the Johnny-jump-up, uI-
urling his pretty petals and holding
lis head as high as he could. "A
seed, having no beauty. cant feel the
ensations that flower feels when
eing 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 /
DIV me-.
The next day found Johnny jump
p half an inch above the green !
rass spears. and his pretty petals /
pened themselves very wide as he {
-ayed his head and hands In the ,
pring breeze.
Hist! The giants approach !
hispered the weed giving Johnny .
mely warning. They are plucking
our kinfolks as fast as they can. II
gu would escape. bend beneath my
,aves."
"Oh, you are only Jealous of my
eauty, you poor. plain weed" re-
,rted Johnny, rearing his head very :
Ugh, SO high that his neck almost q
roke, in an attempt TO be seen and .
1mired.
Then he saw the giants--a huge =
~ duu Il uHbf Sii l--NphituE AoHdiA 1
i'm with mighty strides. They held A
any poor, bleeding Johnny jump
ps in thei: Immense. cruel hands. =
I'D their great rolling eyes were ~
arching the meadow for more VIC
ms. Just as Johnny saw them. and d
the danger he was in.
ey saw him too. and as he was on /
q point of ducking his vain head
lder protection OF the weeds :
ayes, they came upon him at a
'und, their feet crushing the grass
at lay in their path and their
ices roaring like thunder in loud
IS.
Oh" cried one, there's a fine.
II, big Johnny Jumper, III get
m" And before poor johnny could
de or tell the weed whose friend
warning be nov appreciated since
was too late sad gOod-by. a
ubby hand reached down and
listed his neck In two. Then, his
or lifeblood OOzing from the sew
I'd member. he was put beside sew
n OF his dead kinsmen to form a
uqet for the dinner table that
sning.
Thus through foolish vanity,
hnny-jump-up turned q deaf ear to
: wise counsel OF less beautiful.
1ugh more sensible. little Wild
mt and thereby lost hfa head