The Washington herald., 1911-03-05
THE. FATE. OF DISOBEDIE.NT
JOHNNY-JUMP-UP,

TT was the drst week Of March. and
the winds were blowing furiously and
cold. Every school-boy and school
girl ran about the streets mufhed as
though It was January. Not Il peep
has Miss Spring given US yet" declared
one little girl.
81 guess old Mr.. Winter Is frightening
her away" replied a little boy.
And so 1t seemed above ground. But
beneath the hard soil there was warmth
and growth. Whole families Of Johnny
Jump-ups were getting ready to come
forth as soon as Miss Spring touched the
earth above their heads. And they knew
her football. and were as happy as
could be when she came tripping along
In one Johnny -jump-up home there was
bit Of trouble. Master Greeny Jump
up-son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Wise Johnny
jump-up-was determined to go out OF
the house, and to push his head above
ground at the little crack in the soil
where he was to find his place during
the spring. And his father and mother
were trying to advise him against such
rashness, for they knew that the March
winds were bowling furiously overhead
and that old Winter still blew his breath
into the winds, freezing things that were
tender. And Johnny ny-jump-ups are not
very hardy little people.
Now, Son." cried Mrs. Jump-up, al
most coaxingly, you must not venture
out till you see us-Papa and Mamma
making our way to the great Out-of-doors.
Just as soon as Miss Spring steps on the
ground above our heads, we'll rush to
our little doors and put out our heads.
You know, Miss Spring is the Suns IA
vorits Of all the Season family. He
doesn't love Winter, so refuses to shine
warmly when that old fellow Is around.
Summer. also, is no favorite Of the Sun.
and he just beats down in burning
glare on that poor daughter OF the Sea-
son family. And on Autumn he looks
with a bit OF displeasure, for he brings
many clouds and sudden cool winds, and
dries things up considerably. But with
Miss Spring-Ah, old Mr.. Sun does shine
on her the best of all. He also sends
many showers, with beautiful rainbows as
a finish to them. And he warns the
ground wherever Miss Spring steps, and
he sends delightful dews at night, and
bracing breezes in the morning. oh, the
old Master of the heavens does love that
fair daughter Of the Seasons, Miss
Spring"
But why does Miss Spring remain so
long awayT' asked Greeny Jump-up. Its
March, and March heraIds her."
"Ah, March Is the month when old
Winter is taking his departure" explained
Papa Jump-up. And Winter always
chills the air just as long as he's near
enough to the earth to do so. He's jeal-
Gus of Miss Spring. He-cruel old mon
-ster-never sees a single blossom or green
leaf All the family Of Verdure is afraid
of him and remain snugly in their under
ground houses till the old chap has gone
a long way of. So, take your fathers
warning and remain here In this snug
house till Miss Spring announces 1t Is
time for US to come forth,
But no, Master Greeny would not
listen, and that morning while his
mother and father begged and prayed
him to stay with them, he broke away
from their side and thrust out his head.
And the ground was so cold at the top
that its edges were hard and cut several
of Greeny's leaves. But the naughty
fellow just kept right on going MP and
up, and pretty soon he found his head
and shoulders well out of the ground
As he looked shout he beheld bare
ground everywhere. Not a single green
spear had dared to come forth. Oh,
how the cold wind did hurt his tender
face! He felt that to remain long ther.