Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-12-09
THE GOODNESS OF A GREAT Man
(By Wightman F. Melton.)

great English dictionary, which, after
serving its day and geheration," b.
came the solid foundation for Wor
cester, Webster, and all the others. L
is also remembered that for many
years this man of humble birth auC
early struggles was the literary law
giYer" of the English world.
College students have been known tc
remember DR.. Johnson only as blink
ing, putting, rolling his head, drum
ming with his fingers, tearing his
meat like a tiger, and swallowing his
tea in oceans"
There are many affairs of the big
heart of DR.. Johnson that the world
can not afford to forget. Notable
among them are charity for the sick
and the poor, generation for his pa
rents, and piety.
Samuel Johnson was the son OF q
poor Lichfield bookseller. He had to
serve as table waiter and wear rag
ged clothes and old shoes in order IL
get through Pembroke College (OA-
ford University. After graduation,
for some weeks, while he was getting
a literary start in London, he could
afford but nine cents day on which
to live, and at night he had "the key
to the street." walking about all night
or snatching a cheerless nap in first
one secluded place and then another.
this, Dr. Johnson was
always considerate of the poor AMI
the sick, giving them half or more
than half of what he had, and In his
last years gathering a number of
them under his own Roof, where he
tenderly cared for them.
When DR.. Johnson was forty-forr
his mother died. He had always spok-
en- of her as "the best mother and the
best woman in the world" and his
life had shown that he meant what he
said. At her death the poor fellow
ne had become famous as a
literary man, was not able to defray
the expenses of her funeral. Shutting
himself in for a week, he came Out
with the beautiful story "Russelas
finished, and thus the necessary mon
ey was raised
When DR.. Johnson was boy, his
father told him to go to the village Of
UttoNeter and sell books at a stall on
market day. He disobeyed his father
but his conscience would not fcrgGt
the act Fifty years afterward, when
he was an old man, he went back (
the village and stood for an houl
in the crowded square, do
ing penance for that disobedience.
That DR.. Johnson was q good man
as we'll as a great man, is further er.
idenced by his attitude toward thu
Christian religion He, probably thi
wisest man of his day, knew what j
was to feel sick at heart when bear |
less boys sneered at the mention of re-
ligion, and when empty-headed grown
folks Uttered at the idea of piety.
A few months before DR.. Johnson
death he composed, with an humble
Will llC llSdl l, q pl clSC WHICH SuO"'
the good spirit of the man; Make m
truly thankful for the call by whic1
thou hast awakened my conscience
Let not thy call, o Lord, be forgotten
or thy summons neglected; but let tn
residue of my life, whatever it shat
be, be passed in true contrition an
diligent obedience. Let me repent c
the sins Of my past life and SO kea,
thy laws for the time to come tha
when it shall be thy good PLEASURE t
call me to another state may fin
marcy in thy sight Let thy HoI
Spirit support me In the hour 0
death; and, o Lord, grant me pardo'
in the day of judgment IVES leyal
Christian Advocate.
A TAECHERS CREED.