The Washington herald., 1913-12-24

This is the story of little Johnny
Workhard and his best girl, Bizzy
Ness. For months past-ever since
the 4th of March, to be exact-littls
Johnny, hand in hand with Bizzy, ha,
been gazing disconsOlately through
the big plate glass windows behind
which-but far out of reach, lay
those tempting gifts of peace, mod,
Grafton, understanding, and prosperity.
Years ago Johnny and his best girl,
. and their sisters, brothers, and cousins
had all those wonderful things in
abundance. But they didn't fully
realize how precious the gifts were,
and, so, like many other careless boys
and girls, they began to abuse and
neglect a few of the gifts. Some Of
them they used for a purpose for
which they were never intended. They
didn't set out to do so and, mind you,
only a few of the children behaved
badly.
But they gave a bad name to all
the rest, and so Stern Parent pro-
cseded to get extremely busy. He
used Big Stick and he carved the
initials T. R. upon it. And, being
a mighty hunter and full of the zest
of the chase, he didn't stop simply
with the naughty children. Even the
good, sweet, obedient children found
themselves yanked out of bed on
Christmas morning, laid across his
knee, and soundIy spanked.
Stern Parent Number Two wasn't
anything like so eager for the fray,
but he was a little too lazy to figure
out any policy different from that of
his (Once, but no longer) friend,
Theodore. But being fat and good
natured, he got another fellow to do
the whacking. This other fellow 1--WE
will disguise his name by leaving out
lot of letters, thus: W-k-r-sh-m) |
was a surprising chap. He didn't
really want to reform the naughty
children and help the good ones. Not
a bit of it! He irst wanted to punish
them all. And he proceeded to do il.
If he saw a particularly happy, neatly
dressed child he would proceed to
make it miserable with the same ugly
ruler with which he beIabored the
really troublesome child. And if some
young creature, pure in heart, but,
perhaps ignorant, came to him and
said-"Mr. Attorney General, | really
want to obey all the rules, but | don't
know Just what they are; won't you
tell me and then let me play your
way" the chances were that George
would say: 'Tll lock you up in that
dark closet in the garret for a few
years, and then | guess you'll learn
all right all right!" /
Now, up till just a short time ago
i looked to outsider. for all the
world as if the new administration {
were going to pursue this same We i
lement policy. And all the children T
land there are mighty few of them t
yery naughty now) have been hud- t
Hing and shivering together, not 1
iaring to speak above a whisper, get r
ing ready to dodge that school. v
master when he came along to box t
heir ears. And many of them, lust p
cared on account of previous punish c
nents and continuous threats, had
bout made up their minds to stou il
laying and never to play again. a
But now Santa Claus Wilson ba, il
hanged all that. "AH that we de- p
ire," he says, 'is an opportunity to HI
cooperate with them" What a a
hristmas present that isl What a o
hange it is going to make with all NJ
le Johnny Workhards and Bizzy
esses all over the IandI How thew
re going to be heartened into play =
g again with eager spirit! How
ad they are to know that Somebody E,
els that they want to know the rules pl
ID will cooperate with them"
Merry Christmas to you, Johnny and
izzy! All those fine things behind pr
e big plate-glass windows are yours ca
T the asking-sympathy, encourage
emf, goodwill, prosperity Good n,
q Santa Claus Wilson! IN