Johnnie's Temptation by Mrs. M. E. Kidder

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 5, 1882

Johnnie's Temptation.

By Mrs. M. E. Kidder

"Oh dear! I can't get this example," and down went book and slate in a very impatient way.

"If you will let me, I think I can help you," said a voice near.

Johnnie looked up in surprise, for he thought he was alone, and was more astonished still when he saw before him his mother's washer-woman's son. They both attended the same school in N—— village, and it had been Johnnie's delight to tease Willie about his clothes and encourage others to do the same. Only that morning Johnnie had hid his hat at play-time, and put a stick in his dinner-basket.

"Did you get it?"

"Yes."

"Are you willing to help me after hiding your hat?" Johnnie thought of the stick and determined to take it out as soon as possible.

"I found it very easy. What is it you don't understand?" and the despised washer-woman's son sat down on the grass by the merchant's son, and together they soon had the knotty problem solved. Without stopping to thank him, Johnnie took his book and slate and went into the school-house to remove the stick from Willie's basket.

Willie looked up in surprise at his sudden departure, but seeing some boys coming, thought Johnnie was ashamed to be seen with him. With a flushed face he wandered off alone till the bell rang. It was near the end of the term. The teacher had offered a prize for the best number of marks during the term in arithmetic. Johnnie, among others, was trying very hard for it. His father had promised him a velocipede if he obtained the prize. As the time drew near, the boys knew the prize was between Johnnie and Willie, but it was hard to tell which would get it. Two weeks before the time the teacher gave out an example. The boys were to work it out and bring it in on paper, and at the close of school the one who got it right was to explain before the company. Two days after, as Willie was going with clothes to Mrs. Brown's house, he stopped to see Johnnie rowing his little sister in a small boat, which was on a lake near the house. As he stood watching, a little black and tan dog came running down to the water. As soon as he saw his little master in the boat, he made a spring and landed on the edge, upsetting it and throwing them in the water. Willie knew Johnnie could not swim, so he jumped into the water. He caught Lillie and brought her to the shore and laid her down to go for Johnnie. Their cries had brought Mrs. Brown and the servants to the spot, who cared for Lillie. Willie found it more than he could do to keep Johnnie up in the water, for he held on to him so he could not swim, and being as large as Willie, they both went down together. Mrs. Brown's gardener brought a rope, and when they saw them come up threw it to them. Johnnie caught it, but Willie's strength was gone, and he sank again. The gardener gave the rope to Mrs. Brown and the servants, who attended to Johnnie, while he swam out for Willie. He brought him to the shore, but it was some time before he became conscious. He was placed in Johnnie's bed and the doctor and his mother sent for. The doctor thought it best not to move Willie for a day or two, until he was stronger. The day after, Johnnie sat by Willie's bed, waiting for him to wake. Willie finally opened his eyes.

"Oh, I am so glad you're awake. I want to talk to you."

"Do you? About the example?"

"No; you know we were not to ask anyone about it."

"Yes, I forgot. It seems a week since yesterday."

"You know the day you showed me how to do the example?"

Yes, Willie did remember it.

"Do you know I was mean enough to put a stick in your dinner that day?"

"I didn't find any."

"No; I went in and took it out. What made you so patient when all us boys tried our best to torment you?"

"Because I am trying to be a Christian."

"Well, you are a strange boy. Do you know you almost died trying to save me?"

"The Lord died to save us all."

"But wasn't you afraid when you thought you was going to die?"

"Oh no; I am not afraid to die."

Just then Johnnie's mother came in and told them Willie must not talk any more then. The next day Willie went home. It was only a week now before school closed; the example was in everyone's mind. The boys were to give in their papers the day before, so the teacher could see who were right. Each boy passed up and laid his paper on the desk and took his seat again. The teacher laid them in his desk and closed it. At noon the scholars had an hour for dinner. Most of them went home. After they had gone two boys entered and looked around.

"The coast is clear."

"What do you want to take it for? You won't get it."

"I don't want it. I only want him to be wrong. Every one made such a fuss when he saved Johnnie Brown, if he gets the prize he will be too proud to come here to school; he'll have to go to a private school when his mother gets rich washing."

They went up to the desk, and looking over the papers, took out the one with Willie Dean on it, and put in another in its place. After fixing things as they were, they went out, taking the paper with them. As the door closed, a little black head peeped from behind a bench, and Sally Jones looked as if she meant to do something. Taking her basket, she went to the and climbed out, seated herself under a tree, where the boys saw her quietly eating her dinner. She watched them tear up the paper and hide the pieces in a hole in a tree.

"Go, get us a match, Sally, will you? We want to burn out a hornet's nest that is in here."

"I can't reach the matches, but here is more paper for you."

"All right. You go Jim."

"No, I won't; you come with me."

Jim felt guilty, and was afraid. So putting the paper Sally gave them on top, they went after the matches. As soon as they were gone, Sally pulled out the paper, as she knew there were no hornets there, and taking out the white papers and hiding the in her basket, she put the other back and went off. She ran as fast as she could to Johnnie Brown's house and asked to see him. Mrs. Brown called Johnnie, but Sally stood looking at both with red cheeks and flashing eyes. They both looked at her in wonder.

"What do you want of me, Sally?"

"I want to whisper. I'm afraid some one will hear."

"Don't you want me to hear?" asked Mrs. Brown.

"No ma'am; if you won't be angry."

"No;" said Mrs. Brown, smiling, as she walked away.

Sally took Johnnie's hand and went out under a tree, where she sat down and told Johnnie to. Johnnie obeyed, wondering what would happen next. Sally emptied the contents of her basket in her lap.

"There, do you see them, Johnnie Brown?"

"Yes; what are they?"

"Well, they are Willie Dean's example. The boys went and stole it and tore it up, and was going to burn these, only I stole them, too, I did."

"Who did, Sally, and how did you know it?"

So Sally told him all about it.

"Never mind, Sally; I'll paste them together and put them back."

"You won't tell, will you? because Jim and Louis might hurt me if they knew I told."

"No, I won't tell. I'll fix it all right."

After making him promise again, Sally went away. Johnnie sat in a very thoughtful mood. Here was a great temptation; if he did not put them back, he would likely get the prize, for there was another with Willie's name, Sally said, and Mr. Forbes would never know. He thought for a long time about all Willie had done for him in saving his life, and he got up, determined to ask his mother's advice, which he did, not forgetting to tell her how he had been tempted. His mother thought it best to tell Mr. Forbes, who looked at the paper, and finding it right, told Johnnie he would arrange it, but not to say anything about it. The next day the room was crowded with the friends of the children. After the exercises were over, Mr. Forbes arose to tell who had received the prize. He cleared his throat, and looking around, said, "Willie Dean is the only one who is right; he may step forward and explain it on the board."

Willie stepped forward, and after explaining it satisfactorily received a handsome book. Mr. Forbes then said: "I have now another prize to give, which I did not offer, but I think all will agree with me that it is well deserved. There were two boys whom you all know, who have kept very close in their marks all the term; this example was to decide which deserved it. Two boys in this school, for reasons which I do not know, saw fit to try to take the prize from Willie. During my absence they took his paper from my desk and placed another in its stead. I will not say how Johnnie Brown got it, but he did. If he had destroyed it, he would likely receive the prize. He worked hard for it, and when it was almost in his grasp, he manfully came to me and told of the deception. I know the boys who did it, and if I return next term, it is according to their behavior whether they return or not. John Brown may now come forward and receive a prize for proving himself a boy that will do right in the face of temptation."

There was loud applause as Johnnie received his prize, and one father and mother felt proud of their son. He received the promised velocipede, and Willie enjoyed a great many rides on it, for Johnnie found it was better to be poor and honest, than to be rich and dishonest.—Mrs. M. E. Kidder, in Christian at Work.