JOHNNY WILSON.

Johnny was much interested in watching the man measure,
and saw, and hammer, but did not offer to touch any of his
tools. At twelve o’clock, however, the carpenter was obliged
to go home to his dinner, and as the gate was not quite finished,
he left his tools until he should return. It was too much for
Johnny to be left alone with such a beautiful hammer, and
nails of every size and shape.

In the room close to the stairs stood mamma’s cedar chest,
and this was what first caught Johnny’s eyes. “That would
be a ee place to drive nails,” thought he. “TI will just
try one.’

So he first put a little one in; but that went so nee hi
tried another, and another, until there were ever so many.
Then he screwed the gimlet in the chest, he hammered in the
chisel, and what do you think he did after that? Why, he
found papa’s high hat that was put away for the summer, and
filled that full of nails. Oh, Johnny, Johnny!. what will
mamma, say ?

When the carpenter returned he felt very cross, but after he
had seen all the damage that was done, he felt very sorry for
Johnny, as he knew a punishment was sure to follow. So he
tried his best to mend the matter; he drew the chisel and all
the nails out of the chest, and unscrewed the gimlet; but the
marks were still there, and the hat was ruimed forever. When
mamma came home, how do you think she punished Johnny?
Not by whipping and scolding. No; but she made him wear
the hat, nails and all, every day to school for a week. Poor
little boy! She felt very sorry sometimes, when the boys
laughed and made fun of him, but he was at last cured of his
bad fault of driving nails, and so effectual was mamma’s remedy
for the trouble, that Johnny was ever afterwards ready almost
to run away out of sight of a hammer.

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