"'I don't like to do that,' said the wife.
"'But it must be done,' answered the old farmer; 'it is our duty to try to make him a good boy.'
"So they shut him up in the great garret, where paper bags of dried herbs, and strings of red peppers, and great cobwebs, kept him company. They gave him nothing to eat and drink but dry bread and a cup of water.
"Every now and then the farmer's wife would come, tap at the door, and say, 'Johnny, will you be good now?' and Johnny would shout out in a fierce defiant voice, 'No! no! I won't! You may lock me up forever and ever, and I won't be good.' So the poor farmer's wife would heave a sigh and go away.
"All the morning little Susie had been very silent, with the tears just trembling on her eyelids. She felt very much grieved that Johnny was such a bad boy, and she could not bear to think of him in the lonely garret with no company but his wicked thoughts: so, after dinner, she crept softly up to her mother, and said, 'Mother, I think I can get Johnny to be good, if you will let me try.'
"'Well,' said her mother, smoothing her hair lovingly, 'what is your plan?'
"'Why, mother,' answered the little girl, 'I will go and tell Johnny that I will be locked up instead of him, and he may go play with my dear little boat that brother made, and named for me.'
"The mother looked at her a moment with a loving tear swelling in her eyes, then she said, 'Very well, you may go.'
"So Susie took down the key of the garret, which hung behind the door, and went up stairs, unlocked the door, and then tapped gently. 'Johnny, may I come in?' said she.
"'What do you want now?' grumbled the bad boy. Susie went in, and going softly up to him, she said—'Johnny, mother says you may go and play with my little boat this afternoon, and I will be locked up instead.'