CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

  1. [An Accidental Experiment]
  2. [The "Illustrated Lecture"]
  3. [The Sky-room]
  4. [The Unwelcome Guest]
  5. [Compromises]
  6. [Two Lessons from Nature]
  7. [Pierre's Story]
  8. [At the Cottage]
  9. [Lost]
  10. [Trouble]
  11. [Going for Ruth]
  12. [The Day]
  13. [Going to the Harbor]
  14. [Odds and Ends]

PROFESSOR JOHNNY.

CHAPTER I.

AN ACCIDENTAL EXPERIMENT.

Johnny had been named The Professor by some of his young friends, because he wore spectacles, was fond of studying natural philosophy and chemistry, and of performing experiments. He had become so used to the name that he did not mind it much, even when some of the rude boys in the street called him Professor or Prof. His merry little sister Sue, also, was quite as apt to call him Prof. as Johnny.

One evening in June, Johnny and Sue were at home alone. Their father and mother were making calls; and Kate, the girl, had gone out marketing. It was not very uncommon for them to be in the house alone; for although Sue was rather wild and thoughtless, Johnny was very quiet and thoughtful, and Sue had been taught to mind him when her parents were away.

Johnny had been reading, and Sue amusing herself by undressing her doll and putting it to bed; but after the doll was in bed, and supposedly sound asleep, she could not think of any thing else to do by herself, and so began to tease Johnny to put up his book and play with her. Johnny was so much interested in his book that he paid but little attention to her at first, merely replying that he would play by and by. But finally Sue took hold of his book playfully, saying,—

"I mean to take away your book, for you have read long enough: mamma would say so herself if she were here."