Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1912 — A WARNING TO BOYS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A WARNING TO BOYS

Young Johnny Winters, strong and well, Went out to celebrate the day, A cannon cracker in his hand, His heart attuned to fun and play!

He set the cracker up on end And lit the fuse, as you have done; Then as it sputtered, sparked and spat, Young Johnny ieft it on the run!

Excitedly he turned about And waited, with his chums, the noise! '‘lt’s fizzled!” then said careless John, “I’ll take a look,” he told the boys.

Above the powder stick he bent— The air was filled with ripping sound! The boys rushed up with awestruck eyes To Johnny, lying on the ground!

He lay upon the cheerless sod, His face all marred with bloody chars— And all through life the boy must wear The cannon cracker’s awful scars!

Take warning, boys, from Johnny’s fate And do not harm your eyes or face. Be patriotic, brave and true But spurn the things that hurt the