Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-05-06
The Tables Turned.
-
g BIZ UNCLE HEKBERr.

! Johnny Blair thought it, fine sport,
but not so with the chickens, wheE his
.cornstalk came thfashing about their
sides and over their heads. He didn't
feel the hurt 1t was all the same to
him whether the cernstalk hit the roos-
ter or the tub.
Off flew the scared chickens at John
ny's attack, and then he hid himself be-
hind the fence, and waited until hunger
drew them back But only q few grains
did he let them eat before he was down
on them, striking right and left st them
with , his eornstalk, and hurting and
frightening them again. 80. go.
How he laughed to see them scam per
away! Oh, it was fine fun for the cruel
boy. But just rs he had e ticed them
back for the third time and war raising
his stick, the tassts were turned, and
instead of the hens getting hurt and
frightened, Johnny's shoulders felt the
sudden smart ofa birch rod vigorously
laid on. -...s+e,5 717zs
How do you like that, sir ?n asked a
rough voice, as Johnny jumped about
and writhed with pains. - Chickens
have feelings as well as boys" said the
farmer, who, hearing the cries of his
fowls, had come round to see what troub-
led them. 81 hope you will remem Der
that aaN - t-s4 & ~ n
Johnny skunk away,.sfeeling rather
badly in mind as well as body. Heknew
that it was wrong to hurt dumb Great
ures, but, like too many little boys, he
was hard and cruel toward the weak and
helpless. To be caught in his evil sport
and get his back well striped was any
thing but pleasant; and he went off to-
ward his home, which was near that OF
the farmers, saying to himself as he
went along ~ - .as5
"He'd no right to strike me. Pm not
his boy; and I'll tell father, 50 L will u
Just then he saw his father at werk in
a field, and clam bering over the fence
he ran toward him; he stepped after
going q few PAGES. There were two
sides to the stsry he was going to tell
him, and after looking at both sides for
a little while, he thought it best to keep
it all to.himself. So he sat down on the
grass, saying in his heart, /" I'll spite
him for it" meaning the farmer. He
didn't sit there long, for his angry feel
ing made him restless, but got UP and
went out of the field into the road
Then he saw a dog belonging to the
farmer, that ran up to him, wagging his
tail. What did Johnny do? Pat the
dog on the head and say, kindly, Poor
fellow" No, he was in an ill-humor.
and gave him a kick, at which tile dog
sprang upon him and bit his hand until
the blood came. He was almost as much
frightened at the fierce growls and bite
of the dog as the chickens were when he
beat them with his cornstalk. sa1s
Poor Jehnny! Things were going
wrong with him. Many and MANY a
time had he kicked the dog, and fligIitz
ened the chickens, and worried the
dumb things that came in his wayLfor
he was, am sorry to tell you, rather a
cruel boy-withouts suffering any Ill csi,-
sequences. But now had come to a
change by ne means pleasant. And he
aad not seen the end of it. a. < 5al'l
After he got over the pain and fright
Johnnywalked soberly home ward. sOp
the way he passed a mali pond in which
mother goose wa. swimming Wi h her
yellow gosiings. An old white gander
stood on the edge of the pond. Johnny's
love for torturing animals came back
again, and rolling up his trowsers he
Waded in and caught up one of the gos 4.
linge. But just as he reached the shore
the old white gander made "a dash at
aim, and catching him by the ear, gave
him such a bite and jerk at the same
time that he fell in the mud and water
wetting and soiling his elot ,es all over
He was, if anything, wor e scared az.
this unexpected attack from a gsnder
than at the growls and bite Of the dog
Alter scrambling up and wiping off
some Of the mud, he ran home; andi-I
sion't know whether / am pleased or
-orry to say it-got sound whipping
from his mother for being SO wet and
dirty. s.l .t lsfea- - ..-stal3I