The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-12-14

Revenge sweet? Not bit Of it, my
lads. If any body talks such nonsense,
tell 'em 1t isn't 90, and Jim Brooks says
1t. Wish I had time afore the wagon
comes, I'd tell ye story; but guess
it'll keep till tonight" The story of
himself which Jim Brooks told that
night to Harry Skipper and Bob Haines,
who were spending the holidays At Un-
Gle Johns farm, where Jim was the
head man, is given to the readers of the
Youths Companion a. follows, in SUBJ
stance:
He was roguish sort of chap, whose
mother died when he was about seven
years old, and he never saw bis father,
for he was lost at sea before Jim was
born. So the boy was 'lotted out to this
place and that, and saw hard times.
But the worst people he ever got with
were the Dsggets. He wasn't sure they
meant to be mean, but they were mean
in the cruelest way. There were three
Of them, father, mother and son, who
was perhaps two years older than Jim.
The man was easy like, and the woman
ruled from garret to cellar, but Dick
might do just what he pleused in the
house or out of it. Let Jim tell the rest
of his story in his own words.
Zone day she beat me, and for
thing did by her own boy. You see she
wouldn't hear to the rights Of tho story,
and Dick had been full of mischief all
that day.
"WeIl, folks don't b'Iieve in beatin'
young ones that way, nowadays, and
I'm glad for it. It puts the very evil
one In boy that feels as though he
didn't deserve 1t. guess didn't git
over that dose Of hickory for a week,
and guess there wasn't a minute Of
that week I didn't hate that woman
with deadly hate, and swear-I wasn't
Christian then, boys, as hope I am
new-that I'd hev revenge on her for
that beatin'. 1t was wrong, very wrong;
but I'm tellin' you what felt, and not
what l ought to have felt.
"One day we got chance, Dick and
I, to 60 down to the river. At least
Dick begged for NE. because he wanted
company, and 90 was allowed to 60.
We had good time enough, only com.
ing home it rained pretty hard.
"'See here, said Dick, as We pulled
up high, though not dry, on the sand,
I'm a going over to Uncle Pete's to
spend the night. Mother won't care,
I've been there afors. I can do any,
thing I've mind to with the old lady
You tell her about It, and II she takes on
bad, why, come over after me-
That, boys, was strange walk
home. l was wet; for as usual, I'd had
the most work to do, but didn't mind
that. I was just fired up with the re-
venge I meant to take. 1t made my
fingers ends tingle; yes, tho very
thinking Of it made me eager to do
something to injure her.
"She was in the buttery as went in
hanging of my head down. Her hus-
band was in the barn.
-" Wher's Dick p che asked, the first
thing.
Dicks drownded,' 1 said; I tried
to save him, but we was off shore, and
see here!' held up my wet arms.
Well, never want to hear no sound
again like that she made. l never want
to see sech another agonized and terrible
face; tell ye it haunts me now, boys.
She fell down there like dead critter,
right to my feet, and went flying out
to the barn.
Revenge sweet, is it? I thought it
would be, but it wasn't. It's proved
very bitter to me; aud may tho dear
Lord have mercy on me for the wicked
deed done! That poor soul never had
her reason again, and that's forty odd
year ago, and the last I heered Of her
she was most ninety and jest Is foolish
an fiighty IS ever"
"She'd no business to lick you 90.
though" cried Harry who had grown
pale.
"No, We amt at liberty to abuse any
trust that's put in our hands, but II I'd
known of the blessed Saviour, I'd =
learned this mighty truth, that it never
brings no pleasure but only sorrow to
return evil for evil"
Ibid Dick ever know?"
Yes, Dick knew after he grew to be
. man. I couldn't keep it, aud l Il
think he's hated me ever since 10 you
see revenge wasn't very sweet in that
case. Bless those that persecute you,
boys, that's the doctins."
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Wondera ar tina va1lov.fopa