Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-09
Getting Even.

STORY FOR BOYS.
"l'm tired of being badgered said
Johnny Eaton, suddenly looking up from
the old rope he was trying to strengthen.
" And it seems as if the more tired | am,
the more | get. wish | could get SO |
don't care, but | can't, and that's the whole
Of it,"
What's the matter now2 ?" asked his
mother.
ooh, the boys make fun Of my sled be.
cause | made it myself--it looks sort Of
numbering, and aia't painted you know {;
but it can beat theirs any day n the week
| shouldn't wonder if that's what ails em.
Boys don't like to be beat" And Johnny's
voice dropped reaectively as be revealed
this bit Of truth, then rose again as he con-
tinued, | could tell EN- just what's the
matter with their old bought things, aud
too,lid too if they treated me half way de-
cent. | could fix their runners in jiify,
SO they'd 90 like split. Paint and pictures
don't make fast sleds, but they can find it
out for themselves, | won't tell them. l
guess they'll get come up with and
Johnny shook his curly head vengefully.
Can't you think of better way than
that Of coming up with them ~ asked
Mrs. Eaton, gently. A way that you
would enjoy moreP "
Johnny looked up 10 wonder.
"Why-no You wouldn't have me
play any tricks on EN- ? That would be
mean and besides | wouldn't enjoy 1t at
all | feel small now sometimes, when
get to the foot Of the bill way ahead
Of 'em aud know that 10 two minutes
could fix things so they'd have show
They don't have bit now.
Exactly" said his mother. That is
just what | thought None Of US are COM
Portable when we are returning evil for
evil"
Johnny's face was a mystifed one, but
she went on without noticing.
"Now suppose that the next time you 90
out on the hill instead Of starting of and
leaving them way behind, vexed and nsham-
ed, you should tell them just what is the
reason their sleighs are so much slower
than yours ?"
What" Johnny's voice was very
astonished one, Tell Bill Ellis. and Fred
Magee, and Tom Loring, Just what ails
their sleds, when they badger inc so Why
that's the only way l have of getting even
with EN-"
but wouldn't you feel better if you were
no longer burdened with the selfish Sc.
eret ?"
"Why, yes but then they'd feel better
too"
"Of course. There is nothing uneven
about that, is there2"
Johnny's eyes opened little wider. liz
began to comprehend.
"You see, Johnny, there are different
ways of getting even | think Christ'l
way is the best. He makes everybody a,
happy as possible, and then is happy il
their happiness"
And then Mrs Eaton walked from the
small sitting-room into the smaller kitchen
Judging wisely that Johuuy's busy little
mind would be just then better alone.
That afternoon the boys gathered il
crowds, at the top Of the town hill.
81 hope Johnny Eaton will stay a
home" said Bill Ellis. Hes such con
ceited little popnjay there's no getting
along with him lie manages to MAKE
that old ark of his go; but he does it il
such pompous way, there's no fun il
watching him"
81 don't think he's exactly pompous,
said Tom Loring. "But hope ne won
show off to-day There's no fun ia sliding
down hill, when somebody can do it twic,
to your once With such ricketty ole
sled as he has, too. | tell you, fellows
it's rough"
Let's turn him off the ground" saiC
Fred Msgee, whose father was a county
Judge, and whose sled was the haudsomes
on the hill. There's enough of US to d.
it, and as you say Tom, there's no fun il
sliding against such luck as his"
Just then Johnny sled 10 hand, cam
painting to the top.
say, boys he commenced, befor
any of the crowd could speak, f" Let's hav
real good, square race. I'll show yo'
how to fix your sleds so they'll go every bi
as fast as mine, maybe faster, becaus
they're not so numbering, and we'll have
jolly afternoon"
All the boys gathered round to receiv
the desired instruction, and after some lit
tie tinkeriDg two of the sleds were pro
nouneed in racing order.
III 90 first !" said Bill Magce. An
you fellows time me, to see If there's an
difference" Bill was rather suspicious, i
: the truth must be told
With a one, two, three!" Bill threv
his sled upon the hard pressed snow, an
started on the trial trip. There was n
need of timing, the improvement was to
manifest to be doubted for moment.
You're a brick, Johnny Eaton F" sal
Bill, slapping him cordially on the shoulder
"That's so! echoed the other boys wit
one accord.
Johnny did not say much in reply-th
success of his experiment had been to
, great, but his comrades understood hi
silence, so II was just as well.
Mrs. Eaton looked up anxiously, as b
entered the house that night, then smile
as she saw bis flushed, happy face.
"Oh mother" he began eagerly, I" sue
a grand time as I've had Those fellow
are jus, splendid, and | thought they wer
awful prigs don't see how ever mad
!. such mistake" then more gently--"You
: way of getting even is the best"
I" Not mine," answered his mother