Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-30
Ghildren's department.
JOHNNIE'S REVENGE.

| Johnnie Clinton was boy OF about four
teen, whom every one loved and respected for
his many ennobling qualities. His father
was once very wealthy, and Johnnie had an
indistinct recollection of large rooms, beau
tiful furniture, and lovely, rare flowers, among
which his little golden-haired, gentle sister,
who had gone to be with God and the angels,
had wandered chasing the butterfly and hum
ming bird, with childish delight. But Mr..
Clinton was dead now, and their riches had
taken to themselves wings and flown away,
and Johnnie and his pious mother went to
live in pretty, but exceeding ly small cottage
in pleasant village situated in the Valley Of
Virginia.
Here Mrs. Clinton supported herself and
child by sewing, and managed to keep John
ME pretty regularly at school. He loved his
mother and felt it was his duty to her and
his Heavenly Father to study hard to try and
learn fast and so he almost always stood
at the head of his class. His teacher loved
him, and he was fayorte with almost all Of
his schoolmates.
One evening, Johnnie came from school
with flushed cheeks and brimming eyes, and
seating himself at his mothers feet, laid his
head, with its wealth of curls, upon her lap.
"What is the matter with my boy" Mrs.
Clinton said, as she passed her hand gently
over his bowed head.
"Oh, mother, Alfred Winter overturned
the ink on Mr.. Crawfords Bible and then
told him did it; and Mr.. Crawford was so
angry, and told me he did not think would
do a thing and then deny it. Butt will be
avenged on Alfred-that I will.
And Johnnie raised his head and looked at
his mother with fierce, burning eyes. His
mother laid her hand on the Bible and said
sadly and quietly:
"Vengeance is mine will repay, saith
the Lord Remember that, my son."
"Yes, mother, I will remember"
There was a yearning for revenge in his
dark eyes as he rose and kissed his mother.
And late that evening, Johnnie sat on the
little stool and listened to her telling of his
little sister, May, who was so meek and mild.
"She was so patient during her long illness" !"
the mother said, as she brushed the tears from
her eyes; "never complaining when the pain
was so acute but always said, God is very
good to take me to Himself in heaven F"
ooh, mother, how good she must have
been"
eyes, my son, she was truly child in
whom the love of Christ abounded"
And Mrs. Clinton folded up her work and
laid it aside, saying as she did so:
L" The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh
away blessed be the name Of the Lord for
ever"
With good. night kiss and "God bless
you, my boy" Mrs. Clinton left Johnnie to
retire. His sleep was sweet that night, and
in his dreams, little May came to him with
angelic form on golden wings cleaning in
the moonlight. And as she brushed his
head with one glittering wing, sang, "Do
good for evil, for it is the golden rule" and
then scared away into earthly bliss.
For several weeks, Johnnie attended school,
but Alfred was absent. The boys said his
father had taken him home to assist on the
farm. Mr. Crawford was cold and distant to
Johnnie, Alfred having affirmed so positively
he saw him overturn the ink.
"Mother, I am avenged" and Johnnie
sprang in at the cottage door, throwing his
cap into the air as he spoke.
Mrs. Clinton looked up with startled ex-
preston at his sudden entrance, while he went
on talking rapidly.
"When was coming from school / met
Alfred and he confessed the wrong he did
me, for which forgave him, in obedience to
the golden rule, as taught by little May in
my dream. Alfred was so sorry he had told
falseheod, and feel so glad that my re-
venge was better than if / had called him
bad names or struck him. 1t is so much
better to do good for evil !"
The mother kissed her darling boy, and
was happy in the possession of a child, who
amid temptation, could so implicitly and
cheerfully obey the golden rule.