The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-26
Poetic Justice.

Father, what is poetic justice?"
asked Fred Stanley at the tea-table.
Bless the boyI What put that into
his head?" said mother.
Why, there was something about it
in our reading-les son to-day, and when
! asked Miss Thompson what it meant
she said we should see how many of
US could find out for ourselves and give
her an Illustration of it tomorrow: but
l don't know how to find out, unless
you tell me, father"
Mr.. Stanley looked thoughtful for a
moment, and then smiled, as if struck
by some amusing recollection.
Poetic justice" he said, is kind
OF justice that reaches us through the
unforeseen consequences of our unjust
acts. L will tel you little story, Fred,
that | think will furnish the illustra-
ton you are after.
Il recall summer afternoon, a good
many years ago, when | was not so
large as | am now. Two other BOYS
and myself went blackberrying in big
meadow several miles from home. On
our way to the meadow, as we padded
along the dusty highway, we met
stray dog. He was a friendess, for
lighted to make up with us, and when
we gave him some scraps of bread and
meat from our lunch bas ket he capered
for joy and trotted along at our side, as
if to say, Now, boys, Pm one of YOU
We named him Rover, AMI, boy like,
tried to find out how much he knew,
and what he could do in the way of
tricks; and we soon discovered that he
would fetch and carry beau fully.
No matter how big the stick or stone,
or how far away we threw it, he would
reach it and drag it back to us. Fences,
di ches, and brambles he seemed to re-
gard only as so many obstacles thrown
in his way to try his pluck and endur-
ance, and he overcame them all.
AT length we reached the meadow,
and scattered cut in quest of black
berries. In my wanderings | dscov-
cred hornets nest, the largest ever
saw-and | have seen a good many.
1T was built in a cluster of blackberry
vines, and hung low, almost touching
the ground. Moreover, it was at the
foot Of little hill, and as | scampered
up the latter | was met at the summit
by Rover, frisking about with a stick in
his mouth. | don't know why the dog
and the hornets nest should have con-
nected themselves in my mind, but
they did, and a wicked thought was
born Of the union.
"' Rob viii, l called to the other
boys; come here; Wen have some
fun
They came promptly, and l ex.
planned my villainous project. |
pointed out the hornets nest, and pro-
posed that we roll stone down upon
it and send Rover after the stone.
And, oh cracky, won't it be fun to see
how astonshed he'll be when the hor-
nets come cut | cried in conclusion.
They agreed that it would be awfully
funny. We selected good sized
round stone, called Rover's special at
tention 10 it, and started it down the
hill. When it had fair start we turned
the dog loose, and the poor fellow.
never suspecting our treachery, darted
after the stone with Joyous bark. We
had taken good aim, and, as the ground
was smooth the stone went true to its
mark, and crashed into the hornets
nest just as Rover sprang upon it. In
less than minute The furious insects
had swarmed out and settled upon the
POOi nhi'hai' MS Sui pIloc anu ulSIDdy
fulfilled our anticipations, and we had
just begun to double ourselves up in
paroXysms of laughter when, with
frenzied yelps Of agony, he came tear
ing up the hill toward us, followed
closely by all the hornets.
Runn / shouted, and we did run
but the maddened dog ran faster anC
dashed into our midst with piteous ap
peals for help. The hornets settled
ike black, avenging cloud, all over us
and the scene that followed battles my
description. We ran, we scratched
we rolled on the ground, and we howlet
with agony, till the meadow was, for the
time being, turned into pandemonum
:" have never known just how Ions
the torture lasted, but / remembered i
was poor Rover who rose to the emer
g.ency, and with superior instinc
showed us a WaV IN rid oure a1yos % ~,