The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-11-05
Poetic Justice.

s "heS 40 poSeto J0psASos
asked Fred Stanley. at the table.
"Bless the boyl What put thai
into his head?" said his mofher.
"Why, there was something about
it in our reading lesson today, and,
when I asked Miss Thompson what
it meant, she said we should see bow
many Of us could find out for our,
selves, and give her an illustration Of
It tomorrow, but I don't know how
to find out, unless you tell me,
father"
Mr. Stanley looked thoughtful for
moment, and then smiled as if
struck by some amusing recollection.
Poetic JUSTICE" he said, sis a
kind OF justice that reaches us through
the unforeseen consequences Of our un-
just acts. will toll you little
story, Fred, that I think will furnish
the illustration you are after.
II recall q summer afternoon q
good riany years ago, when I was not
so lprge as l am now. Two other
boys and myself went blaokberrying
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 vas friend
less, forlorn-looking creature, and
seemed delighted to make up with us;
and when we gave him some scraps
of bread and meat from our lunch
basket, he capered for joy, and trotted
along at our side, as if to say, 'Now,
boys, I'm one Of you We named
him Rover, and 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 beautifully. No matter
how big the stick OF the stone, nor
how far away we threw it, he would
reach it, and drew it back to US. Fen
ces, ditchee, and brambles be seemed
to regard as only 80 many obstacles
thrown in his way to try his pluck
and endurance, and he overcame them
all.
AT length We reached the meadow,
and scattered out in quest of black
berries. In my wandering I discover
ed hornets nest, the largest I ever
saw. and L have seen a good many.
1t was built in a cluster of blackberry
vines, and hung low, touching the
ground. Moreover, it was at the foot
Of little hill; and. as 1 scampered up
the latter, I was met at the summit
by Rover, frisking about with stick
in his mouth. 7 don't see why the
dog and hornets nest should have
connected themselves in my mind; {;
but they did, and wicked thought
was born Of the union.
"'Robl WIFI I called to the boys;
come here. Well have some fun
"They came promptly, and ex-
planned my villainous project. I
pointed out The hornets nest, and
proposed that we roll stone down
uponit, and send Rover after the stone.
And, oh! won't it be fun to see how
astonished he'll be when the hornets
come out?' I cried, in conclusion.
They agreed that it would be funny.
We selected good-sized,round stone,
called Rover's special attention to it,
and started it down the hill. When
it had fair start, We turned the dog
loose; and the poor fellow, never sus
pecting our tf.dohery, darted after
the stone with o joyous bark. We
had taken good aim, and, as the ground
was smooth, the stone vent true &c
its mark, and crashed into the hor-
nets nest just as Rover sprang upon
it. In less than minute the furious
insects had swarmsd out, and settled
upon the poor animal. His surprise
and dismay filed our anticipation,
and we had just begun to double our
selves in paroxysms Of laughter when,
with frenzied yelps of agony, he came
up the hill toward us, followed olose-
ly by all the hornets.
RUM I shouted; and we did
run; but the maddened dog ran faster,
and dashed into our midst, with pit
eous appeals for help. The hornets
settled like black, avenging cloud
over us, and the scene that followed
battles my power Of description. We
ran, we scattered, we rolled on the
ground, and we howled with agony.
Il have never known just how long
the torture lasted; but I remember it
was poor Rover who rose to the emer-
genoy, and, with superior instinct,