Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-18

"Father what Is poetic justicer asked
Fred Stanley. at the table.
BLESS the boy, what put that into his
head?" said the mother
why, there was something about it in
our reading lesson today, and when I asked
Miss Thompson what 1t meant, she said she
should see how many Of us could find out
for ourselves and give her an illustration
Of 1t tomorrow; but I don't know how to
find out unless you tell me. father"
Mr.. Stanley looked thoughtful for a mo-
ment. and then smiled as if struck by some
amusing recollection.
Poetic justice" he said, "is a kind Of
justice that reaches us through the unfor-
seen consequences Of our unjust acts.
will tell you a little story, Fred, that
! think will furnish the illustration you are
after.
IT recall summer afternoon a good
many years ago. when I 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 a stray dog. He was a
friendless, 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 caper-
| ed for joy, and trotted along at our side, as
| If to say, Now, boys, I'm one of YOU We
named him Rover. and boylike tried to find
| out how much he knew and what he could
do in the way of tricks; and we soon dis
covered that he would fetch and carry
| beautifully. No matter how big the stick
| or stone, nor how far away we threw 1t, he
would reach it and draw 1t back to u.s.
Fences, bitches and brambles he seemed to
regard only as 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 blackberries. In
my wanderings I discovered a hornets nest,
| largest ever saw, and have seen a good
many; it was built in a cluster of black
| ground. Moreover 1t was at the foot Of a
| little hill; and as scampered up the latter,
was met at the summit by Rover. frisking
about with a stick in his mouth. I don't
see why the dog and the hornets nest should
| have connected themselves in my mind; but
| they did, and a wicked thought was born
! Of the union.
Bob, Wil,'' called to the boys, come
| here, We'll have some fun.
They came promptly, and I explained my
villainous project. I pointed out the hor-
down upon it and send Rover after the
stone And oh won't 1t be fun to see how
astonished he'll be when the hornets come
out?' I cried in conclusion They agreed
that 1t would be funny. We selected a good
sized round stone. called Rover's special at
tention to It, and started 1t down the hill.
When 1t had a fair start we turned the dog
loose; and the roor fellow, never suspecting
our treachery, darted after the stone with
| q joyous bark. We had taken good aim,
and as the ground was smooth, the stone
went true to It's mark and crashed into the
hornets nest Just as Rover sprang upon 1t.
In less than a minute the furious insects
had swarmed out and settled upon the poor
animal. His surprise and dismay filled our
anticipation; and we had just began to dou-
bic ourselves In paroXysms Of laughter
when with frenzied yelps Of agony he came
tearing up the hill toward US followed
toIa 1,yt 1,a nAo
RUM I shouted, and we did run; but
| the maddened dog ran faster and dashed
| into our midst with piteous appeals for
help. The hornets settled like a 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 1t was poor
! Rover who rose to the emergency and with
| superior instinct showed us a way to rid
| ourselves Of our vindictive assailants. As
| soon as he realized that we, too, were in
distress and could give no assistance, he ran
| blindly to a stream that flowed through the
meadow not far away, and, plunging in
| Owed clear beneath the surface. We fol-
! lowed him, and only ventured to crawl out
| from the friendly element when we were
| assured that the enemy had withdrawn
| Then we sat on the bank of the stream and
looked at each other dolefully through our
| swoolen, purple eyelids while the water
| dripped from our clothing and a hundred
i singing wounds reminded US what ex-
cessively funny fun we had been having
| with Rover.
| THE poor dog. innocent and free from
| guilt himself. judged us accordingly, and
| creeping up to me- licked my hand In silent
| sympathy. Then some dormant sense Of
| justice asserted itself in me.
| Boys" I said. we've had an awful time;
but. I tell you what. 1t served US right"
Neither of them contradicted me; and,
| rising stiffly, we went slowly homeward,
1 yr,if ok oil hak
said Mr.. Stanley in conclusion, IFS a good
/ instance Of poetic Justice"