The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-18
FORGIVING
JOHNSTON
A Story For Independence Day
By ESTHER VANDEvEER

ABOUT a BIZ war. Everything Is about
war nowadays. Tell us a Fourth of
July story"
"I1l tell you about a man Of peace
who got mixed up with those who
were bent on fighting. He was my
grandfather, and he was a member
Of the Society OF Friends. They ara
commonly called Quakers. Ny grand
father lived in Philadelphia, which
was settled by Quakers. His name
was Forgiving Johnston, and be was
one Of the pillars Of the Society of
Friends, whose principles were that If
they were attacked forcibly they must
not resist He was looked up to as q
shining example Of peace and patience.
During the Revolutionary war Phil
adelphia was occupied for a good deal
Of the time by the British troops.
Grandfather Johnston lived in the sub
urbs. and since he raised chickens
and gardea truck, as well as working
a dairy, he was often plundered by the
British soldiers, who came out from
the city to forage on the country. He
was a strong patriot, but as a Quaker
would not resist the foragers. OF
course his nonresistant principles be-
came known among the soldiers, and
since they could rob him with less dan
ger than a fighting man they confined
their attention to him till they had
wen nigh stripped him OF everything
he possessed.
His children were obliged to bear
all this, for none Of them dared oppose
him, but finally there came a time
when they banded together to stop the
plundering. There were Pardon and
Daniel. his two sons-Daniel was nv
father-and Patience and Prudence,
his two daughters. The boys conspired
together that the next time a party of
redcoats came on to the premises they
would drive them on. OF course they
could not do this with slaves: they
must use firearms. They made loop
holes in the wooden walls of the barn
and gathered there stock of muskets
and ammunition.
The first thing the old man knew he
heard firing In the direction of the
barn. Looking out through a window,
he saw half dozen soldiers chasing
bis chickens about and puts of smoke
emanating from the sides Of the barn.
He understood what was going on and,
stepping out on to the roof of the front
porch. called out In loud voice to his
sons:
"Boys. cease this firing! It is better
that every chicken In the yard should
be taken than one drop Of blood should
be drawnr
But either the boys did not hear him
or II they did they paiaIs64 attention
to his command. One ofSyie soldiers
fell, and his comrades ceased chasing
the chickens and turned their attention
to those in the barn. The troopers
had short guns with them, for they
were mounted men, and they began a
fusillade, which drew a more rapid IRE
from my uncle and my father In the
barn.
"The old gentleman. when he found
that he could not stop his boys tight
ing. stalked back and forth on the
porch roof. struggling with his desire
to enter the fray himself. After a
time he went into the house and
brought out his rife. but got the better
of his pugnacity, stood the gun up
against the house and resumed his
walk It was said that his lips moved
In prayer to be saved from the sin Of
fighting.
Zone OF the girls, Prudence, was in
the barn with her brothers, and she /
was firing through a loophole. The
Johnstons' ammunition was running
low. and II not replenished they would |
lose the fight Prudence volunteered
to run the gantiet to the house and |
bring them more powder and lead. |
urging upon her brothers that the sol
diers would not shoot a woman. They i
finally consented. and. emerging from
the deor. she ran like the wind to the
house.
The old man saw her coming and |
surmised what for. He shouted to her |
10 run fast and at the same>time. for
getting himself, used unseemly Lam
guage to the soldiers, who were firing |
at her. Presently she stumbled and |
fell. Her father seized his rife and,
Ieaping from the root. ran toward the |
soldiers. Possibly he thought It not |
quite so sinful to use his gun as q club |
as to fire 1t At any rate. he ran in |
among the soldiers, his blows falling |
On them with the rapidity of lightning |
and the weight Of a sledgehammer.
Several OF them fell with broken |
skulls, and the rest took to their heels.
''Now. my grandfather having driven |
them OF, there was no need for him |
to commit a further sin by following |
them But he did. and. since he could |
run faster than they, he kept well up |
with them and brought his rife down |
On one OF them with such force that |
the stock was shivered
the fight being over, the boys and !
girls went to the assistance Of the |
wounded and with difficulty prevented |
their father from dispatching them
However. they carried them all into
The Sshouse and attended to their |
nearly all OF which had been
given them by Mr.. Forgiving Johnston.
Those soldiers who got away report |
A. -