1. "I will have revenge on him, that I will, and make him heartily repent
it," said Philip to himself, with a countenance quite red with anger. His
mind was so engaged that he did not see Stephen, who happened at that
instant to meet him.
2. "Who is that," said Stephen, "on whom you intend to be revenged?"
Philip, as if awakened from a dream, stopped short, and looking at his
friend, soon resumed a smile that was natural to his countenance. "Ah,"
said he, "you remember my bamboo, a very pretty cane which was given me by
my father, do you not? Look! there it is in pieces. It was farmer
Robinson's son who reduced it to this worthless state."
3. Stephen very coolly asked him what had induced young Robinson to break
it. "I was walking peaceably along," replied he, "and was playing with my
cane by twisting it round my body. By accident, one of the ends slipped
out of my hand, when I was opposite the gate, just by the wooden bridge,
where the ill natured fellow had put down a pitcher of water, which he was
taking home from the well."
4. "It so happened that my cane, in springing back, upset the pitcher, but
did not break it. He came up close to me, and began to call me names, when
I assured him that what I had done had happened by accident, and that I
was sorry for it. Without regarding what I said, he instantly seized my
cane, and twisted it, as you see; but I will make him repent of it."
5. "To be sure," said Stephen, "he is a very wicked boy, and is already
very properly punished for being such, since nobody likes him or will have
anything to do with him. He can scarcely find a companion to play with
him; and is often at a loss for amusement, as he deserves to be. This,
properly considered, I think will appear sufficient revenge for you."
6. "All this is true," replied Philip, "but he has broken my cane. It was
a present from my father, and a very pretty cane it was. I offered to fill
his pitcher for him again, as I knocked it down by accident. I will be
revenged."
7. "Now, Philip;" said Stephen, "I think you will act better in not
minding him, as your contempt will be the best punishment you can inflict
upon him. Be assured, he will always be able to do more mischief to you
than you choose to do to him. And, now I think of it, I will tell you what
happened to him not long since."
8. "Very unluckily for him, he chanced to see a bee hovering about a
flower which he caught, and was going to pull off its wings out of sport,
when the animal stung him, and flew away in safety to the hive. The pain
put him into a furious passion, and, like you, he vowed revenge. He
accordingly procured a stick, and thrust it into the beehive."
9. "In an instant the whole swarm flew out, and alighting upon him stung
him in a hundred different places. He uttered the most piercing cries, and
rolled upon the ground in the excess of his agony. His father immediately
ran to him, but could not put the bees to flight until they had stung him
so severely that he was confined several days to his bed."
l0. "Thus, you see, he was not very successful in his pursuit of revenge.
I would advise you, therefore, to pass over his insult. He is a wicked
boy, and much stronger than you; so that your ability to obtain this
revenge may be doubtful."
11. "I must own," replied Philip, "that your advice seems very good. So
come along with me, and I will tell my father the whole matter, and I
think he will not be angry with me." They went, and Philip told his father
what had happened. He thanked Stephen for the good advice he had given his
son, and promised Philip to give him another cane exactly like the first.
12. A few days afterward, Philip saw this ill-natured boy fall as he was
carrying home a heavy log of wood, which he could not lift up again.
Philip ran to him, and helped him to replace it on his shoulder. Young
Robinson was quite ashamed at the thought of this unmerited kindness, and
heartily repented of his behavior. Philip went home quite satisfied.
"This," said he, "is the noblest vengeance I could take, in returning good
for evil. It is impossible I should repent of it."
DEFINITIONS.--l. Re-venge', return for an injury. Re-pent', to feel sorry
for. Coun'te-nance, the face. 2. Re-sumed', took again. 3. In-duced',
caused. 4. As-sured, declared positively. Re-gard'ing, noticing. 5.
Con-sid'ered, thought of care'fully. 7. Con-tempt', disdain, scorn.
In-flict', to impose, to put on. 8. Hov'er-ing, hanging over or about. 9.
Ag'o-ny, very great pain. 10. A-bil'i-ty, power.
EXERCISES.--What is revenge? Is it right to take revenge on those who
injure us? How should we treat such persons?