The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-05
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS srY.
FRUIT STEALING.

FRUIT STEALING.
The efforts, that are now making to repress
the shameful practise of stealing fruit and rob
bing orchards, are highly commendabIe. The
industrious and provident man has been cheat
ed long enough by his careless and negligent
neighbors; and it now becomes the duty of all
men, who have a clear perception of right and
wrong, to use their most vigorous exertions to
put stop to this kind of stealing. Let the TAX
ing of fruit from neighbours garden be consd
cred in the same light as the taking of money
from a neighbours draw, and the husbandman
need no longer refrain from planting his fruit
trees, because he will know that they are no
longer common property. If a society could
be formed in every town for the purpose Of put
ting stop to this custom, we cannot but be-
lieve that its object WOULD be fully attained. It
would throw a disgrace all fruit steaers,
which the public do not now appreciate, nor
they themselves feel Custom would no lon
ger be plead a sanction to guilt, or pall;ation
to crime. Ne2hbor W. would no longer be
called :. skin-hin or a mean, chicken hearted
fellow, because he would not make his excellent
peach orchard, which he had reared BY much
care and labor, the common property of all low
ers OF good peaches Rights to fruit, well
as rights TO other property, would be respected
and Ike lazy ana careless dTUuvv vs svuivry
would he reduced 10 the distressing alternative
of paying proper price for their fruit, or of
-
going without
That such would be the effect of these socie-
ties, we are authorized to say, from what has
already been done. The tide of public opinion
has already begun to flow strongly against this
kind of stealing. 1t has already confined a Gus
tom, which, sixty years ago, was almost uni
versal, to comparatively few But few,
who would then rob neighbours garden, or
purioin his largest and best watermelon, with
out the least remorse OF conscience, would now
thus set at defiance individual rights.
Though the taking Of fruit without leave
may not be regarded as stealing by him who
takes or him from whom it may be taken, yet
like dishonesty in every thing else, it generally
works its own reward A noted instance of
this happened in town in this vicinity some
sixty years ago. A notorious thief, whom, for
the want of a better name, we shall call Bgnal
was in the habit of taking share of the good
things Of all orchards, gardens, and watermelon
Yards in the town He become so bold and
troublesome to his neighbors, that it was
necessary to find some check to his career No
sooner had the night set in than he was abroad
with his bag, ready to purloin all the good fruit
that he might find. Perils did not deter, nor dam
gers frghten kim. He, however, at last met with
proper reward. One spring he had planted,
in an opening in distant wood, large bed of
water-melons, thinking that in such a remote
and secluded place, no one besides himself
would evor find them. But in this he was mis-
taken, for he might as well have attempted
to hide his cornfeld from the crows, as his wa
ter-melon yard from the thieves The water
melons grew well, and lay thick like Yankee
pumpkins turning their backs to the sun =
When they had got cleverly ripe, a company OF
young men, who know how to play the Joke,
went to Bignal, and informed him that they
knew Of fine yard of water-meons not far dis
tant, and at the same time gave him an invita-
ticn to go with them some night, and get some
of them. He readily assented the time aud
place of meeting to start on the expedition was
agreed on. When they had all assembled at
the appointed place with bags and knives, pre-.
pared TO do their work thoroughly, il was sug.
gested by some one of the company, that it was
proper first to go to the neighboring tavern, and
" I'll their skins, as they called it, with g Flip .
To this Bignal did not object, but went on and
did his part in passing off mug after mug, until
all things to his own eyes began to move in a
circle. They then started, and directed their
course through woods and swamps, over hills
and rocks, until they arrived by circuious
route to Bgnals watermelon yard. He looked
on the watcr-melons with rapture, but did not
recognize them as his own, for his brains were
somewhat turned by the numerous evolutions
that he had made under the influence Of his
"cp-winged ap." He, however, did not stop
for reflection, but took hold and filed his BAG
WteH eio Just WutcT-IntlOnS lHdL he could md,
and at the same time was not wanting in ex-
hortations to the rest of the party to do the
same. When they had got as many as they
wanted, il was proposed BY the company to re-
turn. "No," says Bignal, I" let us do thorough
work let us cut open all the watermelons that
are left, and pull up the vines" No sooner
said than done. The vines were torn IN by
the roots, and the water-molons were dashed on
The rocks, until The work of desolation was full.
ly accomplished They then made their way
back in the same direction that they came, and
separately returned TO their homes for the
night. Bigna rose in the morning, and went
to his watermelon yard What sight did j.
present The work Of season had been de-
Blroyed in night, --all his expected happiness
was cut off, and his fondest hopes blasted. His
only consolation was that it was done by his
own hands, and the only Improvement of the
lesson was firm resolve to never steal any
more watcr-meloas, ID.