The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-11-28
.uISCELL.f.N'EOIS.
REUBEN SMAI-OR THE YANKEE
OF IA ITIED

OGTAITIED.
10 pleasant Southern town, soiourned
Reuben Small, Scboolnasier-a restless,
cadayerous indyI5uai-whoso some years pre-.
vioUs to The date Of cur Story, bad enigra
ted from somewhere along shore, 10 the
land Of steady habits. Now Reuben, hav
III, Ike most Of his country men, the organ
Ct agqlis.uyeGess remarkably developed,
and cot content with the emoIuments derry
e. from his literary station, drove large
aud profitable business IN The water melon
lae. Tbs year N question, his melons
we're remarkably fine and in great demand.
REUBEN guarded them from infancy 10 the
IL. runlou, q melon hood, With a parents
care. He uursed each embryo, and saw
viii pan blossom nipped b. bag Or worm !;
ard Oh be glored when he stood among
them, ike father in the midst Of bis chi.
creB, and sas their striped backs grow
broader and rounder. beneath the GENIAL IN.
aJFDoe Of he sumner sun. At length II
bss4me eyideli to Reuben that wolves en-.
tered us io,d--each morn some SIX or eight
striped lacks VAS among the missing, Iedv
iUg % trace Il their former lccauon behind
them, save an oval impression on the ground,
Ike lbe pnnl Of departed hog ia a mud
hole. 1hl, was not 10 be borne. Reuben
g.ousd 10 MS melons, and though. Of the
dollars iheJ would have brought him, aud
hls SPIN, vas stirred 10 yenaeance. De.
iefainug 10 place the remainder out Of all
danger before executing his scheme Of re
FenEe, be plucaed al! shat we're ripe, Or
nearly 50, and placed them away carefully
10 40 upper room Of bis domictI. Unfor
iUualely for hirn this movement vas obsery
ed By an Idle wandering boy, tone Of the
thieves sho, suspecing his intention, hast.
sued Isconmunlcale It to bis fellows. They,
alarmed a the prospect Of losing their plum
Ger, sue determined to outst the master.
Immediately nele secret council. in which
plan "as suggested and plvt laid; the re-.
soii vii be tound 10 The sequel.
Night had thrown her mantle ever the
earth, and all the honest people we're at
home, when Reuben anticipating a foray.
and cbUckling over his ingenuity, unaware
that bis plan vas discovered, aud armed
Nth loaded pistols, emerged from the back
door, and creeping along IN the shadow, a.
length deposited himself aud bis artillery 10
tnt tetce comer-deiermlned 10 blaze way
q 'he h''''n'reder upon bis premises. All
was s''il-nGt a mouse or q cricket disturb.
eo lne silence, bot Reuben slept bot. Sol.
iiary and alone, be sat Ike a grim sentinel
on some brieagured rampant. unconscious
that the enemy we're a, his ga,esl Alas
could he have beheld the scene trspsact;oo
On the other side Of the house, hor would
his blood have boiled within his veins
Slowly and silently party Of fifteen or
t"entY boys approached the window 10 IT,
dian HE; a ladder is planted, the window
IS raised. their leader enters, line is form
ed, aud melon after melon is passed hand Il
hand, like buckets at FIRE, tiil all are safe
ly deposited 10 tie valley below, to be re
moved al leisure. The enemy depahed un
seen and unheafd; the garrison slumberec
undisiurbed, whde Reuben, unconscious O
his loss, kept guard on The other side. Hour
passed after hour, but all was still the full
moon had climbed 10 her meridian. the s,ar,
wlnked, and Reuben nodded; .hen 10 ,
wandering jackass, mislaking him COR ;
slumbering brother, pui his head over III,
fence TO salute bin lifiiDg up bis lrumpe