The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-10-03
Youths Department.
Extract

md Eben and Robert had accompanied our iather 10
tho city. During their absence the boys proposed
picnic at Cark's Point, mile or two up the river
II was given in honor Of two old associates, now col
leaians, on n vacation visit at home was the
Youngest guest and therefore proud of my invitation
Much talk was there among the boys what they
sbould drink and how the affair should be conducted
in grandest style. My mother baked me a cake
buttered crackers and cut large slices Of ham, Tor
nv contribution to the feast. Walking in the garden
l espied Ebcn's large, round, ripe water melon. 1t
was earlier ripe than its fellows, for it had been the
OBJ ject of Eben's special Again and again had
he turned it over the sun, and just before he
left he had raised it upon mooth flat stone, to en-
Joy every advantage of warmth and air. go, If on
ly had that meon!'' thought I; " none of the boys
have got melon TO carry; if only had it!' This
was not wished once, twice, or thrice, but many
times until it grew to my very mind
ssWhat are you thinking OFF, asked Bill Parsons,
as walked silently beside him in the street, an hour
after
& sOmething," replied significantly.
s'Tell me, now, 'wont tell said he coaxngly
After some slight demur, told him how l desired
Eben's melon for the picnic
sCaptalr exclaimed Bill, who was very fond of
melons, 'et's have III
MY, mother will not let me have it, because it Is
not hers TO give and Eben has not come home,
piled |.
20, never mind that! You know what the COL
eye boys tell us about their sprees, They make
nothing ofrobbing hen-roosis and carrying off what
hey can lay their hands on. It's all in joke you
know. Now let's have Ebens melon Many words
passed between U.S. and at last it did not
81. e.; -. ,loto, ,nlJ aIo cpn6n
myself to see it. went home. That night, or
err must the melon be secured. Evening stole on,
md Bill Parsons longer to urge his dangerous
sophistry, was the victim of doubt and hesitation
About the garden hung, and often towards the mel
on advan ced and as often tremblingly receded 1t
grew darker and darker.
bill says it would be capital And, after all,
it's only joke' rushed forward, and seizing fast
hold, snapped it from the stem! The deed done,
FASTENED to secrete the treasure in the barn.
The next morning at an early hour, for no
sound sleep had visited my pillow that night. After
breakfast my mother tied up the eatables she had
prepared for me, in nice white bag, and, kissing my
cheek, babe good boy. l ran out the front
door, and then stole around into the barn. There lay
the melon. Hastily did strive to thrust it into the
bag so large the melon Succeeding at last, slung
the bag upon my shoulder and fastened away. The
melon heavy on my back, but heavier load
was on my heart. Tugging on to the place of rcndez
vous before half there, in little street, l sat
down upon log hot and weary.
Il cannot carry this melon said l. opening the
bag and looking in with remorseful and troubled
spirit. Il cannot carry this poor melon; and tossing
it over fence scampered off with all the speed
master Of
The day passed YEARLY off, YEARLY enough to me.
Bill Parsons called me coward, when he behed
melon and his bitter ranked in my heart all
day.
What wonder, what regrets, attended the discove-
ry the theft.
That beautiful melon stolenr exclaimed Eben,
fusing TO believe it possible.
THAT you took so much pains with said Robert
sWhat an ugly theft
Il am very sorry, my son, and father looked so re-
gretfully.
sYou will have another soon, Eben, said our moth
er, encouragnsly
'But it will not be like that mother did nurse it
carefully Poor Eben I cannot describe the mis-
ory the fear the wretchedness that tore my heart du
ring the days that followed. Where the happy
independence of conscious integrity cringed before
the affectionate of my brothers. Appetite
fled, and my spirits forsook me. When my mother,
with anxious look, feared that sick, I coldly
answered, and fed from her inquiries Every object
which beheld, seemed to reflect but image
that w thief. I bore it till could bare it no
longer J was Saturday afternoon, and, turning dis
tasteful away from Saturday afternoon frolics, I
sought my fathers counting 'sFather are you
alonel" asked the door being ajar.
eyes my son, walk in, am happy to see you;
and he put aside his newspaper.
In went quickly, and shut the door firmly behind
me. Planting myself couragously before him, while
the life blood seemed oozing from my heart, Father,
began, and swallowed hard to keep down the
choahng sensation in my throat father, it wasI who
stole Eben's melon! stole it in the night 4 shall
forget the griefexpression which came sudden
ly over my fathers face as he looked at me. fell
my knees before him and hid my face but did not
cry. He laid his hand upon my head; "Ralph, did
you forget that God beheld you?' The sad earnest.
ness of the inquiry penetrated my inmost soul-Wth
quick and broken utteranco rehersed the story Of
my guilt. "Father! father, you forgive me.
Shall ever be happy again! What shall | dop,'