Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-03-20
GOD. OUR COUNTRY, AND LIBERTY.
ss.s r- From the American Protector.

II succeeded in raising cucambers and
other vegetables earlier than my neigh
bors as if nature favored me especially.
| had the earliest and best kind Of fruits.
But was greatly perplexed with thieving
boys. Almost every nightin the season
of fruit. my garden was visited, trees DAM
aged. and rich flowers trampied down. |
tried various ways to protect my grounds
had watch dogs, but they we're either
shot or poisoned-set traps, but they new
er caugh. anything, except now and then
one of my own cats. AS John Hobbs
says, 80.
Traps every one knows,are safeguard to apples.
Big dogs seldom bite one and guns never shoot.
The chivalrous schoolboy each obstacle grapp cs;
And never dcsists till he pockets the fruit
Finally built wall of solid mason
work about my garden; but that did not
answer. 1t was only by accident that l
found out the way to save ones fruit; and
noticing in the papers divers cautions to
young rogues-1 think it worth while TO
pubIsh somewhat of my experience.
have come to The conclusion that boys
are as much influenced by malice as by
love of good eating in such thieving. If
they know a man to be close6sted, they
will wrench open his fingers in some way.
When | was a Freshman at the UNIVERSE
ty, people about the College complained
very much of their fruit being stolen by
the students, and only one man escaped
and he was the only one who sent up
cart load of excellent apples and distribu-
ted them among the college boys.
| might have known, il | had thought of
my own boyhood, that the way to manage
boys is to treat them kindly. They have
natural code of honor which forbids them
to do him an injury who shows regard
for them. 1t is no compliment to man
that boys love to vex him. II is pretty
lsign that he has not any soul to speak of.
What do you say, 10! shall we come
the grab over them melons tonight? It's
going TO be dark as thunder. Old Swipes
will be snoring like ten men before mid
q night .. '.s ...
/ should like the melons we'll enough,
bat we have to get over that pesky wall,
and
oh, pshaw, 10! know place where
it's easy getting over. know the way
like book. Come 10! will you 90 it p
Now dislike extremely, to be an caves
dropper, and usually convey myself else
where, rather than allow my ears to be a
highway for words not intended for me.
But the conversation so intimatel y concern
ed my melons which | had taken some
pains to raise, that kept quiet and listen
ed to the whole plan OF The young scape-
graces-so that might make it somew What
Ebothersome for them.
Ned proposed to GET over the wall on
the south side by the great pear tree, and
cut directly across TO the summer house
lust north Of which were the melons.
10 was clever thick-Iipped fellow, loved
good fruit exceedingly, that is TO say, as
we'll as he did to lounge in an opening in
INNER time in soft sunny place, and
smoke cigars, and obstinate as an ass
Get him once started to do thing. and he
would stick to it, like mud turtle to ne
gro's Toe, in spite of kicks or what not, till
he had accomplished it. The other was
fiery dare devil, Who didn't care so much
for the melons as for the fun of getting
them.
; made all needfuf preparations for the
: visit; put in brads pretty thick. in the
scantlng along the wall where they inten-
det going over; uncovered large water
vat that had been filed some time, from
which in drv weather was accustomed 10
=. water my garden; dug trench foot deep
e or so. and placed slender boards over it,
which were slightly covered with dirt. and
i. Just beyond them some little cords fasten'
$ ed tigh,Iy-some eight inches. from the
B, ground. / picked all the melons carec
to preserve, leaving pumpkins and squash
es about the size and shape of melons II
a their places. r. - .s...
e They were right in surprising that i
IT would be dark but missed it little III
. supposing odd Swipes.' as they callee
o me, would be abed, though. The old mar
: loves fun as well as they; and little
= sprinkling of gray hairs has not aIsogethe
e sobered him. | have the honor of being
n like Washington. in one respect vii
: laugh as heartily as any mortal man, l be
J. -lieve can roll in a perfect ecstacy; bu
|. as the old negro said of our country's Faith
q err, he did all his laughing inside so do
y One would think Old Swipes in the las
d agonies, to see him in a fit of his silen
g laughter. l expect | am somewhat unfor
}, tunate in being permitted to have enjoy
men. Of this sort without hanging out th'