Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-11-16
How 10 steel watermeIons.

In the neighborhood Of iheS SAourishing town
Of Honesdale, there lived some three or four
| years since-and perhaps still lises-an oddi-
! ty who rejoiced in The name Of Jacob Sninger.
Jacob was one of that class who are "abou,
| when an extra hand is wanted-who are gen.
| orally useful when there is pressure, and who
retire 10 enjoyment ard repose when times are
about 'middlin'" He found decidedly more
attractions IN "a ramble lhrough The woods with
his gun, or along The streams with his trout
6xins,' than in any kind of agricultural en-
ploymeni; but, much as he lancied hunting, he
was not very successful in that ne, and 10 make
up for the deficiency. he would gi<e his aid as
a .eamster, in The busy season, 10 his more
wealthy neishbors who wffe all more less in
teresled in the lumber business. La that capa
city he engaged with old Squire Yales TO take
a quantity of lumber 10 Honesdale. On The
road 10 the latter place abou, two miles from
Yales, lived an industrious farmer named Ben
melt, who was known about ltie neighboIhood
pretty generally, TO have very promising patch
of watermeIo Iors. This was The more in,eres-
ting, inasmuch as the article was scarce in The
eighburhood. Day after day. as Jacob passed
along the road by The farmers with his loilng
cattle, Thoughts of the watefmelons would force
themselves into his mind. How pleasant it
would be 10 haze one-only one And then
the 'elderly gentleman in black" would whis-
per how easily and how safety it nigh, be done.
Still Jacob resisted for he had high and de-
served reputation for honesty and integrity with
his neighbors, which he wished to sustain.
A, last however The walermelons became
ripe, Jacob knew it, though he had never seen
them, and now the temptation was irresistible.
Our hero, though with many compunclons, de-
iermined TO have one---only one; and that very
night be vowed il should be done.
Evening came, and, after feeling in his pock-
Ell if his jack was safe, he started on his
expedition The road seemed to him unusu-
ally long and dreary, and several times he felt
little frightened. The truth is, he had never
undertaken such an expedition before and no.
without reason has the great poet written ''con-
science DOH make towards of US ALL"
We are now al s'old Benne,i's" fence, and
Jacob is over il, and cau,iuusly advancing to
where he knew the "pach" mus, be---not un.
noticed, however "Old Bennet," knew the
value OF his crop, and that if he would keep i,
he mus, watch il and watch il he did as the
dragon of old watched the fruit Hesperaden.. =
No sooner did jacob cross The fence than the
owner of the melons advanced from his hiding
place, and was abou. 10 hail the intruder. when
10 his surprise he discovered who it was.
Now. Jacob u as abou, the las. man Bennett
would have expected TO come al night 10 rob
his melon palch. and even now, as ne cautious
ly moved on before him. he almos, doubled.---
Nevertheless he carefully followed him. The
depredalor aimed at once for the .'palch." There
was no moon, but few stars shed light enough
10 enable him 10 find his way into the midst.
Hastily selecting promising one. he struck
once more Tor the fence, sill followed by "old
Bennett" Crossing il he threw himsIf and his
prey down in The bushes muierrng, as he did
so-.-"Waf, old fellow, you have done j, this
time n
The jack-knfe was soon produced, and slice
hewed out; but no sooner was the first mouth
ful taken than he sput,ercd j, out, exclaiming--
!" Ii is a cussed green punkIn!" A momen,
after he went on---"Y ou are a nice old fool. yoh
are, Jacob, should guess Ian honest, clever
old fellow. so The neighbors say. You are a
stupid hog. Jacob, you are! You are a arascally
old fool, you would steal wa.ermelons, would
YOU !-.-and you have slole cussed green pun
kin! Well, old fellow, you would steal il-
now. cuss you, you shall eal ~ Suiiing the
action TO The word he began 10 devour h,s prize
with many expressions of disgust, and with d
determination 10 keep he "old fool" TO il. A.
last the task was accomplished and he rose
10 depart. muiiering. as he did SO, 10 The inhn-
lie amusemen, of old Bennett, who said nothing
---"You internal ass, serves you right You
are no. fit for rascal Any man Who has no
more guIDption than TO steal p0nkin instead
of a waiermeIOn W had better keen honest He'll
never make anything on, Of his rascaky !"
Philadelphia Sunday Dispatch.