The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1854-12-16
Gclcttc0 lflisfcliol,p.
Stealing Water Melons,

""'"'- u "'a' -"'ut"' ~ Huu hli MINUS oI
vegetables aud fruits earlier than his neigh.
bors. But thievng boys N the neighbor
hood annoyed hun damaged lis trees,
lrnmpled down hls ilowers, aud "hoohcd "
his choicest lfu't lie tried various ways
to protect his grounds but his watch dogs
were poisoned, aud his set trans caught
nothing but bis latest fowls or his most
layorte eat.
ooc afternoon. however, jus, at night
fall, he oyerbears a couple Of mischieyous
boys talking together, when one Of them
says
"What do you say. oe,-shall we come
the grab over them mcions to night Old
Swipcs will he snoring like ten men before
twelve o'clock
Tho other objected, AZ there vas hiah
wall to get over
ooh pshaw' :" was the reply know
A place where YOU can Get over ius, as
e,sy-know il like n hook Coue. loe
le,'s On it,"
The owner of the melon match didn't ike
the idea of heinz an caves dronner. bu, the
conversation SO intimately concerned his
melons. which he had taken so much pains
ia raise. ,ba, he k.rt onic, and listened Ia
,be Who'll nla,. or The yonng scaregrocc.
ga tina, he nieht mako !, somevhat bother.
some for Them
\ed ntonosed To get over The wall ON the
south side. hy the great pear tree. aud cut
directly across To The 0mmer bopse lust
north Of which were the melons.
Joe Maa clever fellow. who owed good
fruit exceedingly, and was as obstinate as
an ass. Get him once stirred to do a thing
and he would stick to it, like a mud turtle
to a nerro'4 toe. The other didn't care So
much for the melons as for the fun Of net.
ting them.
Now hear the owners story
" made all ncodul preparation, ior the
visit pa, in brads pretty thick in the scaut.
ling along the wall where they intended to
get over; uncovered large water vat thai,
had been filled for some time from which
in dry weather, | was accustomed to water
my garden, dug trench a foot deep or 50,
and placed slender boards over i, which
were slightly covered with dirt. aud Just
beyond them some htdc cords. fastened
tightly, some eight inches from the ground
lpiclcl all the m Ions cared to preserve
leaving pumpkin. aud sqnssbes. about the
size and shape of melons, IN their places
The boys were quite right in supposiug
it would be dark. bot they missed it little
lu n(erriug that "old SWipes. as they call
ed him, would BE- Ia b'd' The "iI 1850"
liked a little inn as wen a. ihrN ana "h,n
tho time came, from ms hiding place he
hst'usu
" " hist Joe don you "faf ''"'''
ung
"'oH mat ~ l, '" .La.
Tor hafd'y were vac "","S N' ai ' ','''
lh're came SUNNI ~ u 'o'''''' ''''''r
'"S''Hn' ,,,o. .t...if
VET %" MY eo"t ga" ""''i'''''' NV
mere goes 81" nap ~ sure ~ s""
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