Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-11-14
The naslkel Of Peaches.

Half q century ago, that excellent man,
the Rev. William Woodbridgc, established
in the town, now city, of Newark, aboarding
school for young ladies. HisresidencewaS
on the upper Green, in alarge stone building
afterwards the property of A. Day, Esq,
and attached to the house was II large, deep
eGgden, well filed with fruit-trees.lHa 0l5f
venerable preceptor coul'l sit in his
back parlor, and while unOhserved,7 have a
tolerably good view of the entire ganlen
and of all the Young ladies who delighted
to frequent it. He was greatly pleased to
see his Young and Joyous flock of charming
girls gamboling gsunder the trees and enjoy
ing the beatuies of. nature when rQhed lin
the gIorics of carly summer and he flidnot
fail t5rimproye every opportunity to enforce
some valuabla truth. G1il8aG o1 ias.H1cz7 q
1t was about midsummer that he noticed
one luxuriant peaeh-tree, laden with green
fruit so plcntifullv, that the boughs fairly
bent down under its weight. He naturally
supposed that the beautiful tinge upon the
ripening peach might tempt his young
friend ,,t to taste of the fruit before il. was
fully ripe; and one lovely afternoon, Just
before sunset, he called the young ladies in
to the parlor and kindly and atfectionately
expostnIated with them on the danger of
eating unripe fruit, and he promised that
those who refrained from plucking the green
fruit should have it all when matured.-
Each bright and happy face yielded a full
assent to this. reasonable proposition, and
they ran down into the garden withuuwo
ed delight. a i4'a raf farI zria-m
This tree, in particular was an object of
great attention, and the warm days of sum
mer were fast preparing for this happy
throng adelicious feast, They daily watch
cd its progress towards maturity, and man
Tested sometimes no little impatiencc.
The venerable minister and teacher as he
sat in his back parlor, and as the peaches
were fast approaching to maturity, could
sometimes see the upliftcd hand Of some
young lady plucking the forbidden fruit
He, however, said nothing until the time
arrived when the peaches were perfectly
ripe. He had the fruit carefully gathered,
and the choicest of it filed large basket.
He placed it in the back parIor, and call
ed in all the young ladies, and took occas-
ion, on exhibiting it, to enforce the epropriety
of his former injunction, and assured them
of the qualification it now afforded him of
presenting to them basket Of delicious
fruit, fully ripe; and requested those who
had not plucked any green peaches from the
trco to come forward and partake bountiful-
ly of the large supply. O sars5. Ola "a
To his surprise, all remained motionless
except one little girl. She, with gentle
step, approached the venerable teacher
'My DEAR" said he, shave you not eaten n
single pcach!" She laid her little hand
upon her breast, and sweetIy replied, "Not
one SIR" "Thcn," said the excellent man,
''thc whole basket-full is yours" o. ag-
q The happy girl took them and made dis
tribution among all her school-fellows,-
how pure the JOY which flows from obedi-
ence, and how satisfying its reward!