The North-Carolinian., 1857-06-06
NORTH CAROLINIAN.
SteaIIng Watcr-Mcloue.

I Stealing Water-McIons.
man country town took preat n,easnr
IN having Il neat garden. He had all kinds =
vegetables and fruits earlier than his nei,,ht,,r
but thievirg boys in the neighborhood annoye,
him; damaged his trees, trampled down i;
flowers, and "hooked1 his choicest fruits. II
ftficd vaffohs way to protestffB grounds 81,
his watcf-dogs were poisoned, and set trap
caught nothing but his fattest fowls and favor
| ite cat.
One afternoon, however. just at night fal
he overheard. couple of mischievous boy.
talking together, when one of them said:
What do you say, Joe? Shall we come
the grab over them melons to night? OF,
Swipes will be snoring like ten men before
twelve O'clock"
to get over.
Oh, pshaw!" was the reply; II know n
place where you can get over just as easy
know it like book Come, Joe, let's go9'
The owner of the melon patch didn't like
the idea OF being an eaves-dropper; but the
conversation SO intimately concerned his mel
ons, which he had taken much pains to raise
that he Kept quiet and listened to the plans oF
the young scapegraces, that he might make
1t somewhat hothersome for them
Ned proposed to get over the wall on the
south side, by the great pear tree, and cut di-
rectly across to the sun,merh house. lust north
of which were the melons
Joe was clever fellow, who loved good
fruit exceedingly, and was as obstinate as an
ass. Get hisI once started to do a thing, aud
he would stick to it like a mud-turtle to a
negroes toe. The other didn't care so much
for the melons as for the fun of getting them
Now hear the owners story:
II made all needful preparation for the visit
putin brads pretty thick in the scantlng along
the wall where they intended sas9etsover: !: uu.
Tor some time, from WHICH, III dry weather,
was accustomed to water my garden; dug
trench foot deep or So and placed slender
boards over it, which were slightly covered
with Dirt, and just beyond them some little
cords, fastened tightly, some eight inches from
the ground l picked all the melons l cared
to preserve, leaving pumkins and squashes
about the size ana shape of melons, i'll their
places"
The boys were quite right in supposng it
would be quite dark; but they missed it little
in inferripg that cold Swipes," as they called
him. would be in bed. The old man liked a
a little fun as well as they, and when the time
came, from his hiding place he listened:
"Whist, Joe! don't you hear something?"
l think that it was very probable that they
did, for hardly were the words uttered, than
there came a sound of forcible tearing Of flls-
tian.
'Get off my coat-taH!'- whispered Joe.
"There goes flap, sure as guns! Why, get
off, Ned"
And Ned off, and one leg of his breeches
besides; and then he al-ing a"dNbil-ing,
and telling Joe that he "beleved there was
nails in the side of the wall, for something had
scratched him tremendously, and torn his
breeches all TO pieces"
Joe svmpathized with him, for he said "half
his coat was hanging up there somewhere"
They now started hand-in-hand, for Ned be
licved he "knew the way" They had arrived
a little beyond the trees, when something went
swasl! swash! into the water-vat.
\ sneeze cnsued, then the -.Sclama ton: {:
''Thunder! that water smells rather old!"
Ned wanted to 60 home at once, but Joe
was too mucn excited 10 listen iOT uIOIucAt
to such proposition.
''Nevcr heard anything about that cstcr'
before; the old fellow must have fixed it or
purpose to drown people in. Curious, though
that we should both fall i'll It,"
They pushed on again for the melons Pres
emily they were caught by the cords, and head
! long they went into u heap of briars AID this
ties, and the like, which had been placed ther
for their express accommodation.
! ''Such gcttn up stairs!" muttered one.
"Nettles aud thstes! how they prick!" ez
claimed the other.
They now determined to go more cautiously
At length they arrived at the patch.
"How thick they are, Joe? Come here
! There's more than dozen fat ones right here
. And down they sat in the midst of then
and seemed 20 conclude that they were ampl
rewarded for all their mishaps.
"Here, Joe," said, Ned "take this must
melon; isn't i: rouser? Slash into it,
: ssIt cuts tremendous hard, Ned. Ned it's
squashw
| .No It. isn't I tell YOU; it's new kind