The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-04-07
ROBBING A PEACH ORCHARD.

In newly settled town out west, ther
resided no more than three years ago, ar
old farmer, who was notorious for hi
penury, and his deposition for saving ant
turning everything into money. At th'
time at which our story commences, OLE
deacon Newcomb was the only man il
the vicinity who raised peaches, which
wsre very scarce article. owing to tn.
newness of the country. 1t so happened
that the deacon had an abundance O
these, as bis young trees we're just in theil
prime; but not single peach did bis negh
bors taste unless paid .fer in advance.
! The penuriousness on the part Of the
old gentleman excited tho malicious pro
peusities of many of the young men in
the neighborhood, and they resolved te
have taste of the forbidden fruit, at ali
events. At that time. and in part of the
country. fruit stealing was not very
grave offence, but was looked upon as q
mere practical joke, and it was laughed
at in proportion with the success of the
trespassers in committing their depreda
datioDs.
CoDse quently, the young men, while
they coveted the old deacop's fruit, and
despised his meanness, resolved without a
single scrupie of conscience, to 60 them
selves.
| There were only half dozen privy to
the plot, and soon had everything salts
factorily arranged for carrying it into ef-
feet.
The whole six had agreed to meet at
the town tavern between the hours of nire
and ten in the evening, in order to be
ready to commence their operations ct
ten precisely, which was just the time ap-
pointed for the setting out from the town
tavern.
AEong the conspirators was ono Ned
Harvey. bold. hot headed, humorous
fellow, who it may be promised, was an
inimitable mimic. Harvey was the soul
of the party, but owing to some severe
practical jokes which he had perpetrated
a. the expense of his companions, they
wished on the present occasion, to put a
trick upon him. There they were none
witty enough to invent, but accident af-
forded them plea.
1t happened that the party was assem-
bled at the tavern on the night appointed
at quarter of ten, with the exception of
Harvey.
"Wbat are all Of us waiting for" said
one, "Ned Harvey I"
"Ned is behind"
"No be amt. don't you see it isn't time
yeti"
"Ten is the hour"
"You are right. I have proposition
boys"
"What is itl"
"Give him the slip"
"And 90 without him !"
"Exactly."
"a splendid idea"
ga fne joke"
Good"
The whole party accordingly silently
left the tavern and disappeared in the di-
rec,ion of old deacon Newcomb's orchard
Five minutes after Ned Harvey came
in-surprised at not finding his compan-
ions, whom he had supposed would be for
the most part assembled, he looked at the
clock then his watch. and finally inquired
of the bar tender if be had the correct
time.
"lt wants eight minutes to ten," he an
swered,
Harvey sat down and remained quiet
Just eight minutes, when the hour had ar
rived at which his companions had prom
ised to be assembled, he began to suspect
foul play, and speaking to a man said:
"Has Dick w. been here tonight !"
eyes"
sand Charley B.
"Yes."
"And Bill G."
eyes. They left here before you came.
Ned L. And Frank A. were with them
Harvey bit his lips1-he saw through
the entire plot, and he asked himself,
-, How the deuce can leone up to the
rascals ~ 10EsG 9ftsal hHaia 4th ~
An idea struck him, and be rubbed bis
hands together and cbuckled audibly. He
left the tavern in hot haste, and proceed
eu nome Ill blSu Elee' llo aiieaoy WV
his own triumph complete, and bis com
panions the victims of their own treach
cry. Instead of alarming deacon New
comb, he resolved to play the part of the
deacon himself.
The night wns exactly dark enough to
forward bis design; although there was a
moon the sky was cloudy, and the light
of the night queen was obscured.
Harvey procured an old hat similar to
the one that deacon Newcomb wore, pull
ed it over his eyes, and disguised himself
more effectually by exchanging his jacket
for an old frock coat. which bore a strik'
ing resenblanee to the one the old deacon
was seen frequently to have ON, Provi-
ded with this disguise, and being possess
ed, as we stated before, of wonderful pow
ers of mimicry, be had no doubt of his a.
bility to counterfeit the deacon SO closely
that his companions would not discover
the cheat.
Having armed himself with strong
wh;n, Nod set ont to surDrise the trespass-