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

, which one of the trespassers was shaking
J from the tree into which he had climbed
; "StoleD kisses are sweet. and so are the
stolen peaches, | should judge" " muttered
, Ned Harvey, as be erept stealtbily tow
ards bis companions along by the fence.
i He was so near that he could over
hear their conversation aud stopped &c
listen.
"That is what I should cali decidedly
rich, !" exclaimed Dick, swallowing ripe
mellow peach. Zee
"Wbat delicious rare.ripes,' whispered
Charley. tsrfds an-ssa
Excellent" L.
delicious
! ."But its not so good as the joke" said
Bill. % - - $3.50 ssaj m
"Ha, ha," laughed Frank, up in the
tree. .-sr 9,i8w ,-.s --.
"Ha, ha, ha, aiu't, it a rich joke. 1t
tells beautifully on the old man." echoed
Charley. a''59'''o sas baqrau
"And pays up Ned Harvey, too u ex-
claimed one. Didn't We give him slip
nicely I" ...
yes. But l guess he'll expose u.s."
said Bill.
"Neyer fear. Ned Harvey amt the
chap to do no such q mean trick as that.
But wouldn't be be worked, if he knew
how We were enjoying ourselves without
his precious company" retuI ned Charley.
"Wouldn't be thought" said Ned to
himself. asr7- zasf
"And wouldn't it start that old dea-
CON-" laughed Dick W.. ''if one should
tell how we are enjoying ourselves at bis
expense :"
"Ha, ha, ha, laughed the whole COM
pany." zl-55i1l
"Have you filed the bag I" dem anded
Frank. s-- ~
"Yes, and all of our stomachs in the
bagain."
"Then I am coming down to get my
share"
"Now is my time, Thought Ned.
It,is impossible to describe the couster-
nation of his treacherous friends, as be
sprsng upon them. Disturbed so unex.
pected!y and suddenly in the quiet enjoy
mept of the stolen fruit, they knew not
where to turn, but ran against each other
with such force as to knock each other
down while frightened. Frank pitched
headlong down among his fallen coWpan-
ions.
"Here, are you 7" cried Ned, initiating
the old deacon's voice. "Ah, you great
tbeviug rascals. I've caught you at it
this time, and I'll give you all peaches O.
nough."
So saying, Ned used his heavy whip
With all his force, striking the trespassers
on their heads, and across their faces,
knocking them down as fast as they got
up aud attempted to run. At last they
scrambled away, he chased them, and hit
ting first one and then the others, end
screaming in the old deacon's voice
ooh, you villainous whelps I'll larn
you you to steal peaches out of my orab-
ard. I'll larn you, ungodly, thieviDg ras-
Gals"
At length thinking that he had punish
ed them severely enough for the treach-
cry, Ned appeared to give up the chase,
while his companions hid in the fence;
but instead of leaving them thus, he drop
ped down upon his bands and knees and
crept along towards them under the fence,
in order to hear what they said.
"Bil," said one.
"What."
"Wbere are you 7"
"IIere in the corner Of the fence, with
Dick" s'tl
"Ain't you dead I"
"No, but should have been if he bad
bit me once more on the head as he did
twice."
H'He has almost broke my neck" said
a tiulid voice from another corner of the
fence. lsaes 3aas b1ansa a5.aa
/" be has drawn the blood uu my face, !"
said Charley, "and his unmerciful sharp
lash has left ridge on one Of my ing
-ers." eNt 3,
: .saIe made me see whole constellation
Of stars /" whispered Frank. besides,
guess that | broke my neck in as many
as seven places the time | fell from the
tree"
''Darn his picture" now growled out
Dick. "His whip didn.. hurt mveh until
be knocked down, and then | though that
old satan himself had struck me.
"Who would think the old fellow could
run co."
Harvey listened to this conversation and
much more of the same sort, until Frank,
who had the consolation of thinking be
had not eaten a single peach, started of,
telling his companions that if they wanted
the which they had left under the tree.
they might get it, provided old Newcomb
had not already taken care of it. They
concluded not to 60 after it, but withdrew
from the field of their defeat altogether,
leaving Harvey to laugh at the joke he
had played, and to enjoy hearty meal on
the peaches he found ready collected in
the bag.
Having satisfied bis appetite on the de-
licious fruit, he left the bag aud remain
ing contents for be told man and then be
went home.