The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-11-08
For the JeHe rsonian Democrat.
Stealing Fruit.

AS there is spenies of property that is
hello in rather loose estimate by O certain
uery loose class iE community, propose
inquiring briefly into tho proprietv. or
rather questioning the propricty, Of treating
with 81 much indifference. not to say con
tempt, the right the osiensiblo owner has
to control and enjoy unmoiested certain
products that many of us value higher than
anything else aver which we claim TO exer.
cse ownership. mean fruit.
1t certainly cannot DO supposed to cost
nothing TO raise IL, fot the trees must be
grown or purchased at some little expense.
TO commence with, and thGn, in order to
success, continued caro- and labor bestowed
upon them after being planted in the
orchard; after which patiently waiting, in
some instances, long sories of yeats, in
order TO see tho first ripe fruit. And, per-
chance, just us it is about maturing, and It's
owner 10 induleing in anticipation q taste
OF the long watched apple, pear, or what.
ever ;t be, somo lawless scape. grace enters
the inclosure, pounccs upon tho favorite
fruit. and dovours il with tho gusto of az
old s--w; aud, il demonstrated with for tho
license no is taking, shoves his hands into
his pockets, and. with strut and swell that
clongatos and initiates him TO his utmost ca.
paciiy, groffiy demands, "why you are
making such fuss about an apple or two"
Truc, an apple is tritle, and yet / have
known such chaps as the sbove,at the immi-
nent risk of their necks, come down the
rocks into my orchard. just for ian ap-
pie or two"
As it is the season o: ripe chestnuts,I will
relate one or two incidents that have
transpired in this vicinity. The first is that of
M nd hna Nnsx 1r
children. As she had, growing on her
small farm, number of chestnut trees,
she flattered herself that her children could
gather the chestnuts, and thus enable her, ont
OF tho proceeds, to pay her taxes and
purchase some necessaries for the family.
Judge her disappointment, when she
found that her ueighJors (shaII l call them p
were carrying off tho larger share; and her
SUI prise. too, on learning that among tho
individuals who were stealthily gathering
hor chestnuts by morning twilight, was q
man calling himself CHI is,ian. The chest.
nnts he had ads-t-o-picked up,he carried TO
Painesville, and sold for money. Now, sup
pose one of The widows children, on seeing
some pieces OF the same money, the pro.
goods OF tho chestnut sale, in some careless
place in tho house of him who obtained the
money with bis purloiaed chestnuts, should
yield 10 the temptation s0d pocket them
Tho child must be arrested and tried for
larceny; while the mau, in his contompti.
bic way, may continue all his life-tm. In
robbBg the widow and fatherless with
iDpunity.
Tho othor case happened a few days
since, in this wise: A company of ladies
AMI gentlemen, eight in number, concluded
to regale themselves on chestnuts thew cs.
pied in my enclosure. The four gentlemen
dOffed their coats, aud, with clubs, stones,
and such other weapons rs they could lay
their hands on, commenced the onslaught
in right good earnest, cheered by the lad es,
who, in thcir turn, picked up. On learning
what was going on. repaired to the scene
of operations, and arrived in iimo to SEQ
them retro with their trophies; and, upon
inquiriig Of thom by what right they thus
unceremOniously entered my chestnut or.
chard, and appropriated TO thoir gratifica-
ton and enjoyment, the fruit. received
that old, stereotyped reply: you make q
great fuss, &c" Perhaps it was wrong 10
me to call In question the propriety of
their conduct for they wero extremely
we'll dressed, drove good horses, aud rode
with very pretty girls, in fine carriages I; but,
finding them sohere did, really mistooE
them for lOafers. ..'. ..
A word about my chestnut orchard.
have nearly 100 trees, that have just come
into hearing, upon which have bestowed
considerable labor. In the fore part of
Sept. last, | spent three or four days. with
the assistance of my son, "a lad of IA years. }
in clearing the ground of species Of brake,
and whOrtleberry hushes, that impede the
gathering, alter they fall from tho trees.
| have an accidental variety. very large and
early, iii ripens in Sept.) that I am multi
plying by eneIaf'ing' ] am quite sanguine
in my belief of success in the new variety,
and that the chestnut culture will yet prove
very reDunerative. IL tho fruit can be pro.
tected against these msraudiug orchard
pirates. Late frosts in the spring mover
iUjure the chestnut crop, as 1t il as late as
the 10Th of July, usually, when the flowers
make their appearance. .....
f. J. FERRIS.
Little Mountain, Oct, 1861.