Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-02
THE OLD BELL PEAR TREE.
TCONTINUED.

house one afternoon where nv mother sat
stringing quarters for apples, which she was
preparing TO dry for the winter.
"Why, father, you dent mean sop'
"Yes l do; two on ems gone. thought
I'd stop and see if they was doin' well, rs
came up with the last load Of corn"
II knew my father was very angry, because
he was generally so kind and cheerful like, his
anger was terrible I've heard my mother say
she never saw him thoroughly riied but once
in her life, and that was when some the
British troops passed through our village, In
the old war, and broke into neighbor Parson 8
house and insulted the old lady, who was ed
ridden, splittin mp her armchair and break
ing the crockery; but though that was long
af0re my day, I've seen his face settle down
sometimes into white rigidness, and his
voice taken on low, deep tene that fairly
rnade me catch my breath.
It did now, as he said, 'fI wish / could
catch the rascal that stole those pears; I'd
make him feel the weight Of this about his
shoulders" and he snapped the great OK whip
he carried
At last he started to 60 out Of the kitchen,
and then he turned back as though new
thought had struck him. -
.'Rossnna, you tell the boys and girls about
here that I'll give a silver dollar to the one
thst can tell who stole the pears from my
tree
"And if find out father"
u give you the OOiiaF Ile0, my cQllQ.
''It was not more than week afterward,
when, on going to bed one night at eight
o'clock, / stopped moment at the window to
look out; fer il was a still, beautiful night and
the moonlight lay like thin sheet If freshly
fallen snow all ever the earth. / can see Jest
how ir glistened on the spire Of the old stone
meotin house, and silvered the tops Of the
trees, and lay like lace work on the great
meadow opposite our house.
As stood looking there, saw our back
gate open and small figure come into the
garden and approach the house, and thea
suddenly it turned about and went down
among the ounce trees, and then saw it
pause before the bell pear tree. My FIRST inn.
pulse was to call my father, but / thought of
the dollar he had promised me, and was al
ways brave girl, go / Jest slipped down the
back stairs and out into the yard. stole soft
ly through the grass and passed the ounces
close up to the bell pear tree. ..'. -f
"Who's there" called quick voice. !
knew it. IL
go, Richard Sears. ~ 1t was all said.
He held beth the pears in his hand; one Of
them was half eaten.
saw the blood steal up into his cheeks
What brought you here, Roslnna7n
SO, Richard, what W ould father say,"
II only did il for little fun, Rosanna, -
and he offered me the other pear L drew
back ..fa...
'I wouldn't touch it for a thousand dol
lars"
Dear me what girl you are :"
"And what boy you are, to be thief
He blushed deeper under the name, and ]
turned toward the house. He sprang before
me.
:.ROsanna, .o, - what are you going to dO?''
"HeH be very angry. He'll send me away y
"I know he viii, Richard"
''And I shall be all alone in the world again.
., don't tell him, Rosy, don'tu'
"Was it really stealia' ?'' and be asked the
question dOubtfully.
|0f course it was, Richard, and God is very
angry with you; for you know he's seen you
If father hasn't
The boy looked up to the sky q moment,
with a new solemn awe in his face.
Il only thought it would be good sport
Rosy" he said.
Il stood still looking at him sorroGfuIly.
and at lest he threw the pear on the ground.
"Don't tell your father" he said in a voice
so full Of entreaty that the tears rushed into
ny eyes.
'Dont you remember, Rosy, the day You
went with me to the pond to get mint and
how you came very near falling into the
water, and jest saved you, and what good
times we've had together all summer, and
how haven't got any mother or any friend:
in the whole world except your folks and you!
Do not tell your father, Rosy
81 sat down on great stone in the grass
and cried too At last 1 slipped my arm
around his neck " .r..
s'No, won't tell father, Richard, if you'll
promise never TO do 30 again, and TO ask God
10 forgive you for this great sin" .n-
''l'l ask Him, but He knows that didn't
think that il was really stealin' ;" and knew
that he spoke the truth. .L
So re went up softly to the house, and there
uas a rey bond betwixt u.s. which neith q
EUn d. aafr d. g. 4
discovered one Of the pears lying at the foo
Of the tree--the other had dissppeared-a
he concluded the thief had dropped In suddeI
fear of being discovered. He was angry, and
Richard, who was in the room, quietly sliC
out of il, ana kept my eyes very steadily
fastened on the book vas not reading.
''Well to make the story short, the winter
went by. and the birds Of May were singing
once more in the trees, and the boughs were
all frilled over with blossoms.
"0ne day my father came in 10 dinner-h he
had been ploWing all the morning-and as hs
sat down and wiped the perspiration from hi.
forehead, be said suddenly, sThat bell pea,
tree is covered as thick with blossoms as il
was with icieles last winter. / shall put 1
trap under tn Q tree this summer, and see i
that Won't fnd the thief. guess you didn't
try very hsrd 20 earn that dollar, eh, Rosy %
." Well not very hard, father, ;" said, start.
ing toward the door. I'd.
Before got there voice held me back
Don't 90 Rosy, I'm going to out with the
truth let what will come, and Richard Sears
who was whiting out an arrow by the table
50 Drang up and went TO nay father. and said to
him n earnest. clear voice, though il shook o
little a. the first words, " Yes, Morris, Rosy
did try ve-y hard to find out who the thiei
was, though s.ae wouldn't tell of him, when il
proved to be nIe, for l picked the pears"
I've been sorry for j, ever since; but
didn't really think il n az stealing then, ard
I've dollar laid up stsirs n my green box
tTo months for Rosy when coulo get courage
TO tell you the truth. ia------
Ny father was completely dumbfOunded. he
opened his UPS to speak, aad shut 'em again
Al last ne said, :" Richard in a stern voice /;
bat mothers hand crspt up softly on his arm
and her eyes were full Of tears. -
=, Now, father" she said .sg "a.
That was ali. lie sat still moment and
then laid his hand on Richards shoulder. and
Sid very kindly: t.-.
Richard, you've been a good, faithful bow
to me, ever since you've been under my roof