Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-24
NO. H.

trotted OFT with a hat full of apples.
That evening Watts and Green met
1t was in a small she'd belonging to the
former, standing at some distance from
the house, and used in time of washing
sheep, there being u large brook running
by it.
Watts" said Green, havn't them infer
nal scamps troubled your orchard this sea-
sOnp
What scamps ?n quietly asked Watts.
''Why them fellows that bother me So"
NO one has troubled me.n
"Well, that's curious. They're romp-
ing around my orchard most every night
Last night they just about spoiled one of
the best gratis I've got. l wouldn't have
taken twenty dollars for it. O, Just let me
catch 'em at, that's ALL
What would you do?"
I'D fog 'em within an inch of their
Then don't wonder they rob you of
your fruit
Don't wonder? What do you mean ?"
Il mean simply this that you are TAX
ing Just the course to bring down the re-
venge of the boys upon you''
and so | suppose You would have me
buy them off,-that is, pay them for not
stealing"
80, no. you don't understand me. You
know that these kinds of early fruit that you
and have are great temptations to the boys,
and to even quite big boys, too No, they
see the apples lying about on the ground,
and it does not appear like real theft to
Jump over the wall and pick up few of
them. They see them laying there expos
ed to the bugs and grasshoppers, and can
not say that blame person for OCCASION
ally picking up few. 1t is certainly no
palpable loss to us, and affords great sat
istaction to them. Now, if You are asked
for few apples and refuse them, or if
you find some one in your orchard mere
ly picking up few windfalls. and roughly
drive him out, YOU may expect they will
come when you don't know it, and then
feeling of pique will lead them to take as
many as they can carry. In short, your
orchard is a kind of glass house, and the
more rOughness you use to keep people
away from it, the more liable you are to
have it broken, You know the nature
of boys as well as do; and you know that
harsh language and blows will make many
who are by no means wickedly inclined,
do some very dangerous things Now, no
one troubles me. Ii any one wants few
OF my apples to eat, | give them some for
| have plenty TO spare while they are grow
ing and dropping from the trees. / take
great deal Of real pleasure. too, in doing
50. for love to see people happy on my
bounty"
But some of them pizened my dog"
81 can't say that wonder at that, eth
err
''Well, | must say you have strange no
tons of right and wrong, said Green, in
bitter tone
Il didn't say that thought it was right.
On the contrary, think it was wrong.
But then you must remember for what
purpose you purchased the dog, ahd in
what manner you trained him. don't
wonder that he was killed, for he has Bit
ten number OF people since you had
him.
Mr. Green would have made some fur
ther remark, but at that moment his atten-
ton was arrested by the sound of voices
from the path that ran along by the brook,
and thinking that he heard his own name
mentioned, he listened.
"Did you know that some of the boys
broke one of old Green's trees last night ?r
asked one of the unseen takers.
No; did they ?"
Yes, and walked off with more than
bushel of his best apples besides"
'Egad, I'm glad of 1.-THE stingy old
curmudgeon. lie wouldn't give anybody
an apple to save their life"
That's George Grey's voice, muttered
Green.
Il tell You circumstance, continued
Grey to his companion, both of whom had
stopped upon the little bridge that SPAN
ned the brook back of the sheep shed.
You remember my brother Frank ?"
"Yes."
And don't you remember ten years
ago, when he was boy, how he saved
Green's life? Green had got into the mud
pond and had already sunk up to his chin,
and'eyery movement he made to free HIM
self, only sank him deeper. He had gone
out upon log to get n duck that he had
shot. and slipped off. There was no way
to reach him, and no one dared to venture
after him. He cried and groaned for help
His mouth was soon under the mud, and
IN moment more his nostrils would be
under, too. His power to cry for help
was gone, and just as we expected TO see
him disappear, Frank came running down
he had started for the house as soon as
Green fell in--and threw off his clothes,
and then got a man to help him throw a
long board out upon the soft mud. Then
he gave the end of long rope he had got
to the men who had collected on the shore,
and taking the other end he ran out upon
the board, then jumped upon the log, and
then sprang out to where Green was sink
ing. He soon made the rope fast under
Green's arms, and then hanging on to the
bite, ne sang out for those on shore to haul
in. Green's life was saved"
"Yes, I've heard of it often, and re-
member it, too, for | was quite boy at
the time
well, to-day, Frank came home. He
has been gone to Canada for most nine
years. He came by where Green was at
work, and asked him for an apple, and
don't you think the old wretch turned him
harshly away, without giving him even
one. OF course Green didn't recognize
him, and Frank didn't then choose to
make himself known, The old skinhint
must feel nice when he finds out who it
was he turned away"
Il should think SO" returned the other
But Mr.. Watts gave him as many as he