The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-01-31
MELONS" !"
Another of Bret Harte's Heroes.

The following bit of description in
Bret Harte's best vein is from his
LAST book of sketches:
His age was about seven. He look
ed older, from the veneTable white
ness OF his head, sad 1t was impOssi-
bic to conjecture his size, as he
always wore clothes apparently be-
longing to some shspely youth OF
nineteen. A pair Of psntaloons that,
when sustained BY single suspender,
completely equipped him, formed his
every day suit. How, with this lavish
superhuiiy of clothing, be managed
70 perform the surprising gymnastic
feats it has been my privilege TO
witness, ] have never been able to
tell. His turning the crab, and other
tminor disloeaiions, were always at
tended with success. It was not an
ur nsusl sight at any hour of the day
to finf Melons suspended on a line,
or to See his venerable head appear
ing about the roofs of the outhouses.
Melons knew the exact height OF
every fence in the vicinity, its facii-
ties for scaling, and the possibility
of seizure on the other side. His
more peaceful and quieter smuse-
meuts consisted in dragging disused
boiler by large string. with hideous
outeries, TO imaginary fires. Melons
was not gregarious in his habits.
A few youths of his own age some
times called upon him, but they
eventually became abusive, and their
visits were more strictly predatory
incursIons for old bottles and junk,
which formed the staple Of McGinnis
Court. Overcome by Loneliness one
day, Melons inveigled blind harper
into the court. For two hours did
that wretched man persecute his un-
halloved calling, unrecompensed, and
going round and round the court,
apparently under the impression that
it was some other place, while Melons
survey ed him from an adjoining fence
| With calm Subtraction. II was this
absence of conscientious motive that
brought Melons into disrepute with
his aristocratic neighbors. Orders
were issued that no child OF wealthy
and pious psrentage should play with
him. This mandate, as q matter OF
course, invested Melons with q fas-
cinating interest to them. Admiring
glances were cast at Melons from
nursery windows. Baby fingers beck
oned to him. Invitations to tea ION
wood and pewter) were lisped to him
from arlstocratic back yards. It was
avident that he was looked upon as a
pure and noble being. untrammeled |
by the conventionalities OF psrentage,
snd physically ss well as mentally
exalted above them.
One afternoon an unusual commo-
ton prevailed in the vicinity of Nc
Ginnis' Court. Looking from my
window / saw Melons perched on the
roof of q stable, pulling up rope by
which one ''Tommr." an infant scion
Of an adjacent aud wealthy house, was
in mid sir. In vain the
female relatives of Tommy, congre-
gated in the bs"k yard, expostulated
with Melons; in vain the unhappy
iather shook his fists at him. Secure
IN his position, Melons Iedoubled his
sxertions, and at last landed Tommy
IN the roof. Then 1t was that the
fact was disclosed that
Tommy had been acting in collusion
With Melons. He grinned delighted
3 back at his parents, as il "by merit
'aised to that bad eminenee.'n Long
,efore the ladder arrived that was to ,
uccor him he became the sworn silly
" Melons. and / regret to say, melted ,
~ the same audacious boy, "chsffed" +,
lis own flesh and blood below him. J
lie was eventually taken, though, OF !
course, Melons escaped. But Tommy ,
vas restricted to the window after
hat, and the eompsnionship was
limited to ali, Melons - and "You,
Tommy - and Melons, to all prsc-
tical purposes, lost him forever. i
looked afterwards to see somo signs /
Of sorrow on Melons part, but in
vain; he buried his grief, if he had
any, somewhere in his one volumin-
Gus garment,