The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-06-14

! paTenIS Wlsneu IL OF not, anu u Take tue
pears with me, too.
81 ran into the house, picked up bas-
ket, and then fastened towards the corner
of the garden where the pear trees stood
They were beautiful, and some of their
branches were so laden they almost touch
ed the ground.
81 glanced round. Was anybody look
| my? Not soul-only Pete, my pet dog,
stretched on the ground near me, looking
into my face with his great brown eyes.
"' Peto won't tell, l muttered, as
stretched forth my hand and grasped a
mellow pear, and then in quick succession
there dropped a half-dozen or SO of the
golden fruit. Then gave the branch a
gentle shake, and down came a shower
Hastily filling the basket, flew rather
than ran out the back-gate, through the
old apple orchard, and over high hill,
behind which was Mr.. Tribb's house.
Sam was in the garden, and to him 1 en-
trusted my treasure, for l dare not leave
them at home; he received them with
loud laugh and knowing wink.
"On the following morning my father
came to the breakfast table with dark
cloud on his face. Mother anxiously in
quired what was the matter for, my father
did not usually have a clouded lock.
"' Matter?' he answered. 'Why, some
one has been robbing my finest pear trees.
T oh ho
pay dearly. Harry, my boy, you must
keep your eyes open and find out who they
are, and I'll give you halfdollar.'
"Shame flushed my cheeks as mutter-
ed, 'Tll try, sir My good father little
thought the thief was sitting beside him
in the person of his own dear son. l tell
you l felt especially mean just then, and
the feeling followed me to school; indeed,
if had not listened to Sam Tribbs' argu-
ments, l would have gone to father and
confessed it ALL But Sam called me
milksop for thinking of such a thing. l
need only take few more pears, and I'd
have enough to go to the picnic, Saturday,
have glorious time, and the event would
soon slip from my fathers memory.
"All this sounded very fine. liste ned,
and determined to take few more. But
found it hard work, for my father stayed
in the garden nearly the whole afternoon.
Toward evening, however, l found myself
alone under the pear trees. Hastily shook
down halfdozen, and tied them up in
my handkerchief 1t was too late to take
them to Sans that evening. What could
| do with them-hide them under my bed ?
No, no, could never trust them in the
house. A bright idea struck me. l hast
tened to one corner of the, garden dug a
hole with trowel, and, fitting my bundle
snugly in, covered it lightly with earth,
and scattered some leaves over all.
Not much sleep did have that night
and the suns first rays next morning found
me up and on my way to the garden to dig
up the pears, and carry them to Sans be-
fore any one was up. To my surprise,
found my father walking around the gar
den with Peto.
why, Harry he said, up so early?
Are you looking for the early worm -
Look there. expect Peto has found it
or MOLE
81 raised my eyes, and, to my dismay,
saw the dog clawing over the very spot
that contained the bundle.
"Come here, Peto,' cried, come here.
Don't you hear me, sir? What do you
mean, hunting poor mole? For shame"'
"Peto stopped clawing, and l turned
away with father.
"Come into the house, Harry, he said,
and I will look over your lessons with
YOU
81 was standing, book in hand, waiting
patiently for father to finish talking to
mother, and wondering how was to get
the pears to Sam, when l heard father ex-
claim
Cox Hey Peto. what have you got in your
MOUTH
az turned around, and cry escaped my
lips, as l saw Peto trot across the floor
with white bundle, which he placed at
fathers feet. Isprang forward to snatch
it, but Peto was too quick for me; he gave
it a savage shake, the knot came united,
and out rolled half-dozen large, golden
pears.
"The handkerchief was marked in one
corner with Harry Franklin's name, and
need not tell you how sorry my parents
were. l dare say you think got whip
ping, but l did not. All they did was
to give me this locket, which they compel
led me to wear."-E. C. Rodney, in Nee
York Observer.