The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-25
" 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
looked older, from the venerable wilderness
OF his head, and it was impossible to con-
lecture his size, as he always wore clothes
apparently belonging to some shapely youth
OF nineteen. a pair of pantaloons that,
when sustained by single suspender, COM
pletely equipped him: formed his every day
suit. How, with this lavish superfluity of
clothing, he managed to perform the SUI
prising gymnastic feats it has been my
privilege to witness, have never been able
to tell. His turning the crab, and othe;
MINOR dislocations, were always attended
with success. 1t was not an unusal sight
at any hour Of the day to find Melons sus-
pended on line, or to see his venerable
head appearing above the roofs of the out
houses Melons knew the exact height of
every fence in the vicinity, its facilities for
scaling, and the possibility of seizure on the
other side. His more peaceful and quieter
amusements consisted in dragging disus-
ed boiler by a large string, with hideous
outcries, to imaginary fires. Melons was
not gregarious in his habits.
A few youths of his own age sometimes
called upon him, but they eventually be-
came 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 prosecute his unhallowed
calling, unrecompensed, and going round
and round the court, apparently under the
impression that it was some other place,
while Melons surveyed him from an adioin
ing fence with calm satisfaction. 1t was
this absence of conscientious motives that
brought Melons into disrepute with his
aristocratic neighbors. Orders were issued
that no child of wealth and pious parent
age should play with him. This mandate,
as matter of course, invested Melons with
a fascinating interest for them. Admiring
glances were cast at Melons from nursery
windows. Baby fingers beckoned to him.
invitations to tea ION wood and pewter
were liSped to him from aristocratic back
yards. 1t was evident he was looked upon
as pure and noble being, untrammelled
by the conventionalities of parentage, and
physically as well as mentally exalted
above them.
One afternoon an unusual connection
prevailed in the vicinity of McGinnis'
Court. Looking from my window l saw
Melons perched on the roof of a stable.
pulling up rope by which one 60 Tommy"
an infant scion of an adjacent and wealthy
house, was suspended in mid-air. In vain
the female relatives of Tommy, congregat-
ed in the back yard, expostulated with
Melons; in vain the unhappy father shook
his fists at him. Secure in his position,
Melons redoubled his exertions, and at last
landed Tommy on the roof. Then it was
that the humiliating fact was disclosed
that Tommy had been acting in collision
with Melons, He grinned delightedly back
at his parents, as if "by merit raised to
that bad eminence." Long before the lad
der arrived that was to succor him he be. |
came the sworn ally of Melons, and l re-
greet to say, melted by the same audacious
boy, "chaffed his own flesh and blood |
below him. He was eventually taken.
though, of course, Melons escaped. But
Tommy was restricted to the window after |
that, and the companionship was limited
to eli, Melons!' and You, Tommy
and Melons, to all practical purposes, lost
him forever. l looked afterward to see some
signs of sorrow on Melons part, but in
vain; he buried his grief, if he had any,
somewhere in his one volumipous garment. |