Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-25
BASE INGRATITUDE.
How n PItchfOrk Looks 90 n Man
mp a Tree.

A New York party named Reynolds,
who has been spending the summer
here, was at the upper end OF Deer Hill
avenue, strolhng for his health, yester-
day morning, when he observed a boy
trying to pull a kite from an apple tree,
where it had lodged. AS Mr. Reynolds
came up the string broke, leaving the
kite up there. With the natural prompt
ing of a humane heart, the gentleman
gave his coat in charge of the boy, and
crawling over the fence, was soon up the
tree. The boy felt pretty bad about the
accident to his kite, but on taking a
second look at the coat which was al
most new, he dried his tears, and
scampered off with it, unperceived by
Mr.. Reynolds, who was trying to take an
obstinate twig from the back Of his neck.
After considerable difficulty, he reached
the kite, and was stretching forth his
hand to take it, when the limb he was on
suddenly snapped in two, and he fell
some six feet, splitting one of his panta-
loon legs half way up, and running a
twig into his nose with such vic.
lence as to make that organ bleed.
Fortunately he was saved from further
mishaps by catching on strong
limb. He stopped then to feel Of
his nose, and mediate on the accident
when rough voice from below demanded
what he was doing there, and looking
down he saw a shirt.sleeved, bald.headed
man, with a pitchfork in his hand and
fire in his eye. Mr.. Reynolds explained
about the kite. That won't do, said
the man. I've had too many apples
hooked from that ere tree, and now that
I've got the thief ! intend to make him
dance" And the man looked ferociously
at Reynolds facilities for dancing. The
unhappy Reynolds referred him to the
boy for an Endorsement of his story.
What boy?" asked the owner Of the
orchard. Il don't see no boy. There
amt no boy here" Reynolds looked
out in the road, but there was no boy in
sight. He shouted "Bub" two or three
times, but there was no response. The
color deserted his face, and a look OF
astonishment aud horror spread over his
features. "Thisis very extraordinary"
he said. very" coincidea the farmer,
with great dryness THAT boy has
stolen my coat; | must pursue him and
recover it, said Reynolds, suddenly be-
coming frantic over his loss, and pre-
pairing to descend. 20, come down and
catch him, said the farmer with biting
sarcasm, chewing his tongue to
show how calm he was, and placing
the fork in such o way as to take
in the most vulnerable portions of
Mr. Reynolds body. That gentleman
saw the preparations in time to stop.
why, you wouldn't run that fork into
me, you old idiotY" Who are you
calling an old idiot, you miserable whip
per.snapper," shouted the old chap, as
he iEsanely danced around the foot of
the tree, and glared fercely at his vic
tim. Come here and rob me, you viii
lain, will you, and then stand in my own
tree an blaspheme me. Run the fork
in YOU, will II Yes, I'd run it into two
hundred of ye." Mr.. Reynolds was
shocked. What do you want me to
do2" he said, despairing of reasoning
with the owner of the orchard.
want you to pay me five dollars, and get
out Of this orchard as fast as your ras-
eally legs can take you" Mr. Reynolds
hesitated. 1t was bad enough to lose
coat, ruin his pants and split his nose to
help an evil boy out of trouble, without
being bombarded with epithets, and
charged five dollars for the performance.
He thought he would jump down on the
old man and crush him, but he looked at
the fork and repented of the design.
Then he drew out five dollar bill and
dropped it to his enemy, and humiliat-
ingiy slid down the tree, reaching his
feet Just In time 10 avoid a kick the
irate man aimed at him. He was helped
out of the orchard with the fork handle,
and Immediately started for the hotel,
which he reached in condition of ner-
yous prostration that at first threatened
10 result seriously. An active search
has been made for the boy, but neither
he nor the coat has been discovered