The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-21
ROb's wit fOreSaW this. and 1t was his

Rob's wit foresaw this, and it was his
plan to spend the night in the Toulouse
chamber, an unfinished room given up
to the boys for a rainy-day play place,
with a square window looking out direct
ly into the near orchard. It took much
coaxing to gain consent to this, but at
last Rob carried up his small bed and
a pair of blankets, set the window wide
open, and surveyed the scence with sat
isfaction.
''You can lie down and I'll take the
first watch, - he said to his brother
'Uncle wouldn't let me put anything
but powder III this pistol, but the noise
will brighten them, and Peleg agreed to
come out when he heard it. It Will be
moonlight, but the window is in
shadow, so [ can see and not be seen"
Nine o'clock found the boys at their
posts, Jamie protesting he would never
fall asleep, Rob sitting on cushion
under the window, his head on a level
with the still, and his eyes very bright
and wide open.
The noon must have laughed at the
picture it saw as it struggled through
the clouds and sailed across the sky; but
moon and clouds had disappeared when
the rising sun flung a handful OF rays
right in Rob's face, and with a great
start he daCOAe
81 say, jamie - he cried, springing
up, and then he rubbed his eyes and
stared about. The useless pistol lay
where it fell from his hand, Jamie
slept peacefully, curled UP in a blanket;
and on the trees before the window, the
trees so loaded twelve hours before, not
an apple hung
A few scattered ones, and the trOdden
turf told the story of some sizillfuI mid
night marauders, unseen and unheard
by the little Waterman.
To say that Rob danced with rage as
he had once danced with glee, is to
feebly picture his state; but he was a
sensible boy, and soon grew calm,
awoke his brother, and outWardly COM
posed went down to meet the rest of the
family.
Didn't hear any pistol last night, !"
| said Peleg, who was lingering near the
door as the boys came in.
''Welcome, brave watchman - said
Uncle Blair. CATER breakfast you will
deserve q lions share in the apple gath
ering."
Rob coughed; the words choked him
then he said, red, but manful:
''Uncle-I-the truth isl was such
baby as to go to sleep-and the apples
are picked by somebody. Tn so much
ashamed [ sha'n't mind what anybody
says"
ssHa, Ia. ha !" roared Pe1eg, while
two tears Of pride and shame rose to
Rob's eyes. He would not let them
fall however.
Bravo said Uncle Blair s'You
don't deserve any longer trial. Come
here, Bob"
He led the wondering boy to the large
store house, and there, lying each kind
in it's bin, was the fruit from the near
orchard. There was no mistalkipg it,
rosy and golden and fragrant, the fami-
y royal Of apples.
s'Ho, no he, ha !" and Peleg doubt
ed up with laughter again. 81 said I'd
be even with you, didn't [ p
did you do it?' gasped Bob, think
ing himself in adream.
"Well, l did and the men. Work
ed like beavers in the moonlight, and
didn't make a mite Of noise. Fact is, !
went out and found you asleep, and
couldn't helped joking you, cause [
owed you for chasing deacon Fales, you
know. [ will say you've got good grit
to take joke" added Peleg, candidiy.
81 don't care, now, said Bob, fling
ing his head down and his heels up with
squeal of delight. GAS long as those
Squantum fellows haven't really got
them [ can stand it. GOOD for you,
Peleg, you We beaten me this time"