Middletown transcript., 1877-09-08
wsbstsr ana the Apple-ThlsG.

Many-many years ago, there llVec
fine old gentleman whose name wa
Mr.. Noah Webster. Though very
simple and unassuming in his manners
yet he was not without his parts, fol
he could discount any schoolmaster in
the country at spelling, and beat him
two to one on definitions.
If Mr.. Webster ever felt any pride
over his numerous victories he never
allowed himself to show it in conyersa-
ton or otherwise; for, instead of loaf
ing about the streets and blowing about
his attainments, he remained at home
and worked on his little farm except
when it rained then he would go into
back room where he had work
bench and some tools, and made spell
ling books, but he never was idle.
One day, as he was hammering away
noisily at his bench, filling out large
bill of spoilers for the Massachusetts
legislature, Mrs. Webster came to the
door, and said:
''Noah, that child of sin, Arthur
Kale, is in our apple tree again. Had
thee not better go out and send him on
his way in modification of the spirit,
and, if needs be, of the flesh ?"
So Mr.. Webster laid down his ham,
mer, put on his hat, and started for
the big apple tree back of the barn.
The youngster had got his pockets
and shirt-bosom well filed with early
harvest, and had slid part way down
the tree, when he espied Mr.. Webster
close upon him.
Taking in the situation at a glance,
he saw that escape for the present was
impossible; 50 he started up the tree
again, resolved to outwit the old gen
tleman by fair means or foul.
"Well-welll" said Mr.. Webster.
"How's this? What didI tell you the
other day? You must come down
there, now, and give up those apples,
or 1 viii give you Aogging-(defni-
ton +; to beat, to strike, to shake up,
to knock down, to put head on).
81 say, old chap, just whistle that
for me, won't yer ?" replied the urchin
and then pushing his tongue into his
cheek, he gently raised up his left eye
lid, and anxiously inquired of Mr..
Webster if just the faintest tinge of
green could be discovered there.
"You little scallawag p exclaimed
Mr.. Webster. "Do you pretend to
have the cheek to buck against me
right on my own grounds, and upon
my own apple tree2 Ifyou can't come
down by special request, I'll try the
moral effect of grass
So he pulled up lot of grass, which
he pressed into balls and threw them
up in the tree. But this only made
the young Arab laugh the louder and
he threw an apple-core at Mr.. Webster,
which struck him in the eyeand panied
him quite smartly.
"Hoity-toity p exclaimed the old
gentleman, in a towering rage, and
dancing about. "Now, I'm right on
you betl Definition to lay wager,
to put up the stamps, to do thing for
or marbles, to rope a fat in on
a sure thing, put-up job.")
And then pulling out stout leath-
ern sling, he pelted the boy with rocks
with such telling effect that he was
fain to bawl out for mercy and for
giveness.
lis well, said Mr.. Webster; come
down, give up the apples, and let this
be a lasting lesson to you never again
to steal. Definition; to forage, to
,onfscate, to lift things, to hook a
hing and get caught at it, to p
But by this time the boy had got out
If hearing, SO Mr.. Webster wiped his
brow, and went back to work.