The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-24

| olhJlC ints DC ChuEul n Itl lOAs anu tOl-
ored the fur with dye, such as some young
men use for their whiskers. The whole
story came out bit by bit.
On the farm owned by the writer's grand.
father, there was natural curiosity in the
shape OF an apple-tree. 1t grew few rods
below the house, just inside the stone wall
which fenced the road.
II was very thrifty, fne-looking tree,
and bore large apples striped golden yellow
and red. They were, l think, the most
beautiful apples ever saw.
But of all i'll favored, sour, bitter fruit
ever tasted, those apples were the most
disagreeable. They left the worst flavor
in the mouth of any fruit ever attempted
to eat.
speak Of them as natural curiosity
for, as a rule, beautiful apples are finely
favored. BY way of pointing moral,
grandfather once painted the word TYPO
crite on shingle and nailed it to the trunk
of this tree, where it would meet the eyes
of the children.
First and last, we had great deal of
| sport from that tree. Boys, and some
times men, unacquainted with the apples,
would stop in passing along the road, and
seeing the ground on the other side of the
wall covered with fine-losking fruit, would
jump over and take come.
should, perhaps, remark that appro-
| priating pocketful of apples for ones own
eating WAS not deemed stealing in that sec
tion Of the country.
Deceived by the luscious aspect of the ap-
pies, the stranger would open wide his jaws,
take a generous bite, chew once, some
times twice, and suddenly pause.
The comical change that would come
| over his face was very amusing to any one
who saw it. Indignant spittiugs and
smashing of the apple against the trunk of
the tree were generally sure to follow &C.
companled by uncomplimentary exclama-
tions. The deluded boy would then sneak
over the wall, walk away, and never look
back. 1t seemed all at once to occur to
HIM that he had been stealing.
About a year and half after the "black
fox" affair, Will Dover came one day to
the orchard while we were gathering ap-
plel. He asked what we would take for
apples on the "old hypocrite" tree.
We thought at first that he was joking,
for be knew the favor of the apples.
Finding he really wanted them, grand
father told him to stake them and well
come"
The next day Will came with oxen and
| cart, and gathered quite plumber of bush
els of these apples We could not find out
what he intended to do with them, but con-
cluded be had some sharp game In view.
THIS was about a week before the coun-
ty fair, such as is held each year in the au-
tumn in many of the agricultural counties
of New Eugl.nd
With US the fair was one Of the great
events of The year All the boys made
point of beirg there two days, and if pos
slb every day while 1t WAS held.
One Of The first objects thai met the fyes
| of my cousin George and my self, on enter
ing the Fairgrounds, vas Will selling sp-
| plies AT a stand built of bright new hemlock
| boards
II naeeed but glsuce to enable US to
identity The apple4. THY looked Tempt
ingy luscious, piled up 10 open willow
baskets on the stand before him. Behind
the sharp salesman there were arranged a
tier of brgs full Of the "hypocritc" fruit.
Will was singing out Justify
"Apples Apples Here's where ye get
yer nice goldea-reds Only one cent
| apiece !"
Tue public responded heartily. Il was
as good as play to US thoughiless boys.
| We thought but little of the sin, bnt cd
deal of the fun. We stood at little dis
tance and watched tue wry faces and he4rd
the surprised ejacu ATOMS that burst furih,
as the purchasers walked away and took
their first bites.
Whenever Will caught sight of our grins,
he would tip us a wink, and syly smooth
down his face with his hand.
IL was a good nstured crowd of kindly
| country people, else Will would hardy
been allowed to continue the deception.
But before the day was over many ma
levolent look was cast at him by the pass
aro -hN III hrav
pered, as new comers were constantly pour
ing in from all parts OF the county.
About on the next day, however, a
crowd of exasperated lads upset the stand
and pelted Will off the fair grounds with
the remainder of his own stock in trade
But as he had cleared about fifteen dollars
he was satisfied.
Now this was nothing but a palpable
fraud, and very mean sort of one. But
we thought Will a wonderful sharp boy.
Who but Will could make fifteen dollars
out of LOT of apples not fit for hogs!
Before another year had passed, young
Dover began to teel the need of wider
field for his "sharp" operations than that
afforded by his native country. He had
come to be thought dishonest, even by those
who had laughed at his sharpness.
He went TO seek his fortune, first to
Portland, and after time in New York.
We heard reports occasionally of his sharp
doings.
Once he had a shop, or rather room, on
Nassau street, and was agent for an "elec-
trio mouse.t trap" also for certain "magic
compound TO promote the growth Of lhe
beard" and number of other disreputabe
articles.
He afterwards visited his native town
once or twice, dressed smartly and looking
well.
We, his old schoolmates, remarked that
his bright, sharp eyes had taken a certain
hardness of glance that was not quite pleas
ing to encounter.
1t was whispered, too, that viii had
packages of counterfeit ''scrip" which he
would sell "cheap for cash" 1t was so
well made that it could not be told from le-
gal money.
From tnat time we heard little or nothing
concerning him, till the notice of his ion.
prisonment appeared in the newspapers.
Thus you see, that viii Dover sharp
practices as boy led him inevitably, step
by step, to the crime for which he is serv-
ing seven years in the state prison.
Fools make mock at sin. Will Dover
began life of fraud amid the laughter and
commentators of thoughtless men and
boys. But the skin of that ''black fox
led to felon's cell.
May there not be other communities, that
by treating the smart operations Of some
young rogue as n mere joke, are educating
him for prison p Youths Companion.
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