Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-02-02
THE FRUIT KING.



edge OF the city. lived little Sigismnnd.
There was a pretty iower-garden be-
hind the house, where he used to play.
A board fence separated this play
ground from large vegetable and fruit
garden, which belonged to an old gar
dener. This garden was celebrated
throughout the city. because nowhere
grew such beautiful fruits of all sorts as
there. II was one Of Sigismund's great
est delights TO look out of his bedroom
window, and watch how the fruit grew
heavier and roster as the autumn drew
on. No one would have grudged him
this pleasure, had that been all he asked.
But, unfortunately, our Sigismund very
often climbed over the fence, and helped
himself to this fruit. His dear mother
gave him all he wished at home, but ii
did not taste hall so good to him as that
which he picked himself from tree and
shrub. This naughty sin had cost him
many a punishment; and his mother
was very sad 1t his thievish ways, and
often told him of the greater sins to
which it would lead His father had
whipped him severely on the complaint
of the old gardener, and even the gar.
dener himself scolded. and boxed the
boys ears when he caught him stealing
but it all did no good; the fruit seemed
to beckon TO him, and ne could not re.
sist the temptation.
One day the old gardener came along
Just as Sigismund was stoning down
some Of the most beautiful apples. The
old man said: 81 see, young master
that with you neither words nor blows
do any good. You will never be quiet
till the Fruit King himself catches you.
Pooh! the Fruit Kingin said the
naughty boy, scornfully, and snapped
his fingers; "what nonsense you dc
talk
Bangl and down came big, half
ripe apple exactly upon his nose, and
made it bleed. Sigismund looked up Al
the tree in puzzled way, and then of
he ran.
Some days afterward Sigismund's par
ents were invited out, and they wert
hardly gone before he saw through the
window the old gardener setting out fol
the city, and the man who helped take
care of the garden following him with
handful OF blooming house-plants
Such good chance to crafty his appe-
tite had not offered itself for long time
1t was beautiful fall evening. The
moon had risen, and lighted up with
wonderful distinctness the richly laden
apple and plum trees. Especially
bright shone the trellis yondeT. hanging
full of ripening grapes. Our Sigismund
a
slipped slyly out of the house into the
flower-garden, looking about him to
see if any servant-giIl were watching
him; and when he was sure he was
quite alone, one, two, three,
and he was over the paling in the neigh
boring garden. A few minutes later
and he was sitting comfortably on the
broad branches Of plum tree, and fill
ing his POCKETS with the ripe fragrant
fruit. He saw and heard nothing to dis
turb him, and felt very safe. Involun-
tarily he thought of the last time, when
the old man had caught him; and
laughing and eating he said, half aloud L:
I" l wonder if the Fruit King WiU catch
me.''
"Yes, youngster, that he will,'' sud-
denly answered very clear voice above
him; and when ne looked up, almost
falling from the tree with fright, he saw
upon the highest twig remarkable
creature sitting. 1t was a wee man.
about the size of large doll; his head
was nothing but great round apple ;
the black eyes were two whortleberries
the nose was made from plum. and
the mouth of red cherries, which were
parted and showed, instead of teeth, a
row of little white cherry-stones. In the
place of hair, quantities of white cur
rants hung like curly locks about his
head, which was crowned with a beau
tiful wreath woven of all kinds of fruit
blossoms. The body of the little man
consisted of a yellow, ribbed melon
which had hazel-nuts for buttons. His
short legs were made of long pears,