Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-10-30
The Two Orchards.


solomon Watts and Stephen Green
were two well-to-do farmers, and they
both owned good orchards. Their fruit
was mostly of choice kind, and not
only found a ready market but COM
manded a high price. One thing vexed
Mr.. Green exceedingly, and was con-
tinual source of annoyance. No sooner
did his fruit begin TO ripen on his trees
than nocturnal aud diurnal marauders
commenced petty depredations on his
choicest CRAFTS.
"It is very strange" muttered
Green TO his wife, "that those scamps
will continue TO rob my orchard so.
ONLY night before last old Towser tore
the clothes nearly all off from one of
the Williams, and from the marks of
blood that | found on the fence,
should think somebody must have got
severely bitten; and yet last night some
one was in the orchard again. ! de-
clare it's enough to make one run
mad"
1T is curious, answered the wife,
"and I'm sure can't see into it. How
is it with neighbor Watts orchard ?"
That's just what puzzles me. They
don't trouble his fruit at all, and he
hasn't got any dog, either; and what's
more his fruit is some of it better than
mine, and more exposed, too Just let
me catch one of them, that's all"
Its too bad. certainly said Mrs
Green, for she knew not what else to
say.
"Father,' exclaimed one of the
bows, who came running into the
house. "Towser's dead. Just as stiff
as a lOg.'
- Dead -
Yes, out in the she'd"
An oath escaped from Green's lips as
he leaped from his chair and fastened
to the shed. There he found his dog
= real bulldog. tnat he had bought on
purpose to bite those who troubled
him-iead. TO use his own expression.
.'as a door-nail.'' This was the most
severe cut he had vet experienced, and
for long time his mingled feelings Oh
rage aud chagrin rendered him literally
frantic. He knew at once that the
animal had been poisoned, by the froth
that had collected about its mouth ;
and ne vowed vengeance most dire on
the perpetrator OF the deed, if he only
found him.
Ii was several hours after the above
event, that the family were seated at
The supper-table. 1t was already
slightly duskiSb, vet not so dark but
that the distant landscape was visible.
by crackee, dad" exclaimed one OF
e the BOYS, whose attention had been di-
rected towards the orchard, There S
somebody down in the corner hooking
apples
Mr.. Green leaped from the table, put
on his hat, and then seizing stout
whip. he hurried from the house lie
distinctly saw two young fellows under
one of his trees. and having gained the
road, he carefully crept down upon
the other side of the wall. until he had
reached a point opposite TO where the
two BOYS. for boys they were, were nj
ling their pockets with the fruit tha'
had fallen upon the ground.
AHA, my young scamps"' shouted
Green, as he leaped the barrier, I'VE
caught We. have I?' And as he spoke,
he seized one of the unlucky youths pS
the collar, and commenced beating h;n
most numerically.
I'm teach ye!' he growled, shaking
the crying boy.
so. don't, only picked up few
o, won't" ,,
You won't, won't ye? No. III bf
bound you won't. There. take that
and that, and"
Before the next word escaped hi'
lips. Mr.. Green felt himself hit In th'
side by stone which had been thrown
from the road by the boy who had es
caped. The excited man let go MI
hold and sprang for the wall, but M
failed to catch the nimble urchin WIZ
had assaulted him, ana ih TIC a'oP
he lost the one he had caught. "hei
the farmer reached his house ne wa
not only enraged, but really miserable
The i'll feeling he had cherished ha'
poisoned every fountain OF feeiihg
and his soul was the very gall OF bitter
ness. Before he went TO bed tina
night he had sworn that he would ge
a bear-trap and set it in his orchard'
"Can ] have few of your apples
r. sirs', asked traveller OF MIR. Green
The applicant was way-worn ah'
weary, and he sat down upon ston
near the orchard wall, where IN
farmer was at work.
NO." returned Green, 81 don
raise apples TO give away"
The traveller arose from his seat an
kent ON his way. A little further o
he came across the orchard OF MI
Watts. He stopped and looked owe
the wall. There were many apple
laying upon the ground, and be &c