Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-16
The Two Orchards.


choice kind, and not only found a ready |
market but commanded high price. One
thing vexed Mr.. Green exceedingly, and |
was constant source of annoyance. No |
sooner did his fruit begin to ripen on his |
trees than nocturnal and diurnal marauders |
commenced petty depredations on his choic-
est gratis.
alt is very strange" muttered Green to
his wife, that those scamps will continue
to rob my orchard so. Only night before
last Tovser tore the clothes nearly all off
from one OF the villains, and from the marks
of blood that found on the fence, | should
think somebody must have got severely Bit
ten; and yet last night some one was in
the orchard again. | declare 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 >"
"Thats 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 'em, that's ALL"
ITS too bad, certainly" uttered Mrs.
Green, for she knew not what else to say.
Father" exclaimed one of the boys, who
Cdult lhullluS ibto lht lOWotl .
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-a real bull
dog, that he had bought on purpose to bite
those who troubled him-dead, to use his
own expression, "as a door nail" This
was the most severe cut he had yet eXpe-
renced and for a long time his mingled
feelings of rage and chagrin rendered him
literally frantic. He knew at once that the
animal had been poisoned, by the froth that
had collected about the MOUTH and he
vowed veng canoe most dire on the perpetra-
tor of the deed, if he ever found him.
1t was several hours after the above
event, that the family were seated by the
supper-table. 1t was already slightly dusk
ish, yet not so dark but that the distant
landscape was visible
"By crackee, dad" exclaimed one OF the
boys, whose attention had been directed
toward the orchard, there's somebody
down in the corner hooking apples.'
Mr. Green leaped from the table, put on
his hat, and then Selling a 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-ior boys they were
were filling their pockets with the fruit that
had fallen upon the ground.
AN my young scamps y shouted Green,
as he leaped the barrier, I've caught We,
have ! ?" And as lie spoke, he seized one OF
the uulucky youths by the collar, aud COM
menced beating him most numerically.
IN teach yer he growled, shaking the
the crying boy.
80 don't only picked up few. Oh,
| won't"
You won't, won't We ? No, I'll be bound
ye won't. There, take that, and that,
and"
Before the next word escaped his lips,
Mr.. Green felt himself hit in the side by a
stone which had been thrown from the road
by the boy who had escaped. The excited
man let go his hold and sprang for the wall,
but he failed to catch the nimble urchin
who had assaulted him, and in the attempt
he lost the one he had caught. When the
farmer reached his house he was not only
ruraged, but he was really miserable. The
ill-feeling he had cherished had poi, oued
very fountain OF feeling, and his soul was
the very gall of bitterness. Before he went
to bed that night he had sworn that he
would get bear-trap aud set it i'll his or
chard.
"Can have few of your apples, sir %
asked traveller of Mr.. Green. The appli-
cant was wayworn and weary, and he sat
down upon a stone near the orchard wall
where the farmer was at work.
"No,' returned Green, " | don't raise APP.
plies TO give away"
| 'I'ba I-n,
on his way. A little further on he came
across the orchard of Mr.. Watts. He stop
ped aud looked over the wall There were
many apples lying upon the ground, aud
he got over to pick up a few, not noticing
that the owner was near.
Good day, sir, said Mr. Watts, approach
ing the spot. " Are you travelling, sir :"
Yes, sir" returned the stranger.
81 suppose little good fruit must be
pleasant such day as this, especially if one
is weary. Just step this way, sir. Here art
some apples much better than those" And
as he spoke Watts picked up his two hands
full and extended them to the traveller.
You are too generous" exclaimed the
man, as he thankfully took the proffered
fruit.
oh, no, sir, can never see person want
for little fruit while have an abundance
That is one of the greatest scources of en-
ioyment my abundance gives me-to minis
ter to the wants of Others"
Then yours must be a happy heart"
at is, SIR"
The traveller resumed his journey aud the
farmer again turned TO his work.
"Mr. Watts" cried a little voice on the
other side of the wall, "mayn't come ove
and get an apple ~
Certainly, my little man-just as many
as YOU want" And so saying, the kind mar
stepped TO the wall and assisted the urchiI
"a boy of some twelve years-into tn,
orchard. "There; now pick some up"
"Where's your brother, John 7"
He's blowing, sir"
"Ihen carry few TO him. He will lik
them if he is at work"
ayes, sir-an' I'll tell him you sen
h. 'em, sir"
p "Just as you please about that" returned
n Mr.. Watts, with a smile and he once NOR
resumed his work, and the boy trotted OF
with his hat full OF apples.
i That evening Watts and Green met.
was in a small shed belonging to tn
former, standing at some distance from tn
I house, and used in time of washing sheer
there being large brook running by it.
Watts" said Green, "haven't them il
ferna scamps troubled your orchard thi
season 2"
| "What scamps 7" quietly asked Watts
| "Why, those fellows that bother me so. y
| "No Que has troubled me-"
| "Well, that's curious. They're rompin
around my orchard most every night La
| night they just spoiled one of the best graf
| I've got | wouldn't have taken twent
| dollars for it, Oh, just let me catch 'em
il, that's all |"
| "What would you do 2"
| I'D fog 'em within an inch of the
| lives !"
| "Then don't wonder they rob you ,
your fruit"
"Don't wonder What do you mean p
81 mean simply this that you are takiu
Just the course TO bring down the revenl
of these boys upon you"
i sand so ! suppose you would have n
buy them oif-that is, pay them for n,
; stealing"
"Oh, no, you don't understand me. Yc
know that these kinds Of early fruit tn