Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-07-04
A TREE.AGENT TREED.


The July Scribner will contain the
eoncluding instailment OF Mr.. F. r.
StOckton's droll "Rudder Grsnge''
sketches, which are to be published In
book form in the fall. One of the in
cidents of this last sketch Is quoted
below. The proprietor of Rudder
Grange, returning from drive with
Euphemia, his wife, finds q tramp In
one of his trees and tree-agent in
another near by, with his savage dog,
Lord Edward, plying between. The
following scene ensues:
''This one," said Pomona. ISIS a tree
man
Il should think So said 1, as caught
sight OF person in gray trOwsers stand
ing among the branches of a cherry.
tree not very far from the kitchen
door. The tree was not large one,
and the branches were not strong
enough to allow him to sit down on
them, although as he stood close to
the trunk just out of reach Of Lord Ed
ward.
This Is very unpleasant position,
SIR said he, when l reached the tree.
Il simply came into your yard, on q
matter of business, and finding that
Ao6bhk OOoot oAtoOAAlk PCl6Ou III u
tree. had barely time to get I'D into
this tree myself, before he dashed at
me. Luckily was out Of reach; but I
very much fear 1 have lost some of nv
property,
mo, he HASN'T said Pomona, st
was big book he dropped. / picked
1t up and took lit into the house. It's
full of pictures of pears and peaches
and flowers. I've been lOOkin' at it.
That's how / knew what he was. And
there WAS no Gail for his gittin up a
tree. Lord Edward never would have
gone after him " he hsdn'6 run as il
had guilt on his soul.'
Il suppose, them said I, addressing
the individual in the cherry-trees.'
Yes, SIR said he quickly, trees.
shrubs, vines, evergreens,-
suitable for q gentleman's country
villa. l can sell you something quite
remarkable, sir, in the way Of cherry
trees, French ones, just imported;
bear fruit three times the size of any.
thing that could be produced on tree
like this. And pears-fruit of the
finest flavor and enormous size"
Yes said Pomona. II seen them
in the book. But they must grow on a
grOund-vine. No tree couldn't hold
such pears as them.'
Here Euphemia reproved POmona's
forWardness, and l invited the tree
agent to get down out OF the tree.
THANK you, said he; but not while
that dog Is loose. Ii you will kindly
chain him up, will get my book, and
show you specimens Of some of the
finest small fruit In the world, all i'm
ported from the first nurseries of
Europe-the Red-gold Amber Muscat
grape, e,--the-'
'Oh, please let him downp sai.I
Euphemia, her eyes beginning to
sparkle.
/ slowly walked toward the tramp
tree, revolving various matters in my
mind. We,had not spent much money
on the place during the winter, and We
now had small sum which we in
tended to use for the advantage of the
farm, but had not yet decided what to
do with it. 1t behOOved. me TO be care
full.
told Pomona to run and get me the
dog chain, and l stood under the tree,
listening, as well as / could, to the
tree-agent talking to Euphemia, and
paying no attention to the impassioned
Of the tramp in the crotch
above me. When the chain was
brought, | hooked one end OF it in Lord
collar, and then took firm
grasp of the other. Telling Pomona to
bring the tree-agenps book from the
house, called to that individual to
get down from his tree. He promptly
Obeyed, and, taking the book from
Pomona, began to show the pictures to
You had better hurry, sir called
Out. Il can't hold this dog very long,
And, indeed, Lord Edward had made
1 run toward the agent, which jerked
me- very forcibly In his direction. But
4 movement by the tramp had quickly
brought the dog back to his more de-
,Ired victim.
"If you will just tie up that dog, SIR
'aid the agent; 'and come this way,
would like to show you the Meltinagua
0ear,-dissOlves in the mouth like
now, sir; trees will bear next year.
'Oh, come look at the Royal Spark.
ing Ruby grapep cried Euphemia.
It glows In the sun like gen.
Yes. said the agent, and fills the
Iir with fragrance during the whole
month OF September
Il tell yOu,' shouted, Il can't hold
his dog another minute! The chain
2 cutting the skin off my hands. Run,
ir, run! Pun going to let got
Run! runp cried Pomona. Fly for
'Our life!'
The agent now began,to be frighten-
d, and shut up his book.
IF you only could see the plates, sir,
'm sure
Are you ready?' cried, as the dog,
xcited by PomOna's wild shouts, made
blot in his direction.
Good day, If must said the
gent, as he hurried to the gate. But
here he stopped.
There is nothing, sir, he said, shat
1ould so improve your place as q row
{ the Splrzenberg Sweet-scented
salsam fir along the fence. I'll sell
GU three-yesr.old trees
hes loose!' shouted, as dropped
he chain.
In second the agent was on the
ther side Of the gate. Lord Edward
lade dash toward him; but, stopping
lddenly, flew back to thee tres Of the
amp.
IF you should conclude, SIR said the
,ee-agent, looking over the fence, to
ave row of those frs along here
My good sir said /, there is no
)w of firs there now. and the fence Ia
OF very high. My dog, as you see, is
cry much excited, and cannot
nswer for the consequences II he
Ikes 1t into his head to jump over.
The tree agent turned and walked
Owly away.
The rainbow is beautiful, bat with
~ ~ xx,skkAr,f N.