The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-13
0nr pun'tg e6olEs.
PAYS 0FF4N0LD SCORE !

-NILTL4DES PAYS OFF4NOL SCORE
One Saturday morning. - twas rsry warm
A. As our heroine and hero out walking together
came down the road slowly, the latter stopped
As II suddenly struck by a stupeudous thouob+
ana ne looked at Miss Muslin and, winking his
Said he's" Yonder lives old Mr.. Solomon Slv
Whom You never have heard of perhaps,Ebut
And It's high time paid off grudge that owe
him!
just over that fence there,-the next lot to this
as happen to know, are some melons of his
some early musk-melons, of which some at least
MUST DC fflpe before this. What say you to a
Twould do no good to ask him, the greedy old
miser,
But we'll Just help ourselves; he will be none
He has probably gone off to market to-day
And won't be home till night.-Come. iii show
you the wayr'
So saying. Miltiades Peterkin Paul
assisted Miss Muslin to climb the stone wall:
ana then, cautiously giving one more glance
To be quite certain No one was on the lookout.
lie got over himself and at once led the way
Toward the place where he knew that the melon
patch lay;
And soon having stealthily crossed the first lot.
They arrived impoverished, as they thought-at
the spot.
But alas for their fresh-budded hopes! for some
ct was either too early, as yet. in the season.
vi some one had been there and picked them
though green),
Not single ripe melon at first, could be seen.
We'll" Miltiades grumbled, las sure as gun
he has picked all the ripe ones, and not left us
Yes" responded Miss Muslin of Quintillion
Square,
Some folks are too stingy to Ire declared
But at that instant. 10! with cry of delight.
Miltiades suddenly held up to sight
A melon so ripe and so yellow, like gold, it
Made Miss Aluslins eyes fairly dance to behold
" Ho. Hon' cried NIiltiades Peterkin Paul
The old gentleman did leave us one, after all
And luscious one It's, too! Why, look! Don t
you see?
He has f'ppSad it,-a sure sign It's ripe as can
And, with these words, our hero, without more
Took his fou-bladed iack-knife and cutitin two.
Them Miss Muslin receiving her half with de-
light
They each Of them eagerly took huge bite;
nut Ihe next instant jumped up together, and
4, cry of dismay, began splitting and suffering
"hile the i tears hled their eyes Poor Miss Mus
So loud that the Man in the Moon might have
heard her.
Why, cried she, " it tastes just like hot coast
While Miltiades' throat and his mouth smarted
CHe had swalloweda dreadful big mouthful,) that
Could not utter word And just then.-O. dear
me.
They heard a low growing; and then Uncle So.
With his awful dog Towser, jumped over the wal
You re as precious a pair as | ever heard tell
on!
Cried he. Well l hope you're enjoying the
melon.
| seasoned that one Just as strong as could
With fresh Cayenne pepper!-it ought to be good
You don t seem to find it, though, quite to your
taste.
What is that? Had enough?' But can't have
such waste,
You VIII finish that melon, sir That's what you'll
do.
Or I'll let go old Towser and make him eat you.r'
1t was quite clear that Uncle Sol meant what he
said.
And with Towser there, showing each tooth in
his head,
They d no choice but obey him and eat up the
rest
Though twas no easy matter, it must be con-
Then Uncle Sol grimly bowed, when they had
And dismissed them. And smarting in more
ways than one,
They took their way home like a pair of young
felons!
And l don't think they ever stole any more
melons.
John Broocnjohn, in JuEy Vide AlCake