Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-05-06
A Story Of Tilden's Boyhood.

a little manoeuver he is credited with hav-
ing perpe,rated in his boyhood, as described
by the Express, of New York City:
During recent railway journey the writer
CHANGED to have as travelling companion a
hale old gentleman of dignlfed and benign
aspect. His name was Green. The conver-
sation turned upon the wordy Field -Tilden
war. "Ahi" remarked the old man, after
delivering 4 vigorous opinion Of the great
Usufructuary and his methods. 'how we'll
how amazingly well Sam Tilden justifies the
promise Of his childhood, The boy indeed
vas the father Of the man Let me tell YOU
a true story of his early life
I'VE were play fellows in the little town
where both were reared. Smart? | believe
you. The incident I am about to relate
and it is strictly true-will convince YOU OF
that. There lived near our village shrewd,
hard -fsted old farmer known far and wide
As Uncle Ike Besides being the Shingles,
old hunk in the neighborhood he was famous
throughout the entire country side as a
grower OF fine musk me ns-'mushmillions,
as he called them. In fact. he was the only
farmer IN those parts who at tha, time ever
succeeded in procuring really fine melons.
and his patch was naturally the cynosure
of all youthful eyes. But We seldom vent
ured to hook Uncle Ike's yellow treasures.
The few daring spirits who tried i, invariably
came to early punishment, for he was as
harsh as he was miserly. Nevertheless. We
all watched the forbidden fruit with longing
eyes from day TO day. 1t was some salts
faction even to look at it.
Just at the height OF prosperous melon
season met Uncle Ike on the road as was
'rudging schoolward one morning Greatly
70 my surprise. he greeted me with unwonted
geniality and said, JOHNNY, the mushmil-
lions are ripe up at our house. How would
YOU Ike TO have some?' Overwhelmed by
this evidence OF kindness from such an un-
expected quarter. could only calculate.
oh Uncle Ike. may | p The old man eyed
me qulrEically for minute. and then re
sumcd: I'll tell you Johnny what to do.
When schoo! dl.misses. you get the boys to-
gether and tell EN- invite EN- all up to the
farm with YOU for mushmilllon feast
Il vas not long in conveying the rap,ur-
Gus news TO my playma,es. They regarded
It as a sell at first, until Sammy Tllden-
who was then even a good deal Of ring
Ieader-spoke up. BOYS said he, its ali
night. Uncle Ike means il fast enough.
Mighty cute Uncle Ike IS. He knows tha,
To giyr n. all a good tr.ar j. ,ha sn-.s, -,
10 keep the BOYS from hooking his melons
Let's go
''Th, moment school vas over We all
raced off to Uncle Ike's farm with loud
hurrah. The old man stood leaning ON the
road fence near a grca, pile Of fresh picked
glorious cantaloups. Here Won are boy."
said he good -humoredl, and he gave each
of Us two biy golden u.lo,ssb,,,, a..
much as vc could carry. Now, run away.
he continued and be GOOD homes, hoys
until next million season With thrc.
cheers and tiger for Uncle Ike v. "A, H.
meath the shade of a roadside. nak hard ~
aud ate our treasure. With true boyi.h rel,,h
for a luscious rarity.
When We wrr, ready 10 tr,,ndl. our
stuffed little ,tonachs homegarI. sammy
Ilidcn once more addressed the marty
BOYS said he. did any of YOU ever see
ANYTHING half 80 good As muskm.lonso
never did. and know grown folks think so
too. for heard old Simmons. the tavern
keeper. say Yesterday ,ha, hi, boarder. v,r,
all crazy for them. and h. would give ,bre.
cents apiece for every melon am b.v would
bring 10 his kitchen door al ten o'clock IN.
hiskt. lTtE cents DILr thpS..
days.l
Almost immediately n. how. ,,o.. !.
came ..ickled DER With the pale cas-, Of
thought and We wended our wa,s home
ward in silence. As We passed IL, tavern
Sammy said We'll, good.bye fellows. I've
got to stop at simmons TO do an errand for
the ,chool,eacher.' Through the open door
saw him IN earnest conversation with the
keeper.
We'll. not TO spin my yarn out too much.
. hele Ike came down town about school
''''ie "TA' morning iurioa'' Every blessed
u1e'''i HSu Gi'appeaIea from ms Patch dur
'hs 'ie hish' ana he was looking for the
PNi'oii,siS fIRht ana iett, with blood IN his
XIII at s:mm .'''o - t''e 'assi" n oai anu so'
ronx.r.,,ian aa'i, - ~, t, MON n'ouiei,t
nasssse Isad;n,, ;" - ~ y" .t'e
I'm, .a;IsJ en, w;.h -. = ooon ~.
y.nrsa,ce ~ H. oo,,,,,a,., Fl 80 - -
break for the nos, ois;c,. round ,bs go -
"A minute later sammy T,lden cam.
along the road nv IN. tavern ub;.,liny
Simmons hailed him .S.e b.re S.m,nT,
said he. didn't YOU tell me las, n;,b, ,ha, e
any bows came IN nv Kitchen H. a, ,..n
O'Clock with melons il would he an ,;yb, ,.
Suppose did p repIied Sammv VIII,
of i,,'
And didn't you tell me If would give
the bows three cents piece for the melons
on the spot, and give YOU seven cents more
this morning for each melon so delivered to
me, tina, that would be all right too
..sammy looked AZ Il be had ava, ,orao.
ten wha, stree, he lived n i car,, ramona
ber iii / sa;d ye,,erd,, sor ,onr aoaonmn
da,;on S;mmons s,;d i.
MI,
ny iou !ou''s COY screamed SIM
mon mons Diui you seHa your iit'ie brother
,hds .isl. .iis morning before sun up TO collect
" .las 1'nei seen cents ior eaeh melon
'ou u,',e"'eiioef '"a' 100, maybe
We'll, simmons, coolly responded the
ia,uie .te''aen. .s \ ! YOU maven paid me
a i,'u .u". hhUH o'' you t1iiiH
sSu na,e Pelnap' YOU u DC Sood enough TO
'Ho" '''e i''e'P' 'of
You blasted young scamp" yelled the
now furious Boniiace but III get square
with you. Ike was here Just now and
identined the melons IN my kitchen. he
knew EN- hy an that he scratched on with
nus 'humD-naii when they were green.
hes round at the post-otfice now, and I'll
tel MIN the whole story as sure as am an
honest man