Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-06-16
Anluutuns department,
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

Farmers all along the line of canals are
heavy losers by the passengers who are in the
habit of going ashore, and helping themselves
to just as much fruit from the orchard as
they desire. If they would only take the
fruit from the ground, it would not be 30 bad,
but they almost invariably club off quanti-
ty to secure some particular peach or apple
that suits their fancy, as it hangs upon the
tree. Wbst one person takes, does not, per-
haps amount to much, but what is taken by
thousands Of passengers, in this way, foots up
very heavy aggregate.
Some years since, was travelling on a line
boat from Troy to Rochester, and our passen.
gers were in the habit of amusing themselves
by visiting the various orchards On the route.
One young man on the boat, not satisfied with
what he could bring on board in an ordinary
way, cut the pockets from his overcoat, so
that between the outside and the lining be
could stow in hard on to half bushel AS
he brought so many on board, the rest got
out of the way of providing for themselves,
depending for supply upon his capacious
pockets. One day, having put on his forag-
ing coat as he termed it, he made his way to
an apple orchard, and after filling his coat
with choice fruit, was about leaving the or.
chard, with his coat setting out around him,
when he Tas met by the owner.
"Good morning, sir" said the farmer.
"Good morning" said our friend, not at
all taken back, "are you the owner of this
orchard p
"Yes," answered the farmer.
"Weli," said our friend, 81 want to pay
you for some apples I've just got from it"
"Well, my friend" returned the farmer,
"that's more honest than folks usually are
who travel on the canal, for they most OF
them steal their apples, so it doea me good to
find one disposed to deal fairly. Which tree
are they from?"
The young man pointed out the tree, and
the farmer continued:
II am very sorry you took them from that
tree, for they are very choice fruit; I valued
them highly"
90, well )" said the friend, II am willing te
pay you whatever they are worth"
THAT makes difference" said the far
mer. "Well, I won't be unreasonable, SC
we'll call it fifty dollars bushel."
"What" said the young man, "you're only
joking"
II didn't intend it for such. ut any rate,
said the farmer pointing towards the tree
"Ien days ago that tree was full of apples
and the passengers on the boats have taken
them all; so it is only reasonable that they
should pay me for them"
but, said the young man, beginning to
think ne had caught Tartar, II am willing
to pay for all have got at any reasonable
price; but you are only joking about fifty
dollars bushel."
"Very WE'LL" quietly answered the farmer,
"if my price don't suit you, you may put
them back; and l advise you to inquire the
price next time, before you supply yourself"
The young man, glad to get of so easy,
went back to the tree and emptied the CON.
tents of bis pockets beneath ii, the farmer
calculating at intervals, "What pocketw
That's al" said our friend as he turned
towards the boat, which was getting in ad-
vance.
Hold on" said the farmer "you haven't
put them all back"
"They are all there"
"Wel," said the farmer, "you took them
off the tree, didn't you? I want you to put
them back where you took them from, sir"
"Why, that is impossible" said our friend.
swell then, all that you have got to do is
to pay me my price, or III be hanged if you
don't 60 to JAIL said the farmer.
The young man, finding the farmer was in
earnest, and the odds against him, was forced
to give in. The apples were measured, and
twenty dollars changed hands.
"Here," cried the farmer, as the young
man was moving of, "you'd better take your
apples; you've paid enough for them"
He was too glad to get away to take hi,
advice, and during the remainder of the trip,
there was no other apples eaten than such as
we paid for at the stores.