The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-12-16
Adding to q Story.

per's Young People.
Adding to Story.
As Kitty Coleman and Maggie Weir
were going to school one morning. Kit
ty said:
II was over at Uncle Fred's last Sat-
urday, and came near staying too late.
We had such fun that did not notice
how near the sun was to setting, and /
was very much afraid I might meet a
tramp"
Ibid you meet one?' inquired
Maggie.
"No one. but Johnnie Gates; he
was coming down the hill whistling,
and with great big watermelon under
his arm; was scared at first, but when
saw who it was l got over it."
At recess Maggie said to Mary Ford:
"Kitty told me that she saw Johnnie
Gates carrying big watermelon home
Saturday evening. Wonder where he
got it and what he is going to do with
Before school Mary whispered to
Sallie Bates: Johnnie Gates was seen
carrying great big watermelon Satur-
day evening. l wonder if he got it hon
estlyr'
"Mr. Hart melon-p patch was robbed
about that time; may be that's where
it came FROM" answered Sallie.
At noon Sallie told Susan and Jennie:
II know something, and I'll tell you
if you won't breathe it to a soul"
30 no. we WON'T" cried both girls in
one breath; "what is it?''
"Why, Johnnie Gates robbed Mr..
Hart smelon-patch one nightlast week."
go dear, isn't that awful?" exclaim-
ed Susie.
II always thought that Johnnie was
not so much better than the rest of us,
for all he made believe he was so hon
est" said Jennie.
"He couldn't have done it alone"
Sal]ie said.
Whereupon Jennie fastened to
group of school girls who were in the
house and told them: "Johnnie Gates
and lot of other boys robbed Mr..
Hart melon-patch, and destroyed all
they could not carry away"
just at that moment Johnnie himself
came in whistling. and looking like any,
thing but thief:
80 girls! get togather quick; I've got
something for you. and it's most school
time"
The girls looked at each other, and
with little movements of disgust turned
away.
"Why, what's the matter with you
all? hurry up, as the bell will ring"
cried Johnnie.
"We know what you've got. John
ME Gates" spoke up Sallie, "and we
don't want any of your stolen melon,
and I think you should be ashamed of
yourself"
"Who says stole a melon?'' cried
Johnnie, in an excited tone; 81 guess
he'd better not tell me so. was over
at Uncle Henry's Saturday night, and
he gave me a splendid one, andI saved
it on purpose to give you all some; but
if that is the way you are talking about |
me you may do without
"Well." said one of the girls, "that |
is what heard. anyway"
"Who told you. I'd like to knows"
Then all began to talk at once, and |
became so excited that they did not no
tice that their teacher was in the room,
until she spoke to Johnnie, asking him
to explain the cause of the confusion. |
Then she carefully examined into the
matter until she found that it all came
from Kitty Coleman saying that she
had met Johnnie with melon.
The children that had taken part in
the story felt somewhat ashamed of
themselves when they saw how much
the story had grown in their hands.
The teacher said: "Ihope every one
of you will learn a lesson from this in
cident, and just now, before the habit
becomes fixed, resolve that you will tell
nothing but what you know to be true.
and that what you do tell. you will tell
exactly as you heard it; and not tell
to injure another, even if it is
true. hope Johnnie will forgive you,
and that you will never forget the les
son you have learned to-day"
l am glad to say that Johnnie did for
give them. and gave them q piece of the
melon all around; and hope that nei-
ther they nor any of my little readers
will grow up to be tattling, gossipping
mon Or vvO,non - Mos.s,s xoo CfN~