The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-08
HELPING THE DEACON.

'Cnerflcs! L snoulu say so! Incrc
no end 10 'em.-trees are loaded, and
reds burning bush. | was by there
to-day" q
1t was an intensely eager voice, and
Davey Kent, the speaker, ended his
little speech with an expressive smack
of his ips.
"IIe'd never miss the few we'd take
would he, boys?" That was Ned Rog-
ers. II was upon straw pile behind
Mr.. Rogers barn that the boys were
holding an earnest consultation.
Miss 'em? No, not if we took
twice as many as we will"
A "bushel will be enough TO treat
the whole crowd, won't it?'
"Oh, any amount"
"Now see here, boys" said Clem
Goodrich lifted himself into sitting
posture, and knit his brows thought
fully as he spoke. 81 think-isn'
this doesn't it seem little bit like
stealing? Don't you suppose he'd give
us few II we were 10 ask him? IL
looks TO me''--
But right here Clem's mild voice
was drowned in roaring bolster ous
chorus.
"Its not staling, me boy" said Con-
O'Bricn, with the faintest brogue in
the world; "1t's only helping ourselves
to few cherries, that otherwise might
spoil for the want O. picking, and if
Deacon Cannon don't know it, he'll
be none the wiser, for he's get piles
and heaps more'n he can take care of.
Ten to one he'll be obliged to us for
helping him out little-he isn't bad
old gintleman at heart, you know
And it is for the fun of il as the ating
we take'em, and that the TRUTH
"T "'-.' --~-' s>~~1 '"nr~ -.f ihp
boys.
AS for Glen, he gazed into Cons
serious face donbtiuliy, it must be
confessed, very willing TO be convinc.
ed.
81 suppose you know best,' said lie
"yon fellows that have lived here al
your lives"
"Of course" laughed Jerry Parker
"Why, my father says he always plants
an extra melon seed for MS boys, as vel
as for the bugs"
So they reasoned away their doubt
and made their plans; ami somehow
before the little party broke up, eacl
boy had pretty nearly succeeded in per
suadng himself that he would be doing
the deacon favor by helping hin
make away with ANAL portion OF hi
fruit. All the same, Ned Rogers could
not resist little feeling of guilt, hC
unmingled with dread, when his fathel
said at the tea-table, that evening, :"
wonder what Deacon Cannon though
Of that NOV of carly.cut timothy? II,
was to look at it This afternoon"
Nobody could tell what the deacoi
thought of the hay, for nobody hat
seen him. But Ned was thinking tha
he would give something to know jus
at what time in the afternoon the dea
con came 10 look at that hav-mow.
That was what he said to his friends
when they met next night, all mady
for the proposed raid on the dcacon'i
cherries. There were not few bank
faces in the crowd when he told hi
story.
ole might have heard us, If he wa
there when we were talking" said Ned
beating lively tatto on the bottom o
his basket. al don't say he did, bn
he might"
"Oh, pshawI" exclaimea Co,
O'Brien. "The deacon's deaf little
and don't believe he could hear vha
we were a saying. Why didn't yon G,
round, me boy, to the straw hape, ant
see if you could hear yourself into tn
bar-rn?"
A shout went mp at that, which, Il
be sure, was exactly what Con wanted
since there is nothing better than
jolly-sounding laugh to put boy o
good terms with himself and everybod'
else.
"It's all right" said he. "Come OF
now, and don't you be afraid o. noti
ing"
Not boy among them was afraid
but good many of them couldn't kee
their hearts from fiuttering in yer
queer way when they came, with the
baskets and bags, to the gap in Deaco
Gsmmon's orchard wall. The orchar
. was near the house and the cherrytret
| were scattered about among The app
J trees in hap.hazard fashion. III
n house looked dark and still.
n "Il's just as told you," whispere
g Con O'Brien triumphantly. The de
:, con aud wife have gone to prayer ma
: ing, and the coast is clear. IRah f
!: we! Look at'em, me boysl"
n They did more than look at the grea
]. | lol;.;0na oluoiarinu oha.,.;oo han0if