The Penn's Grove record., 1883-10-27

siekly looking lads as they climbed the
fence. They had agreed to wait about
half way between the squire's and the
village, and help carry home the plum
der.
"Oh | amt you smart to come away
without any?- II I'd gone there
wouldn't have been q peach left on the
trees. / wouldn't care for old Holt or
that bobtailed dog OF his-or-"
"shut up your bragg l won't hear
you call Squire Holt names. You know
you were a coward and were afraid to
go. We have been, and I. for one, have
learned q lesson. 1 wish / had
been caught in so mean a scrape. l feel
Hfty per cent. meaner than / should If
he had set the dog on u.s." and Ar
thur Gregg's manly face grew set and
determined.
''Tell us about it, Arthur, before we
get into the village" said M of the
pale-faced boys.
"Well, you see, we went IS sly as
mice, climbed the wall, and we're head
ing straight for that rareripe tree, when
who shotf5 come up alongside of us but
Squire Holt himselffi
"'well, boys said he. Il suppose
yos have come to take my peaches. I've
been watching you for a long time to
tell you that they + not fit to eat. /
know they look rich, but they will be
much nicer a week from now. What's
more, l can't bear to see you running
ON this way. Your cheeks are as rosy
as the peaches, and I want you to ripen
as beautifully as they do but you never
can If you keep on in the way you have
been going of late. You are naturally
noble fellows, and you must not steal
from my farm. I'd rather give you
every peach on the trees than know Of
your doing 30 mean a thing, Now lis
ten, boys, ard I'll tell you my plan.
We, my wife and /, want you to come
to our home, a week from tonight, and
spend the evening with u.s.. Then you
shall have all the peaches ysu can eat.
Good night Remember, a week
from tonight. We shall look for you.
Come earlier than this, as we usually
draw in the latch-string by ~nine.'"
Then he jumped over the wall and
went home, leaving us there in the
middle of the orchard, but I'd sooner
cut my hands off than touch one of his
peaches"
80 the boys filed back into the village
and into their beds, determined that
Squire Holt should never have cause to
feel uneasy about them again.
BY seven o'clock on the following
Thursday the farmers kitchen was full
of boys, straight from the academychat-
ting merrily with the jovisl farmer and
his pleasant wife. He told them stor-
les of his early life, and how he anne to
the conclusion that the best way to SOW
his wild oats WAS to scatter seeds of
kindness.
II tell you what it is, boys, the reap
ing's a great deal more satisfactory. 1t
| took me some time to find this out, but
l learned it before I got my spring wheat
so eed, just as I'm sure you will do.
| Here comes my little wife with the
| pitcher of cream, and her sugar-crusted
sponge cake. If Benton and Gregg will
bring the big milk-pan Of peaches from
the pantry, wen give thema fair trial. y
When the party broke up, M hearty
lad took Squire Holt by the hand and
/ said
"You may find us on your isrG'
again, some day. But I'll give you my
word it won't beto steal your property
II any eneof us can do yona favor, Just
let III know
The boys went back to the village full
| of plans for the coming harvesting.
The farmer and his wife Lucy gath.
cred UP the fragments, talked over the
merits Of the boys, and pvt out the
lights.
"You women q get at the hearts Of
such boys they won'tforget your kind.
| ness very soon. What were you and
Gregg so busy about Pr
"On ! not much. Only l told him tC
bring down his winter feeting, and ]
would look them over and fix them VI
ft for cold weather, for you know hus
band, there's but one pair of stockings
for me to mend now
He draws her close to his side and
repeated this verse of the poem he knew
vas in her thoughts
For each empty nook in.the basket .
By the hearth there's an empty seat
| And / miss the shadows from off the wall
And the patter of many feet
lis for this, that a tear gathered on my
At the one pair of stockings to mend to.
night.
When harvesting time came the squire
went out to his corn field n day, say
ing as he went.
II don't feel very strong, I'll admit,
but l guess / can manage to cut a few
| rows"
Imagine his surprise to find the corr
all cut, and a dozen or more academy
boys hard at work stocking it.
Dent say one word" exclaimed
one, as the farmer tried to thank them,
we've been watching this corn field
for some time We want you to prem
Use us n thing"
'Say on" said the squire, ''you boys
are working your way into a tender
spot in my heart, and can do most any
thing with me