The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-09-29
OLD PETER GREEN'S WATERMEL-
ONS.

1t was commonly supposed in the
neighborhood that old Peter Green was
not so honest as he might have been
Whenever any of the neighbors missed
a roll of butter, chicken or a little
corn, it was not unusual to hear some
one remark:
Il suspect Old Peter Green knows
something about it.
If Old Peter was asked his opinion as
to who the thief could be, he would re-
ply:
II do'no, I'm sho'. faint fer me
ter say; but 'pect it wuz some niger,
en- | want yer ter understan' dat niger
don't alus mean black pe'ple neider, ez
yen fine out eff We look in yer dicshun-
ary."
Old Peter attended a watermelon
patch one season, and was interchangeable
in his attention to it. Day and night
found him at his post, under shelter
that he had built of brush to keep off
the sun and rain, armed with an old
gun, with which he was so dexterous as
to be able to shoot black-bir on the
king.
This feat always greatly astonished
one OF his boy friends, who used to
borrow the old gun and practice with
it at mark on the barn-door; but he
was never able to hit the mark, and
often missed the door.
1t was Old Peters dexterity with this
gun and the known fierceness of his
dog Ring that preserved his watermel-
ons, and permitted them to grow and
ripen unmolested.
Over on Vinegar Ridge, about two
miles from Old Peters patch, lived
Will and Matthew Black. They had
had patch themselves the year before
and at the time had strongly suspected
Old Peter of having something to do
with the disappearance of some Of their
finest melons, and after the season was
over had come into the knowledge of
facts that convicted him beyond a
doubt.
''Neber you min, Mat" said VIII
one Nay ''Old Peter he hook OR mil
yens las year, en- mebby SOM er his n
will creep off some er desc yere dark
nights.
Hit don't seem ter me dat wo'd be
jes' de right way ter do"
"Well, mebby it wouldn't; but, least
ways, it don't look ter me like ez eff it
WOO be wrong ter take huff ter pay
you en- me back fer wot he took las
year"
''Dis we're chile low dat he hain't
gwine ter bodder none er Ole Peter S
milyens. kase he don't want no bullet
a-whistlen pas his year, en- no dog toof
in his leo We know -
''Mout watch till Ole Peter go ter
sleep" said Will.
Peers like ez eff he don nebber 90
ter sleep, en- eff he do, Ole Ring he'd be
dar, en- yer hain't gwine ter fool Ole
Ring much, femme tell yer.''
'Mout glib Ole Ring dog-button. -
'Mebby some folks is mean huff ter
pizen yuther folkses' dogs. Dis chile
hain't, en- he wo' dn't hab no 'sosashun
wild no niger dat wuz."
Hi, hi, wh-o-o-py ~
"Wot's de matter wild ye nowp"
''Jes femme tell yer. rs done tho't
er suflin' OATS amos too good'I' cried
Will, clapping his hands. "Ts got a
little game dat | lows IL git away wild
Ole Peter bad"
And then and there he unfolded a
plan by which they were to get even
with Old Peter, that met with instant
approval by Matthew, and they deter
mined to carry it into execution as soon
as favorable opportunity offered.
Old Peter sat under his brush shell
ter, dark clouds were looming up on
the horizon, and night was approach
ing.
81 low dat we's gwine ter hab bad
night, Ring" said Old Peter, address
ing his dog. ode signs am all faborable
fer fallin' wedder, en-, eff ain mistaken,
we's gwine ter git rain, and dat TO
long; but | low we won't git much
wet onless it come down pow'ful heb.
by. Lissen, Ring, wot's dat? 'Peerd
ter me ez if hearn somebody talkin'
Keep yo' sharp eye open, Ring, kaze
dis yere's gwine ter be a moughty fine
night ter hook watermelons. | wish
didn't hab ter watch dis patch, dat
duz. Wot's de matter wild yo', Ring
Wot yo' howlin' en- barkin' boutP