The Brookhaven leader., 1883-11-01

ing very slow and deep, "a dreadful
row. Old Bears missed 'em, and he
swears they was the choicest of the lot,
and he marked EN- himself, cause they
was to be sold this VERY day for dol
lar apiece. And he says. in langwidge
it would make your blood run cold to
hear, that he'll find and punish the
thieves if it costs him twenty dol
lars
Good graciousr says I, feeling my
self turn white; how do you know?'
"'Met the constable a-looking for
'em as l come along the road from
York, said Dick. 'Oh! dear. what
shall we do?' says I. Il haven't got n
cent, and I don't believe the other fell
lows have either. II we had we might
pay him for 'em; but we spent all our
money last Saturday, cause we ex-
pected to go back TO school so soon
Guess you won't go back to school
for a week or two, says Dick, getting
solemner and solemner every minute;
fraid you'll spend that much time in
the lookup
"1s there no way of getting ont of the
scrape without telling my mother about
it, says /. Il don't want to tell her.
She feel 50 awful bad-though she d
get me out of It somehow, | know. Boys
mothers always do. You ought to help
u.s. says |, 'cause you were the first
one to speak about taking the melons. ;
Speaking and taking two different
things says he. But if you want my
advice, l m willing TO give it to you.
Prhaps the old man isn't such a bear
as he looks. Most folks amt 'zactly
what they looks, and if was you boys
I'd go to him and make handsome
apology, and | shouldn't wonder if he
let you off.
"Wcll, | didn't stop for any more ad-
vice, but hurried as fast as | could to
the house on the hill. where | knew the
other fellows were at dinner, and gave
one signal shout and pretty soon they
came out with their mouths full. Hobe
Berry, he had his pie in his hand, and
he offered me bite. but l didn't feel
like pie just then-neithcr did he, nor
any of the rest of 'em when told about
the constable and the lookup. They
all looked as serious as Serious Dick
then, and some of 'cm were for saying
right up and down that we hadn't been
near the watermelon patch for weeks.
But says l, L for one amt going
to tell any lies about it. We stole the
watermelons, and that's bad enough
without lying about it, and | propose
that we own up and make an apology
to old mean to Mr.. Bartholomew.
81 second the motion Ted Higgins
chips in. But who's going to do the
talking? We can't speak all together
like the chaps in the primary.
"I'll do it. says |, for knowing
Uncle John so long perhaps he'll take
it better from me. And it better be
done at once. saw the cd man in
the patch as | came along. So, fall in
right about face-march!'
And off we marched brave enough
until we came in sight of Old Bear and
his men loading big truck with melons
for market. Then our knees began to
wobble, and Hobe Berry he whispered
Lets cut and run But kept right
on and the rest followed until we stood
in front of the old man, and l began:
Mr.. Bartholomew.
"'Heyn he shouted so loud and
fierce that l fell back on Ted Higg rs
sore foot and he yelled fit to be heard a
mile, and l felt sorry | haCtHt cut and
run when Hobe Berry wanted me to,
but it was too late then, and so | went
on: I'VE boys are very sorry we took
those watermelons last night, and we've
come to ask you to forgive us, and to
let Us pay for 'em as soon rs we can
Stole some of my watermelons.
did you?' says he, when | was through.
That's the first | knowcd about it.
But you've come Just in time with your
'pology. OFF with your jackets and help
load up. That's the kind of pay I'll
take.
And we did help load up until our
arms and backs ached oh. how they
did ache-and don't believe there was
a tireder lot of fellows anywhere when
Old Bear let us put our jackets on again.
And after we'd got 'em on and was
wiping the perspiration from our heated
brows-that's like they say in printed
stories--'long comes Serious Dick.
- thought it would be all right
says he, and so | ate the watermelon
you kindly left for me, and found it
VERY cool and refreshing "-Margaret
Euin1e, in Detroit Free Press.