The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-09-29
OLD PETER GREENS wATERMEL.
OyS.


neighborhood that old Peter Green was
not so honest as he might have been.
Whenever any of the neighbors missed
roll Of butter, chicken or little
corn, it was not unusual to hear some
one remark:
II 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-
II do'no, I'm sho'. 'Tain't fer me
ter say; but 'pect it WIZ some nigger,
en- want yer ter understan' dat niger
don't alus mean black pe'ple neider, ez
yen fine out eft ye look in yer dicshun-
ary."
Old Peter attended watermelon
patch one season, and was interchangeable
in his attention to il. Day and night
found him at his post, under shelter
that he had built of brush to keep of
the sun and rain, armed with an old
gum. with which he was SO dexterous as
TO be able to shoot a black-bird on the
wing.
This feat always greatly astonished
es.of his boy friends, who used to
borrow the old gun and practice with
it ata 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
VIII and Matthew Black. They had
had a 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,a and after the season was
over had come into the knowledge of
facts that convicted him beyond q
doubt.
'sNeber you min, Mat" said Will
one day. .sOld Peter he hook our mil
yens las year, en- mebby SOM er his n
will creep off some er desc we're dark
nights. ''Ii@iq H 3sh
Hit don't seem ter me dat wo'd be
ies' de right way ter do.''
'sWell, mebby it wouldn't; but, least
ways, it don't look ter me like ez eff it
wod be wrong ter take huff ter pay
you en- me back fer wot he took las
year, 'a'
..Dis yere chile low dat he hain't
gwine ter bodder none er Ole Peters
milyens. kase he don't want no bullet
a-whistlen pas his year, en- no dog toof
in hisleg, We know"
.'Mpufg watch till Ole Peter 90 ter
sleep1 said Will.
Peefs like ez eft he don nebber 90
ter sleep, en- ef he do, Ole Ring he'd 81
dar, en- yer hain't gwine ter fool Ole
Ring much, femme tell yer"
"Mout glib Ole Ring dog-button. !"
s.Mebby some folks is mean 'nuff 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 We now?"
'sJes femme tell yer. rs done tho't
er suffin' OATS amos too good y cried
viii. clapping his hands. as got a
little game dat lows II git away wild
Ole Peter bad. - 0
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
miRed to'carry it into execution as soon
as a favorable opportunity offered.
Old Peter sat under his brush shell
teri dark clouds we're looming up on
the horizon, and night was approach
ing. CHIC 4slffs aAR
II low dat we's gwine ter hab bad
night, Ring, said Old Peter, address
ing his dog. "De signs am all faborable
fer fallin' wedder, en-, ef ain tmistaken,
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 exit 1 hearn somebody talkin'.
Keep yo' sharp eye open, Ring, kaze
dis yere's gwine ter be moughty fine
night ter hook watermelons. 1 wish
didn't hab ter watch dis patch, dat /
dug Wot's de matter wid yo', Ringp
Wot yo' howlin' en- barkin' boutP l
amt gwine ter onchane yo' till it gifts
mo- darker; dar hain't nobody in de
patch now"
"Howdy. Uncle Peter! Damp pros
pee dis ebeninp It's sprinklin' now.