Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-30
Judge Brown, w.ter Melon story.

Arkansas Traveller.
My father was the finest water melon
grower in the country. Melon culture was
his delight. | particularly remember one
crop. just before the melons began to get
ripe my father called black Bill and me and
said: Il want you boys to understand one
thing. II one of my melons is stolen | am
going TO measure the tracks that | md in
the patch and then measure feet, and the
owner OF the feet that correspond with the
tracks shall get a whipping that he can
never forget. See this hickory" pointing
to a long and cruel-loOking switch which
he had placed above the dinins-room
door. We'll. if either of you
wants to catch the switch pitch in. =
Bill shook his head and mUttered that he
d dn't want il; that he would rather be
killed by a steer told Buck few weeks be-
tore had thrown Bill against tree and
knocked OF the bark than 10 be cut To
pieces with such a switch; and | assured
my stern parent that so far as | was con-
cerned he might rest in peace Bill was the
only negro We had. and although he was
compelled TO go 10 church every Sunday
riding on the seat behind the buggy. and
alt Ough he sat in the buggy during ser
vices. and without effort could hear every
word Of the sermon. yet that boy with ali
his careful training was inclined to be a
tnief.
The next day after the proclamation was
issued | went out and looked at the melon
patch. There, lying in the sun. striped
and tempting, lay a beautiful melon. All
if there were anything that could make a
Southern boy forget honor il was q water
NEON. | ;rembled. for / knew | could not
Ta1Ng.lf fran, AZ fi,,t, -ka,
that awful switch came up before me. An
idea struck me. | went to the house, stole
into the cabin and got Bills shoes. What
an Enormous foot the rascal had The
shoes were so large that they would not
stay on my feet but | overcame this
great drawback by stuftng them with
grass. ! slipped around and entered the
patch from q locust thicket A Iain had
fallen the day before and | made decided
tracks in the level ground. | got the melon
stole back TO the thicket and. although il
was not ripe, ate more than half OF IT,
Then | returned Bills shoes. That after
noon while Bill and were in the yard |
saw my father, carefully carrying a small
stick. enter the gate. His face wore an un-
usually stern expression and | saw there
was something wrong.
81 don't think that much measuring is
needed on this occasion, said he, glanCing
at the stick. bill, where are your shoes"
''In de cabin, sah.''
Bring them here"
He brought the shoes. The old gentle
man applied the measure and said: Fresh
dirt on them. | see"
Bills face became a study. ''Doan know
how ii come on dar. marSter. Amt wore
em sense last Sunday"
Yes, that's all right, John" turning to
me: fetch me that switch" My heart
smote me. but brought the switch. Then
Bill began to dance. | never did see q man
get himself into SO many different shapes,
and il seemed that every shape was better
suited to the switch. | had TO snort
couldn't help it. kept out of Bits way
a. much as possible, for he seemed to
look reproachfully at me, but he did
not accuse me Of delivering him
up TO the enemy. and / had begun to per
suade myself that Bill had stolen the melon.
when two days later | came 10 grief. Bill
and | were again In the yard when my
father entered the gate, carrying small
stick. John" said he, as ne approached,
''where are your shoes
"ln the house, sir"
Bring them here"
] got my shoes. Great Cesar, there wss
fresh soil on them. Come on, come on, g"
said the old gentleman. ! handed him one
shoe and dropped the other one. Bill"
said he, after measuring the shoe. bring
me that switch" Bill bounded with de
light and brought the switch.
Pap" | cried, please don't whip me; |
amt done nuthin'-Oo-
! danced, | capered and | met the switch
of Bill standing at the corner Of the house
and snOrting like a gandering horse. Bill
kept out of my way, but that evening met
him and asked:
Bill. how did YOU wear my shoes?"
How did yer war mine?"
Put grass IN EN-
WAL, tuck er par er short stills an
put yer shoes on de ends q 'em. Reckon
we'se erbout even now. Oh, tell yer
whut'S er fack. John, it won't do ter fool
wild me, case Use one o de 'n'inted by de
saints.
Hoods SarSanarilla is characterized Inv