The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-11-12
Tracks in the Melon Patch.

a story teller in the AfkGHSGW IRA
eLler. Melon culture was his de
light. particularly remember on
crop. just before the melons be
gan 10 get ripe my father calle'
Black Bill and me and said: I"
want you boys to understand ont
thing. If one of my melons is stOl
en- | am going TO measure the tracks
that | find in the patch and ther
measure feet, aud the owner of The
feet lhat correspond with the
tracks shall get Il whipping that 1t
Gan never forget. See this hicko'
ry ~ pointing to II long, and cruel.
looking switch which he had placed
above the dinins.roOm door.
"WelI, it either of yOn wants to
catch this switch, pitch in" Bill
shook his head and muttered that
he didn't want it that he would
rather be killed by a steer (old
Buck "a few weeks before had
thrown Bill against a tree and
Knocked off the bark than to be-
cut to pieces with such n switch,
and l assured my stern parent that
SO far as | was concerned he might
rest in peace. Bill was the only
negro we had, and although he was
compelled to go TO church every
Sunday, riding on tbs seat behind
The buggy, aud although be sat in
the buggy during services, aud
without effort could hear every
word Of the sermon, yet that boy,
with all his careful training was in
clined to be Il thief.
The next day after the procIama-
ton was issued [ went out and
looked at the melon patch. There,
lying in the sun, striped and tempt
ing, lay a beautiful melon. An, if
there was anything that could make
"a Southern boy forget honor it was
IL watermelon. | trembled, fer i
knew ! could not prevent myself
from stealing it; and then hat aw-
full switch came up before me. An
idea struck me. l went to the
house, EtOle into the cabin, and got
Bills shoes. What an enormous
foot the rascal had The shoes
were 80 large that they would not
stay on my feet, but | overcamc
this drawback by stuffing them
with grass. | slipped around and
entered the patch from a locust
thicket. A rain had fallen the day
before and | made decided tracks
in the level ground. | got the mel
on, stole back to the thicket, and
although it vas not ripe [ ate more
than hall it. Then | returned Bills
shoes. That afternoon while Bill
and | wero in the yard | SAW my
father, carrying a small stick, cn-
tering the gate. His face wore an
unusually stern expression, and |
saw that there was something
wrong.
81 don't think that much meas
ureing needed on this OCCASION"
said he CHANGING at the stick.
"D!lI, where are your shoeST
Gin de cabin, sab"
Bring them here"
lie brought the shoes. The old
gentlemen applied tho measure,
and said: "Frcsh dirt on them, |
ser.'
Bill'S face became II study.
"DUan know how it come dar,
marster. Amt wore 'em sense last
Sunday"
"Yes, that's all right. john"
turning to me, ''tetch mo that
switch" My heart smote me, but
| brought the switch. Then Bill
began to dance. ! never did soc IA
fellow get himself into so many
different shapes, and it seemed that
evary shape was better suited to
the switch. | bad TO snort. |
couldn't help it. l kept out of
Bills way as much as possible, for
he seemed to look teproachfuIly at
me, but he did not accuse mo OF
delivering bin up to the enemy,
and | had begun to persuade my.
self that Bill had stolen The melon,
when two days later | came to
grief. Bill and | were again in the
yard when my father entered the
gate, carrying a small stick.
"JOhn," said he as he approached,
"where your shoes r.
"ln the house, sir"
"Bring them here"
81 got the shoes. Great Caesar!
there was fresh soil on them.
"Come on, come on" said the old
gentleman. l handed him Que
Siae aud dropped tho other one.
"Bill,' suId hr, altar w~easpRiag the
shoe, "bring me that SWITCH BILL
bounded With delight aud brought
tue switch.
"Pap," | cried, "plCase don't
whip me; L amt done nuthin'.
Oh ="
i danced, l eapered, and | met
the switch at every turn. In myI
agony caught sight of Bill stand-I
Ing at the corner OF the house andh
storiing like u glandered horseI
bill kept ont OF my way, but thal
evening / met him and asked:
bill, how did you wear nj
shoes %
SLOW did yer war miuef'
"Put grass in 'euI.'
"Wall, l tuck or par short stits
au' put yer shoes on lie ends o. On.
Reckon we'se erbOut even new.
Oh, l tell yer whut's CT fack, Jdn,