Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-10-17
A Practical Lesson.

his lips, and knowing WINK towards
the orchard beyond the high stone
wall, where the rosy apples hung just
out of reach, and the purple damsons,
velvety peaches, and melting pears
were some excuse for boy thinking
that stolen fruit was sweetest-but a
dozen excuses never made one wrong
act right, and never will. They knew
that also.
"Y-e-e-s. They are good" admit
ted Roy Hallet with longing look
towards the heavily laden Bartlett
pear tree. Squire Jones pride in
all that large orchard.
"And Squire Jones is stingy old
pig. He'd never think of asking a
boy to have pear, no matter if that
tree was breaking down with its load
of fruit. He wouldn't give Teller
one to save his life, he'd let 'em rot
first-the pears, | mean," added Tim
temptingly.
That's so" admitted Roy. w've
been by here time and again. al
ways stop and lean over the fence,
but he never seems to notice me"
81 suppose the few we'd take never
would be missed any way" suggested
Ray Smith, who had been silently
contemplating the loaded branches of
the pear tree all the time. "'Taint
as though we were going TOTO take
two or three bushels. All we want
is enough to eat
There's an awful many this year.
Pears is an uncommon good crop, but
we don't raise none" sighed Johnny
Grimes, the last of the four.
"We-l-l" began Tim slowly, as
if he was almost ashamed of what he
was going to propose. "As long as
he wouldn't miss EN-, and we want
'em so bad, suppose we take few
some night ?"
"Steal emp questioned Ray,
bluntly.
Don't call such hard names. Well
borrow what we want, and when we
have more pears than Squire Jones
has-why, we'll pay him back double.
See?" said Johnny, with guilty
laugh.
II don't see any difference in steal
ing and borrowing in this case," pro-
tested Ray. But l do want some of
those pears"
ooh, you can see them, if you don't
see the difference. So do /. And
tomorrow night I'm going to have
some of 'em too. Who goes with
met" and Tim looked around, con-
fdent that the other three would
yield to temptation.
Aud SO they did, at last, after much
hesitation, and longing looks towards
the great pear tree, with its load of
fruit.
But when the matter was decided
and arranged, and the last boy had
disappeared around the bend towards
the village, there was commotion
Oh the other side Of the high stone
wall, a violent rustling among the
barberry bushes, and face framed
in silvery hair slowly rose above the
rocks.
"Wal, | be disappointed in them
boys, be sure said Squire Jones,
gazing after them with wrathful eyes.
80 I'm a stngy old. Wal, like
enuf | be, but somehow it goes agin
the grain to have other folks think
so--if they be only boys.
I've never thought they might
want some of them pears, but come
to think of it now, their folks don t
raise none, and | suppose them lads
do kinder banker for EN-, but they
needn't steal en-. No, no, that amt
right. Wal, wal, ] guess I'll go and
talk it over with wife. Them boys
need lesson in honesty, and they
shall have it--with them pears"
With many thoughtful shakes of
his gray head, and many wise mods,
the squire told the whole story to his
good wife.
you don't say so, Thomas And
our pears has been temptation to
them poor boys all along, and we
never thought of it. Wal, wal
Thomas, you won't be hard on EN-
will YET Remember the ninth OF
October, fifty years ago. Do you re-
member that night, Thomas 7 Boys
was bout the same then as they be
now, take it," and the good woman
looked at him with twinkling eyes
and laughed silently until the snowy
ruffle Of her white muslin cap shook
merrily.
"As though I'd ever forget thai
night, Deborah" answered her hus.
band, as he joined in her laughter
"And this ere pear tree is an ofishoot
from the old one, too. tell you
what tbs wife. Well give them fool
ish youngsters what your good father
and mother gave us that night
S'pose Won and Mary Ann can man.