The Arizona sentinel., 1889-01-26
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
AN EFFECTIVE LESSON.
Tred's First and Last Experience as an Orchard RObber.

| the first of the month"
 And we may not, Fred. There's no telling how long it will take Uncle Ja- beg to find farm to suit him. We may be here several weeks yet, and l want to keep the place in good order. You will have plenty of time to clear up the yard before the boys call for you to go fishing"
 ''It seems to me it takes Uncle Jabez long time to make up his mind," said Fred, as he took hoe from corner in the kitchen, and moved toward the open door. "There are dozens of farms that would suit me-"
 "Uncle Jabez is probably harder to | please You must not be impatient. You have a good home here, however humble"
 'But I'm tired of town life, and I al- ways wanted to live on a farm," said Fred, nothing 10th to prolOng the con- versation, for he was in no mood for work. ''I hope the one Uncle Jabez buys will have plenty of fruit on it particularly apples"
 ''I think he will buy good one, " said Mrs. Morris. ''He has plenty of money. l can hardly realize that it is twenty years since I saw him! It is very good of him to wish us to share his home, and l know you'll show him your apprecia- tion of it, Fred. I wrote him great deal in your praise" and the widow looked fondly at her tall, handsome boy.
 ''Oh, he and I will get along all right" answered Fred, carelessly. "I don't worry myself about that. But l do wish he would write. It has been three weeks since we got that last let ter"
 He went down the steps as he spoke, and began to chop at some weeds by the garden fence. It was August, and the weeds had grown very tall and strong. Fred was in prOfuse perspir- atiOn by the time the last weed was laid low, and as he rested moment, his arms on the low fence, he saw five of his boy friends coming up the street. He threw down the hoe at once, and dashed into the house to wash his hands and get his fishing pole. By the time the boys reached the house he was out again, and they all started off together for Greens woods, through which ran the river in which they expected to fish.
 But the fishing amounted to so little that they soon grew tired of it, and when Luke Allen proposed squirrel hunt they all assented very readily.
 But the squirrels proved as shy as the fish, and the boys reached the Oth- CT side of the woods without having made a capture. They kept on walk ing however, ''in search of adventures, :" as Luke Allen said, and striking down road very little travelled, they came in sight-after about an hours walking of a large, stone farmhouse standing on hillside, back of which was a four ishing orchard of apple and peach trees in full bearing.
 Here's luck" said Tom Mockbee. '1'm as hungry as a hunter. Let's help ourselves to some of these ap- ples."
 "Why not go to the house and ask for some?" said Will Harper.
 Tom gave derisive laugh.
 ''Do you suppose you'd get any?" he asked. "These farmers fairly hatc boys. They wouldn't give away an apple if fellow was starving for it. :"
 ''It wouldn't do any harm to try" said Will.
 ''Yes, it would. They'd be on the watch then, and we couldn't take any. Come on. Don't be so squeamish. There's nobody about, and where's the harm of hooking few apples? The | folks'll never miss 'em."
 Will said no more, but with the rest followed Tom as he led the way to the apple orchard.
 Fred Norris conscience was i'll at ease. He knew that what Tom coun- seled was nothing less than stealing, and yet he had not the moral courage to say so, or to refuse to make one of the party of mauraders.
 'Bah," he thought, trying to silence his accusing mentor. "What's the sense of being so particular? There's no great crime in taking a few apples where there are so many to spare"
 Scaling the orchard fence, the five boys were soon busy filling their pock- cts with the ripe fruit; so busy in fact that they did not see the orchard gate open and an old man enter, a stout stick in his hand. He was almost upon them before they became aware of his approach, and then Toms warning cry of ''LoOk out" came too late for two of the party at least. Luke received a well-directed blow over the shoulders that almost felled him to the ground, and Fred was seized and securely held, despite his struggles, by hand of iron.
 ''You young rascals," said the irate old gentleman, his face red with anger, ''what do you mean by robbing my or chard?"
 Only Fred was left to make any re- ply, and he could not utter word. His heart sank as he saw his five friends take to their heels, leaving him to his fate. He wondered very much what that fate would be as he was dragged to the house and forced to enter the large, f-- IL