The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-01-18

UNCLE JAeEz.


up the yard, mothcr; we may move on
the first OF the month";"
'.And we may not. Fred. There's no
telling how long II vii. take Uncle ia
be-. 10 FIND farm 10 suit him. We may
be here several weeks yet. and want
10 keep the place in good order. You
will have plenty OF time 10 clear up the
yard before the boys call for YOU TO go
fishing"
1T seems to me It takes Uncle Jabcz
a long time 70 make up his mind, said
Fred. as he took hoe from a corner In
the kitchen. and moved toward the
open door. There are dozens OF farms
that would suit me-"
Uncle Jnbez 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 NJ
ways wanted 10 live on a farm said
Fred thing 10th TO prolong the con-
versation. for he was in no mood for
work. 81 hope the one Uncle Jabcz
buys will have plenty Of fruit on it.
particularly apples"
II think he will buy good one. said
Mrs. Morris. HE has plenty Of money.
] can hardly realize that it i twenty
years since | saw him! II Is very good
OF him to wish us to share his home. and
know you'll show him your npprccia-
ton Of it, Fred. wrote him a great
deal in your praise and the widow
looked fondly at her tall, handsome
boy.
..Oh. he and will get along all
right answered Fred. carclcssly. II
don't worry myself about that. But ]
do wish he would write. II has been
three weeks since we got that last LETT
ter"
lie went down the steps rs he spoke,
and began to chop at some weeds by
the garden fence. 1t was August. and
the weeds had grown very tall and
strong. Fred was in a profuso pcrspir-
alton 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 of together
for Green's woods. through which ran
the river in which they expected to
fish.
But the fishing amounted TO 50 little
that they soon grew tired Of ii. and
when Luke Allen proposed squirrel
hunt they all assented very readily.
But the squirrels proved as shy a
the fish, and the boys reached the 9TH
er side OF the woods without having
made capture. They kept on walk
ing however. .'in search OF adventures. y
as Luke Alien said, and striking down
road very little travelled, they came
in sight after about an hours walking
of large stone farmhouse standing
on hillside, back Of which was flour
ishing orchard Of apple and peach trees
in full bearing.
Here's luck" said Tom Mockbce
".'m as hungry as a hunter. Let'
help ourselves to some Of these ap
pies"
..Why not 90 to the house and asl
for somc?" said VIII Harper
Tom gave dcrisive laugh.
do you suppose you'd get any," h.
asked These farmers fairly hat
boys They wouldn't give away al
apple II fellow was starving for il.
1T wouldn't do any harm TO try,
said Will.
Yes. it would. They'd be on tn
watch then. and we couldn't take any
Come on. Don't be so squcamish
There's nobody about. and where's tn
harm q hooking few applcss Tn
folks'll never miss EN-"
viii said no more. but with the res
! followed Tom as he led the way TO tn
apple orchard.
Fred Morris conscience was iii q
. case. He knew that what Tom coun
seled was nothing less than stealing
, and yet he had not the moral courag
10 say so, or 10 felusc " Hidht onc =
,, the party OF mauradcrs.
bah" he thought. trying to silenc
, his accusing mentor. What's the sens
OF being so particular There's no gres
crime in taking few apples wher
: there are so many TO spare.
, Sealing tho orchard fence, the fiy
: boys were soon busy filling their pool
cts with the ripe fruit; so busy in fa'
that they did not sec the orchard ga'
open and an old man enter, a sto,
! stick in his hand. lie was almost upc
! them before they became aware Of h
! approach, and then Toms warning ca
OF Look out" came too late for two
! the party Mt least. Luke received
|. well-directcd blow over the shoulde
that almost fcllcd him to the groun
and Fred was seized and securely hcl
: despite his struggles, by a hand Of iro
9 You young rascals," said the ira
old gentleman, his face red with angc
! '.what do you mean BY robbing my
!, chard?'
= Only Fred was left TO make any J
-. - - could mt rtter "A word. III