St. Landry democrat., 1890-09-13
Five Boys aud q Watermelon.
CHARCOAL, SKETCH FROM NATURE.

CHARCOAL SKETCH FROM NATURE
Az we stepped to the back door of our
Office the other afternoon looking out into
the alley we spied five little urchins. They
were huddled close together, evidently
brooding, as boys will, over some difficult
point that baffl I'D their wits They were
al about the same age, not over ten, we
suppose, and all equally ragged, dirty
barefoot and forlorn. They looked like
news bows off duty. By their side on the
top of short post, placed to keep wagons
from running against the corner.ot BRICK
house, lay a good sized, plump, striped
green and white watermelon. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY the subject of profound but sub
dued interest by the crowd. One of the
bows. a little red headed, generous looking
fellow, was rubbing his red eyes with his
knuckles, and all over his face grlmy
streaks of damp coal dust lay in zebra
style, We broke into the stiffness of
their meditaticns by asking
"Boys, why don't you eat your water
melon7"
"Cause this feller's mothers going to
lick him for buying it,"
Wasn't it his money!
Eyes, he made it hisself, but she says
he's got to give it to her"
"Did he buy the melon for you boys to
eatr Eyes, sir (from all of them).
"How much did he pay for it?'
Fifteen cents, sir"
"Well. if he got the money back, would
his mother lick him."
"S'pose not" said one; but the little
rascal who had been crying suddenly shot
off and plunged through one of the back
doors across the alley.
Hes gone to see, sir" they said.
"Well, boys, if he sells the melon you
won't get to eat it, will you r
"Reckon not, sir.
"Then would you rather that he should
get the licking and you have the melon, or
that he should sell it and get off from the
licking3'
There was an ominous silence then one
| of the smallest of the crowd. seized with a
spasm of virtue, or sympathy, or perhaps
| suspecting a way out to the melon at last,
| spoke up, in low, dutiful tone
Rather have him get off FROM the lick :
ing, sir" ,..,
lie, but unconsciously sooken. They were
all hoping that the boy would sacrifice
himself for his country, take the licking
like q man and divide the spoils. That
was what they were ali waiting there for.
Just then, swiftly as he had disappeared,
radiant with relief. the red headed wood
pecker boy flashed out of the gate oppo-
site, and cried, she says she won't lick
me if she gets the money"
"Well," said I, "here are the nickles
bring the melon in the store and lay 1t on
the counter The owner, with troubled
look, SLOWLY gathered the melon under his
arm; the other boys filed in sort of mel:
ancholy sort of funeral procession behind
| him, and ranged themselves around the
door while he came in and laid the los1
treasure on the counter.
"There." said /, handing him the
money, 81 guess our clerks will enjoy
that feast it is hot day, and that looks
like pretty good melon. ,
The boys fingered near like Mary's little
lamb, for a minute or two, but as no
further notice was taken of them, they
turned and gathered in a clump again
waiting for Jimmy who had gone TO set
tie accounts with his mother. When hs
returned they went in caucus again
around the post, evidently on the merits
patriotism and herosm not being rated
very high. We were watching them
through the window, and as l strollec
carelessly towards the door one of The
boys looking up, betrayed their feeble
hope by family crying out, "Say, Mister
give US piece"
"All right" said l, "come forward ane
stand 10 a row, and we'll sac what we Cal
do" The little ragamutfins didn't let The
grass grow under their feet minute, bu
leaped forward and CROW ded close will
watering mouths, filling the doorway ant
pressing inside. Then as they held the
big slices of the ripe, red, juicy melon
thrust into their faces till only eyes ant
chin OF any of them were visible, they
looked the happiest set of cubs imagln
able. In about three minutes q round o
THANK you, SIR" broke upon the air
they began pelting each other with thu
broken rinds, and leaping and cavortinl
like wild colts, they fed. yelling and
shouting down the alley. They had solve'
in one instance the great universe
problem, how to have the fun and at tn
same time to keep the money. But thu
poor bloated capitalist, what of his fftee,
cents? He got it back in five dollars
worth of happiness in studying that rlc'
crowd of boys in their various mood
and in the final exhi'aration OF their frolic
some boyishness. Fifteen cents laid up il
heaven, you say Not cen. of it, yo1
stingy fellow. He got the worth Of tt
money over and over, then and there
This is true story, every word Of it
T., in Md Continent
To Whom it May Concern.
1 Il -