New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-19
BRINGING IN a LOAD OF WAIEhAELONS
THERE WAS PLENTY OF THEM WHEN THE
WAGON STARTED, BUT FEW AT THE
END OF THE JOURNEY.

WAGON STARTED, BUT FEW AT THE
END OF THE JOURNEY.
81 kept hotel out in Kingston, MiSsoury, then
That wasn't last year nor the year before 1t was
long before the War. Drove out there In an GA
wagon, you know Pretty long drive, you know Good
and good wagon-iron axle and all that, but a
long road, good many weeks long rs said.
kept hotcl--thc best hotel IN the county, too We
was In tho county seat, you know.
There was goin' TO be shlndy ct my house.
had hankern, after watermclons. Hadn't tasted
@ melon since struck the country. l drove up the
road bout hte en- mile to get corn. Funny way
that man planted that corn, but I'll ten you Don't
that later. | was drivn' the came wagon and tho
same oxen that brought me out TO Miss )ury M
brother Bill was with me. When we drove up says
to Bill:
I" BILL what do You smell
"sDarned II know says Bill but It's mighty
good and 1t tastes familiar
BY John Rogers says !, them's watermelons
SMELL
d" Connecticut they are,' says Blu.
I" Don't say Word says l.
al asked that man If he had any corn. Then
says:
Why don't you fellows raise watermelons out
here. Jim Crackey you could raise 'em by the
million
- watermelonsi says he.
Yes, says l. 'watermelons-fnest fruit in the
world
Z" Do you want watermelons' says he.
"' Guess there amt one all Mssoury1 says I,
wtnkin' at Bill.
Why says he, I'm give you all you want for
! nothn'.'
So by John Rogers says I, where are you goin'
to git 'cml'
-" Come with me- says he.
"Watcrmelonsl You never see nothn' like 1t IN
your life There was acres Of 'em. This fellow had
come from New England. lie wanted to plant squash
among the corn like he to to home, but he didn't
have squash. So he took waterncons and planted
| em with the corn Great Connecticut! man. you
never see such watcrmelons. They was so thick yon
could walk for watermelons. They was
| from to three foot long, And they was rotin on
| the vines. Think Of 1t and / hadn't tasted nor
| smelled Il watermelon since left home.
8" BILL says l, we want some Of them
IAN We kin carry says Bin, catchin' Of his
| breath.
say says l. just give me load Of water
| melons and III come back for tho corn'
" Take a load for nothin',' says he.
Great John Rogers says |, this Is too good to
| be true
"They filed that wagon bed up with melons.
"'Bill' says I, this'll make our shndy o shndy'
| g. Susan jerks! / should say So, says he.
"They ncd up, but they didn't fill it quite full
enough They was Just four mlssin'. They left 'em
| out for our feet.
"Blll,' says l. when We out Of that, let's eat
| a melon.
You never tasted such a melon in your ufo as
| that.
Then we joggled down into creek, You know. and
all them melons up against the front OF the
wagon with q rush. Three OF 'em was busted and
| Bill and started to eat EN- You never In your
| life eat such watermelOns.
Ned Harry? says Bill. we amt struck nothin'
| like this in Mi>sOury
Don't let cit wasted says j.
"Then We come bump into another creek, and i've
busted
Great hickory nnts says ]. we'll lose em all
90 Drive gentle,' says BILL in pained voice.
'Tanf use.' says |, gettin' the oNtn out OF
| nut. This rad Is the old Harry
{" Drive US gentle rs you kin says Bill, chokin
| they did bust! And Us just aean' OF 'em.
-" Bill says l. L can't eat no more
DON'T give In. says Bill
| al can't do It, says l. Can't cat another
| mouthful.'
That road was terrible. We bumped 1t and olted 1t
! and htched IL, and them melons al u tin. Great
| John Rogers II terrible. 1t wa torurin.'
Bill says l, there amt 10 help fur 1t, II you
don't hold all YOU kin In Your lap. The rest Is gone
sure. Hold all you kin, Bill, and ll carry two under
my arm. while Pm a-drlv!n' OF these pe>ky oxen
| well We got into Kingston with seven melons ont
| OF an OX.team load
| BILL saws |. 'aint to have seven melons
| at shndy. They won't lie a tito for every man.
You're right says Bill, a,huggn' OF his melons
All right says l. We'll drive around 81 the
! back and stow em away and there wasn't no melons
| for the shindy to my hotel"