Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-10-15
JOE'S MELON SCHEME
How a Very Selfish Boy Was
Taught an Important Lesson.

; where his two sisters were sewing, anC
threw himself down on the lounge witt
: a force that made the springs creak.
{ 80 Joe! you're on the shirt I've just
finished" cried Jane. Get up, there:
a good boy, and let me get it from IN
der you"
Bother your old shirt, . said Joe. "It
won't hurt it to be crushed little
You're always so fussy, Jane"
But"
ooh, don't worry me. I've come in
to tell you and Ella about a scheme
have. It's a frst-class one. Weren't
you saying yesterday that we had more
watermelons't than we could ever use,
and you wished there was a market
near enough to send them TOP"
Eyes, did" said Jane. ut seems a
pity to let them go to waste"
well, there's a big excursion COM
ing up on Saturday from the city,
about six hundred, I believe, and
they're going to stop at Ocean Beach.
Every body knows how fond excursion
lists are of melons-and so here's our
chance"
II don't see it exactly" said Ella
Then you are uncommonly stupid.
What l propose to do is to ask old Mrs.
Siddell to let US put the melons on sale
at her store; it can't injure her trade
any, as she never sells fruit, and she
likes to be accommodating. Can't you
! go over and see her this afternoon,
Jane? I'd go myself but I promised
Jack Collins to meet him at two
o'clock to talk over our next baseball
match"
81 am so anxious to finish nv dress"
said Jane, hesitatIngly.
Never mind about your dress. What
does it matter when you get it done?
You're not suffering for it."
Its dreadfully warm out" said
Jane, but if you'll saddle Prince for
me-
81 turned Prince out to pasture not
half an hour ago, ," interrupted Joe. 81
didn't think we'd need him again to-
day."
1T wouldn't take very long to catch
him."
Just try it and see," laughed Joe.
''Prince isn't as dull as you think! And
as for racing him around that big pas
ture for an hour or two, why, it's Just
out of the question. No, you'll have
to walk, Jane; I'm awfully sorry, but
there's no help for it. And the sooner
you start the better. And while she's
gone, Ella, you count the melons. l
want to know how many we can send.
I'd do it myself if l weren't in such
hurry about going to Jack Collins"
III go in and tell grandma about
the watermelon scheme said Jane.
'She might not like to have us settling
things without asking her consent"
''Oh, she won't care" said Joe, 1--WE
planted the melons, and we've got
right to them"
swell, anyhow better ask her."
and Jane went into the adjoining bed
room, where old Grandmother Hayward
was knitting. She listened in silence
to the proposition to sell the melons.
do as you like" she said briefly,
when Jane had finished
So Jane put on her big straw hat,
and taking an umbrella started for
Ocean Beach. The sun was very hot,
and she was tired out when she reached
Mrs. Siddells little store. But she was
successful in her mission; for Mrs. Sid
dell was quite willing to put the melons
on sale,
They'll go off like hot cakes, she
said =, the excursion trains get to
coming here real often I'm going to
start to selling fruit myself. But you
can have this chance and welcome.
Jane thanked her, and started home
again. There was nothing to keep her
in Ocean Beach 1t was a small place,
composed of half a dozen houses, q
dilapidated summer hotel, three stores
and a life saving station. People had
lust begun to find out that there was a
fine beach there, and within the past
three months railroad had extended
branch to the place. There was an
inland town half a dozen miles away,
where Jane and Ella did all their shop
ping.
You look worn out" said Ella,
when her sister came in.
Il have a fearful headache" said
Jane. did you count the melons?"
"Yes; and l have a headache, too.
The sun was fearful in the melon
patch. 1 think we can send about one
hundred"
We'll know better than to plant so
many next year." said Jane.
'You know it was Joe who made US
plant so many" rejoined Ella HE
said he had never had enough melons
in all his life"
"Wen, if we can dispose of them
shan't care" said Jane.
It'll take two trips to get them all
to Ocean Beach," said Ella The
wagon won't hold more than fifty or
sixty"
The next day was Friday. Joe came
into dinner fairly beaming with good
nature.
Were going to have the biggest
baseball match of the season this after
noon," he said, as he sat down, and
helped himself generously to ham and
eggs. Were going to play the Blue
Stockings at Shclby's Mill"
'But 1 thought you were going to
pick the melons this afternoon, Joe!"
cried Jane.
We'll, so will if 1 get back in time"
said her brother. eff don't you girls
will have to do it. "
The girls looked agEast
"And carry them to the wagonP"
gasped Ella
'Yes; that won't be anything to do
It'll be good exercise for you Girls are
always so afraid of little work"
But melons are so heavy, Joe.
s.LNen what IL they ara2 Nnn needn,t