davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning times., 1896-10-25
His
Last
Melon
Copyright, 1867
BY MAURICE THOMPSON.

A boys heroism is muI,iform bu, +,
every phase It's perfect sincerity has q
strong appeal, especially when an uncon.
scious element of hnmor CLEANS throupb
1t. l enjoyed my ancient friend Ben
tsuckfs httie story last summer. Ben
Is growing old in a Jolly mood under the
humble roof-tree OF his boyhood's days
amid the brown hills of North Georpia.
IL seems that when Ben was lad some
"hefe between twelve and eighteen
years oid, lie planted patch OF flat ground
Det"eei TWO hills Ill luscious hope OF
growing line crop of watermelons, He
was industrious, his plot of land was very
Icrtlie, and, Lest OF all, the season turned
OUT unusually propitious. As the summer
drew along with alternating showers ana
burning sunshine. the vines grew apace
ant. the melons swelled up ike great green
pupbics on the ground among the rich green
and mottled leaves. Ben was proud Of
Ills melon patch and correspondence i'm
patient to see the fruit ripen Not a weed
was left 10 grow inside the Enclosure; the
"hole area was kept as II swept and
garnishcd
Va .n' idi spieduiiS vines growing out
oil one hill,' or bed, five melons of ex-
traordinary size developed, with all the
outward markings of the celebrated ice
rind, rattesnake" variety. This incom-
parably delicious, Grim son-cored species was
then very rare AMI had its composite name
from two features: A rnd whose inner
appearance was like ice and a rnuttled
outer coating not unlike the pattern on a
rattlesnake's skin. These five enormous
watermelons filled Ben's heart with salts
faction, while he watched them grow His
mouth watered, thinking of the time to
come.
As matter of course the melons did
not grow equally, coming of flowers blown
Several days apart, but this was fortunate,
for if all had ripened at once the feast
could not have been very much prolonged;
whereas, maturing one a time, from day
to day, what a lingering delight! Ben was
patient in his impatience, and ti:ae Wore on,
The morning times., 1896-10-25
zA\s
PAGE

neatiy fastened. He was looking down
upon IL when the horse beneath him
SHE'D trifle
"ilnllo," said he, glancing up, what
is this?"
large, square piece Of white card
board, nailed to tree, had caused the
horse tostart. Toby, ,reassuring his broncho
near The tree, in order to read the following
s ign:
Reward-The sum of $3.50 is hereby Of
iercd by the country and by the ranchcrs
oil tlis vicinity as a reward for the head
ana hide of grizzly bear called "onc-
Eyed She" r. S. CORVELL,
County Clerk.
"Whew!'' said the boy, Il guess she
must nave dincd on another flock of shccp!'
He sat there looking at the splendid
scenes Tor momeat before he turned To
so ahead. Scarcely had he gone Il hundred
yards up the slope, when, right before his
horse, the round and clumsy cub of a bear
rolled out of the brush, to scanper ahead in
funny endeav6r TO escape.
"oh, ho!' cried Toby in delight. You
chunky little scamp, you've got to go home
with me-"
lie Jerked the string loose that fastened
MS iariat' ana graspinG the coils, ran out
"a loop in half a minute. The cub, meantime,
had Tioundered back in the chapparel, III
which the pony was now sent AZ trot.
Out went the tiny, scramblinS bear, to dive
Iro;n sight gain before the boy could get a
chance To throw the circling rope. Sud.
denly, with Il Irightful roar, the wild-eycd
grizzly mother bounded out from her nearby
lair, and started at once for the horse.
so quickly the broncho sprang Ia escape
that Toby was almost thrown from his seat
And then commenced Il terrible race. Down
the hill the trio tore, through the brush,
over the rocks and logs at breaI-neck
speed. 1t was madness to plunge toward
the dangers below, yet Toby was power
less to guide his horse back up the hill,
and the grizzly was gaining at rate
that made the pony shrink and tremble as
he ran.
They had gone perhaps 200 yards, clash
ing through the chapparel and scrub tim
her, When, striking boulder that was
hidden by tangled growth, the horse
went down, pitching his rider headlong
in Il manZinita bush. Like Il bouncing
ball. the pony got back on his feet, lodged
the bcnr and raced up the slope with all
the speed that a deadly fear compelled.
The animal turned and followed the horse,
her Jaws flecked white with foam, her
eyes ablaze and red with baifled rage
Across his path, extending as far to
right and left as bis hurried glance could
penetrate was gaping chasm, preci-
pice. from thirty TO fifty feet in depth
and twenty feet wide at its narrnwest
point
The horror-stricken Toby now looked
up the hill. He saw his pony clear the
ridge with such distance between him
SELF and the bear Us to make his escape
assured. AT the top the grizzly paused
to watch the fleeing horse. The heart OF
the boy was leaping now with fearful
thumps. Would the brute give up the
chase or did she know the rider was still
TO be hal?
The morning times., 1896-10-25

stummick. think that every bone in it is
broken,"
Victoria dug like mad among the debris
to free them, for she saw what they could
not, a tinytbreadlike flame creeping toward
them, probably from the overturned alcohol
lamp. AS soon as she herself could stand
upright, she stamped this out.
The tiny bit of light had served to show
her where the children were, and it was Won
deriul indeed, that the roof had fallen in
such a way that it arched over them, and
only the plaster held them down, so when
victoria's strong young arms had freed
them they could stand up, comparatively
uninJured. co."
IF we could only see,' thought Victoria.
Then aloud, "Can you see where the door
was, Evelyn" She asked.
sit ought to be over this way" said
Evelyn, cautiously picking her way over
the floor. But the door opened before she
reached it and she ran into her fathers
arms.
1t was a terrible night that followed
The morning times., 1896-10-25
AMD G\RhS

trap-trIggers But the instant that these
triggers were touched down would drou
'he stones and JERK the moose tight. 1t
Was glorious trap, and it worked like a
savage charm.
Uncle Dave and Ben perfected it in the
forenoon, ami after testing 1t by every
method suggested by the situation. pro-
nounced 1t perfect.
They air but one way, Benny" said
Uncle Dave, - at thet thief kin beat this
yer nXin', an that's eff he sh'd think o,
sliDpin' his hand under the rope. In thet
case he mought git thet worternIiliiun an
grin at our thingenbOb here"
Uncle Dave went home and Ben puttercd
all the rest Of the day making another rope
snare exactly like the first He had IL
in his head 10 double the chances of catch
Ing The thief, and when darkness fell nc
went forth to drive his stakes and adjust
his noosed ropes and heavy stone weights
Ben had method in his way OF setting
the SHARES. The thief always came out
OF the wood and approached the melon vine
from that direction So Ben took advan-
'o6S Vi eAilo idtS. oIIt sidIt WIS StJ So
That its moose eucircled the remaining
melon, the other spread its loop across the
theirs path about four or five feet distant
1his was on sultry, cloudy, -moonIess
night in August Ben mopped his sweat
ing race when at last both traps had their
triggers nicely set and everything was ready
for business.
Now" he muttered. dinhy regarding
his rude but powerful machines as they
We're scarcely visible in the dark Now
IL git 'uin a comm er a goin', sure as
the world!"
IL was no use, sta wing there any longer
The thief would not come until he was
gone, that was certain, therefore Ben went
home To bed. For hours he lay awake
Three times he got up ana slipped out to
the patch, only to find his melon safe and
his snares grimly waiting for a victim
Slowly the clouds thickened on the sky,
and at length fine mist like rain filled
the air with a sultry blackness, Then Ben
fell asleep, To BE- awakened presently by ii
strange noise.
He leaped out of bed, rubbing his eyes
and trying to pull his wits together He.
had not takenhis clothes off, and was ready
to run at 4 seconds warning; but he was
confused. just listen!
''Ob, lorsy mussyr' bawled a voice.
leone yer quick. Oh, Ben, oh Bcnr'
Sure enough there WIS the thief. caught
not only in one but in both Of the snares
His right leg was securely tied between the
foot and the knee, while both Of his hands
Were squeezed together so fOrCibly that he
could not move them. Ii was plain at a
glance that in approaching the coveted
melon lie had stepped into one loop, the
one set in his path and had fallen forward
So that his hands reached and sprung the
moose that surrounded the luscious tempta-
ton
"Wull, wull. deClarer' exclaimed Ben's
father. wy, Dave. Wat 'pon the face
O. creation air ye a doin' yer.''
Aud there lay Uncle Dave. kicking and
gruntine and writing, vainly intent upcn
escape from his painful and embarrassing
prcdicament-
Uncle Dave.' cried Ben. dropping the
torch. The goodness alive! Uncle Dave"'
Instantly it was US dark as Egypt. for
tile light went quite out before Ben, could
pick it up.
Now ye're in 4 fix, ain Z ye, Wuil, xuif,
The morning times., 1896-10-25
until one day he thumped the Oldest melon
with his second finger and said to himself:
..I,.lI H., rim tor,nnrror

until one day he thumped the Oldest melon
with his second finger and said to him self:
It'll be ripe ter-morrer"
Next morning bright and early Ben was
up and away to the patch, his heart as
light as the matutinal breeze falling down
from the mountains, his feet, bare and
brown, pattering rapidly along the we'll
beaten sandy path. When he reached the
low fence inclosing the patch and, with
grin of expectation looked over, he re-
coiled as if from a blow.
The big melon was gone!
His brain whirled. He counted one,
two. three, four The fifth had vanished
sometime during the night. Some person
had stolen it.
Two or three nights thereafter the
same fate befell another OF the fine nelons.
This left but three. What was poor Ben
TO do? He cudgeled his brain. he consulted
his father and his Uncle Dave. There
appeared no way save to watch the patch
by night So Ben lay in a corner of the
fence until long after IL in the black dark
ness. but nobody came. Then he crept
home and slept. Meantime one more
melon vanished. and SO on. until but one
of the five remained. This one was not
yet ripe enough to pick, for Ben wished
the seeds to mature for next years planting.
Something had to be done at once and
efficiently. There could be no delay. So
Ben racked his brain. and his Uncle Dave
came over to help him out.
I'VE mought ketch the 'fernal scoundrel
VII er trap er somethin'," Uncle Dave
finally suggested.
'.D'ye s'pose sou demanded Ben, half
credulous, half i'll doubt.
Uncle Dave pondered in silence With an
abstract inventive mood cleaning forth
from his deep-set gray eyes.
1--WE KIM" he presently said, his Jaws
taking on a determined expression. We
kin do it an do it easy as fallin' off'n
a logv'
Then he explained to Ben the simple
plan OF rope spring which was to be
made OF two stout sticks driven solidly into
the ground ten feet apart. Each stick
SO planted was to. have Il fork or crotch
at the top. Now a rope with slip-noose
in it's middle was to have its two ends
passing over the stakes in the crotches in
such wise that when the idsloOse lay
on the ground between the stakes the
rope ends, to each OF which twenty pound
stone was tied, would be drawn up nearly
to the top OF the stakes, position which
was to be maintained by set Of wooden
The morning times., 1896-10-25
what: you come up afterward. and we
will give ynu Some truly tea ~.


will give you some truly tea -"
''Out Of Il truly brass tea Kettle, with
really steam coming out of its GINNING
nose?" finished Harriet.
1t was dark with the coming storm,
but Mr.. Marcus. sitting at his writing
table, touched button, that flooded the
room with electric light.
Victoria stood forward, much scared l..
and a little blinded with the light. my
father was Henry Hobbs, sir, ,'shc said with
a funny little courtesy, land he said you
were his friend?" she began.
III obhs?" said Mr.. Marcus, after II
minute. Yes, yes, OF course; he was our
porter at the office, and brought his little
place Of us. Yes, indeed; / remember him
well. He did me u great service once. Is
he ill?"
dead. sir,r said Victoria, her round
chin quiverng fast. "And we are be'ind
with the money, and the firm ave said we
must pay or go. We viii pay in time, sir
every cent, but now we cannot at once
but will do SO as soon as we can"
Mr., Marcus face was troubled. 'You
know, Victoria, have had trouble, too, =
he began, and she nodded her head with
quick sympathy. IF / had been at the
office this would never have happened.
l had great respect for your father;
he was honest as the sun, and he probably
saved my life once
He asked me to be a friend to his fam
lily II they needed one. though, and / am
afraid have, in my own trouble, forgotten
This; bat / am glad you came to me, my
dear. Now, go upstairs with the chill.
dren, and l Will telephone the office and
fix eve ryLDing all right
Vk.toria's face was radiant. '.Oh, you
are so good she said. Thank you, sir,
for the good word can take my mother
and Albert she continued, and, with
another little bobbing courtesy, she went
out.
While her little hostess friends were
pressing truly tea and fairy cakes upon her
there came low, angry roar OF the coming
storm.
Molly will be scared.' said Victoria nut
ting down her tcacup and starting up.
20, don't go, began Evelyn, and then
mighty rash and awful sound of tearing
boards, mingled with shrieks, were heard.
The lights went ont, and the felt themselves
borne down under the falling ceiling, and
everything was Il blank.
Victoria, with a might V effort. presently
freed herself from the plaster and dcbris
from the falling roof and sat up. THE
world Is hended,'' she exclaimed aloud
70, Victoria cried Evelyn's voice
near by, I've got all the world on my
The morning times., 1896-10-25

the
=Bcar=
Copyright, 1860

on the ridge of a roof of a barn that
looned above the surrounding trees. an
active, clear-headed young fellow was
standing upright, balancing and gazing
about. His hands were thrust in his pock-
cts and his broad -brimmed hat quite
shaded his face from the morning sun
Below, IN the open door of house
stood a tail, angular woman, whose snap
ping eyes We're directed to the youth who
was standing far above.
$50 that's the way you're putting in your
timer she sputtered. Its high time
some one taught you lesson, Toby Wes-
son, about doing the things you are told''
Thereupon she proceeded To the rear of the
barn and by pulling and dragging succeed
ed in removing the ladder by which young
Toby had ascended.
These young California .imps are al
ways up To some mischief she continued
as she came again to the house Going in
she went 10 the dining-room.
See here, William Wesson," she said.
do you happen to know that your very
delightful nephew is standing, nj the pres
ent moment, on top OF the barn.
An ''easy-going' man raised his head
To listen to the question. Il suppose the
lad went up to look around / told him
The morning times., 1896-10-25

Club has been one of the best things to
befall track athletics in the last five years
1t has put another competitor for club
honors in the field that. ut least round
about New York, practically contained but
two. the New York A. c., and the New
Jersey A. c., but, best OF ALL it has fur
nshed us with u powerful organization
whose athletic sponsors are determined to
have team built upon wholesome basis
1t is not likely this club will figure very
prominently in the distribution of honors
Tor year or so against its more thoroughly
equipped rivals; but adherence to sound,
healthful methods must and will win out in
the end, and predict an equal share for
the h. A. c. within three years. Meanwhile
its example to other clubs and its influence
upon athletics are of incalculable value in
tile general furthcrance of our sport. .-Har-
per's Weekly.
The morning times., 1896-10-25

Dayer' That was all that Ben's poor
father Could say.
Poor Uncle Dave had to lie there until
Ben went TO the house and brought another
torch; then they united him He was not
much hurt beyond sprained ankle; but
he was nightly Inundated.
Not tiIet | minded much a bein' found
out arter I'd eat up all them juliciouS war
termiliOnS but one. What kind o. posters
me about it, Dave often said, air ter
think at got cotch in my own thingembob.
Course l wer not expectin' two Of 'em
an thet's what got me. Wen / stepped
in the fust one it flung me rightinto t'other
an ther' l wer kickin' an bawlin'.
Did ye ever heer u sich luck? But" and
hesmacked hislips, them -four watermillions
wat did eat wus glor'us good!''
The morning times., 1896-10-25
FOR BOYS

Molly was found uninjured, though very
much upset in her mind, and Victoria,
mindful OF the anxious ones at home, in
sisted upon starting home.
Mr.. Marcus at last let her start, accom-
panied by one of the men, but she found
herself in such network of broken wires
and fallen bricks that they had to return
to the city until daylight
Fortunately the little home had escaped
injury, and Molly and Victoria came up
all right the next forenoon, Victoria bearing
deed of gift of the place for her mother
and 1t was hard TO tell which was the
happicSt, Victoria, Albert, or the mother,
as they read the inscription on the envelope,
ITO the brave daughter of brave father;
from her friend and debtor, Henry Marcus :"
The morning times., 1896-10-25
Climb Athletics,

The games of the autumn season have
shown a gratifying revival OF interest in
club athletics, that cannot be too carefully
nourished. And if-the clubs are wise they
will profit by the experience OF past follies,
and hold to a " wholesome course. Athletic
incubators havshad their day, and proved
their worthlessneSs So far as The hedithful
prosperity Of tile sport is concerned. The
wise club officials will henceforth aban-
don tlrem, and chfploy only natural means
to the end of athletic activity. Probably
the coming Of The >Knickerbocker Athletic
The morning times., 1896-10-25
AwlpsSuesS

She started up in bed with an exclamation
of anger How dare you!'' she cried -
The burglar quailed.
Her voice rose to trenchant Shrek
"How dare you call when you know this is
not my night at honie!'
Abandoning his tools, he fled, pale with
terror-New York Press.
The morning times., 1896-10-25

he must try to find the muley COW the
first thing this morning." he replied.
Find the muley COW, indeed!'' said she,
Here she's gone for fourteen hours at the
least, and him still wasting his time. 1
don't see why you persist in keeping the
lazy fellow"
Well said the man, I'm afraid he'll
leave as soon as he pays me the balance
oil $50. He doesn't seem very anxious to
remain
Pm glad to hear It, He doesn't do a
thing but climb about and fool around,
throwing his good for nothing lasso He
catches the chickens and the cat and the
pigs all the time
I'm bound to admit he's Something OF
an expert with his rope,' Mr.. Wesson
smilingly replied.
Toby glanced from her to the man and
got cheerful nod and wink from the
latter. II thought said the boy, the
COW might he down in the valley, and
maybe could see her,
Down below, fiddlesticks!" said the
woman. You know she is up in the
mountains"
''Shall hunt in the mountains first?''
he asked his uncle.
"ferhaps you'd better" said the man.
And blithely whistling, Toby rode away.
Not anxious indeed was Toby ito stay
there. as things tlcn We're. He had lost his
father a few months before and he and
his mother We're left in debt to his uncle
William. He was now paying off the
amount by working on the ranch. Half his
earnings wentto his mother and the balance
Cancelled each month n portion of the debt,
plan un which the boy insisted when his
uncle wished to make the sum q present
to the ones bereaved He had reduced the
amount to $50 row. and was longing to be
done with all of it.
The woman was another "relation," a
sister-in-law Of the uncle. Alone in the
world, she was glad to keep his house for
the sake of having home. She was not
so bitter nor so sharp as she seemed
for to those whom she loved she showed
tender thoughtfulness that was not at
all to be expected. = Toby, the stout and
independent. had not yet Won her affec-
tions.
As he rode from the gate that IN orp-
ing, he turned to the road that led toward
the mountains, near at hand, From his
| saddle swung his lariat, coiled up and
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-10-24

The voters OF this county, state and
nation march TO the polls on Tuesday,
November 3, to do battle for that which
they think is right-for a principle in
volving either the free coinage Of silver
or the single gold standard. Upon the
result depends the future prosperity Of
this republic. Consider well the ont
come il you assist IN fastening the gold
standard upon the people and if you
think that vote with the corporations,
the trusts, the monopolies and the az.
gregated wealth Of the country 10 vote
in the interest OF the common people.
cast you vote for Mckinley. On the
other hand, if you favor the election Of a
man for the people and the money Of
the masses, cast your ballot for Bryan.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-10-24
WY DUBOIS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.
Joan J. Costello Appeals TO His Democratic
and Populist Friends.

~AA EOPUALsb EEASnQS.
CGUE D'ALENE, Oct. %, 1896.
EDITOR Press:
/ | will give few reasons why all mer
should support Fred +. Dubois regard
less of past party affiliations:
/ First.-Because he prevented the dis
memberment Of Idaho.
Second Because he worked hard
until he secured statehood
/ Third because he has at all times
labored for the best interests Of the
state he represented and the United
States.
Fourth. Because he has worked in
season and out Of season for the white
metal
Fifth Because Dubois and his asso.
ciates left the national republican
invention for principle and severed
comparatively speaking, family ties and
connections and made W. J. Bryan's
election possible and the demonstration
Of silver probable.
pray God for the alienation Of the
oppressed poor and the obiteration Of
that heart sore, the international agree.
ment, by which the gold bugs and trusts
desire to have Americans governed.
The man who breaches silver and op-
poses Dubois at this time is a hypOcrite
and All inferior gold bug, because he is
only daubed over with a slim coat Of a
very low grade Of whiting.
You democrats and populists who are
luke warm, pay attention to your ma
tiOnal executive committee, Men, heed
their gospel, for their doctrine would
infuse justice and patriotism into an
Egyptian mummy.
All men who wish to be free from
foreign domination, hail w. J. Bryan
as, their general; why not then obey his
orders issued through his aides, Jones
and Butler?
And give Dubois such a boost
That will land him hack on his roOst
In the United states senate,
Where he can and he will,
lab Johnnie Bull In the eye with quill,
And say % the old gent.
We can live and grow fat
without your Information Agreement
JOHN j. Costello.
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-10-24
Borah's Address.

Hon. W. f. Borah, Silver Republican
and Electors Democratic candidate for
congress and one of the abIest and
most eloquent speakers in the state ad-
dressed large and enthusiastic aud
fence at the pavilion last evening.
Mention Of the names of Bryan or Du-
bois were signals for applause Mr.
Borah delivered one Of the best speeches
OF the campaign. He was followed by
several county candidates, among them
Judge a. X. White, J. c. Callahan,
Simon 7. Donnelly, George r. Gray, the
last two candidates for the legislature.
They pledged their hearty support to
Dubois
The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-10-24

II you are a sincere silver man why
not vote the Silver Republican ticket :?
Its presidential electors are for Bryan
its candidates for state Offices are about
equally divided between the Democratic
and Silver Republican parties; its legis-
lative nominees are for Dubois Tor Sena-
tor; then why not vote this the only true
and impartial silver ticket-the ticket
that represents your principles and
interests. Think this over and vote it.