Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-09
FRUIT TEMPS THE BOYS.
Case Where Melons Turned Out to Be
 Pumpkins.


 The depredations of the irrepressible small boy on the grounds and orcnarus of David G. Porter of East Man street. beyond the city lines, caused Alr Porter to keep a sharp lookout for me enterprIsIng youngsters Last night his weary vigil was awarded by catcn- ing a small boy named Jeremiah Luu- dy in the act of taking apples rom .iis trees There were three boys WAlh Luddy. each with bag as big as hiui- self in which he intended to remove his sDoIIs. MT Porter knew that II would be impossible to land all four of the boys. so he concentrated ms cA- forts towards the capture or one. Luddy was the victim, and MT fortel took him to the station house nlnlseH' with the conyicting bag containing few apples. The case against the Doy was nolIed this morning. 1t being the only one on the police slate Mir For ster was not pleased with the dlsposs- lion of the matter; he stated that hc had no personal interest in the ease, he did not care about the apples Dut he was determined that small Doys should not make a nuisance Of them selves upon his property The poH Luddy was thereupon warned, ana lnis satisfied MT Porter
 The case against young Luddy re called to the minds of many or the court hangers-on in the city court this morning the days when they were young. One of them told story that probably would have explained q mys- tery of long standing to Mir Porter had he been present at the narration or the story. It was dark summers night, so black in fact that the story-tellef had only his sense of approximation to steer him and d friend to the profes- sor-s melon patch. The clouds prom ised rain and thunder and the accom- panying lightning the youths depend fd IIncn to light their way to then luscious destination. if prowling ano suarIing bulldog that seemed to con slider all mankind. its enemy Wouio not interfere with them.
 Throwing themselves on their stom achs they began to crawl toward th' melon patch It was difhcult ahe dangerous undertaking. for if the dos ever saw them they would carry witt them memoranda of his teeth througl fhe world. There was no escaplnt that dog once he saw small Doy II the act of a theft which he seemed api' to distinguish from an act or honesty Prudence would at once suggest 10 all economical mind the leaving of one: coat or cap with the dog unless th' weather and other conditions were con genial to q trip in the dark, or unles' 4he dog was able tO distinguish th' different garments of mans attlre Wit, which sagacity he was often crediteu
 For half a mile or more the youth crept onward toward the melon patch their heads never appearing above th meadow grass. their ears ever on LII alert for the growl of the bulldog Al occasional fash of lightning woul' make them double themselves into hall ar law motionless for time. Tn dangers were increasing as they neal cd the patch of melons. At last the were rewarded with a sight or LII huge globes of green. Their sleeky ro fund sides would reflect the lightnin flash which would set the boys pam inc with fear and dread that now the were at their journeys end they woui Inc interrupted and routed if not chew ed up by the dog. Eagerly they nippe Cf n melon each slowly they turne Their heads around and began to craW for home. Slowly. ever so slowly, ne' ST caring for the lightning fash Sut danlv they were on the road and raein for home and there they dlscovere their melons were pumpkins.