The Nevada County picayune., 1906-07-27
THE DOCTORS MELONS

given as bis chief reason for leaving the flat, "I want a garden" Rad ishs onions and lettuce had already been enjoyed, and peas were soon coming on, the doctor gleefully told himself, but the spot of ground toward which neither he nor Malachi, his colored driver, could look without "dribblin' at de mouf' as Malachi ex- pressed it, was a section given over to melons. Not that they looked promis- ing yet, but Malachi and his wife, Amelia, who was the doctors house keeper, had used all the wisdom gained from years of experience and had brought these young vines to that point where melon bugs lose interest Soon blossoms began to appear In such abundance that Amelia's mathe- matics gave out. and their son, John Quincy Adams, was made to count them.
 Late in August the sleek bodies of the watermelons began to be quite noticeable among the lusty leaves while close by the globes of the musk melons, with the slices already plain ly indicated, exhaled at dusk a fra grance which made the sport hard to pass Nightly Malachi and the doctor and sometimes Amelia made the rounds, humping the watermelons, sniffing at the muskmelons, until one Saturday night 1t was decided that to- morrow the first ones should be picked for the table
 After breakfast the family proceed ed to the patch, doctor ahead, face beaming and good will toward men in his heart; Malachi, full of quaint humor, following at a respectful dis tance, carrying a butcheT-knife, the edge of which he kept furtiyely test ing; Amelia spick and span as to apron, bringing up the rear with a mammoth dishpan, for she was to have the pleasure of bearing the mel ons into the house. But alas, the vanity of human wishes! Those mel ons were nowhere to be found. The group gazed in speeches. amazement at first, and Malachi and Amelia sank into gloom so profound that the doc tor rallied and pointed out several more melons nearly as mature as those they were mourning for, which would be ripe, he feit sure, before one could say Jack Robinson"
 But each time the willy thief knew also, and the repeated disappointment began to tell upon. this erstwhile hap py family. Malachi began to look on the dark side of life. Amelia, a most kindly, trusting soul, suspected gro cery boys and even her own friends. The doctor joked at first, but finally swore roundly, and one night he emerged from his office with sin ister look and when he reached the beloved melon patch he did a very strange thing. In the dim light of the garden he sank on his knees and handled each of the fragrant globes with apparent fondness, as if bidding it a long farewell While he was at his devotions he heard Malachi call ing, and, scrambling to his feet, he made his way hurriedly to the house.
 Along toward morning he was called up from sound repose by telephone message from Mrs. Ogleby: Would doctor kindly come at once? Her son Richard had been taken violently III.
 While the doctor was deliberately dressing the bell rang again, and he learned that the mayors son, Ned Villas, was acutelv i'll.
 rl1 Ioa+o, aIoIoob; busy day, for this mysterious illness seemed epidemic. It was no respecter of persons, as it attacked those of high and low degree alike but it seemed limited to the youth of the land. Mayor Villas and several we'll to-do men got a specialist 10 examine the water, and another to see if any sewer gas could be detected; but az the sufferers rapidly grew better in quiry died down.
 Toward the end of the siege Malachi came to Dr. Crackenthorpe and, re- moving his cap respectfully, sadly said:
 Mars Crackenforp, l reckon Tse on to yo, case l dun found dis here in de melon patch (handing the rather shame faced doctor hypodermic syringe), an l done noticed dat each one O dem big melons is got little places where. its been punched. Dat low-down niggah, 'Melia's boy, an mine, he's sick along O the rest"
 Don't worry, Malachi It was only ipecac."
 II don't keer what kin of cack it was, case I low he'll pull froo; he's too ornery to die. But when he's up and ramptious again, Tse gwine lam time outen him."
 "Oh, let him off, Malachi! Hasn't he been satisfactorily punished
 "Satifacshusly punished." snorted the irate old man. Wal, l reckon not! Who tux keer desc here melons from de fust? Me an 'Melia Now dis here pestiferous boys at dem mel. ons an me and 'Melia's had to take