The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-09

himself safe V up on the piazza. With
like manoeuvre he gets through the
door. Watching his chance, he gains
the lowest step Of the inside staircase
anu painfully makes his way up the
swayiny and uncertain structure. He
has almost reached the top when IN
sudden lurch he catches his toe and
fails back. rrllin" to the bottom. AT
this moment his wife. rushing out into
the upper hall, hears coming up from
the darkness below. from the discom-
fitted figure sprawled on the floor
with his arms around the newell post.
the fervent, appropriate and pious
ejaculation, God help the poor sail
ors out at SEAL
II trust this matter Of my arrest
will not cause my friends to turn from
me. It is true that, no matter what
may be said of American public NOR
ais, the private morals Of Americans
as whole are exceptionally good. l
do not mean to say that in their prl-
vate lives all Americans are faultless.
I hardly like to 60 that far, being a
man of carefully weighed words and
s,nder ia peculiarly vivid sense of
the necessity of moderation in state
ment. I should like to say that we
are a faultless people, but | am re-
strained by recollection. I know sew
eral persons who have erred and
transgressed-to put it plainly, they
have done wrong. I have heard Of
still others-of a number Of persons,
in fact. who are not perfect. | am not
perfect myself. I confess it. would
have confessed it before the lament
able event Of yesterday. For that was
not the first time [ ever did wrong.
No; have done several things which
fill nv soul with regret and contri-
ton.
Story Of a Watermelon.
"I remember, I remember it so
we'll, remember it as if it were yes
terday, the first time I ever stole a
watermelon. Yes, the first time. At
least I think it was the first time, or
along about there. It was, it was, must
have been, about 1S4S, when I was
13 or IA years old. I remember that
watermelon we'll. I can almost taste 1t
now.
eyes, [ stole il. Vt Why use so
harsh a word? It was the biggest OF
the load on a farmers waecn stand
ing in the gutter III the old town OF
Hannibal. Mo. While the farmer was
busy with another -another-custo-
mer. I withdrew this melon. Yes
'stole' it is too strong. | extracted 1t.
7 retired it from circulation. And l
myself retired with it.
"The place to which the watermel-
on and I retired was lumber yard.
knew a nice quiet alley between the
sweet smelling planks, and to that
sequestered spot I carried the melon.
Induleing a few moments contempla-
ton Of it's freackled rind, [ broke 1t
open with a stone, rock, dornlek,
in boys language.
"It was green! Impossib!y, hope
lessly green! I do .l:n* !l2 .; why this
circumstance should have affected
me. but it did. 1t affected me deeply.
It altered for me the moral values OF
the universe. 1t wrought in me a NOR
al revolution. began to reflect. Now,
recollection is the beginning Of re-
form. There. can be no reform with
out reflection.
II asked myself what course OF
conduct I should pursue. What would
conscience dictate? What should a
hiehmindel Young man do after re-
tirine a green watermelon? What
would George Washington do? Now
was the time for all the lessons IN
culcated .at Sunday school, to act.
"And they did act. The word that
came to me was restitution Ob-
viouS.v there way the patti If dr;.' |
reasoned with myself. I labored. At
last I was fully resolved. 'IH DO
it," said l. 'I'll take him back his cid
melon. Not many boys would have
been so heroic, would so clearly have
seen the right thing and so sternly
have resolved to do it. The moment
T reached that resolution | felt a
strange uplift. One always feels an
uplift when he turns from the wrong
TO Righteousness. I arose, spiritually
strengthened, renewed and refreshed,