New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-06
THE WATERMELON TREE
Fresh dir Boys Hunt Brings about
Some Surprises.

Where do the watermelon trees grow around
here?" was the question which perplexed the bovs
at the Sheppard Knapp Home. After every field
DAY there was always watermelon. ripe, cold and
juicy. to be awarded the winners and consequently
II was thought the trees must not be far away
oh. If we could find that tree thought the
losers. and the thought father to the deed
and they started to look Not openly. to be sure
IL would never do to let the attendants know The
search to be conducted covertly. The plans
were laid In whispers at the twilight hour around
the corner of the barn behind a clump of bushes
They could not leave the grounds. and the only
thing TO do was TO keep watchful eye when out
on walks through the country with attendant
1t was no easy task. for knew just what
the watermelon tree looked like nor where It could
De found There some disagreement among
the conspirators to whether II resembled pine
or an oak But leading questions asked the at
tehdants brought out the fact that II really
v'ne' and not tree at all. That smplifed mat
tiers, for all that necessary was to watch the
farms as they passed them.
Disanection In the ranks Of the walkers soon be-
came apparent to the attendants. For some reason
or other the straggleTs became numerous
than usual. and persisted I'm tagging far behind
Their suspicious aroused. they watched carefully
along the route of the walk. and now and then
hoy would be seen TO dart into field, look around
and then out quickly After this had con-
tinued for several days they asked the boys what
they were looking for but received no satisfactory
answer. II wasn't until OF the boys in his
eagerness TO break inadvertently said:
Say fellers. I've got young 'un."
That's nothing" replied another. we've found
a yellow one"
An attendant overheard the conversation and de-
cided to Investigate. He watched the boys go
around the corner of the barn and followed. There
he found them in solemn concave the remains
OF a cucumber and a pumpkin
Neither OF ems watermelons" declared one.
and the verdict seemed to be unanimous with all
who had tasted a sample.
The search for the watermelon tree probably
would have continued had not the attendant ap-
peared and disclosed the fact that watermelons
were not growing as abundantly in Connecticut as
I'm some other states
More than two hundred children were sent away
yesterday. One hundred girls went LAtchheld.
Conn. and thirty-two children went 90 Cohocton.
" Y in the morning third party OF eighty
five went 10 Chapel Hill. y. j.. in the afternoon.
The Rev. Dana W. Bigelow returned Wednesday
with party OF children who spent a vacation
under his direction I'm homes at Utica and vicinity.
Next week he will take the fifth party 10 Utica.
making total OF nearly four hundred children
who have received vacation largely through his
efforts. An attendant at OF the Homes writes:
As the days go by am continually impressed
by the children's love for each other. Any little.
homesick child is surrounded at once by boys
are very fond OF berries and apples and find that
some OF them have never seen them growing be-
fore. 1 have noticed how extremely pale the
children looked when they arrived. but in two
days would never think they were the same
children For they begin grow fat and their
faces se, a good healthy color One little girl
said 20 last Sunday. Teacher look at me and
how fat / am to-day for thin yes
terday." The country air and pure food certainly
do brace them up and make them strong in
very short time
contribution received yesterday from a
woman in New Orleans She writes: Though
many miles from New York this summer.
have not forgotten the good work Of The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund. Please find Enclosed check for $50.