The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1913-04-24

replaced the rickety old door which
had hung on rusty hinges last SIM
mer
Let's see what improvements
they've made inside" Jerre suggest
ed. as he peeped through the half
open door. my, but look at those
fine watermelons-two OF them. Now
I know what il was Uncle Nose
brought down here covered up with
the buggy rug when he came home
from town today. He was hiding
them from u.s." the lad exclaimed. as
he caught sight of a couple of big,
fine melons shining in the clear wa
ter. Come on in, Bob; let's have a
feast. Well eat one and leave the
other. Grandpa won't care II We have
one, and Uncle Nose had no business
hiding them from US, for they belong
to grandpa Everything on this place
belongs to grandpa"
Maybe we Oughtn't to take what
doesn't belong to US" Bob argued,
feebly. looking wistfully at the tempt
ing fruit
cav, pshaw. we're welcome to what
belongs to grandpa" Jerre urged.
Yes. If he says we may have it,"
Bob tried to protest, but already the
older brother had ripped out his knife
and the crimson heart Of the water
melon lay open; so the younger
brother stepped quickly inside the
spring-house.
"You might close the door" Jerre
suggested, with degree of caution !;
and, the door being hastily closed, the
boys were soon lost in the delights of
the luscious melOn-the first they
had tasted that season. In a marvel
ously short time every particle of the
melon, save the rind, had disappeared
"Now we'll take this rind and
throw it in the brook, and wash our
faces and hands and hurry back to
the house before the company
comes" said Jerre, arising and turn
ing the dOOrknob. However, he turned
again and again in vain, for he could
not open the door. It appeared to be
locked fast Bob added his strength
to his brothers, and the boys beat
and pushed upon that door with ever
moved Gradually they realized that
they were locked up in the spring
house, which was some distance from
the residence, and that they could not
make themselves heard through the
thick stone walls or little barred win
dow that far off, and that they could
only wait till somebody came their
way, which might not be till next
morning. when Tim, the hired boy,
came down for fresh water for break
fast. Time went on slowly. Grad
ually. the faint light through the tiny
window faded into darkness. In the
distance the supper bell sounded, and
then the boys caught their names on
the air. It seemed that they were be-
ing eagerly called. but never were the
calls close enough for their loud
answers to be heard Somehow their
voices seemed unable to get out of
the stone prison. Once Jerre caught
sight Of Tim, carrying lantern
about the yard, as if searching for
something; but he did not come near
the spring house. Oh, they never
knew how long it was before the door
suddenly opened to reveal Uncle
Nose standing there, holding up a
lantern and gazing dazedly at them !;
but they were so wearied and dis
tressed that they almost wept with
relief at the sight of him.
well, mercy meH' exclaimed the
old man, almost dropping the Ian
tern. What 70 chil'en up to, any
how"
The watermelon rinds and the
boys expressions answered the
question eloquently, and indicated
also that they had been amply pun
ished for taking what did not belong
to them.
81 reckon you-all chil'ren didn't
know we'd done had spring lock put
on this here do, so it locks when
you shut it; nor that done got them
melons for the comp'ny. to eat to-
night said the old man, picking III
the remaining melon, and leading the
way to the house.
Bob and Jerre did not join the
guests in the watermelon feast. They
preferred to eat cold supper in the
kitchen and go quietly to bed. Blu
they've never been known since tina
1