News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-03-12

father has heaps. You can have al
you want"
The Watermelon drew a bit nearer
"Billy, Billy" said he softly.
81 think it must be terrible to wor
ry about money" Billy hurried on
cts not worth it."
I'm not worrying about money
kid" said the Watermelon with {
laugh. 81 have a bunch. What made
you think l was?"
Twice tonight you've counted your
money"
"Esau's bowl Of pottage," sneered
the Watermelon, turning unconscious
ly to the old familiarity with the
Bible. Say, Billy, if he found he
didn't like his pottage, could he give
it back and get his birthright again?
Billy blushed. She was not sure who
Esau was. In a dim way she remem.
bered the name and vaguely associat
ed it with the Bible. Couldn't he
have gotten something else?" she
asked judiciously.
mo" said the Watermelon. Gle
had nothing more to sell"
What did he SELF"
"His birthright-for a mess of pot
tage."
Why'd he do that?"
"He was stony broke, he wanted
something to eat, see, and he sold his
all for a mess Of pottage. Now, if he
found he didn't like his pottage, could
he have given It back and gotten his
birthright again?"
Eyes, indeed" chirped Billy. az
don't see why not. But why didn't he
get something better than a mess of
pottage"
Don't ask me, kid. But, guess
you're right. No one can keep your
birthright unless you're willing they
should"
Il usually know more about the
Bible" stammered Billy, fearful of the
impression her ignorance must have
made. Il know about Moses and
Ruth"
The Watermelon nodded. "You see,
was raised on the Bible" he said
kindly.
A step was heard on the floor above
and she started hastily. 81 guess
had better be going" she whispered
Good night, Jerry"
Good night, Billy"
She slipped away and the Water.
melon was again alone.
She's right. If you don't like
your pottage, you can get your birth. |
right back. l can leave note" he |
thought and laughed bitterly. Haven't |
a thing, name, clothes, honor. Sneak |
away like a whipped cur. Gosh, III |
be hanged if l can't do something re.
spectacle. I will tell them in the
morning and they can do and say
what they please. If you've sold your
birthright to the Old Man, you have
to go after it in person to get it back.
Why the deuce did fall in love with
Billy? had fun in the beginning
but now!"
When the Watermelon awoke next
morning he lay for time, stretching
and yawning in the comfortable bed
and the pea-green silk pajamas he had
'ound in the suitcase in Bachelors
Ear. He glanced at the general .slum.
1ering beside him, his mouth open and
lis round fat face as pink as the pink
cotton pajamas he wore.
Here's me in silk and him in cot.
on" thought the Watermelon. He
couldn't tell a lie to save his soul, and
. Stick to your pink cotton, gen.
raj" he whispered and slipped qui-
lily out of bed. He crossed the room
o the bureau where he had left the
watch the night before to see the
ime. The watch was not there and
10 turned to look in his trousers
ockets, thinking he might have left
in them. But his pockets were
mpty, save for a few old keys, his
nife and "the makings" Money.
watch, cigarette case, all were gone.
lie turned to the bureau. Cuff links
nd stick pin were also gone. Ginger
Y he felt in the generals pockets.
hey, too, were empty. He stood a
in the middle of the room in
is pea-green silk pajamas and gently
troked his back hair, then he chuckled
oftly and glanced at the bed.
The general was awake, looking at
i'm with half-shut, sleepy eyes.
Robbed, General" said the Water
lelon.
Robbed" repeated the general, sit
ing up.
Everything gone," said the Water
lelon, cor I'll eat my hat"
The general rose and they made a
ystematic search through empty peck
IS and rifled bureau.
Bartlett came in gloomily. Without
cent among them they could not
ontinue the trip. They would have
make for the nearest telegraph sta
on and wire for help, and Bachelor,
Is whereabouts known to his brokers,
ould probably receive an urgent call
return at once.
"Robbed?" asked the general. [
They left me my NAME" said Bart |