Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-22
CHAPTER I.
Continued

When / asked what were mo
spanks" she told me that they were
part of the wages of a good child.
| was better paid for my care OF
the watermelon vine, for it's growth
was measured with a string every
day and kept me interested. One
morning | found five blossoms on
it. l picked one and carried it to
Aunt Deel Another / destroyed in
the tragedy of catching a humble
bee which had crawled into its cup.
In due time three small melons ap-
peared When they were as big as
a baseball l picked two of them.
One I tasted and threw away as l
ran to the pump for relief. The 9TH
err hurled at dog on my way TO
school.
So that last melon on the vine had
my undivided attention. 1t grew in
size and reputation, and soon l
learned that a reputation is about
the worst thing that a watermelon
can acquire while it is on the vine.
| invited everybody that came TO
the house to go and see my water
melon. They looked it over and said
pleasant things about it. When l
was a boy people used to treat chill
dren and watermelons with like
solicitude Both were a subject for
jests and both produced similar re-
actions in the human countenance.
Aunt Deel often applied the wa
termelon test to my forehead and
discovered in me a capacity for
noise which no melon could rival.
That act became very familiar to
me, for when my melon was near
ing the summit of its fame and in
fiuence, all beholders thumped its
rounded side with the middle finger
of the right hand. and said that
they guessed they'd steal it, | knew
that this was some kind of joke
and a very idle one for they had
also threatened to steal me and
nothing bad come of it.
At last Uncle Peabody agreed
with me that it was about time to
pick the melon. l decided to pick
it Immediately after meeting on
Sunday, so that l could give it to
my aunt and uncle at dinner-time
When we got home 1 ran for the
garden. My feet and those of our
friends and neighbors had literally
worn a path to the melon. In eager
haste l got my little wheelbarrow
and ran with it to the end of that
path. There l found nothing but
broken vines! The melon had van
ished. I ran back to the house al
most overcome by a feeling of
alarm, for 1 had thought long of
that hour of pride when I should
bring the melon and present it to
my aunt and uncle.
Uncle Peabody" I shouted, my
melon is gone"
well I van!" said he, somebody
must "a stole it,
"Stole it?" l repeated the words
fully comprehending what
they meant.
But it was my melon" I said
with a trembling voice.
YES and l yum it's too badi But, !
Bart. you amt learned yit that |
there are wicked people in the
world who come and take what
don't belong to EN-"
There were tears in my eyes !
when 1 asked:
They'll bring it back, won't
-hey?"
Never" said Uncle Peabody, |
I'm afraid they've ct it up"
He had no sooner said it than a
Try broke from my lips, and / sank
Down upon the grass moaning and
;obbing 1 lay amidst the ruins
If the simple faith of childhood. 1t
was as if the world and all its joys
lad come to an end.
You can't blame the boy"
heard Uncle Peabody saying. Hes
used with that melon all summer.
He wanted to give it to you for
present"
ayes So he did! Well I declare!
never thought o. that-ayes!
Aunt Deel spoke in a low, kindly
one and came and lifted me to my
eet very tenderly.
Come, Bart, don't feel so about
hat old melon" she said, sit ain't
worth it, Come with me. I'm go,
ng to give you a present-ayes I
,ei"
l was still crying when she took
ne to her trunk, and offered the