Gunnison news-champion., 1918-12-27

humbIebee which had crawlcd into
Is cup. In due time three small mel
1ns appeared. When they were as
big as baseball picked iwo of them.
Jne tasted and threw away as l
an TO the pump for relief The other
| hurled at dog on my way to
school.
So that last melon on the vine had
ny undivided affection. II grew in
Size and reputation, aud soon
earned that Il reputation is about the
worst thing that a watermelon can
acquire while II Is on the vine. III
yited everybody that came to the
oouse TO go and See my watermelon.
They looked It over and said pleas
ant things about It when l was a
boy people used TO treat children ard
watermeIOns with like solicituds.
Both were subject for jests and
produced similar reactions In the hu-
nan countsnance.
at las: Uncle PecboGy agreed with
ne that it was about time to pick the
melon. l decided to pick ii immediate
y after meeting on Sunday. SO uiot
I could give 1t to my aunt and uEc.e
II dinner-tine. When We got home
I ran for the garden. Ny feet and
hose OF our friends and nelghbUrs
lad literally worn n path TO the mel
n. In eager haste l got my little
aheeIbarrow and ran with II to the
md Of that puth- There found
."thIn- hu: broken vines! The melon
and vanished. l ran back to the
lJuSe almost Oyervt me by feeling
Z alarm. for ! had thought long OF
hat hour Of pride whcn / should
ring the melon and present 1t to my
lunt and uncle.
Uncle Peabody" shouted. my
l.ion is gone"
Well. vanl" said he, somebody
.Ust n stole It."
but 1t was my melon" said with
tr"rUbIins voice.
w and I yum It's too bad, But.
IT, You amt learned yit that therr
r.'- w'-scd people IN the world WHO
"'- and take what don: belong to
e. r., were s-ars in :.ly eyes when
::
..y !. bring It tsck. won't theyy
"NcNcrl" said Uncle Peabody, "Im
Gfrui4 they've ct 1t up
lie had no sooner slid II than
cry broke from my lips, and | sank
down upon the grass moaning and
sobhing. lay amidst the ruins OF
the simple faith of childhood. II was
as II the world and all ITS joys had
come to an end.
Aunt Deel spoke in n low. kindly
tone ana came and lifted me to my
feet very tenderly.
"Comc. Bart. don't feel so about
that old melon" suid she, 1T aln't
worth Il. Come wlth me. Ina goine
to give you pFcs"n'-nyes ! ba!'
l was still cryirs when she took
me TO her trunk, md offered TIA
grateful HsS4dE,aH,Ut o. raudy auG
belt, MI embroidered i With blue and
white beads.
''Now you see, Ear,. losr low an.
mean aHyb t1y Is hat tn'--s VITA
don't heloag to 'cu.-a. 5. They'i
snakes! Everybody hHt,s en- az
stamps on 'cln wnen tney come e
dght-ayes!"
The abcm!natiou of the Lord WA
m her look and manner. How /
shook my soul, IL who had takcI
he watermelon had also taken fro
ne something l was never TO have
igain, and very wonderful thing II
xas-faith in the goodness of men.
Ny eyes had seen evil. The world
lad committed its first offense against
ne and my spirit was no longer the
White and beautiful thing IL had been.
Still, therein is the beginning Of wis
iom and. looking down the long vista
# the years, thank God for the
yreat harvest Of the lost watermelon.
Better things had come IN its place
understanding and what more, often
have vainly tried to estimate. For
,ne thing that sudden revelation OF
he heart Of childhood had lifted my
iunt's out Of the cold storage Of a
)uritanic spirit, anu warmed II into
lew life and opened its door for me.
In the afternoon she sent me over
% Wills to borrow little tea. ]
stopped for few minutes to play
With Henry Wills-a boy not quite
l year older than 1. While playing
there l discovered piece of the
ind Of my melon in the doorya.d. On
hat piece Of rind l saw the cross
which l had made one day with my
humb-nail. 1t was intended to In
iicate that the melon was solely and
wholly mine. l felt flush of anger.
II hate you." said as approached
lin.
II hate you," he answered.
You're a snake !" said
We now stood, face to face and
,reast to breast, like pair Of young
.oOSterS, He gave me a shove and