Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-10
2he Light
II, the
Clearing
kTsls of the North
Country in the Time
81 Silas Wright

Author Of .Ebsn llsiAsn." sD'ri and
Ksspiag Up with Lissis," Etc. Etc.
Copyright, 1917. Irving Dscheller)

ut appears to me there's an awful
draft BLOWN down your throat" said
Uncle Peabody. you amt no bust
ness eatin' . melon seed"
"Why?" was my query.
"Cause IL was made to put In the
ground. Didn't you know 1t was aliver
"Alive!" I exclaimed.
"Alive," said he. I'll show ye."
He put . number Of the seeds In
the ground and covered them, and
said that part Of the garden shoulG
be mine. I watched 1t every day ana
by and by two vines came up. One
sickened and died In dry weather. Un-
Gle Peabody said that I must water
: the other every day. did it faith
fully and the vine throve.
1t was hard work. I thought, to 90
down into the garden. night and morn
ing, with my little pail full Of water,
but uncle said that. should get my
pay when the melon was ripe. had
also to keep the Wood-box full and
feed the chickens. They were odious
tasks. When I asked Aunt Dsel what
should get for doing them she an
swered quickly:
"Nospanks and bread and butter
ayes!''
When asked what were "nospanks"
she told me that they were part Of
the wages Of q good child. was
better paid for my care Of the water
melon vine, for it's growth was mea-
sured with string every day and kept
me interested. One morning found
five blossoms on It I picked one and
carried it to Aunt Deel. Another I
destroyed IL the tragedy Of catching
bumblebee which had crawled into
its cup. In due time three small mel
ons appeared. When they were as
big as baseball I picked two Of them.
ran to the pump for relief. The other
] hurled at . dog on my way to
school.
So that last melon on the vine had
my undivided affection. 1t grew In
size and reputation. and soon
learned that reputation II about tho
worst thing that Q watermelon can
acquire while It 10 on the vine. in
fyited- everybody that, came to the
house to 90 and see my watermelon.
They looked It over and said pleas
ant things about 1t. When I was Q
boy people used to treat children and
watermelons with a like solicitude.
Both were q subject for jests and
produced similar reactions In tho hu-
man countenance.
At last Uncle Peabody agreed with
me that 1t was about time to pick the
melon I decided to pick 1t immediate
~ after meeting on Sunday. 50 that
l could give it to my aunt and uncle
at dinner-time. When we got home
/ ran for tho garden. Ny feet and
those Of our friends and neighbors
had literally worn a path to the mel
on. In eager haste got my little
wheelbarrow and ran with 1t to the
end Of that path. There found
nothing but broken vines! The melon
had vanished. l ran back to the
house almost overcome BY . feeling
OF alarm, for had thought long Of
that hour Of pride when I should
bring the melon and present 1t to my
aunt and uncle.
Uncle Peabody" I shouted. my
melon is gone"
"well. I vanl" said he. somebody
- ~<o1~
But it was my melon" I said with
q trembling voice.
Eyes, and I yum it's too bad! But,
Bart, you amt learned yit that there
are wicked people In the world who
come and take what don't belong to
'em."
There were tears in my eyes when
asked:
They'll bring 1t back, won't theyr
.Never." said Uncle Peabody, I'm
afraid they've ct it up"
He had no sooner said it than a
cry broke from my lips, and I sank
down upon the grass moaning and
eotbing. lay amidst the ruins OF
ths simple faith Of childhood. 1t was
a. II the world and al! its joys had
come to an end.
Aunt Deel spoke In low, kindly
tone and came and lifted me to my
feet very tenderly.
~ Come, Bart, don't feel so about
that old Melon" said she, ut ain't
worth It. Come with me. I'm going
to give You q present ayes I be!
was still crying when she took
me to her trunk, and offered the
grateful assua gement of candy and
belt, all embroidered with blue and
white beads.
"Now you see, Bart. how low and
mean anybody is that takes what
don't belong to 'em-ayes! They're
snakes! Everybody hates 'em an
stamps on 'em when they come In
sight ayes!"
The abomination Of the Lord was
in her look and manner. How 1t
shook my soull he who had taken
the watermelon had also taken from
me something I was never to have
again, and very wonderful thing It
was-faith in the goodness Of men.
= Nv eyes had seen evil. The world
had committed its Arst ofense against
me and my spirit was no longer the
white and beautiful thing It had been.
Still, therein il the beginning Of Wis
dom and. looking down the long vista
pf the years. I thank God for the