The citizen., 1919-01-23

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cry broke from my lips, and I sank
down upon the grass moaning and
sobblng. I lay amidst the ruins of
the simple faith OF childhood. II was
as II the world aud all ITS joys had
come 10 an end.
Aunt Deel spoke I'm a 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. at aln't
worth IL. Come with me. I'm going
to give you a present-ayes I be "
I was still crying when she took
me to her trunk. and offered the
grateful assuagement Of candy and
a 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-ayesi They're
snakes Everybody hates 'em an
stamps on 'em when they come in
slght-ayes
The abomlnation Of the Lord was
iOOh anu ftOW IL
shook my soul He who had taken
the watermelon had also taken from
me something was never to have
again, and very wonderful thing IL
was-faith In the goodness Of men.
My eyes had seen evil. The world
had committed its first offense against
the and my spirit was no longer the
white and beautiful thing IL had been.
Still, therein is the beginning of wis
dom and. looking down the long vista
Of the years, ! thank God for the
great harvest OF the lost watermelon.
Better things had come IN Its place
understanding and what more, often
have vainly tried TO estimate. For
one thing that sudden revelation of
the heart Of childhood had lifted my
puritanic spirit. and warmed it into
new life and opened its door for me.
In the afternoon she sent me over
to wills TO borrow "a little tea. I
stopped for few minutes to play
with Henry Wills-a boy not quite
year older than l. While playing
there ! discovered a piece of the
rind of my melon in the dooryard. ON
that piece of rind saw the cross
which ! had made one day with my
thumb-nail. IL was intended to in
dicate that the melon was solely and
wholly mine l felt flush Of anger.
81 hate you" said as approached
him.
81 hate you" he answered.
you're a snake ~ said
We now stood, face to face and
breast TO breast, like a pair OF young
roOsters. lie gave me shove and
told me To go home. I gave him
shove and told him wouldn't. I
pushed up close TO him again and
we glared into each others eyes.
Suddenly he spat in my face.
gave him a scratch on the forehead
with my finger-nails. Then we fell
upon each other and rolled on the
ground and hit and scratched with
feline ferocity.
Mrs. Wills ran out of the house and
parted us. our blood was hot. and
leaking through the skin of our faces
a little.
"He pitched on me-" Henry ex-
planned.
| couldn't speak.
go right home--this minute-you
5ratl" said Mrs. Willis in anger.
"flere's your tea. Don't you ever come
here again."
took the tea and started down the
road weeping. What bitter day
that was for met | dreaded to face
my aunt and uncle. Coming through
the grove down by our gate l met
Uncle Peabody With the keen in
sight OF the father of the prodigal son
he had seen me coming "a long way
off" and shouted:
"Well. here ye bel was kind o.
worried, Bub."
Then his eye caught the look of de-
lection In my gait and figure. He hur-
ried toward me. He stopped as l
came sobbing to his feet.
"Why, what's the matterf he asked
gently, as he took the tea cup from
my hand. and sat down upon his heels.
could only fall into his arms and
express myself in the grief of child
hood. He Rugged me close and begged
me to tell him what was the mat
ter.
"That Wills boy stole my melon"
l said. and the words came slow with
sobs.
"Oh, no, he didn't" said Uncle Pea
body.
"Yes he did. / saw a piece o. the
rim"
"Well by" said Uncle Peabody.
as usual, at the edge Of the
preciplce.
"He's snake" 1 added.
"And you fit and he scratched you
up that wayf"
81 scratched him, too"
"Don't you say a word about II 10
Aunt Deel. Don't ever speak O. that
melon ag'in 10 anybody.
You scoot around TO the barn. an
I'll be there In minute and fix ye
up"
He went by the road with the tea
and ran around TO the lane and up
to the stable. Uncle Peabody met
me there in a moment and brought Il