Hookin' Melons

Yes, 't wasforty year ago, But tlie time does leg it 90 Somehow, 't don't seem a year. I remember Jast as cleur How the sliiney inoonlight streamed Tbrougt) the apple trees and gleamed On the river aud the pond And the medder iusl beyond. 'T was a night brnn full of joys, Made fer aogel and fer - boys. Sam and me and Luther Pence, Kettln' on the Deacon's fence, Was iis f jili as we could be Of our boylsh deviltry. "3ay," savs Lute. "I teil yer whatl Uncle INIathaii Hall has got 1 11 bis wntermelon patch ,Just the linest lookiu' batch. Gee! you 'd hardly see the gronnd Fer ihcni melons layln' round." "Boys," eays Saín, "It's melón time; Bet yer tbey 're jest ripe and prime Say, I stuinp yei ier ome fun : S'pose we help ourselves to oue." Well, we never took a stump; So we slarted, ou the ump, Through tin; paslurei by the uiill, Down the lane aud up Ihe hlll Where the waterinelons grew, Drlppin' with the eyeiiin' dew. "There," says Lute, "Now, wa'nt I rlght? Hain't thom beauties jest a sight? Haiu't thein striped ones tbe kind Make yer eat plum to the riud? Well, Tin lree to own, by gum ! That moutns was waterin' some ; Aud I sajs to Slim, "Now j ou Hook the melons, whiie we two Watch aroiind the eoruer here, So's to see the coust is clear." "No, yer don't," says Saín ; "I say, We don't ftx it no such way. Drawin' atrawa would be my plan, - Shortest straw's the uielon man." So we done it, aiul my luck Huug right ou, aud I was stuck. How theni otiier duiïers grinned Wheu they tee that i was pinued! But never ruised a yip,- Only starled on my trip. Creepln' over by the wall, Through the rosb'ry briara and all, - Never mindin' tear or scratch,- Till I reaob. themelon patch. Well, 1 tooli my knife to piek Out a ripe one, wheu as quick- Yes, and quicker 'n I eau teil. Come' the most outrageous yell : "Sic 'eni, Tige ! Yer tnieviu' crew, I'll jest larn ye, 'Jore l'm through!" Was I seared? Well, jest a bit; (iuess I almost iiad a fit "lint," says I, "I won't be left, Here's a big oue, by the heft, Dog or no dog, this one's mine !" So I yanked her froni the vine, Picked my feet up ofl' the grouud, Cleared the palcii in just a bound, Bu'st the rosb'ry busnes through, Heached the laue and iaicly Jicw. Thuuderation !- what a run ! Bet that melón wcighed a ton ! Tumbled down aud split my vest, Itipped my trousers galley-west; Faet I used myself all up 'Kore I shook ihat snarlin' pup. But at last they lost the chase, And I reaehed the hidin' place Wliere we rascáis allers met Wheu iu scrapes we used to get. Then I says to Sam aud Lute: " Waut a melón? There's your fruit. Cau't scare me and make me quit; What 1 go togltjM." I was that pulled up with pride Strange I had u't bu'st and died. Well, they praised me out of sight, Till I says, "Let's have a bite Oí that melon that, by Jiug! I was smart euough to briug. Sam ue cut, then, lookin' queer, Tasted; then he says, 'See here, Ef you hain't the darndest fooi!" "Gosh !" I says, "That's mighty cool, When I come uigh gittiu' caught So's that melon could be brought." "Melon nuthtn' ! Gosh all "nliiz! Dad-blamed eitron't what it is. "Citrones!" I says, feelin' faint, Well! l'm jiggered ƒ it aintl"