28 EARLY LIFE 



We made an attempt to eat, but somehow our 

 appetite for melons had waned, and most of the 

 slice remained on the plate. We were asked 

 many questions, our age, what school we attended 

 and so on, and in this way the old doctor kept us 

 on live coals for over an hour. He also told us 

 to advise all our friends to come and see him, 

 that he would be pleased to make their acquain- 

 tance, that he objected to our coming over the 

 wall at night, not because we ate his melons, but 

 on account of treading down some of his flowers 

 in the dark. Then conducting us to the door, he 

 bade us "good night!" 



The next day, after school hours, there was a 

 grand meeting of the Society, where we related 

 all the details of our capture, and it was "Re- 

 solved unanimously: That the Reverend Dr. 

 Woods is a gentleman, and that his property is 

 to be respected from this day on." 



None of us ever called on him for any melons. 



