Mark Twain's Watermelon.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 62

Mark Twain's Watermelon.

IT WAS AMONG THE VERY FIEST HE EVER BTOLK. ".-ii "The^ very first time," says Mark Twain, "that I ever stole a watermelon—that is, I think it was the first time; anyway, it was right along there somewhere—l stole it out of a farmer's waggon while he was waiting on another customer. Stole is a harsh term. I withdrew—l retired that melon. I carried it to a secluded corner of a lumber yard. "I troke it open. It was green—the grceneet watermelon raised in the valley that year. The minute I saw it was green I was &oiry and began to reflect. • "Reflection is the beginning of reform. It you don't reflect when you commit a crime, then that crime is of no use;" it might just as well have been committed by someone elhe. You must reflect or the value is lost; you are not vaccinated against committing it again. I began to reflect. I said to mynelf—What ought a boy to do who has stolen, a green watermelon? What would Georgo Waphinglon do, the father of his country, the only American who could not tell a lje? What would he do? There is only one right, high, noble thing for any boy to do who has stolen II watermelon of that dass—he must mako restitution—he must restore that stolen property to il« rightful owner. "1 said I would do it when I made that goodj^i^uJiau, I felt it to feg a goJL>lsi UH'