FRIEND IN THE END

Author: Arva Shanks; transcribed by Paul Forster

Mr. Jones was mad, he was hot, and he was pitiless to a gang of boys, the mischievous ones of the town.

Mr. Jones was a wealthy man, but now his money has disappeared – where no one knows, except the one who took it. He earned his money by selling water melons for he had the largest water melon patch in the community. This patch of melons was too good, because there was a gang of boys who were enjoying the melons at mid-night. Mr. Jones had scarecrows set up in the garden, but it did not do much good, for the boys knew what they were and were not in the least afraid.

There were five boys in this crowd, Jerry Crawford, Joe Perkins, Philip Bowen, David Black, and Henry Wilkins, who was called “Red” on account of his hair. Jerry was the leader of the crowd.

One night the boys got together as usual to go on their melon hunt. They had had a few melons without being caught, nevertheless they were rather cautious.

All of the scarecrows that Mr. Jones had in the patch had not done any good. Now Mr. Jones devised a new plan. He planned to have a negro go out into the melon patch and keep watch. Calling the negro to him he said: “Will you do me a favor, a great big favor? Say yes, right now.”
Wal, I don’t till I know what de favah is afo, I gwing an answah, yas.” Replied the darkie.

“I will plainly tell you,” answered Mr. Jones. “You know that my melons have been stolen by someone. I want you to go out into the patch and watch. If you see anybody in the field, lie down and make yourself unseen, then make some growling noises, not too loud of course. If you can I would like to have you near the people quietly and very slowly.”

That night Mr. Negro went out into the patch and looked around but nothing was seen of the thieves. He lay down for awhile and at last he heard footsteps approaching. Still the negro lay in the field and growled as he was told.
“Listen!” exclaimed Jerry. “I hear something. Lie down quick everybody, each one in a different place so you cannot be seen.”

All of the boys scattered off on a run. While Red was running in his excitement, he fell down on the ground and lay there. He would have jumped up to examine what he had fallen over, but footsteps were coming nearer and nearer.
“At last they are found”, muttered the darky to himself. “I am going to walk right up to them and find out who they are.”

All the boys were in a group by this time, munching on a big watermelon, except Henry Wilkins. Where was he? He was over in his little hiding place admiring his treasure which he had stumbled over while running. A bag of money, bearing on it: “Give this to the owner, Mr. Jones.”
Henry picked it up and ran over to the place where the other boys were eating the melon. The negro was standing near by unnoticed. Henry saw him standing there, but did not care as long as he was not helping to eat the melon.

“Say, boys,” he cried. “I have found something. Can you guess what it is? I am going to give it to Mr. Jones, too.” Saying this he showed it to the boys, the negro watching. He had guessed what it was so he could not resist temptation to say something.

“I tell you, boys, come over to Jones’s with me now and give him his money. He will not be mad at you I know. He was dreadful angry before, but now he will be so glad. Maybe he will pay you something.”

“Allright, let’s go over now and make Mr. Jones a visit, shall we? Henry you present the money to Mr. Jones because you were the one who found it. Still I am a little bit afraid to go over there aren’t you? Oh well, let’s go just the same,” said Jerry. With this reply the boys went over to Jones’s.

Mr. Jones was sitting by the warm fire, for it was getting cold outside now, reading his newspaper. The great big gray cat was lying on the floor by his side purring. All was as still as could be, when suddenly a loud rap was heard at the door. Mr. Jones jumped up from his chair and went to the door. He opened it wide and there stood a gang of boys.

“Good evening, Mr. Jones,” they all cried.

“Good evening,” gruffly replied Mr. Jones. “What are you doing out here this time of the night, trying to play some more of your tricks on me, huh?”

“Oh, no, no, we came for nothing of that sort. Mr. Henry Wilkins wishes to present you with something from all of us boys,” replied Jerry. Henry handed him the money.

Mr. Jones took the bag and told the boys to enter the house and be seated. As soon as he had looked at it in the light, he exclaimed:

“Oh, my precious money has come back to me. Did you boys really find it? Please tell me all about it.”

Then Henry told his story. After he had finished, Mr. Jones brought a large water melon into the house, which he divided among the boys. After they had eaten the melon, they sat around the fire and told stories. Even Mr. Jones laughed at their jokes and told more stories also.
After awhile the boys said that they had to go home, declaring they had had a very pleasant time. Mr. Jones told the boys to come often to have water melon feasts, but the boys never went stealing again. They and Mr. Jones were friends at last.
 

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