下载辰思小说免费APP
Rob’scropwasfoursmallsquashesandoneimmensepumpkin。Itreallywasa“bouncer，“aseveryonesaid；andIassureyouthattwosmallpersonscouldsitonitsidebyside。Itseemedtohaveabsorbedallthegoodnessofthelittlegarden，andallthesunshinethatshonedownonit，andlaythereagreatround，goldenball，fullofrichsuggestionsofpumpkin-piesforweekstocome。Robbywassoproudofhismammothvegetablethathetookeveryonetoseeit，and，whenfrostsbegantonip，covereditupeachnightwithanoldbedquilt，tuckingitroundasifthepumpkinwasawell-belovedbaby。Thedayitwasgatheredhewouldletnoonetouchitbuthimself，andnearlybrokehisbacktuggingittothebarninhislittlewheelbarrow，withDickandDollyharnessedinfronttogiveaheaveupthepath。HismotherpromisedhimthattheThanksgiving-piesshouldbemadefromit，andhintedvaguelythatshehadaplaninherheadwhichwouldcovertheprizepumpkinanditsownerwithglory。
PoorBillyhadplantedcucumbers，butunfortunatelyhoedthemupandleftthepig-weed。Thismistakegrievedhimverymuchfortemminutes，thenheforgotallaboutit，andsowedahandfulofbrightbuttonswhichhehadcollected，evidentlythinkinginhisfeeblemindthattheyweremoney，andwouldcomeupandmultiply，sothathemightmakemanyquarters，asTommydid。Noonedisturbedhim，andhedidwhathelikedwithhisplot，whichsoonlookedasifaseriesofsmallearthquakeshadstirreditup。
Whenthegeneralharvest-daycame，hewouldhavehadnothingbutstonesandweedstoshow，ifkindoldAsiahadnothunghalf-a-dozenorangesonthedeadtreehestuckupinthemiddle。Billywasdelightedwithhiscrop；
andnoonespoiledhispleasureinthelittlemiraclewhichpitywroughtforhim，bymakingwitheredbranchesbearstrangefruit。
Stuffyhadvarioustrialswithhismelons；for，beingimpatienttotastethem，hehadasolitaryrevelbeforetheywereripe，andmadehimselfsoill，thatforadayortwoitseemeddoubtfulifhewouldevereatanymore。Buthepulledthroughit，andserveduphisfirstcantaloupewithouttastingamouthfulhimself。Theywereexcellentmelons，forhehadawarmslopeforthem，andtheyripenedfast。Thelastandbestwerelingeringonthevines，andStuffyhadannouncedthatheshouldsellthemtoaneighbor。
Thisdisappointedtheboys，whohadhopedtoeatthemelonsthemselves，andtheyexpressedtheirdispleasureinanewandstrikingmanner。Goingonemorningtogazeuponthethreefinewatermelonswhichhehadkeptforthemarket，Stuffywashorrifiedtofindtheword“PIG“cutinwhitelettersonthegreenrind，staringathimfromeveryone。Hewasinagreatrage，andflewtoMrs。Joforredress。Shelistened，condoledwithhim，andthensaid，；
“Ifyouwanttoturnthelaugh，I’lltellyouhow，butyoumustgiveupthemelons。“
“Well，Iwill；forIcan’tthrashalltheboys，butI’dliketogivethemsomethingtoremember，themeansneaks，“growledStuff，stillinafume。
NowMrs。Jowasprettysurewhohaddonethetrick，forshehadseenthreeheadssuspiciouslyneartooneanotherinthesofa-cornertheeveningbefore；andwhentheseheadshadnoddedwithchucklesandwhispers，thisexperiencedwomanknewmischiefwasafoot。Amoonlightnight，arustlingintheoldcherry-treenearEmil’swindow，acutonTommy’sfinger，allhelpedtoconfirmhersuspicions；andhavingcooledStuffy’swrathalittle，shebadehimbringhismaltreatedmelonstoherroom，andsaynotawordtoanyoneofwhathadhappened。Hedidso，andthethreewagswereamazedtofindtheirjokesoquietlytaken。Itspoiltthefun，andtheentiredisappearanceofthemelonsmadethemuneasy。SodidStuffy’sgood-nature，forhelookedmoreplacidandplumpthanever，andsurveyedthemwithanairofcalmpitythatperplexedthemverymuch。
Atdinner-timetheydiscoveredwhy；forthenStuffy’svengeancefelluponthem，andthelaughwasturnedagainstthem。Whenthepuddingwaseaten，andthefruitwasputon，MaryAnnre-appearedinahighstateofgiggle，bearingalargewatermelon；Silasfollowedwithanother；andDanbroughtuptherearwithathird。Onewasplacedbeforeeachofthethreeguiltylads；andtheyreadonthesmoothgreenskinsthisadditiontotheirownwork，“WiththecomplimentsofthePIG。“Everyoneelsereaditalso，andthewho
