"Don't you see, children," I concluded, "that acting on the square is not only right, but that it is always best for us in the end?"
Then I asked, "Merton, what have the Bagley children been doing since they stopped picking raspberries for us?"
"I'm told they've been gathering blackberries and huckleberries in the mountains, and selling them."
"That's promising. Now I want you to pick out a good-sized water-melon and half a dozen musk-melons, and I'll leave them at Bagley's cottage to-morrow night as I go down to the village. In old times they would have stolen our crop; now they shall share in it."
When I carried the present on the following evening, the children indulged in uncouth cries and gambols over the gift, and Bagley himself was touched.
"I'll own up ter yer," he said, "that yer melon patch was sore temptin' to the young uns, but I tole 'em that I'd thrash 'em if they teched one. Now yer see, youngsters, ye've got a man of feelin' ter deal with, and yer've got some melons arter all, and got 'em squar', too."
"I hear good accounts of you and your children," I said, "and I'm glad of it. Save the seeds of these melons and plant a lot for yourself. See here, Bagley, we'll plow your garden for you this fall, and you can put a better fence around it. If you'll do this, I'll share my garden seeds with you next spring, and you can raise enough on that patch of ground to half feed your family."
"I'll take yer up," cried the man, "and there's my hand on it ag'in."
"God bless you and Mrs. Durham!" added his wife "We're now beginning to live like human critters."
I resumed my journey to the village, feeling that never before had melons been better invested.