Billy was delighted with his crop ; and no one spoiled his pleasure in the little miracle which pity wrought for him , by making withered branches bear strange fruit . Stuffy had various trials with his melons ; for , being impatient to taste them , he had a solitary revel before they were ripe , and made himself so ill , that for a day or two it seemed doubtful if he would ever eat any more . But he pulled through it , and served up his first cantaloupe without tasting a mouthful himself . They were excellent melons , for he had a warm slope for them , and they ripened fast . The last and best were lingering on the vines , and Stuffy had announced that he should sell them to a neighbor . This disappointed the boys , who had hoped to eat the melons themselves , and they expressed their displeasure in a new and striking manner . Going one morning to gaze upon the three fine watermelons which he had kept for the market , Stuffy was horrified to find the word `` PIG '' cut in white letters on the green rind , staring at him from every one . He was in a great rage , and flew to Mrs. Jo for redress . She listened , condoled with him , and then said , `` If you want to turn the laugh , I 'll tell you how , but you must give up the melons . '' `` Well , I will ; for I ca n't thrash all the boys , but I 'd like to give them something to remember , the mean sneaks , '' growled Stuff , still in a fume . Now Mrs. Jo was pretty sure who had done the trick , for she had seen three heads suspiciously near to one another in the sofa-corner the evening before ; and when these heads had nodded with chuckles and whispers , this experienced woman knew mischief was afoot . A moonlight night , a rustling in the old cherry-tree near Emil 's window , a cut on Tommy 's finger , all helped to confirm her suspicions ; and having cooled Stuffy 's wrath a little , she bade him bring his maltreated melons to her room , and say not a word to any one of what had happened . He did so , and the three wags were amazed to find their joke so quietly taken . It spoilt the fun , and the entire disappearance of the melons made them uneasy . So did Stuffy 's good-nature , for he looked more placid and plump than ever , and surveyed them with an air of calm pity that perplexed them very much . At dinner-time they discovered why ; for then Stuffy 's vengeance fell upon them , and the laugh was turned against them . When the pudding was eaten , and the fruit was put on , Mary Ann re-appeared in a high state of giggle , bearing a large watermelon ; Silas followed with another ; and Dan brought up the rear with a third . One was placed before each of the three guilty lads ; and they read on the smooth green skins this addition to their own work , `` With the compliments of the PIG . '' Every one else read it also , and the whole table was in a roar , for the trick had been whispered about ; so every one understood the sequel . Emil , Ned , and Tommy did not know where to look , and had not a word to say for themselves ; so they wisely joined in the laugh , cut up the melons , and handed them round , saying , what all the rest agreed to , that Stuffy had taken a wise and merry way to return good for evil .
Dan had no garden , for he was away or lame the greater part of the summer ; so he had helped XXXXX wherever he could , chopped wood for Asia , and taken care of the lawn so well , that Mrs. Jo always had smooth paths and nicely shaven turf before her door .
Ann Dan Jo Silas before first fume pudding rind wags