"He's fussed with that melon all summer.

He wanted to give it to you for a present." "Ayes so he did! Well I declare! I never thought o' that--ayes!" Aunt Deel spoke in a low, kindly tone and came and lifted me to my feet very tenderly.
"Come, Bart, don't feel so about that old melon," said she, "it ain't worth it.

Come with me.

I'm goin' to give you a present--ayes I be!" I was still crying when she took me to her trunk, and offered the grateful assuagement of candy and a belt, all embroidered with blue and white beads.
"Now you see, Bart, how low and mean anybody is that takes what don't belong to 'em--ayes! They're snakes! Everybody hates 'em an' stamps on 'em when they come in sight--ayes!" The abomination of the Lord was in her look and manner.

How it shook my soul! He who had taken the watermelon had also taken from me something I was never to have again, and a very wonderful thing it was--faith in the goodness of men.