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 can'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 Silas wherever he could, chopped wood for Asia,
and taken care of the lawn so well, that Mrs. Jo always had smo