Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1908 — GOOSEBERRY WINE [ARTICLE]

GOOSEBERRY WINE

It must have been about two and a half years ago that the elderly lady with a husband residing iu our village conceived the grand Idea of making gooseberry wine. She communicated It to the elderly lady without a husband, who again imparted it to the lawyer’s wife, a happy mother with four unmarried daughters, of whom I was and, alas, still am Lbe youngest. The elderly lady with a husband prevailed upon that appendage to gather fruit, and such was his good will that he arose at 6 o’clock in the morning from his comfortable couch to obey her behest, lie appeared at breakfast with lacerated hands and a perspiring frame, but his zeal sent him back to the garden the moment he had satisfied his appetite. The elderly lady without a husband, having lost what the elderly lady with • husband possessed, was fain to help her cook with her own fair fingers. The lawyer’s wife's four daughters were pressed into their mother’s service and most unwillingly plunged their fingers into the torturing bushes. In due time the wine was put into the casks, and the casks were rendered air tight until the following spring, when the sparkling contents were bottled and stowed in their cellars.

My mother, I remember, was the happy possessor of six dozen. The elderly lady without a busband had two dozen less. But the elderly lady with a husband carried off the palm of quantity, no less than twelve dozen of this homely liquor. But while the wine was yet in the casks there came to our village a young man with an unmistakable air of gentility about him. He had no occupation, yet his attire was good in quality and faultless in cut. His purse appeared well lined and quickly emptied.

It was whispered by some that he was an eccentric member of a very high family and had quarreled with his relatives all arountj, so that was how he came to settle in our quiet neighborhood. Others, more maliciously disposed, averred that he was a first class burglar. My sisters and I believed in the first mentioned version of the mystery perhaps because it was romantic aud suited to our girlish imaginations. He was invited to our village soirees once or twice a week, and as he always sought me out the moment he entered the room I was a target for all the envenomed darts from the bows of the other girls. Meanwhile the gooseberry wine had been bottled and pronounced excellent by the select few who had tasted It. All the bottles were sealed until the following winter.

The festivities of the dark season were ushered in by a small dance given by the elderly lady with a husband. Every one was invited, even the unknown, although our hostess looked on him with anything but favor.

The entertainment seemed meant to inaugurate the gooseberry wine rather than anything else, for instead of champagne our glasses were frequently filled with this home production. Our hostess, with a lieaming countenance, told us that she wished the rising generation to patronize this harmless beverage rather than Its more potent reality. The unknown and I after one waltz strolled away to the conservatory. When we were aloue he looked at me with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, gently pressing my hand nt the same time.

“Dearest." he whispered, "may I hope that some day you will allow me to claim this dear hand as mine?” I blushed as became a surprised maiden, although the only wonder I felt was that he had not asked me before. 1 murmured “Yes” in my most dulcet accents and immediately received his reward for my acquiescence. My heart bounded in response to a knock at the front door soou after breakfast the uext moruing. I knew it was the unknown’s hand that had wielded the ponderous bronze ring. 1 heard in iny distant Qormitory the door opened aud closed, and then there was a pause, next a quick step on the‘stair, a gentle tap on my own door and the entrance of the housemaid bearing a card.

The piece of pasteboard bore iny love’s name and at the back In the penciled letters this short sentence: "Will you spare me a few minutes?” Not very loverlike certainly, but I clothed it In love's own language. When 1 entered the drawing room I found the unknown impatiently drumming bis fingers on the window. The face ho turned toward me Was grave, not to say gloomy, but still unsuspicious. 1 went toward him with a gay welcome on my lips. He shook hands certainly, but very considerately. “1 have sent for you.” he said, "to—to— Dash it! 1 don’t know how to put what I am going tv say. It is most confoundedly awkward. The fact Is I hatl no right to ask you to be my wife last night, for 1 cannot marry if I would. - ’

“Why did you, then?” 1 asked coldly. “Well, to tell you the truth, it was that deuced iviue at supper that did it. It went to my head at once, and the waltz afterward finished the business. I am come to throw myself on your kgenerosity. My Income dies with me If 'l marry, and as I have no profession I must keep single.” “Go!” exclaimed 1, with a withering look and pointing to the door. He obeyed me and went and left the mqst miserable of beings behind him. After the first paroxysm of outraged nature was over I crawled to the cellar, and I did not leave that place till •very bottle of gooseberry wine lay at my feet in shivered atoms.—London New*.