New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-09-24
rne starsslaI,s Wine.

An old sea captain---one Raper by name me- Lasa
determined to land me two hunareo kes ga that
old port wine in the harhor OF bosi9n I'm irsnosed
,ha ;rnnriation n was not the first cargo
he had smngrled into Boston, and he ieIt pie'tg
sure Of success, even though he knew pt. has
he suspected and for all he knew, way way r =.
" ashai had indeed, heard OF hls IN
+antion concernine the wine smuggling, anu my IN
wait for the captain, ready 60 pouneg up9a MN y
soon as he Should nave erected the lallulig auu
them by conseating the pfoPei W n
| ~ iii This Capt Raper remained IN blessed ig-
norance and proceeded with all the unsuardedness
! If 4 man who feels himself secure. 1t was mid
NIGHT when the cargo was landed, and placed IL a
SOFT Of Old store, long unused, and some two miles
from the usual place of Decentralization. 1t took
some time after they had got it thither to secure
It, and it was near daylight when they proceeded
to make their way back to the vessel, preparatory
to being towed into port next morning.
Sure enough, next morning the good ship Ellen
came up in fine style, looking as honest as if she
had not been eased Of the superfiuous part OF her
cargo the night before, while her good captain
was evidently in the best of spirits at his success
smiling with the utmost good humor upon the Wen
known faces he recognized on shore.
The city official had already been apprsed OF
this proceeding and, as early as possible, started
for the scene Of action taking with him the neces-
sary witness, and fully prepared to take possession
of the treasure in the name of the law.
Arriving at the spot, they found the wine; and
their re1olced as tney n0tlCeu superior
brand marked upon the kegs which announced it
to be of the best quality.
Raising his voice and his hands, Mr.. Marshal
" in the name of the law proceeded to confscate
the property; and, this being over, he bethought
himself to open of the kegs and taste its con-
tents.
Acting upon this thought the foremost one was
quickly perforated and forthwith came out genu-
ine-sea-water, as blue and salt as ever rolled in
briny ocean.
Somewhat discounted with this he again be-
thought himself that two or three of the nearest
kegs only contained this whereupon he set about
opening the rest, with the perseverance of one who
was not only looking for wine, but determined to
have it, After two hours hard labor, he finished
with the following undignifed but highly poetical.
exclamation
1.-THE man divine turned water into wine; but
old Raper turned wine into WATER
He had lust finished, when Captain Raper him
self made his appearance upon the spot, and, eye
ing him sterny, the marshal asked him what had
become of the wine he had impOrteds
sSold the wine to one-half of the city officials,
and sold the rest of the officials with the kegs-eh,
Grant?f was the old mans answer; while one
prolonged shout from his stout lungs told how well
he enjoyed the sight before him.
The truth of the matter was, that he had drawn
off the wine, and removed it to the place Of desti
nation; and after having sold it, with the cash in
his pocket, he had filled the kegs with sea-water,
and, closing them up, landed Them and awaited
the confscaton with all the Impotence of one who
dearly loved good joke.
The marshal retired in disgust; and, if you want
to make an eternal enemy of him, politely inquire
the price Of eonfscated sea-water.