Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-10-08
NARClSSA'S MISTAKE.
y was BLACKBERRY ;am dav.n

y was blackberry jam day."
Every nation has its movable and i'm
movable feasts and festivities; every
household boasts its great anniversaries
and to Narcissa Hall the blackberry Jam
season always brought pleasant a,socia.
tons.
There was the gathering of the beauti-
full, sparkling, jet black fruit, to begin
with, not always unaccompanied with
"reminiscences of rustic swains, who car.
ried her baskets and found the incest
vines and bushes for her; the impromptu
lunch eaten under the shadow of great
mossy rocks, with the mellow whistle Of
linnet and thrush overhead the draught,
in vine-leaf cups, pinned together by
thorns, from some deep.helrted wood.
land spring; the homeward walk in the
lengthening afternoon shadows. And
then Narc1ssa was born housewife.
Her jellie' were always success, her
preserves were beyond criticism, and she
was innocently proud of her prowess.
She WAS a dark, brilliant little bru.
nette, with large, liquid eyes, whose
curled lashes turned piQuantly upward,
and mouth as red and fresh as a wild
rose
"The prettiest girl in all the country !"
as Walter Miliinan said to h msef, as he
leaned over III: kitchen window sill, and
beheld her stirring the bubbling mass of
sweets with an immense silver spoon,
which had come down, a sort of heir.
loom, through half dozen generations
of Halls.
"Narlissa" he ventured to say, after
o second or two of respectful silence,
during which, although she must have
knowa perfectly we'll that he was there,
she never raised her eyes.
"Oh. is it you, Water7'
Don't let me interrupt you," said
Walter, little stifly. 1--WE brought
you one of Dora's little white puppies-
here in basket"
ga Puppym cried Narcissa, contempt.
uously. ME a puppy l hate dogsp p
Walters countenance fell perceptibly.
II thought you said you would like
one of Dora's little ones" began he.
II don't see what can possibly have
put any such nonsense into your head p
tartly retorted Narcissa.
"Then you don't want it,"
''No, certainly don't want it,"
''But You took gray African parrot
from Mr. Silber last week2" obviously.
"Well, why shouldn't II do so dot;
on parrots-and this one says How dye
dop already"
"Ohm said Walter, bitterly, as he pu
the little, downy, blue .ribboned puppy
back into its basket, and addressed i
satirically. eyes, go back, Dorette
you're not a cackling, chattering parrot
Wen have to find another home for you
Dorette"
Narcissa bit her lip.
II dare say Alice Jetfreys would lkt
the dog" said she. "Alice Is fond o
pets"
II dare soy so, too" Walter reioined
dryly. GOOD morning, Narcissal Oh
by-theway--"
"Well9"
Narcissa waa stirring away more Wig
orous!y than ever now.
"About the New Moon picnic. sup
pose you will be going with Silberl"
81 shouldn't wonder" said Narcissa
coloring up.
"Then I needn't trouble about coming
for youS"
"Certainly you need notn
So these silly young people parted.
Walter Milliman would have given hi
life for Narcissa Hall. Narcissa lovet
the very sound of the young fellow
free, frank voice; and yet, nobody o.
earth knew why, they had both contriveC
to build up between themselves tn
framework OF very pretty quarrel
"How ridiculous One of Dora's pup
pies, indeed" said Narcissa, tossing he
head.
"That fat, old Silberl" pondered Wal
ter. "a man old enough to be he
fatherl And weighing two hundred
and fifty pounds at the very least l
the girl crazy2"
The jam was q success. Of course
would be, being Narcissa's work; an,
she was portioning it into glass jars witt
dainty precision, when she heard
heavy step among the sweet williams ant
johnny jumpups that bordered the patl
outside.
THAT sounds exactly like Mr.. Silber,
she said to herself. "Horrid old man
what brings him here againl 1t wa
only last week that he came with tn
parrot; and father is with him. Well
/ do hope father won't tell HIM that
sold the parrot to Billy johnson for fiv
dollars, becau he pulled the roses oi
my best hat, and killed the canary, an,
kept us all awake nights, shriekin
How dye do9 how dye dop"
And, thus meditat ng, Narcissa shran'
behind the clematis vines, that made
curtain of natural green across the case
ment.
Hush those were surely the rumbling
sonorous tones of the Squire himself!
II s'pose, Hail. said he, with
chuckle, "you consider me too old 70
that sort O. thing"
"Well, l don't know" the goo
furmer replied, slowly. TASTES differ
"But ef I've took fancy to the littl
thing"
"Hum !" said Mr.. Hall, doubtfully.
"And I'll give her real good home
Every bit as good Us shs has here"