Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-10-23
NARClSSA'S MISTAKE.

IL was "Dlackberry- 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 associa-
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 shldow 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-hearted wood
land spring; the homeward walk in the
lengthenins afternoon shadows. And
then Narclssa was a born housewife.
Her jellies were always a success, her
preserves were beyond criticism, and she
was innocently proud of her prowess.
She was dark, brilliant little bru-
nette, with large, liquid eyes, whose
curled lashes turned piiuantly upward.
aud mou'k as red and fresh as wild
rose
"The prettiest girl in all the country"
as Walter Ail.inan said to h mself, as he
leaned over tbs kitchen window sill, and
beheld her stirring the bubbl ng mass of
sweets with an immense silver spoon,
which had come down, a sort of heir
loom. through half dozen generations
of Halls.
liar issa." he ventured to say, after
q second or two of respectful silence,
during which. although She must have
Known perfectly well hat he was there,
she never raised her eyes.
"Ch is it you, Walter2'
"Don't let me interrupt you," said
Walter, a little stitiy. ''rve brought
you one of Dora's little white puppies
here in bask, t."
"a puppy" cried Narcissa, contempt
uously. 'fIe a puppyl hate dogs p
Walters countenance fell percep'ibly.
~ thought you said you would like
one of Dora little Ones" began he
~ don't see what can possibly have
pat any such nonsense ito your head 7"
tartly retorted ''arcissa.
"Then you don't want it2''
''No, l certainly don't want it."
"But you took gray African parrot
from Mr.. Silber last week." obviously.
'tN ell. why shouldn'tI2 lido so dote
or parrots-and this one says 'How dye
dor already"
"Oh" said Walter, bitterly, as he put
the little. downy, blue-ribboned puppy
back into its basket, and addressed it
satirically. "Yes, go back, Dorette; {;
you're not cackling, chattering parrot.
Well have to find another home for you,
Dorette."
Narcissa bit her lip
II dare say Alice j ,ffreys would like
the dog" said she. "Alice is fond of
pet"
81 dare say SO, too" Walter rejoined,
dryly. "Good morning, Narcissal Oh,
by-the-way-"
"Well7'
Narcissa waa stirring away more Wig
orousy than ever now.
"About the New Moon picnic. sup
pose you will be going with SilberT"
II shouldn't wonder" said Narcissa,
coloring up.
"Then 1ecdu't trouble about coming
for youi"
Certainly you need not"
So these silly young people parted.
Walter h.illiman would have given his
life for Narcis Hall. Narcissa loved
the very sound of the young fellows
free, frank voice; and yet, nobody on
earth knew why they had both contrived
10 build up between themselves the
framework OF very pretty euarrel.
chow ridiculous One Of Dora's pup
pies, indcedr said Narcissa, tossing her
had.
That fat, old Silberr' pondered Wal
ter. "a man old enough to be her
fathcrl And weighing two hundred
and fifty pounds 1t the very least Is
the girl crazy?'
The jam was q success. OF course it
would be, being Nar,issa's work; aad
she Nas portIoning it into gla Jars with
dainty pre- -ision, when she heard a
heavy step among the sweet williams and
.ohnny-J Jmmpups that bordered the path
outside.
That sounds exactly like Mr.. Silber, ="
she said 10 herself. "Horrd old man
what brings him here againl It was
only last week that he came with the
parrot: and father is with him. Well,
] do hope father won't tel! him that /
sold the parrot to Billy johnson for five
dollars, b,cau he pulled the roses of
my best hat, and killed the canary, and
kept us all awake nj hts, shrieking
How dye dol how dye dor"