The Press., 1888-11-01

unNHCnNMh way to sh1fC the reSponSlDlnIys made jocose remark. loud enough to be heard about her vine, and felt sneakingly better when saw that such cowardly humorous efforts provoked Aeeting and rapidly sup pressed smile from either adjacent doorstep. went further. blush to say that made that vine and Mrs. Johns hand in it, the sub feet of beer saloon story, and l can only offer in extenuaticn that it was sort of family beer saloon on the next corner, very choice and exclusive, frequented chiefly by the adult male residents of the block. We were all husbands and householders together, so to speak, behind the hip doors of that cool retreat, and as the fellows, after had set up the drinks, laughed hilariously at my account | was led on rather further than my frst'in- tentions. Afterward l regretted my yer bosity.
 Six weeks went by. The middle of May gave place to the first of July, when, one evening, my wife met mo with smile of triumph upon her face, and, turning me around on the doorstep, pointed down to the much maligned and heretofore immovable vine.
 'Did you seeq" she asked, expectantly. - did see. Since had looked at the thing, and was sure had glanced that way that very morning, the stunted and incomprehen- 
 inches to it's stature.
 "What's come over 1t, do you supposeY" asked in some trepidation, for the idea of that vine growing seemed positively uncanny.
 "I think" said my wife wisely, putting her head to one side, ''that the effect of BarkeF's is cumulative like opium The vine suddenly feels the combined force of all that have put on, and I don't mind telling you now that there is something to show for it; that have used pounds" And I think she had, if it was Barker's that prompted the growth of that vine, for anything like Its progress I never saw.
 Within a week 1t had cleared the basement window and was on level with the parlor sill, and at the end of little over fortnight it was nodding tendril of pale green at the second floor. It grew close with the wire, twisting around 1t as if to twist itself fur ther up The passers by noticed and com mented upon 1t My wife fairly baszed and beamed in its wonderful growth. My own feelings also underwent @ change began to refer to 1t as the vine, then as our vine, and at the store did not hesitate to say boldly, "I have vine over at my house," etc. The vine itself attended strictly to busi- ness. When it reached the roof, as 1t did be- fore month was out, it grew wild for a day or 30, sending out a long, swaying shoot; then 1t caught on to the shutter of the third floor window and began hleandering course back to earth. All the way down it swung out its tentaeles, finding a hold on anything "a shutter hook, window ledge, or even slight roughness in the stone. By the mid de of August the house was beautifully fes- tooned. and still the original stalk was grow ing toward all points of the compass.
 Every man on the block envied me that vine. fels that as a family and as house front we were an ornament to the neighbor. hood. -"
 always take fortnight off the latter part of September. did as usual that year. My wife and children followed me out on the doorstep and arranged themselves in a pic turesque group as walked of, gripsack in hand I turned back two doors away and saw them thus framed in the rich green of the luxurious vine felt proud of the en, tire landscape animal and vegetable. Good by," said; "take care of yourselves" and then, glancing at the clambering foliage, l warmed to that.
 "We must have that trimmed down this fall and packed in straw" called, holding toward the vine. There was a wagon pass ing at the moment, and put down to the noise of that the apparently garbled reply of my wife.
 t'1 think SO, too-a perfect nuisance"
 11Y T&GUIU WhS AGCOkupAb0S0 8C O1RA6. 4nG air was mild, though October, and after au hour or two of welcoming gossip Mrs. John and I sought the doorstep while I finished my last cigar.
 'Oh, John, did as you sugg@ted-had the vine cBt down while yon were away,"re- marked my wife casually.
 You mean trimmed down for winter,"I suggested
 .'Why, no. 1had the whole thing removed root, branch and wire You spoke just as you were leaving that it ought to be cut down; it wasn't worth straw"
 1groaned aloud.
 '!Yes, and replied that thought SO too. It had become perfect nuisance; it was e breeding place for mosquitoes and spiders that got in the rooms, and those dirty and detestable sparrows simply pre-empted it, making more noise and mischief than was tolerable. I was glad to hear you order its removaln
 My feelings literally choked my utterance. The next morning among some bills awaiting my return found this:
 John Blank
 To A. Terracegarden, florist May f2-To ono vine, free grower. H May 12-To Une wire for same..............N 50 May 12-To two hours work. ork..........4.. co Sept. 16-To one days work cutting down :-.. VlnGs.s ..... co Sept 1S-To removing vine in carloads. .... co Total............................. .............S % &
 And besides this paid man .75 for