The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-25
HAZEL NUTS.

Along green avenue, shaded by inter.
laeing houghs, stretched far, far away
until 1t terminated in little spot Of
light, through which you could see the
ripening fields, where the sun was turn
ing the wheat to shimmerina gold.
A weti-pruned hedge OF elm treos bor-
dered this grassy avenue, fecked by
soft velvety shadows moving here and
there according to the fancy of the
light breeze that swayed the tree:tops
with d sweet rustic Of shivering leaves.
Two people, with tho slow, mincine
steps OF old age, were walking down
this avenue; she using the handle OF her
umbrella for cane, he, still erect aud
sprightIy, walking with his hands be-
hind his back; she, her head covered
with lace scarf, beneath which you
could see her sityery curts shining, he,
under broad brimmed straw hat
which made you think OF picture Of
the sugar planter overseeing his fields OF
cane in the old editions OF paul and
Virginia"
They were evidently pouting, for
they walked without speaking, without
looking at each other, save now and
then furtivc glance full OF reproaches.
However, after passing half the length
OF the avenue, they unconsciously found
themselves closer together, and finally
condescended to speak.
"You have decided, then" she said,
in sweet voice, in which little anger
still trembled, ito ruin the happiness OF
these childreuW
"0n the contrary, Ihave decided that
our little granddaughter shall never re-
proach me for causing her unhappiness
by my impudence."
She shrugged her shoulders, but very
lightly, like the welI.bred old lady that
she was, and said: BECAUSE the poor
boy, who loves her devotedly, has less
money than shea beautiful affair!
They are always sure Of bread"
Eyes, but no butter" observed
grandpa.
can eat their bread with kisses" an
swered grandma with a half smile.
As he made no reply, she walked on
a few steps, looking to the right and to
the left, then stopped before hazel
bush, and said:
"Look, my dear; itseeuls to me I see
some hazel nuts!"
With chivalrous politeness grandpa
drew near, placed his gold glasses to his
eyes, and regarding the bush, said:
"Yes, really, there are some hazel
nuts"
"Will you gather me few, my dear?"
Grandpa looked at grandma with great
surprise, Ithad been many years since
either one Of them had been able to eat
hazel nuts.
Nevertheless he passed the hook OF
his cane through one of the branches,
and drew it down to grandma, who del
icately gathered bunch of little half
ripe nuts, and fastenedit on her corsage
with pin.
"Do you rememberP" said she. Just
then ray of sunlight falling through
the leaves softly illuminated the face Of
old prandpa-or was it the tender men,
DRY?
Tho gray eyes Of grandma gazed into
his with alarming persistency.
He recalled it all very distinctly, but
what had hazel nuts to do with an affair
so serious as the marriage of their only
granddaughter The good grandpa
pretended to be occupied with the
branches OF q tree which needed the
primer, but grandma took him by his
button-hole and continued:
"This is the same bush-you see it is
an old one-which was so full Of hazel
nuts the year that ~
Eyes, yes, know" said the old man,
hoping to escape; but she held him fast.
1T was here in this same place. Do
you remember it? / had stripped all
the lower branches when you came, and
it was you, my dear, who finished gath
ering them, and as the nuts fell into
my apron your eyes became more and
more eloquent; the last ounch-do you
remember?-you pinned on my bosom,
in the same place where l have fastened
this one"
"My dear wife" murmured the old
grandpa.
il your parents refuse to give you to me,
/ will blow out my brains
'Yes, but we were married, and we
have been very happy for forty years."
concluded the old man.
"And we were poor-do you remem-
Der that2-but we became rich, and the
children can do the same"
She said no more, but taking his arm
they walked briskly side by side until
they reached the entrance OF the ave-
nue., where the white spot had become
a great pointed arch Of light.
There they talked a long time.
eve must restrict ourselves little"
said the good grandpa, 80 US to in
crease her dot" !,
''That we will do most willingly"
said the good grandma
"And with that, the poor children
can have little butter on their bread.
eyes; and while they are young"
concluded grandma, smiling, they can
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