The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-28
THE PEANUT PRINCE.
BY KATHERINE HOPKINS CHAPMAN.


 "Dar now" said Uncle Calvin, as he set large basket of peanuts beside his young mistus,p as he persisted in call ing Grace. Dat is de las CT dis years crap" Thank goodness" exclaimed Grace, attacking the new basket ener- getically, flor if I had to shell much longer, my fingers would surely wear off And now can spend these glorious afternoons galloping on Daisy, dear, in- stead of In this stuffy room directing you darkies.'
 Hump! You may CT directed dem good-fer-nothin' ehillern. but not me- rejoined Uncle Calvin, indignantly. An stead CT being glad dis is de las CT de goobers, you better thank Heaven they turned out so well dis year, and dat yer ma got sich CT good price fer 'em"
 That's so Uncle Calvin, and, of course I didn't mean I had to watch you who taught me how to shell peanuts right when I was tiny tot. long before we thought of raising them for the mar ket Do you remember how you used to pinch open one end of peanut and clamp it on my ears, and I would play 'lady' until my poor ears would almost burn off"
 "Dat's sor' exclaimed Uncle Calvin, "us niggers uster feel sorry fer you when yer pa was sick so long, and yer mas time was tuck up wid him, and when you'd git tired CT yer little niggers you'd come ter us ole uns ter muse yer'
 And I certainly am grateful for the good crop and the rise in price," went on Grace, for 1t will will enable me to back to the dear old college in Virginia and graduate next year. As for mamma. nobody but you and l. Uncle Calvin, know of the hard struggle she's made here on the old plantation since papa died, and when I come back next June I am going to help her all I can. But all this doesn't keep shelling peanuts by the hour from being monotonous," she added sotte voce
 Then to prevent another lecture, she hastily asked: "who bought all our pea nuts at this increased price?"
 Don't you see dat roomful CT bags, all marked Henry NJ Keith Norfolk, Va"
 "virgnia? Then. maybe I'll get some of them when we schoolgirls are feast ing this winter! And now, Uncle Calvin, I can easily finish these while you are catching Daisy. dear, for there's still time for a little ride before sundown."
 "All right but be keerful yer don't git no trash in, fer US brides ourselves on de clean crap us sends out boasted Uncle Calvin. as he limped away for a bridle.
 Grace finished shelling the peanuts, and then enjoyed through the window the pretty antics of Daisy, dear as she coauetted with Uncle Calvin before sub hitting to the bridie. Tn pure idleness, Grace picked up a peanut shell and In one satiny surface she scribbled "The Peanut Prince" then yielding to the na- tural instinct of every schoolgirl, upon the other she wrote her own name. Grace Albritton" Just then, Uncle Cal win outwitted Daisy. dear. and led her captive toward stable and saddle, and Grace realized she must put on her habit quickly or lose the last few moments of golden autumn sunsine: so she tossed the scribbled shell hastily and 1t fell among the shelled ones
 The following winter Henry Keith re- turned from a delightful year in the Old World to resume the management of the estate left him by his father. Walk ing through the warehouse with old Shaw, the manager during his absence. Keith was astonished at the endless rows of peanut sacks.
 
 become fad with some health food peo- pie. and lately I have bought them in such quantities. in your name. of course. that you are now known as the Peanut Prince"
 ''Well. we'll" laughed Keith. I little thought my juvenile taste would be per- .,.uotusBI sIul LII am uo psdmuls 6Ilu9upm
 Now these" Shaw went on, "are from Alabama. the cream of the market in flavor full weight and free from all trash or hu1s. Try some" he added as he ripped the corner of a sack with his knife To his chagrin the first handful | contained large shell. the two halves of which were still joined by a few fla ments; but Keith's eve quickly noted something written on the smoothe lining. That isn't trash' he exclaimed, pick ing 1t up, 'thats-whv that's my new 'entitlements' as the darlSies say See, The Peanut Prince-Grace Albritton.' We'll here's to her unknown ladyship, the Princess of Peanutland;' and Keith Tipped the shells out into the water, where they careered gaily for a few min utes. then settled soberly for their long drift down the stream Was 1t prophet ic?"
 It must have been. for the next June found them dancing together at the com mencement hop of Keiths alma mater. At their introduction. Keith instantly re- cognized Grace Albrittons name. and also realized. in remote way. that she embodied all his ideals of feminine beauty and charm: but he was kept too busy edging his way into circles of blackcoats that marked her resting place, to feel that as keenly as he did after ward. And Grace? It is hard to say