The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-10-26
Cherries
Are Ripe

said Downer. II meant to call you
up as soon as I got to the once to.
day. We have two crates Of cherries
that were shipped to US from my
home place. and az we've put up
enough to last 10 two years-for. Of
course. we shan't have any cherries
next year-I thought you and your
wife might like crate. II you would.
you're more than welcome to It"
! Kimball gave his friend q weary.
frightened look. Drank" he said,
If you value my friendship don't
speak Of cherries to me. and II you
value your life don't send any cher.
ries up to my house."
you seem to be peevish on the
subject of cherries" said his friend.
What's the answer?'
Il feel as II had been buried in
cherries for a week, and am sure
another shipment would put me past
resurrection" said Kimball.
Then you don't care for cherries"
said Downsr in an injured tone.
On the contrary, do. decidedly;
or at least I did; but have had too
much Of q good thing.
In the early part Of the week," he
related. my wife began to buy cher.
ries from every quarter that they
were offered for sale. because they
were so cheap and she knew We
would have no cherries next year, be.
cause Of the enormous crop this year.
AT least, every one who had cherries
to sell told her that a huge crop one
year meant famine for years to
come; and think she felt the same
responsibility that Joseph did when
he started in to store up corn enough
to last all Egypt for seven years. :
AT any rate, she impressed the
whole family into service stonipg
cherries. The work had to be done
by hand. she said, because the seeder
crushed the fruit SO badly. Well, I
got into the habit of rising an hour
earlier each morning to help with the
cherries: and would faithfully seed
cherries each night till late bed
time. Through the day my wife
would. can and preserve and pickle to
her hearts content. -
Il did good deal Of growing be:
cause the fruit was so small, and l
said wouldn't mind the work If the
cherries were like those that grew on
my Uncle Johns place. Those cher.
ries. ! told my wife. were regular
monsters. as large as plums.
Then what should come yesterday
morning but two bushel baskets full
OF cherries from Uncle Johns place.
along with note which said he
hoped we would not let any Of them
go to waste. for we probably should
not have any cherries to speak of for
years to come. Somehow those cher.
rfes didn't look nearly so large to me
as they used to and groaned in.
'wardly, but promised to hurry home
IN the evening and help with them. =
When l reached home found
Genevieve Ill with cramps from eat
ing too many cherries. Christine had
to look after her, and my wife and
] got rather late start on those two
bushels of cherries. We soon settled
into absolute silence and stoned cher.
ries like automatons.
Once. when my wife's back was
turned. slipped several handfuls of
unstoned cherries into the bowl. mt
she soon discovered my trick and then
every cherry in that bowl had to be
squeezed and pinohed to see T. It had
v seed in 1t. for my wife said that
some one might break q tooth or ret
choked OF. have ,appsndicitis through
my recklessnsss. NJ wife has . voui
dsrful devotion. to principle and also
the courage Of her convictions,
After hours Of that STUPID WORK
I heard robin begin to sins. olanc.
ing out Of the window. ! saw DAY.
light sreaking The east hsl stoned
cherries al night =
! IAN awful rebellion rose IN nv
heart when I remembered that that
robin was % happy because he could
eat cherries without stoning them. i
STAGGERED to my feet and started Sor