The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-10-06
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Are Ripe

said DowneE meant 10 call you
up as soon as ] got to the office To-
day. We have two crates Of cherries
that were shipped to us from my
home place. and as we've Put up
enough to last US two years-fpr, 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 bis friend q weary.
frightened. look. Frank" he said.
III 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 peeyish on the
subject Of cherries.r said his friend.
What's the answer?' =,
Il feel as II l had been buried In
cherries for n week. aud ] am sure
another shipment would put me past
resurrection" said Kimball.
"Then you don't care for CHERRIES"
ssd Downer In m injured tone.
"on the contrary, do, decidedly
or at least did; but have had too
muuh Of q good thing, 1870
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 huge crop one
year meant a 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 stoning
cherries. The work had to be done
BY band, she said, because the seeder
crushed the fruit SO badly. Well, !
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. 1.
II did a good deal of growing be.
cause the fruit was SO small, and /
said wouldn't mind the work II the
cherries were like those that grew on
my Uncle Johns place. Those cher.
ries, ] told my wife, were regular
monsters, rs large as plums. "a
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 10 waste, for We probably should
not have any cherries to speak Of for
years to come. Somehow those cher.
ries didn't look nearly so large to me
as they. used to and ! groaned In.
wardly.i but promised to hurry home
In the evening and help with them.
WHEN l reached home l found
Genavleve III with cramps from eat.
Ing too many cherries. Christine had
to look after her, and my wife aud
/ 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
nnstoned cherries into the bowl, but
she soon discovered my trick and then
every cherry In that bowl had to be
squeezed and plnched to see II il had
q seed in 1t. for my wife said that
some one might bl ok tooth or get
choked or have appendicitis through
my recklessness. = My wife has a won.
derful devotion to principle and also
the courage Of her convictions.
"After hours of that stupid work
heard q robin. begin to sing. Glanc.
ing ont OF the window, | saw day.
light sreaking the east. had stoned
cherries ALL night! 49,.
4s"An awful rebellion rose in ny s
heart when I Remembered that that
robin was SO happy because he could
eat cherries without stpping them. I
staggered TO my feet and started for
thel couch In the library, whera,iipon
my wife said I'M q SURPRISED tene;
Why, Robert, y9g are not going to
quilt. are y9p?'..spb,5.
MY vile has the soul OF a martyr
and absolutely no conception Of: or.
binary human weakness. ~ $3.50 !.
$50 you see," concluded Kimball,
why am alarmed at The prospect
Of more cherries. Coming down III
the train this morning heard twd
girls talking about their clothes and
one Of them said: And a cherry red
bow on that would be stunning. !,
Thereupon got out and went Into
the smoker" :, 20
.f"All right" said Dewnsr, q value
your friendship, 40 III say, no more
about that crate Of cherries. .gut I'd
like 10 come and live with YOU next