Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-05-03

as an adjunct to the Holy Bible, and
might well have been used in court of
law for folks TO swear by. Its pages of
cabalistIc signs were enough 10 overawe
the superstitious Imagination. and espe-
cially that black terrific sign of the lion
rampant, il shaken over the cider and it
had any OF The lively sensations which il
imparts, this would surely have frighten-
ed ii out OF its wits and changed it into
sourness. But the shaking the barrel in
the sign OF the lion was piece of German
science too abstruse for our comprehen-
sion-much alike that wonderful Dutch
joke pictured on the January page Of
aforesaid almanac, where Hans sat smok-
ing his pipe, and on the other side Of the
blazing hearth Betsey was knitting. Al
ter long time Betsey paused in her in
dustry, drew long sigh, and said:
Zach, Wish vas in Heaven"
Hans pondered over the proposition for
half hour, them pulling on his pipe, he
rejoined
"Vell, Wish vas in der stil-house." /"
BetseY Immediately spake up:
"l'll be bound for you, Hans. You al
ways wishes yourself in de best place."
The sign of the lion duly came around,
so the family, including our colored help,
Aunt Mary and her daughter, filed out to
"give the shake" 10 that recalcitrant cider
barrel, something | had not done, for |
had visited it daily and frequently and for
me that cider made more mellow that
beautiful October. These visits were in
secret-"mum" was the word-and that
snappy, sparkling cider was to me
"Mumm's extra" Any reasonably con-
stituted persons who tell me that they do
not like fine, snappy hard cider make me
doubt either their veracity or sanity.
The barrel was not so full as at first, alike
that keg OF beer brought TO his room by
the college student, and when hauled up
by the professor about it, alleged that it
was prescribed by his doctor to give him
strength. "WeIl," said professor, "have
you experienced any benefit from it?"
"Oh. yes, indeed" he answered. "when
first brought il up | could not lift it
now can very readily"
The barrel was tilted and shaken, while
| stood there expressing the hope that it
would be (un) successful, and trying 10
keep the hypocrisy in the back OF my
head from getting forward in my benign
countenance. But still the cider would
not turn-German science and the sign
OF the lion were unavailing.
One bright morning in November, when
about departing for winter quarters in
New York, at the breakfast table, anent
the cider fiasco, without suggesting the
old quip to get some ill-favored, acid
faced neighbor to peep into the bunghole,
| remarked, blandly:
"Mother, send Aunt Mary out to that
barrel, LET her pry out the bung, and she
will find string lacked thereto, and there
by hangs bag OF mustard. Take it out
and in week you will have enough vine
gar for the remainder OF your days-and
likely to make pickle for the next gener-
atIon."
The Kloths and their vineyard passed
away long ago-their home is now oc-
capied by descendant OF the Van Metre
who purchased large part of this country
OF Lord Fairfax. He is now retired
farmer who by intelligent, industrious
farming showed that il was surer route
TO competence and even wealth than stock
market gambling, and is model or pat
tern for our young men to follow instead
of flocking 10 and overcrowding the cities.
The Winebrenner wagon shop and
smithy where worked old Billy Ancram
have departed, leaving not trace behind.
Once there was gathered here a coterie
OF men who, inspired by jealousy OF the
old burg, determined 10 have a town of
their own, with mayor and corporation.
They even planned 10 put up town
clock on the wagon shop, which would
be up TO time more than our own. But
where they plotted their conspiracy is
now only complot -naught left OF them
but dim memory Yet the neighbor-
hood has not been lett entirely desolate.
Very near, on neighboring hill where
the Nymph Echo would have answered
your call from the woodland, has gone
up the beautiful home built by Mrs.
Phillips on part OF the large tract OF land
owned by her father, Judge Chapline, of
happy memory. "Chapline's Choice"
is commanding situation for a home,
where with every appurtenance that
science can suggest, are gathered trophies
and curios from all around the world.
Here she INDUCES her refined tastes and
has collected the genealogies and family
histories OF this entire region, also enter
tanning distinguished friends from all parts
OF this country.
For the neighborhood, this seems TO US
more oil an improvement than were the
place crowded up by the suburbs OF a
small city with its dirt, dust din, discom-
fort and the usual scramble for living OF
its denizens. Quality is more desirable
than quantity, but this old Virginia notion
finds no favor in the push and stress OF
this age, which esteems IFS dirty, selfish
hustle more than diguified. contented re-
pose.