Year: 1868

ding an unearthly radiance over her finely chiseled
features, her 1.-the graceful figure, and the soft
Grape and water-llies of her dress My young
pulses beat fast as gazed, and only deep feeling
ef respect fer her trust and loneliness prevented me
from Kissing her outright.
The young lady g vivacity seemed to increase as
weiefs the garden, music, lights and supervision
behind u.s.


There was wild sparkle in her eye and kind
|of fierce energy in her manner as she suddenly
faced me, and said, 'Now, sir you Will be pleased
to tell me who are, where you came from, and why
you came here p


Taking her hand in mine, and murmuring, 81
am your devoted slave, and I came all the way
from New York only to see you," I followed her
into the fruit garden, the iron gate closing slowly
behind with dull, cruel sound.


"Now for the gooseberries," said the lady 81
know the finest bushes and if you are really my
devoted slave, you win not mind picking me some
but, for Heavens sake" sheadded, with sudden
shiver, take care and do not prick yourself"


Now cannot say have ever felt well disposed
to the gooseberry. I consider it vulgar fruit,
and none of my associations connected with it are





of pleasurable description.


From my earliest infancy was told that my
grandfather had played ''oh gcoseberry," " with the
family estates; an interesting hoyden Of thirteen,
more than once informed me that my eyes closely
FresembIed that fruit when boiled; and have nev-
er met any friend in society, sailing under false col
ors IN thin disguise Of tin FOIL wire, efervescence
and ice, that I have not said to myself, in the
words of Mr.. Witteny to his wife, when she was
enjoying the too-exhausting society of the upper
ten:


"You will suffer for this tomorrow" There
fore do loathe the gooseberry, even when plucked
and prepared on the dining-room table but, oh
dear to pick them yourself by moonlight! To
bend your back, soil the knees of your trowsers,
prick your fingers with their venomous thorns, feel
their sickly contents bursting in the wrong place
and oozing out over your snowy wristbands this is
an amount of downright misery for which the fruit
itself bears no compensation. But for that violet,
eyed vision in Grape and hies what would have
not gone through. So, drawing off my gloves, and
taking small pen knife from my pocket, l knelt
down beside the bushes, and began picking the
plump, ripe berries, and giving them to my en-,
SLAYER, with much satisfaction.


I plucked and cut; she ate, the monotony of the
proceedings being relieved by some delicious
pauses, in which our eyes and hands would meet,
and our hearts thrilled with sympathy. In my en-.
tranced state forgot the young ladies caution, and
gathered the fruit heedlessly enough.


ssDeuce take the things!" exclaimed, as the
sharpest of pointed blades struck deeply into my
finger; and thinking we had had euough Of goose,
berry picking for the present, rose from my la.
bors, and gave the last few I gathered to my COM
panion, who was standing againsta small fruit tree
by my side. In doing so, drop Of blood fell from
nv cut finger on the Little white hand held out to
receive roy offering.


The moon was shining more brightly than ever
and Lit up the whole scene with the clearness Of
day. The girl cast her eyes to her hand, and
marked the crimson stain glistening there in the
mellow light


Good God! What is !? Why did my blood
suddenly freeze within me? What was this awful
terror which was taking possession Of me2 Why
did her mouth lose it's lovely expression in those
fierce, unnatural lines? Why is her small hand
rigid with rage as she points to the hateful stain
know not I know and feel nothing but frantic
wish to run-to runfrom this awful spectre, stand.
ing in the moonlight, by the dark green apple tree
see the foth seethng through the pale lips, the