VINTAGE SEASON. 9 



given up for this important annual business, 

 in which work and play were so happily com- 

 bined. On the appointed day the working 

 people might be seen trooping in from neigh- 

 boring cantons, where there were no vine- 

 yards, to offer themselves for the vintage. 

 They either camped out at night, sleeping in 

 the open air, or found shelter in the stables 

 and outhouses. During the grape gathering 

 the floor of the barn and shed at the parson- 

 age of Motier was often covered in the even- 



o 



ing with tired laborers, both men and women. 

 Of course, when the weather was fine, these 

 were festival days for the children. A bushel 

 basket, heaped high with white and amber 

 bunches, stood in the hall, or in the living 

 room of the family, and young and old were 

 free to help themselves as they came and went. 

 Then there were the frolics in the vineyard, 

 the sweet cup of must (unfermented juice of 

 the grape), and the ball on the last evening 

 at the close of the merry-making. 



Sometimes the boys passed their vacations 

 at Cudrefin, with their grandfather Mayor. 

 He was a kind old man, much respected in 

 his profession, and greatly beloved for his be- 

 nevolence. His little white horse was well 

 known in all the paths and by-roads of the 



