A VINE -DRESSER'S PLIGHT 97 



with tears in his eyes, 'she was just so good in the 

 vineyard as one man. and he mighl just so well have 

 1"-' his horse. 1 He gol a second wife, but she was of 

 hasty temper, and gave the old man as good as he 

 Bent. Finally, she told him if he would give her five 

 dollars, she would Leave him, and never see him more. 

 'Give you five dollars!' said the old man: 'I will do 

 no snch thing; but if you go and never come back, I 

 will give you ten dollars.' The money was paid, and 

 ili'' old man was relieved of that trouble; bul our that 

 he deemed greater came. I have heretofore said, that 

 tfter li''iu<: my truant ten years, he was ruined by sel- 

 ling his share of tie- crop for eighl hundred dollars. 

 He cleared out: wenl to the north part of the state; 

 bough! land, and planted a vineyard. The location 

 was too tar north. His vines were killed, and he came 

 hark a poor man. and began a new vineyard on a farm 

 <>f mine, adjoining his old our. on which his son-in- 

 law has resided Bince he lefl it. This year his vine- 

 yard came into bearing, and tin- old man's heart re- 

 joiced to think that he should again he able to -it 

 under the Bhade of his favorite tree, and enliven Ins 

 head with wine of his own making. But, alas! the 

 rot came, and blasted his prospects. He I ame dis- 

 pirited; which, the cholera discovering, a few days 

 sin.-.-, seized his victim. He was taken to the house of 

 his son-in-law (for he lived alone, and I could not 

 prevail on him to take a Frau for the third time). 

 When they urged him to take medicine, hut he refused. 

 He was told if he did not. in a few hours he must die. 



rWha! I caret' said tl Id man. 'I take none. What 



I wan! to live for.' .\h grapes all rotten!' A few 

 hours, and he was no more. Peace to his ashes." 



