Well, here we are, just after midterms, and still worrying away about the well being of Metamorphoses. Well, believe it or not, Met is indeed still alive and kicking, and is expected to be released (better late than never!) in December.
The fundraising went better than we ever expected it to, and thanks to all of the friends and supporters of Met, this issue will feature artists and writers from all over the world.
Despite an abundance of complications and delays, this is proving to be the best issue of Met that we could hope for!
Our publication this year will be a little bit edgy, featuring collages from an amazing artist in London, as well as some very thought-provoking work from the Cerro Coso student in Ridgcrest chosen to be featured on the cover. Our literature choices include a few pieces by the imfamous Sterling Warner, and Bakersfield's own Melinda Carroll as well. There are some really amazing writers, artists, poets, students, teachers, and dreamers being featured in this years Met.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Saturday, November 03, 2007
INDEPENDENCE DAY SUPPER, FIREWORKS AND HIGHWAYMEN part 4 by Leo F. Kohl
I now present to you the final installment of Leo F. Kohl's INDEPENDENCE DAY SUPPER, FIREWORKS AND HIGHWAYMEN.
Marty and Francois rose at dawn the next morning, while Louisa prepared them a brief breakfast and coffee, which they ate hurriedly, then went out to meet with the picking crew, which had gathered outside the main entrance to the winery. Francois, accompanied by Marty
and the members of the picking crew, walked out to the first block of grapes Francois desired to be picked first; these were the Dr Chaunac variety and the sugar content was at a high enough
level to be harvested.
“The grapes in this block should take from several days to a week to harvest and be
crushed,” Francois told Marty. “When they are through with this block, start the crew in harvesting the largest block; the ‘Catawba’ grapes!”
“Will do!” Marty replied, then asked, “When’s the winery crew due to arrive?”
“Anytime, now!” Francois answered. “Have them get the steam up in the boilers and the rollers started, so when the first vineyard wagons pull up to the hopper, they can be unloaded and the grapes started to be crushed!”
Everything proceeded smoothly until late in the morning. The winery crew had crushed the first load of De Chaunac grapes, and was ready to start on the next, when Sheriff O’Leery
and three Deputies came by the winery and were met by Francois and Marty. After shaking
hands all around, and following introductions of the Deputies to the two men, O’Leery shook his head incredulously as he exclaimed to Marty, “Don’t know how you did it, Allhoff, but you were right on the mark as to that being their hide-out!”
Marty replied, “Remember Tim! I was trained by one o’ the top Plainsman there are, Jack Lord!”
“And in that regard, you’re right on the mark as well!” O’Leery exclaimed, then went on to describe what had occurred. “We went to r Longworth’s Winery first, and he was completely bowled over when I described last night’s happenings to him! He asked me how you managed through all that happened, Francois?”
Francois replied, “Like myself, mon ami, he too, is not accustomed to violence happening so close to one’s person!”
O’Leery continued, “Anyway, we checked out the premises and found no one around or near the place. It was totally deserted! Had the warrant, but in the long run, it wasn’t needed. Searched the house an’ barn thoroughly an’ found a considerable amount o’ valuables stolen by the two in previous robberies! For a while, there, guess they had a picnic! Anyway, the folks who
had reported being robbed by the pair, will be asked to identify the bodies, and claim their property, if it’s still available and in our keeping! Have to inform the newspapers ‘bout what had happened, but as much as I can, I will not divulge your names, nor how either of you became involved!”
With a grim expression on his face, Marty told O’Leery, “Francois, I know, would very much appreciate not being involved from a local business standpoint, an’ I had enough o’ news- papers after what had happened this past Halloween!”
When O’Leery and his three deputies departed the winery, Francois and Marty continued to work with the harvest crew.
Marty had written down all the various steps and procedures he had been required to learn and carry out under Francois’ tutelage. When all that had been completed, Francois exclaimed to both of them shortly after the harvest season had ended, “All you need to know now is the bottling and tasting techniques to ensure you have developed the best vintage you can.
Over the next few weeks, I will teach you how to sample wine, determine the proper sugar content and select those casks that will be ready for bottling!”
True to his word, Francois had Marty sampling the wine, determining the sugar content in other wine vintages and learning the proper techniques required in the bottling and corking of wines. By mid-September, Marty had completed all the training that Francois could put him through, and according to Francois’ very high standards, he was considered to be an accompli- shed vintner.
About a week before Marty and Louisa were to leave Francois’ winery, Sheriff Tim
O’Leery and two of his deputies showed up at the winery and Francois asked them what they had on their minds.
“Not much!” O’Leery answered. “Heard a rumor in town that Marty an’ his wife’re gon-na be leavin’! That true?” he asked Francois.
Francois replied, “Mais oui! Yes, that is true! They will be leaving me in about a week, and head for Oakwood to be with their families for two weeks, then travel back to California, where Marty hopes to start a vineyard and winery in Coloma, where, from what he has told me, he has already purchased the land!”
At that moment, Marty and Louisa stepped out of the winery, saw O’Leery and his deputies and waved at them. When the couple approached closer to them, O’Leery commented to them, “Heard you’d be leavin’ soon, so wanted to confirm it with you! That right?”
Marty answered, “Right as rain, Tim! Headin’ home to be with our families for a couple
o’ weeks, then it’s off to California for us!”
O’Leery asked them, “How you gettin’ there?”
“Same way my brother an’ I came home!” Marty exclaimed. “On a special Wells, Fargo wagon train that carries supplies to various forts an’ outposts along the Oregon an’ California trails! In fact, our wagon train’s waitin fer us in East St. Louis!”
“That so?” O’Leery responded. “We’ll sure miss you ‘round here! Anyways, have a safe journey an’ say hello to Jack Lord for me, will you?”
“Marty replied, “Sure will! That is, if and when I get to see him!”
At that moment, Francois told O’Leery, “Mon amis, my many thanks for letting Marty in on those two road agents he shot recently, as well as keeping us out of any adverse publicity in
the local newspapers! On behalf of Pinaud’s Winery, allow me to present you with a bottle of champagne to show my thanks and gratitude!” From a case of champagne just inside the winery door, Francois removed a bottle of champagne and presented it to O’Leery. Turning, he asked the two deputies, “You like champagne?” Both men responded with a loud “Yes!!” So, Francois gave both deputies a bottle of champagne. All three thanked Francois for the champagne and shook his hand to show they were grateful. Then O’Leery shook Marty’s hand and bade he and
Louisa goodbye, and lots of luck!
In a few days, they left the winery and Francois drove them to the Railroad Depot in the Winery Carriage and Porters placed their trunks and luggage in the loading area reserved for Springfield. Marty had already purchased tickets on the stagecoach from Springfield to Oak- wood. He presented the train tickets to the Ticketmaster, who saw all was in order. The train came chugging into the station, wheezed and came to a stop in a cloud of steam, as they bade their host and employer the past five months, a very fond goodbye and wished him the very best in his winery operation.
Francois exclaimed to them, “Au revoir, mon amis! Goodby, my friends! I will miss you both! Maybe someday, I might be able to come out to California to see how you have prospered in your own grape production endeavors! Anyway, Au revoir! I wish you all the best in the
world, my friends! Marty, thank you for bing such an adept and knowing apprentice! Goodbye!”
Francois called out to them as the “All Aboard!” was shouted by all the conductors.
“Goodbye, Francois!” they called out to him as they hurried to their railroad car.
“Goodbye and good luck!”
The conductor helped Louisa up the steps, as Marty stepped on board and waved
goodbye to Francois upon entering the railroad car. The conductor escorted them to their seats, and they were no sooner seated, than the car lurched forward and they were underway back home to their families and Oakwood.
REFERENCE SOURCES.
1. McCabe, James D., Jr. “GREAT FORTUNES AND HOW THEY WERE MADE.” 1872. San
Francisco, CA, B. Hannaford & Company.
Marty and Francois rose at dawn the next morning, while Louisa prepared them a brief breakfast and coffee, which they ate hurriedly, then went out to meet with the picking crew, which had gathered outside the main entrance to the winery. Francois, accompanied by Marty
and the members of the picking crew, walked out to the first block of grapes Francois desired to be picked first; these were the Dr Chaunac variety and the sugar content was at a high enough
level to be harvested.
“The grapes in this block should take from several days to a week to harvest and be
crushed,” Francois told Marty. “When they are through with this block, start the crew in harvesting the largest block; the ‘Catawba’ grapes!”
“Will do!” Marty replied, then asked, “When’s the winery crew due to arrive?”
“Anytime, now!” Francois answered. “Have them get the steam up in the boilers and the rollers started, so when the first vineyard wagons pull up to the hopper, they can be unloaded and the grapes started to be crushed!”
Everything proceeded smoothly until late in the morning. The winery crew had crushed the first load of De Chaunac grapes, and was ready to start on the next, when Sheriff O’Leery
and three Deputies came by the winery and were met by Francois and Marty. After shaking
hands all around, and following introductions of the Deputies to the two men, O’Leery shook his head incredulously as he exclaimed to Marty, “Don’t know how you did it, Allhoff, but you were right on the mark as to that being their hide-out!”
Marty replied, “Remember Tim! I was trained by one o’ the top Plainsman there are, Jack Lord!”
“And in that regard, you’re right on the mark as well!” O’Leery exclaimed, then went on to describe what had occurred. “We went to r Longworth’s Winery first, and he was completely bowled over when I described last night’s happenings to him! He asked me how you managed through all that happened, Francois?”
Francois replied, “Like myself, mon ami, he too, is not accustomed to violence happening so close to one’s person!”
O’Leery continued, “Anyway, we checked out the premises and found no one around or near the place. It was totally deserted! Had the warrant, but in the long run, it wasn’t needed. Searched the house an’ barn thoroughly an’ found a considerable amount o’ valuables stolen by the two in previous robberies! For a while, there, guess they had a picnic! Anyway, the folks who
had reported being robbed by the pair, will be asked to identify the bodies, and claim their property, if it’s still available and in our keeping! Have to inform the newspapers ‘bout what had happened, but as much as I can, I will not divulge your names, nor how either of you became involved!”
With a grim expression on his face, Marty told O’Leery, “Francois, I know, would very much appreciate not being involved from a local business standpoint, an’ I had enough o’ news- papers after what had happened this past Halloween!”
When O’Leery and his three deputies departed the winery, Francois and Marty continued to work with the harvest crew.
Marty had written down all the various steps and procedures he had been required to learn and carry out under Francois’ tutelage. When all that had been completed, Francois exclaimed to both of them shortly after the harvest season had ended, “All you need to know now is the bottling and tasting techniques to ensure you have developed the best vintage you can.
Over the next few weeks, I will teach you how to sample wine, determine the proper sugar content and select those casks that will be ready for bottling!”
True to his word, Francois had Marty sampling the wine, determining the sugar content in other wine vintages and learning the proper techniques required in the bottling and corking of wines. By mid-September, Marty had completed all the training that Francois could put him through, and according to Francois’ very high standards, he was considered to be an accompli- shed vintner.
About a week before Marty and Louisa were to leave Francois’ winery, Sheriff Tim
O’Leery and two of his deputies showed up at the winery and Francois asked them what they had on their minds.
“Not much!” O’Leery answered. “Heard a rumor in town that Marty an’ his wife’re gon-na be leavin’! That true?” he asked Francois.
Francois replied, “Mais oui! Yes, that is true! They will be leaving me in about a week, and head for Oakwood to be with their families for two weeks, then travel back to California, where Marty hopes to start a vineyard and winery in Coloma, where, from what he has told me, he has already purchased the land!”
At that moment, Marty and Louisa stepped out of the winery, saw O’Leery and his deputies and waved at them. When the couple approached closer to them, O’Leery commented to them, “Heard you’d be leavin’ soon, so wanted to confirm it with you! That right?”
Marty answered, “Right as rain, Tim! Headin’ home to be with our families for a couple
o’ weeks, then it’s off to California for us!”
O’Leery asked them, “How you gettin’ there?”
“Same way my brother an’ I came home!” Marty exclaimed. “On a special Wells, Fargo wagon train that carries supplies to various forts an’ outposts along the Oregon an’ California trails! In fact, our wagon train’s waitin fer us in East St. Louis!”
“That so?” O’Leery responded. “We’ll sure miss you ‘round here! Anyways, have a safe journey an’ say hello to Jack Lord for me, will you?”
“Marty replied, “Sure will! That is, if and when I get to see him!”
At that moment, Francois told O’Leery, “Mon amis, my many thanks for letting Marty in on those two road agents he shot recently, as well as keeping us out of any adverse publicity in
the local newspapers! On behalf of Pinaud’s Winery, allow me to present you with a bottle of champagne to show my thanks and gratitude!” From a case of champagne just inside the winery door, Francois removed a bottle of champagne and presented it to O’Leery. Turning, he asked the two deputies, “You like champagne?” Both men responded with a loud “Yes!!” So, Francois gave both deputies a bottle of champagne. All three thanked Francois for the champagne and shook his hand to show they were grateful. Then O’Leery shook Marty’s hand and bade he and
Louisa goodbye, and lots of luck!
In a few days, they left the winery and Francois drove them to the Railroad Depot in the Winery Carriage and Porters placed their trunks and luggage in the loading area reserved for Springfield. Marty had already purchased tickets on the stagecoach from Springfield to Oak- wood. He presented the train tickets to the Ticketmaster, who saw all was in order. The train came chugging into the station, wheezed and came to a stop in a cloud of steam, as they bade their host and employer the past five months, a very fond goodbye and wished him the very best in his winery operation.
Francois exclaimed to them, “Au revoir, mon amis! Goodby, my friends! I will miss you both! Maybe someday, I might be able to come out to California to see how you have prospered in your own grape production endeavors! Anyway, Au revoir! I wish you all the best in the
world, my friends! Marty, thank you for bing such an adept and knowing apprentice! Goodbye!”
Francois called out to them as the “All Aboard!” was shouted by all the conductors.
“Goodbye, Francois!” they called out to him as they hurried to their railroad car.
“Goodbye and good luck!”
The conductor helped Louisa up the steps, as Marty stepped on board and waved
goodbye to Francois upon entering the railroad car. The conductor escorted them to their seats, and they were no sooner seated, than the car lurched forward and they were underway back home to their families and Oakwood.
REFERENCE SOURCES.
1. McCabe, James D., Jr. “GREAT FORTUNES AND HOW THEY WERE MADE.” 1872. San
Francisco, CA, B. Hannaford & Company.
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