Published by The Dalles High School, June edition, page 16-17 ORIGINAL LEGEND OF THE OREGON GRAPE One afternoon many, many years ago when the sun beat down unmercifully on Mount Olympus, Jupiter called for his bowl of nectar, so that he might drink to Venue' beauty. When the little elves were hurrying with the great bowl a terrible mishap occurred; they tripped over Mar's helmet, left so carelessly by his chair, and spilled all the wine. Jupiter was very angry and the frightened little elves went scurrying to Ceres to beg her to help them. Hoping to please Jupiter, she planned a new wine that would contain such wonderful grapes that he would never regret the loss of his other wine. She sent the elves far and wide over the earth in search of material for it. They brought her the brown rocks for the wine, from the shady dells they brought the green of mosses for the leaves and from the far north they brought the luster of the glaciers to polish them. The Spirits, eager to help, gathered the sunbeams for the clusters of flowers, and because Jupiter's favorite color was purple, Ceres decreed purple fruit for the vines, she then planted the vines on the rocky knolls and in the deep canyons so that the mortals wouldn't find them. When fall came the elves scattered over hill and dale to gather the fruit. Back they came with loads of the luscious grapes with which Ceres made a wine that was far more delicious than the first. Jupiter was delighted and Ceres gained great praise. For many years, Jupiter was happy with his new nectar until one fall the elves came hurrying back with the news that the mortals had found and taken all the grapes. Jupiter was furious; it was unbearable to be twice deprived of his nectar. The mortals must be punished, so he decided to put long thorns in the vine so the audacious mortals would not be able to pick them. They scratched and pricked their fingers until the leaves were stained with blood. Jupiter seeing exclaimed, "Oh, I cannot destroy what has given me such happiness. From this year on the vines shall not grow far from the earth; the grapes shall not taste so sweet to the mortals, and when the fall comes and the grapes are ripe, the leaves shall turn red to warn the mortals not to steal the fruit of the Gods. - Margaret Bonney, '20 Submitted by Earline Wasser