Talks of Home and Travel H ANNAH H UTCHINS Coffee Legend tells us the Ethiopian boy Kaldi first discovered coffee. Alone with his goats on a mountain, Kaldi saw his herd prancing about with unnatural energy. Kaldi found they were eating unfamiliar red berries, and, curious and jealous, he took some berries for himself. Sometime later a passing monk saw the boy prancing about just as the goats pranced about with him. Curious and jealous, the monk took a handful of berries for himself. From then on the monks’ long nights of prayer were aided by the goats’ unnatural energy. Weather “The cows are lying down. It must mean rain,” said my mother. We drove past pale green fields of black and brown cattle. If they stood, of course, it meant we would have sunny weather. I always played along with this pretend belief. Whenever I pass cows, I still check the clouds. Romance Stories Jane Austen fell in love, wrote love stories, and died alone. 1 - She loved a man when she was young, but both were too poor to marry. 2 - Later she rejected a man because she did not love him. For years that’s all the world knew of Jane’s personal romance. 3 - Long after the author’s death, Jane’s sister confessed a third love story. On holiday, Jane met her perfect man. She was certain they would marry. Just as quickly as the two had loved, the man fell gravely ill, and died.
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