The Goophered Grapevine
The Atlantic Monthly, 1887

First printed in The Atlantic Monthly in 1887, "The Goophered Grapevine" was Chesnutt's first Uncle Julius story. The story introduces John, the white Northern businessman who comes South after the War to buy a plantation and grow grapes. In this story, Uncle Julius tells John and his wife Annie about how the grape vines in the area were conjured long ago by a master who wanted to stop the slaves from stealing the grapes.

Click here for the etext of The Goophered Grapevine taken from The University of Virginia's etext center.