Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-01-24
M Q Z =.
From The Portsmouth Journal.
THE OLD TIN KITCHEN AND THE
CRACKED DISH.--A TALE.

die in mounting. The parsimonious old
bachelor may know less Of the freaks
of minor traffic, but the young mari.
ed couple rarely pass the honey moon
withou: some evidence that there is
more show than utility in some of their
economical purchases. 1t would be
well if all would preserve the first
worthless article they purchase afteren.
tering the married state, as a restrain
ing memento through life. Years have
rolled away since Simon Oldschool's
marriage. He and his beloved Jemi.
ma had put their little earnings togeth-
Grand the round stand presented,
when fitted out for breakfast or dinner,
a very decent set Of crockery, but
scarcely any thing superiuous. One
day, however, the goose was a little
too large for the dish-and Jemima
thought she would remedy the evil in
future, If she could economically.
Now, in studying matters of econo-
my, it IS well known how much more
satisfaction it is to show u best friend
what we haze done, than to disclose
beforehand, schemes, which circum-
stances may prevent maturing. Such
were the feelings of Jemima, when she
dressed for shopping /; and the anitci-
patton of displaying the good bargain,
kept her silent on the object Of her vi.
sit to the crockery store.
Mr.. Pipeclay was very assiduous in
displaying his wares to Jemima, as she
stood by the counter.
"What is the price cfthis large blue
dish, sir?"
"Only nine shiilings, marin, and a
fine article it is, too. Shall send It
to your house Z"
go, | believe not, | believe not /; |
like it pretty well, but can't afford to
give SO much for a DISH"
well, marm, here is n of the
same pattern which we will sell for
less. 1t is just as good as the other in
every respect, except this crack, which
you see does not extend across within
an inch +; only boil it we'll in milk and
it will last an age. We don't like to
sell our ware below cost, but as it is a
little damaged, and we hope to have
more custom from you, we will put 1t
at the lowest price, four and SIX"
Jemima was one Of those rare ladies'
who never ask attachments, and hard
ly knowing whether pity for the r
der's sacrifice or JOY at her good bar
gain was most predominant in her bo-
som, she told Mr.. Pipeclay to send 1t
| home at two.
Dinner was prepared that day as u
sual, and Jemima might have been
seen, as she was seated, measuring
with her eye, the large oval space the
dish was destined to occupy before her;
and the suppressed smile which occa-
sionally played at the corners OF her
mouth, showed that something would
shine by and by.
Scarcely had Simon dropt a moment
in the rocking chair and set his tooth
pick in motion, before a rap was made
| AT the door, and Jemima was presented
with her choice ware. The suppress.
sed smile nov burst forth, as she ex-
hibited her economical purchase.
Here Simon, isn't this a splendid
| article for four and six 7 this will hold
the whole goose, deary"
"The-w hole-goose-dear, eh!"
replied Simon slowly, as he turned o.
yer the dish TO inspect it. why Je-
| NINA, it is almost cracked in two"
go, no matter for that, Mr.. Pipe
| clay says it can be boiled in milk and
| made as sound as ever it was."
AS Christmas day was approaching,
and the Oldshool family wereexpected
at dinner or hat day, immediate pre-.
parations were made for repairing the
dish. The trouble was now TO find a
suitable thing to boil it in. The din
ner pot was too small at the mouth,
and nothing could be found large e.
nough but the wash boiler in this it
set admirably.
"Well, Jemima, how much water
does it take to fill the boiler as high as
this 2" pointing to the extreme END oil
the crack.
",Why, about a bucket and a half"
"Four gallons ofmilk in Christmas
time. Unfortunate season, indeed, for
such an undertakings" Pumpkin pies
had monopolised all that the cows IN
the ne~ighborhood could produce TIL
the eventful day. AS nothing could
be done with it, Jemima rather sorrow.
fully and carefully placed it in a con-
s~picuous part Of the closet, with the
defect as much out of sight as possible
until some future day when they nigh
keep a COW, and mend it more econo
mically.
Rather ashamed of her speculation
Jemima said nothing of the new dish
and the Oldschool family were ampl,
served from the smaller one. Man,