The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-01-23
Gt,osre :m m;srsl(aup,
THE SILVER FLAGON.
THE OUTLINE OF A NOVEL WRIT
TEN AT AN EARLY AGE.
y SILVERPEN.

IT was bright broad sunny day in
June, some eighty years ago, so sultry
and 80 hot, as to cause the two Gagged
larks, which hung outside the open
easement Of old Adam IIayward's win
dow, to abruptly end their carol Of
green fields and cloudlcss skies, and
perching in the dullest corner Of their
cage, tonot even chirp in answer to the
merry whistle of the old goldsmith of
Clerkenwell. 1t wanted yet an hour
to one o'clock, but the day being hot
as it was, and the hammer having clink-
cd from early dawn, there seemed fair
license for the clear, bright, foaminy
jug Of ale which now stood on. the wide
bench ben cath the low diamond.panel
shop window. This, as it happened
too, was tho shalicst side Of the street.
and, therefore, any passers by IN m,st
surely, on a day like this. came down
it. IF 50, scarcely one bat cast q
glance upon old Adam face, for it was
a merry and kind one, as vel! as up
on his sparkling jug
At this bright hour of noon, the jus
had been slipped but once, when on
thesa came man as jovial, as merry.
glaFetd. as sober and respectable, as
the working citizen himself. Perhaps
the sight of the brown jug was cordi
al-kcy-notc of fellowship, for they look
ed, and then nodded kindly at each
other. But even for this the stranger
passing on might have been seen no
more, had not a twinklins sunbeam
stealing into the shade, and nickcring
on certain of the little lozcngc-shapcd
window pancs showed that there stood
behind them an old chased silver fiagon.
AS soon as ever he saw this, the stran-
ger stopped, looked. and seemed to
wonder; but this was no matter Of sur
prise to the old goldsmith, for many a
one Of far higher breeding than this old
man, had stopped to look, not once, but
twice. Presently the stranger drew
near and questioned the goldsmith
At first these questions being common
things, were lightly answered; but when
the earnestness of the questioner was
observed, the goldsmith invited him
within his shop.
< 'The flagon, for its mere metal or
shape, would not be a thing Of interest
to one in SO humble station as myself
remarked the stranger, as he followed
the goldsmith, 'but that one similar to
this is linked to dark tale of a stolen
parish register; the hagon, being part
of the communion plate, was, as have
always believed, only taken as mere
blind to q more SHINING purpose. My
name is plain John Glover, the miller
of Charnwood Forest, in Leiccstcrshirc,
who, coming up to London yesterday
for the first time in my life, can have
been only led by mere chance into this
street; which is as strange to me as any
othar.'
When the aagon had been viewed
outside and in, round-rim and massive
handle, the dinner was announced as
being both good and ready, whcrcat
the three apprentices ceased to cink
their hammers, and the merry goldsmith
chirping anew to his birds, not only in
yited the miller to share his dinner, but
also to taste the Incompatible ale.
This merry meal gone by, the gold,
smith told all lie knew Of this same flag
on. How that sixteen years before
this fine, an aged jew, with whom he
had long had dealings, had, in return
for some act of kindness, given tito him;
ssssssg it had been brought to this jew BY
othccary, whose name the gold
we'll Remembered. was Langley,
ssssSY had 'hecn sold to him with strict
@ ss @!nctions to speedy change within
A As smelling poi: how the mystery that
linked to lit, ard It's rare antique
had induced the Jcwt preserve