Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-10-19
MIS- Ell A n Y.
THE BORROWED TEAPOT.

was 10 have company 10 tea, anu among
them was Mrs. Clinton. who lived In style
" no, beyond my ambition. yet far beyond
my ability TO reach. Her house was larger
than mine. and furnished with exquisite
taste. But then her husband was richer
and she had only six in family, servants
aud all, while my family counted up as
high hs the round number ten. The differ
euoc, as every housokecpcr knows, was con-
siderable.
All the rest OF my expected company
were. as far as Circumstance. were concern.
cd on about my own level, and intimate
friends.
With them as my guests, | would have
been altogether a, ease. and had "good
time OF it :" but had been invited to tea
at Mrs. Clin,on's. and the prcscn, occasion
was designed As a return compliment. Mrs.
Clinton was therefore to 10 the hnnorcd
gucs, and during all my preparations, she
wa. uppermost in my thoughts.
During the afternoon. wen, to my CHI
ma closet 20 make survey Of it, contents,
and see how my set would compare with
Mrs. Clinton'. Hers ra' splendid, and
embraced variety Of articles Of which
mine could not boast How poor, almost
mean. looked my plain white china, orna.
menied with a simple gold band, con,ra',ed
in Imagination with the richly chased silver
tea service. and cayly decorated porcelain
Of Mrs Clinton. iwas really depressed by
the comparison, and fel, tha, everything
look 80 indifferent in tho eye. of my guest,
,ha, she would ever after regard mo as a
pcrSou Of little consequence.
Poor. weak human nature
I looked a, the plates, cups and sluccr',
,eapots. dishes. cake baskets. &C.. with
vague dreamy sense Of modification, and.
II my purse had not been almos, in state
Of collap.c, | verify believe that | would
have gone oa to a china-',ors and purcha'-
ed new and more clccan, tea 'e,.
~ stood mu.ins in closet, now exam
ininc ,b, article, and now that, A. had luck
would have il. | knocked over one Of the
,ca.pot.. and broke OLA small piece. no,
much larger than n Pea. from the upper
edge of the spout
wha,a catastrophe "a; down and
crisi over il, 70 hccin with. Then ! b..
though, myself Of liquid glue, and made a
trial ut sticking on the little angular bIt Of
china. Bot. a' the surgeon. .ay. the lrhc.
turc wa. a compound ono, and no kill that
possessed was equal 10 the task OF mend
ing it - as to restore the original appear.
ancr. Another rool CRY succeeded What
was TO do3 II Mr'. Clinton had no, bccn
one of my expected guests. the accident to
the teapot would no, have been a matter Of
such seriou. concern Bu, it would never
do in the world to have pieco II broken
china on my table Tor her eyes to detect
never never
While casting abou, in my rcrrl'Hi'y.
II suddenly occurred to mo that my next
door uci .hbor. Mr.. lawson, with whom |
had q slight acquain,ancc. owned a ;ca-sot
precisely like mine. We hal pureha'cd a,
the same time and at the same store. Light
at once broke into my mind. and a noun
tain wa, liflc from my heart. | took nv
pencil and sheet Of note parcr. aud
wrote
"Mr DE,R MRs. LAwsoN - have
been - unlucky as TO break The spout OF one
| Of nv china teapots and. as expect coin
pany 10 tea. am IN = had s,nic oi p'rplrxi'y.
I IL ha. jusi occurred {, me that our sets are
alike. and know il will give YOU pleasure
20 keep me out Ut my trouble hy letting mo
have one Of your. Tor the evening. | will
take particular care Of 1t and return Il early
in the morning.
Very sincerely, J'>E SsITn.'
Thi. 1o,o wa, Immediately Dispatched by
my chambermaid, who. after staying long
enough to weary out my patience, came
back with the teapot.
What did Mrs. Lawson say, Ellen 20 |
inquired. ,
'.she .aid, ma'am, che hoped you would
be very careful Of the teapot"
"Ol course will be. Ellen. said a.
much in my note"
"Yc., ma'am." Ellen stood, with her
eyes upon the floor, little dcmurcly, as II
there was more IN her thoughts than she felt
just free to utter
"Did Mrs. Lawson cay anything else p
inquired.
"No,hing to mo in particular, mA'am.
Only don't think sho wanted to lend the
teapot"
"why do you say that, Ellcn2"
"She looked as II she didn't. ma'am."
My impulse va. to return the article at
once. Buta moments reflection told me
that this would no, do The rick Of often.
ding neiehbor was involved, besides the
danger Of losing the good opinion Of my
expected guest, Mrs. Clinton.
"very well. Ellen" said |. 1--WE mus,
not read looks too closely The teapot will
&c, no harm. In the morning bo sure to
return It early"
Iwasa little fret,ed at the unsraciou'
manner in which Mrs. Lawson had granted
me trilns favor, the first had over ask.
ed at her hands. "And il will be the last, -
added mentally.
Preparations for the evening entertain
ment now wen, on with due rapidity. As
twiligh, began to fall the guests dropped in,
one after another, Mrs. Clinton making her
appearance in good season. Ny heart gave
n little nntier a. | saw her form IN the nas.