The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-02-13
The Borrowed Tea.Pot.


Gin. Enquirer.
-~D~-~--es--------
The Borrowed Tea.POt.
was to have company to tea, ana among
them was Mrs. Clinton, who lived in q style, II
not hey yond my ambition. yet far beyond my a.
bility to reach. Her house was larger than
mine, and furnished with exquisite taste. Blu,
then her husband was richer, and she had only
six in the family, servants and all, while my
family counted up as high as the round number
OF ten. The difference, as every housekeepe,
knows, was considerable.
All the rest oi my expected company were al
circumstances were concerned, on about my
own level, and intimate friends.
With them as my guests, would have beer
altogether at ease. and had good time of it,
bat had been invited to tea at Mrs. Cinton's
and the present occasion was designed as q 70
turn compliment. Mrs Clinton was therefore
to be The honored guest, and during all my pre-
parations, she was uppermost in my thoughts
During the afternoon, went to my china clos
ct TO take survey Of its contents, and see iow
my set could compare with Mrs. Clinton's.--
Hers was splendid, and embraced variety o
articles ofwhich mine could not boast. How
poor, almost mean. looked my plain white chi.
ma, ornamented with simple gold band. con
trasted in imagination with the richly chased
tea-service and gaily decorated porcelain of mrs
Clinton. was really depressed by the com
parison, and felt that everything would look sc
Indifferent in the eyes oi my guest, that sht
would ever after regard me as q person OF lttlC
consequence.
Poor, weak human nature.
looked at the plates, cups and saucers, tea
pots, dishes. cake. e.baskets, &C., with vague
dreamy sense of modification, and, ifmy purse
had not been almost in a state uf callapse,
verify believe that would have gone off to
china store and purchased new and more ele
CANT set.
As stood musing in the closet, now examin
ing this article and now that, as bad luck wo'C
have 1t, knocked over one of the tea pots. an,
broke off small piece, not much larger than
pea, from the upper edge OF the spout.
What catastrophe! isat down and cried owe
it to begin>with. Then bethought myself o
a liquid glue, and made trial OF sticking OF
the little angular bit of china. But as the sur
geons say, the fracture was compound one
and no skill that possessed was equal to th'
task ofmending it so as to restore the origina
appearance. Another good cry succeeded -.
What was to do2 lfMrs. Clinton had not beer
one Of my expected guests the accident to tn,
tea pot would not have been q matter Of suct
concern. But 1t would never do In the worlt
to have piece of broken china on my table io
her eyes to detect never! never!
While casting about in my psrplexity, II sud
denly occurred to me that my next door neigh
Dor, Mrs. Lawson, with whom had slight &C
quaintsnce, owned tea set precisely like mine
We had purchased at the same time and at Ii,
same store. Light at once broke into my mind
and mountain was lifted from my heart
took pencil and sheet Of note paper, aud
WROTE
My dear Mrs La,osoa:--I have been SO un
lucky as to break the spout to one Of my chin;
tea pots; and, as expect company to tea, an
in sad state OF perplexity. 1T has just occur
red to me that our sets are alike; and know
that it will give you pleasure to help me out o
my trouble by letting me, have one OF yours fo
the evening, will take particular care Of it, ant
send it home early in the morning. Very sin
cerely, Jane Smith.
This note was Immediately dispatched by m,
chambermaid, who, after staying long enough Il
weary out my patience camo back with the tea
pot"
"What did Mrs. Lawson say, Elem" en-
quired.
"She said, ma'am, she hoped you would b
very careful Of the Teapot"
"Ol course will be, Ellen; said as much il
my rOte."
"Yes ma'am." Ellen stood with eyes upol
the floor, little demureiy, as IL there wer
more in her thought than she felt free to utter
"Did Mrs. Lawson say anything else"'
enaured.
Nothing TO me in particular, ma'am. onl
don't think she wanted to lend the tea-pot.
"Why do you say that, Elenp"
"She looked as IL she didn't, ma'am."
My impulse was to return the article at once
But moments reflection told me that thi
would not do. The risk OF offending peighbo
was involved, besides the danger of losing th
good opinion OF my expected guest, Mrs. Clin
ton. -
"Very we'll, Ellen" said /. We must nc
harm. In the morning, be sure to return
early"
/ was little fretted ct the ungracious mar
ner in which Mrs. Lawson had granted me
trfiing favor, the first had ever asked at he
hands, And will be the last. Iadded mentally
Preparations for the evening entertainment
now went on with due rapidity. As twilight be
gan to fall the guests dropped in, one after anoth
er. Mrs Clinton making her appearance in goc
season. My heart gave little Gutter a. say
her form in the passage and heard her tootste
ascending the stairs to the chamber set apaI
for the occasion, as dressing room. ] coul
hardly forcc myself to remain in the parlcr; bu
due respect to my other guests prevented m
leaving them.
fear that, in the reception Of Mrs. Clintcr
when she cains into the ROOM there was q tri
fle over acting which did not pass unobservc
by my friends. The lady was quite, sclf pos
sessed, and met in frank, familiar way, ths
was entirely free from self consequence or os
tentation. She was dressed in good taste, bu
not with any display Of rich material or costl
ornament.
She made herself quite at home with m
other guests, only Few Of whom she had ,ne
before, and altogether, made . good impress,o
on every ere. 4 =
Tea was annouced in the course OF time and "
repair ID to the dining room. | had already in
spected the table arrangements, and the cond
tion OF things 10 the kitchen. The muffin,
oysters, coffee, &C.. were all right; but the Il
BILE furniture looked mean in my eyes, for sal
it ell in contrast with the elegant service of Mr r.
Cl;utnn Thara is No ocraSinn IN desrriha Nh