The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-01-11


aoary, knoCn as Bakers Paste" Now,
after two or three weeks, this became
tiresome. Still, | took no notice, and
effected not to think the remarks in
tended for me.
T." [ hardly know what made me 90 and
call on my friend the jeweler. 1t was
not that | had any doubt of the genuine
ness of the diamonds, especially as he
was the very man who had before valued
Mr.. Blocks ring at seventy pounds
But it had been so dinned into my head
they were false that l wanted just for
NAL confirmation of the estimate he had
previously formed of their worth.
"' o yes, said my friend the ieweler
recognize the ring again directly
Want to know what it's worth Y-he put
it in the scales Well, 'm-about
seven-and-twenty shillings for old gold
"' En- said [, as pale as a turnip.-
Why, didn't you tell me it was worth
seventy pounds 2"
GO Yes, he answered when it had
diamonds in it-not when it was paste
8 Talking the matter over, the jeweler
suggested, that on Mr.. Block getting in
to difficulties, the first thing he did was
to sell the diamonds out of his ring, and
get their places supplied with paste,
whilst finally, he had pawned it himself
with the jew, as paste ring.
"' Well, William Henry said l to
myself, the Jew has jewed you, and the
club has chafed you, and you may con-
slider yourself trod upon, after the man
ner of speaking
"But the worm will turn.
"' Did the jeweler let out diamonds
on trial ? | asked.
" He did
"' Would he have a certain alteration,
which | suggested made in my ring in
a fortnight's time p
" He would.
"' And keep it secret p
"' Certainly,-business was business
" For the whole Of that fortnight |
never went near the club that was prob
ably the reason why my appearance at
the club-dinner was greeted with such
lively sallies about Bakers Paste. One
would be wag recommended NE, whilst
helping tart, to keep my fingers out Of
the pastry Believing him to intend
some obscure allusion to the gems on my
little fnger,l thought it time to open fire.
Gentlemen said |, for some weeks
L have listened to casual observations in
which the name Of Baker has been un-
worthily associated with paste and pastry,
but have refrained from making any re-
mark, having been firmly persuaded they
could only apply to the industrious trades
men employed in the manufacture of
home baked bread. (Oh, oh y 1t now
occurs to me that such remarks were in
tended in allusion to the ring | wear,-
a ring,-l take this opportunity of in
you,-which, unlike the wits
who have amused themselves at its ex-
pense, is indebted for its brilliancy to
They hooted me; they heaped oppro-
brious epithets on the name of Baker;
they laughed and talked me down.
"' I'll bet him five pounds it's paste
:" So | will" said another. "And |.
g And l."
so said eleven of them.
" Really, gentlemen" said I, 81 am
sorry you should take the matter so much
in earnest. All can tell you. is, | be-
lieve my ring to be diamond ring, and
this, Notwithstanding l will freely admit
| onl y paid very small sum for it."
" They laughed and hooted me still
more at this admission. They said that
settled the question, and that it acas
paste.
q" told them l didn't think it was.
Well, would bet?
II would rather not.
More hooting
At length, very reluctantly, I over
came my scruples. The name of Baker
is name too closely allied to the gentle
bred (arms, four loaves, ppr - sgaat,
quartered-crest, the doe, leOanO to al |
low it to be wantonly sullied. L bet.
" We adjourned to the jewelers..
Without question they were dia-
monds, the jeweler decided, "and some
Of the finest he had ever SEEN" He
ought to know, as they were his property
hired bV me for the occasion