Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-15
BUILDING A HOUSE WITH A TEA.
CUP.
From Harper's Magazine.

From Harpers Magazine.
Let it alone, Lucy!" exclaimed
Granny Grey to her young visitor.
Why did you remove the shade 2"
"Well, dear Granny, only because l
really wanted to see it.
"See itr' said the very handsome
woman, with whom the aspect of youth
yet fingered. "Why, darling, surely
your eyes are not in the tips of your
fingers? You could move it without
removing the shade. You mean, sup
pose, you wanted to feel it?''
Lucy laughed. In common with all
the girls in Wooden Reach-the name
of the village in which Mrs. Grey
resided-she called her Granny 2
"Granny" was the pet name, the name
of love, by which all the young people,
boys and girls, recognized Mrs. Grey.
Lucy Lynne was one of the good wo-
mans especial favorites. There were
steadier and wiser girls in Wooden
Reach; but there was not one gifted
with gentler heart or kinder nature
than Lucy Lynne.
~ do not know what l wanted .
laughed Lucy "but you all make such
d
thought | should like to know why
and just now, when you had done read
ing, and closed the Book, leaving Mr.
Grey's spectacle-case in it for mark,
am sure you sat for quite five minutes
looking at that cup-at least your eyes
were fixed on it-and yet The girl
paused.
"And yet what?' questioned Mrs
Grey.
"Why, though your eyes were fixed
on the cup, it seemed as if they were
somehow looking beyond it; and then
indeed, your cheeks grew red, and
your eyes had tears in them, and
thought, without intending it, you
clasped your hands; and you got UP
and looked at the sheet almanac, and ]
thought you said to yourself, Thank
GodF
"Why, Lucy" exclaimed Mrs. Grey,
"what an observant puss you are
little thought you were watching me as
a cat would a mouse"
" That won't do, dear Granny
laughed Lucy. "The cat watches the
mouse because she wants to catch and
eat it. Now you do not believe that
want to eat your"
"No, dear child, I never thought
you wanted to eat me-" answered
Mrs. Grey, laughing in her turn
/" but | did not think you were SO OBJ
servant"
g l am sure" said Lucy, there are q
dozen tea-cups in the house much pref
tier than the old thing you lay such
store by. Some one said here the other
day that the willow pattern was con
sidered very old-fashioned and in bad
tastes; and you said it was, and that you
hated the sight of it, and would have a
new dinner service as soon as your ship
came home; but" added Lucy, with q
little pout, . thai ship is long time OF
the seas. As long as | can remember
l have heard you talk of what was to bt
done when the ship came home; per
haps, when it does, Granny, it may
bring you a pretty cup to put under the
shade, instead of that willow pat
term"
"No,'' said Mrs. Grey; not al
the cups that ever came from China
even if they were filed with gold
would be half as valuable in my eyes
as that, discolored old tea. cup of the
willow pattern which l have caree
for and cherished for thirty years
and Mr.. Grey values it as highly as
do"
"Granny, will you not tell me why
inquired Lucy, +" that also may value
it9 I know you think great deal o.
it, for you always dust the shade with
your own hands,"
d" If you can sit still, Lucy, and listen
attentively, it will be a pleasure to me
to tell you why l value that tea-cup.
There bring your favorite stool to my
side, and sit down, and you shall hear,
not an imaginary but a true story,