Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-05-12
or cupboard, that held Mrs. Parleys best set

OF china a.,
Julius stood staring aghast at the ruins. All
housekeepers have their idols, and this new
''Iron stone" set was Mrs. Parley's. The tea
pot lay noiseless and demolished before his eyes,
| three cups were broken, and the handle was
| dashed off from the cream pitcher, while the
knob was clipped neatly off the sugar bowl.
Julius only paused for one glance at the gen
eral ruin, then he turned and fled inglorio'lsly
| from this Waterloo of his scientific efforts.
And the next day all Briclserton knew that
Farmer Parley's bound boy had run away, after
first demolshing all Of Mrs. Pariey's china, out
| of sheer revenge, because she had boxed his
ears the day before
~ always knew that boy wouldn't come 10
good" said Deacon Jones.
| "There was vicious look In his eyes, croak-
| ed Miss Lavinda Denham; "and only wonder
| that he didn't set fire TO the house or burn you
| all in your BEDS.
But little little Alice cried bitterly, and trea-
sured more tenderly than ever, little goggled
eyed doll, with arms out Of all proportisn, ana
several degrees larger than her head, which
was the last wooden exploit julius had present.
! ed to her.
| I'll never have another bound boy,' asserted
Mrs. Farley.
"Well, WELL" sighed the farmer, show time
does slip away from us, 10 be sure! Alice Is
| nineteen to-day, and it don't seem right she
should be away from us on her birth day
She's been three months in the city, now, wife
"Yes," said Mrs. Farley, nodding her head
sagey, sand don't believe she'll come home
alone either, neither"
"Eh!' the farmer opened wide his blue eyes;
''you don't s'pose she's engaged to that Mr..
| ClintonP"
"You men are so slow TO put two and three
together" said Mrs. Farley, with conscious
smile. "Pve suspicioned It this long while, and
Mrs Carter writes that half the young ladies' in
Boston are envying our little country girl. Only
think won't it he nice to have our Alice n rich
lady, living in big house in Boston,"
Mr. Farley stared stcadfastly at the fire.
"Who is he any way?" he asked in n troy-
bled vuice, "She's all the child we've got,wife.
We can't give her 10 man without knowing
who, and what he is"
"You needn't worry" said his wife, with the
| superior calmness ofone who is poste1 "lle's
as steady going as you be yourself-at least, so
Mrs. Carter writes-and he an inventor, what
4 ever that may be. Any way, he made great
fortane out of patent he's sold to the govern
ment. Alice won't have to work all her days
as hard as have done, and that's one com
fort"
And when Alice's shy letter, which implied
far more than 1t told. intimated that she was
coming home under Mr.. Clinton's escort, the
old farm house was duly swept and garnished
for the reception Of the honored guest. Mrs.
Farley put on her best black silk, and the far
mer donDed his butternut suit, which seemed
to him as gorgeous as it had been on the day
he bought it, twenty good years ago.
"I wonder which train they will come in,'
said Mrs. Farley, refiectively. 81 should hate
the worst way to have that turkey spoiled"
But such a catastrophe was happily avert ed
for the travellers arrived as stormy twilight made
the glow of the great wood fire doubly grateful
xrngt tl.n ,..nI 1F. -. ~ Il
snow without the opening of the door, and then
Alice was in her mothers arms.
In the back ground tall figure stood stately
and dignifisd and self col tained, with jet black
hair and grave violet eyes, and the farmer made
his best how as Alice introduced ''NTr. Clinton,
with deep red flush upon her cheek.
"You must like him very much, father, fol
my sake, ;" she said. "hacansa have promised
to- be his wife,"
1phen the hospitable meal was over and Mrs
Parlev came in from the kitchen. putting dowr
the sleeves that had been rolled up above hel
elbow. and tying on q clean checked apron
Alice sprang to her feet.
"Mother," she said, with her face all SIN lie
and dimpies, "Mr. Clinton has brought you
~, sent"
~"A present." cri cd Mrs. Farley.
"And father must get hammer and screv
driver and open il very carefully, for it's china.
"t!hina?"
"Yes, real China, imported from Ia nton, s
transparent that you can look through it in th
colors Of life. OH it is so beautiIul?"
She stood by, gleefully capped her hands a
I he treasures were unpacked. and enioying lc
mothers delight as the beautiful fragile thing
one by one made their az rpearance from count
less wrappings of silver paper.
: allow kind IL is of you, Mr.. Clinton!' sal
Mrs, Farley, looking up with beaming eyes.
always did set store by china"
"Not kind at ALL" said the young man qnie
IL ". it is simply the settlement Of very oil
:, debt.
! "Debt" repeated the fnmer's wife, wit
. puzzled eyes. | don't think fairly understan
:. yon, Mr.. Clinton.
He smiled. at is to replace the set which
: broke trying experiments twelve wears ago"
:. Mrs. Parley started. beginning to have uncon
" " Portable doubts as 10 the entire sanity of III
- daughters lover. And then, rs he smiled agai
70 " n sudden light broke in upon her brain.
at amt never"-she began and thea stoppt
:, short.
!. ayes it is motherr' cried Alice, radiant
- It's Julius-your Julius |"
"WhOse ears you have boxed deservedly
y many times, laughed the young man.
l., "And he has made his fortune, and he Is
~ ~ great man now; and always knew it would
'' SC" went on Alice flushed and excited. "Al
it all came from the experiments he was alwa
trying"
"Well, l never" cried Mrs. Farley; while
VI farmer rubbed IL spectaces, and a low chu'
ling laugh, which expressed his perfect ct
y, tentment better than all the adjectves in w
B" ster's Dictionary could have done.
n, And the chill December moon shining throl
III the far off window, beyond the orbit of the 4
{. beamcd upon no happier household in all
os land. than gathered that night round Farm
au u Parley's hearth stone9