The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-16

urns of rare Bedlin but l must leave
this subject, or shall never get on.
One day, however, there came a sur
prise, not to say shock, for me. That
queer little Crinkleton, as the neighbors
and friends would call him, had brought
some new treasures and curioslties.
Alas stepmother and her daughter.
They were very designing people,
and. I believe, frightened him into it.
He was shrinking and timorous; he
would never have had courage to carry
such scheme into execution. Thence
forth began new and, for me, terri
BILE life. They brought no money with
them, though he was persuaded that he
was doing what is called "a good thing"
They very soon convinced him of the
contrary. Two more rapacious spoilers
could not be conceived. Every moment
in the day they were making an inven-
tory of "the property" about them
with questioning eye. An order was
sternly set forth that all buying was to
be given up, and that "good money"
was no longer to be squandered on rub
bish. Yet it could be seen that with an
extraordinary inconsistency they
watched jealousy over every article of
the property, counting them, and TAX
ing good care to ascertain their value.
All our life in that house was of sud-
den changed. Our poor dear father
seemed to shrink and cover away under
this despotism. AS for me, / felt that
all happiness was gone, and that was
living in prison under the charge of
jailers. Many were the little furtive
walks he took with me- being no
older than s or 10 years-when we would
make our way guilty to the narrow
lane or street, to gaze at curiosities
which he dared not purchase. 1t was
miserable for me, whose hand was in
his, to note his wistful looks, and even
more miserable to see that this was but
part of his sufferings under his slavery,
which grew more and more CALLING every
day.
1t was on one of these occasions that
we spied the grotesque teapot. The
sight brought the color to his cheeks,
for he had nothing of that pattern in the
collection. 1t was exposed in a poor,
mean little den-not curiosity shop at
ala kind OF hucksters place. Here
the teapot was offered with view of
finding some purchaser who would use
|
was enraptured with it. He could at
least ask the price. Four and -sixpence
worth, he said, five guineas, and
would be worth double by and by. As
we went out it was offered for three
and-six. 1t was very tempting, but he
resisted it then.
The next day he took me out with
him for a walk, but this was for a sec.
ond inspection. He delayed long be-
fore he could make up his mind, but at
last the purchase was made. Then it
was to be brought home, and then came
the difficulty. Where was it to be
placed ?-for their Argur eyes would de-
tect the slightest change. But they had
an instinct that something was wrong.
The daughter was in the parlor win
dow, looking up and down the street,
while she-I always thought of her as
though she were unique, like the tea
pot-opened the door and gave police
man-lke look at his figure. The gro
tesque was hidden away under his coat,
but great protuberance revealed its
place of concealment. We were both
arrested, the trembling victim assailed
by both women, and the grotesque con-
tiscated on the spot, as, indeed, all his
treasures had been already. L saw
them later inspecting it curiously and
with eager eyes, for they had suspicion
of its value, and after all trusted to his
judgment.
Indeed, latterly I noticed that this
pair was inspecting the cabinets; and
more than once l had surprised them
with their heads bent down over some
little cup or figure.
One day, too, L heard them talking
earnestly about some one they called
Dimbley's man." and what he had
said. This did not make much impress
sion, but in day or two / again heard
remark about Dimbley's man, and to
the effect that he was coming to-mor-
row. In our next little walk, grown
curious about the matter, l asked my
father:
Who is Dimbley's man, father ?"
He started.
"Why," he said "what about him
what do you know about him who
wants him ?"
These questions were put quickly and
with agitation. L told him what had
heard, when he almost gave q cry, and
turned sharply round to go home.
-" see what they are at. L suspected
it. They want to sell the things"
We returned hurriedly-he was in a
perfect fever, and, when ne entered,
flew to inspect his treasures, which he
found all safe, though he discovered the
two women busily engaged in peering
into the cabinets, and handling them
cautiously. But with them was a gen
tlemanly and fluent parsonage, who was
giving his opinion and admiring the
collection.
He read the whole situation lat
glance. The color flew to his cheeks,
and, with vehemence that was wholly
artificial and unnatural, he addressed
the party.
" know well what all this MEANS"
he said "I'll not have it'll not allow
it. 1t is robbery. I'll not part with
these things but with my life. Go away,
SIT" he said to the gentlemanly man,
i" this is my property. They are not to
be valued or sold"
To do him justice the gentlemanly
man was much put out at this incident,
and declared truly that he had merely
| came az he supnoaed OF Mr. Cr;nkl To-