The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-10-15
THE CRINKLETON MYSTERY.

Our grotesque teapot was an article
decidedly ugly, wearing permanent
and disagreeable grin, and with kind
OF snake arrangement for handle and
spout, The gentle associations-the
days labor done, the drawing in round
the fire, the family circle, with the
cheering, and not inebriating results
seem wholly incompatible with the use
of such an article and the spectacle of
the amiable fluid poured from such
vessel by gentle hands almost painful
one. But would not part with it for
any money it is held in affection like a
cherished heirloom. Yet it is damaged
indeed, from the network of lines
and cracks which covers it, even an I'M
professional could see that it had been
&c smashed " into a hundred pieces at
least. So it has. One day it got fall
was drOpped-and lay on the floor,
shivered into heap of fragments. TAe
restoration, deemed impossible at first.
was undertaken for a large sum of
money, which was paid with delight,
for that fall brought about what you
are now going to hear.
I well recollect the day that nv dear
father secured it, and when he said it
was Z" a unique" We could see no
beauty in it, although we tried hard to
do so and, as to its uniqueness, we
rather thought that was an advantage
for the world, and for the spread of
taste. He was considered general en-
thusiast, this Mr. Crinkleton, and, as I
once overheard o brother amateur
whisper to his friend, "like a particu-
lar saucer-aQ cracked and mended,"
and, though I should not say it, still
the conviction began to force itself on
me Of late years that, from over-devo-
tion to this pursuit, he had grown
little odd. Not that he was one of the
reckless, wasteful amateurs, with whom
collecting is passion as impossible to
be resisted as drinking, and who devour
and swallow everything with reckless
craving. He had the most surprising
taste and judgment, and it was admit
led that The choicest and most valuable
portion of bis collection had been
gathered very cheaply, when he was
poor man. But I can see I have been
assuming good many things as known,
which there has not been time to tell.
Z, who have now the grotesque teapot
in my hand, and am relating this story,
was his son--G son that Worshiped him,
and sympathized with what friends
called his hobby though I frankly own
a never could understand how this plate
was precious, or that jug was rare, or
&his shit " of Palsy worth more than
Che number Of sovereigns that would
asover it's surface. confess, indeed, I
had feeling, but it was one of repul-
sion, for those brown lizards which
Kept crawling over the green plates.
However, he understood these things.
and I did not, though he often offered
30 teach, or rather inspire me. Gradu-
ally the house began to I'll with these
treasures. Corner shelves and cup
boards appeared, and were crowded.
Cabinets became chock full, and the
fame of the "Crinkleton Collection y"
began to spread.
As is usual in such cases, public
opinion was divided, one portion of the
laughing at and plying
That Door man who was wasting his own
and the family substance in lot of old
arockery ard gallipots the other look
inc knowing, and saying that little
oId CrinkIeEon" knew well what ne was
about, and would, by-and-by, sell the
collection for ten times the amount it
cost him. It did, indeed, seem likely
for what he had bought for a few shil-
Iines he was now offered pounds.
/ was all this time what is called Ga
little thing "a pet, dividing the affec-
zion of my father with his other treas
ures. That constituted our united |
family--I finding new relations every |
.aa-r4 i,a 4ln ahann of china DOCS NhAl- |