The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-30
THE eRINKLETON MYSTERY.

Our grotesque teapot was an article
decidedly ugly, wearing a permanent
and disagreeable grin, and with kind
of snake arrangement for handle and
spout, The gentle associations-th
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 a
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 un-
professional could see that it had been
IS smashed :" into a hundred pieces at
leasI So it has. One day it got fall
-Tas dropped-and lay on the floor,
si4ivered into heap of fragments. The
re dsboratlon, deemed impossible at first.
WIS undertaken for a large sum of
money, which was paid with delight,
for that fail brought about what you
are now going to hear
[ well recollect the day that my dear
father secured it, and when he said it
was - a unique. We, could see no
beauty II 1t, although we tried hard to
do so and, as to its uniqReness, we
rather thought that was an advantage
Cor the world, and for the spread of
5tsste. He was considered general en-
thQsiast, flIis Mr.. CrinkIeton, and, as I
once overheard a brother amateur
whisper TO his friend, Is like a particu-
lar saucer-al cracked and mended, .
and, though I should not say it, still
the conviction began to force itself on
nee o. late years that, from over-devo-
n E1Ea bo1
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 a reckless
craving. He had the most surprising
t&szA and Judgment, and it was admit
.zesa that the choicest and most valuable
po15icn of his collection had been
gGther red very cheapIy, when he was a
poor man. But can see have been
asauH ing a good many things as known,
which there has not been time to tell.
I, who have now the grotesque teapot
IN my hand, and am relating this story,
was his son-a son that worshiped him.
and sympathized with what friends
called his hobby though I frankly own
1 never could understand how this plate
was precious, or that jug was rare, or
this . bit " of Palissy worth more than
the number of sovereigns that would
cover its surface. I confess, indeed. [
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 did not, though he often offered
to teach, or rather inspire me. Gradu-
ally the house began to fill with these
treasures. Corner shelves and cup
Z SciL cts became chock full, and the
arae of the {" Crinkleton Collection y
eegan to spread.
As is usual in such cases, public
opinion was divided, one portion of the
community laughing at and pitying
that poor man who was wasting his own
and the family substance in lot of old
erockery ard gallipotS the other look
ing. knowing, and saying that s' little
old Crinkleton" knew well what ne was
about, and would, by-and-by, sell the
collection for ten times the amount ii
cost him. It did, indeed, seem likely
for what he had bought for few shil-
Engs he was now offered pounds.
was all this time what is called t' a
little thing "a pet, dividing the affec-
ton Of my father with his other treas
ures That constituted our united
famiIy-I finding new relations every
day, in the shape of china dogs, Chel-
sea shepherds. Dresden beauties, and
Toby jugs. Oh, the Battersea enamel
snuff boxes and wine labels the tea
rrns of rare Bedlin but i must leave
this subject, or I shall never get on.
One day, however, there came a sur
prise. not to say shock, for me. That
uueer little Crinkleton, as the neighbors
md friends would call him, had brought
kczue new treasures and curiosities.
LAS stepmother and her daughter.
They we're very designing people,
ad. I believe, frightened him into it.
ne was shrinking and timorous; he
would never have had courage to carry
such scheme into execution. Thence
forth began new and, for me. terri
ble life. Theyshrought no money with