The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-16
there was fresh whispering, and inspsc-


his eyes peered out wistfully towards
the door, az if he could see the spectral
images of his collection floating away
in the direction of Dimbley's.
He grew worse and worse. To my
inexpressible grief, it one morning pass
ed round the house in mysterious way
that we were to lose him. Some one
came running for me, and took ME by
the hand to lead me to him. There was
piteous intelligence in his eye, and q
CLEAN of light came into 1T AZ he saw
me. He was moving his arms, and
pointing, and trying to speak.
The lady who was his wife kept turn
ing up her eyes and shaking her head,
as who should say his wits were gone.
But he kept his imploring glance fixed
on me, making as though he would
clutch something in his hand. 1 was
sure, could have sworn it was one of
his pet treasures, and stole away to rack
my little brain with desperate attempts.
At first thought it must be two pre-
cious figures of Old Bow, representing
Kitty Give and Woodward Martin, as
the fine lady and gentleman, and L re-
turned with these in my hands. A fresh
eagerness came into his eyes, and he
seemed to smile and nod his head, as
though it was something near what he
he desired.
Some curious stupidity came over
me-or was it my trouble? for l surely
ought to have guessed, and gone out to
choose some other article, which should
be the right one. While l was taking
q hurried bird 's-eye glance over the col
lection, they came running to me again,
and l was dragged in to see the last
friend had on earth in his agony.
SO he passed away and after a scarce
ly decent interval the two women were
going about with avaricious eyes, count
ing up the treasures. This tirae there
was no one to interfere with "Dimbley's
man" and the eminent firm had pro-
nounced that the whole, when submit
ted to competition at their well-known
mart, would bring vast sum. BY the
will of the deceased collector, made
shortly after his second marriage, the
whole of his property was to go to her,
and small pittance was kept for us,
that is, for me and my sister, who was
at cheap boarding. school.
A great fuss began to be made about
the Crinkleton collection, and it was
discovered that another portion was at
some museum in the country, where it
had been exhibited, and which was
quite as valuable as that in our house.
The whole, it was expected, would bring
100000 or G12, 900. They were gloat-
ing over their prospect. We-that is,
my sister and would be beggars, but
that they did not think about.
By-and-by the inventory was taken,
the catalogue made out, and the pros
pect discovered to be even more invit-
to pack and carry away. Spring vans
stood at the door. We saw the whole
stripped gradually-there was not to be
a relic kept $50 / was told) to remind
us of tho dear old collector who had
brought them together. Very timor-
ously l begged that they would let me
choose something which 1 might keep
as a souvenir but an excuse was made
that list had been taken, and that it
would be impossible to make any altera-
ton now.
Utterly shocked, and almost desper-
ate with rage at such heartlessness, /
came to the resolution that L would
have what 1 wanted, and determined to
secure what was associated with one of
the last acts of my fathers life, at which
/ had assisted, namely, the old teapot
That should be mine, and should not be
subjected to the PROCLAMATION of sale.
/ did not care for the penalties, which
knew would be awful they might put
me to the torture, they should never
xxyl,a I no 1aJ
Ny plans were well laid. / chose a
moment when they had gone out, and,
taking no one into my confidence, pre-
pared to execute the daring scheme. 1t
was a nervous task. The teapot was
placed, with few other articles not yet
removed, on high bracket of antique
pattern over the chimney-place. Even
standing on chair, could not reach
1T i; still L was not to be daunted. /
constructed a sort of ladder formed of
chairs, which, with much trepidation,
L assembled. 1 secured the grotesque
teapot; but, without ever having heard
the Latin quotation, Fdcilis deScensus, /
found myself cordially indorsing its
truth, and stood there on precarious
balance, carefully holding the treasure,
and not knowing what to do next. To
get down and leave the teapot, it might
be thought, would be the simplest
course but, with my nervousness, and
its own insecurity, the structure now
began to totter. The next instant /
heard her on the stairs.
How it occurred / know not, but
there followed a crash, I being left
standing upon the insecure construc-
ton, whilst the old cherished teapot
had slipped from my fingers, and was
dashed into a hundred fragments on
the hearthstone They rushed in
was dragged down, and in a storm of
seedlings was hurried off for punish.
ment. 1t was inflicted with terrible
severity, and bore it without finching.
One thought was even then in my mind,
to recover the shattered fragments,
keep them in that condition, and per-
haps one day, when 1 was richer, get
them restored.
When they were tired of scolding and
beating they had gone down stairs
then, after waiting patiently, / watched
my opportunity and stole down. They
had not thought it worth while to re-