Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-09-23
s sfIsftso Storn.
THE TEA CUP.
AIlMrsKANck sIuHY.

Let Il alone. Lucy" exclaimed Granny
Grey To her young visitor" why did you
remove the shade
Nv ell, dear Granny only because want
ed To see il.
'.See IL :" said the yerv handsome woman
with whom the aspect OF youth yet fingered.
why darling, surely your eyes are not IN
the tips OF our fingers, You could see Il
without removing the shade. You mean
/ suppose. that you wanted 10 fssl it:"
Lucy laughed. In common with all the
girls in Woollcn Eeach-the name OF the
village in which Mrs. Grey resided he
called her Granny" Granny" MAS the
pet name. the name OF love. BY which all
the young people recognized Mrs. Grey.
Lucy Lynne was one OF the good woman's
especial iavoriies. There were steadier
aud wiser girls in Woollen Reach. but
there was not one gifted with a gentleT
heart or kinder nature than Lucy Lynne.
Il do not know what wanted" laughed
Lucy but you all make such wonder
ful fuss about that cup that thought /
should like 10 know why; and Just now
when you had done reading. aud closed
The bo0k. leaving Mr.. Greys spectacle
In il for a mark. am sure you sat Tor
quite five minutes looking at that cup-ai
least your ewes were fixed on i-and vet
=" The girl paused.
And yet what" queried Mrs. Grey
why. though your eyes were fixed on
the cup, il seemed as il they were some
how looking beyond il; and then-indeed.
your cheeks grew red. and your eyes had
tears in them. and thought, without in
tending il. you claspod your hands; and
you got up and looked at the sheet alma
nae. aud thought you said TO yourself,
Thank Cod
..Wny Lucyi'' exclaimed Mrs. Grey
what an obsersant puss you are, / little
thought you were watching me as cat
would a mouse"
THAT won't do, dear Granny" laughed
Lucy. The cat watches the mouse be-
cause she wants to catch and eat il. Now
you no not believe that want to eat you?''
No. dear child. never thought you
wanted to eat me" answered Mrs. Grey,
laughing In her turn; .'but did not think
you were so obseryant."
Il am sure" said Lucy, there are a doz-
en- tea-cups in the house much prettier than
that old thing yon lay such store by.
Some one said here. the other day that the
willow pattern" was considered very old
fashioned. and in "bad taste;'' and you
sand it was, that you hated the sight OF it,
aud would have a new dinner service as
soon as your ship came home but" added
Lucy. with a little pout, THAT ship is u
long time on the seas. A. long a. | have
heard YOU talk OF what was TO be done
when your ship came home ;perhaps when
it does. Granny. it may bring you a pret' Y
cup to put under your shade, instead oi
that willow pattern
No said Mrs. Grey; mot all the cup.
that ever came from China. even II they
were filled with gold, would be half as val
liable in my eyes as that discolored old tea
cup OF the willow pattern. which | have
cared for and cherished for thirty years
and Mr.. Grey values it as highly as do
Granny. will YOU not tell me why," in
quired Lucy. THAT /. also. may value II?
know you think great deal Of it, for yoU
always dust the shade with your own
hands"
IF you can sit still, Lucy and listen at
tentiyeiy it will be pleasure to me to tell
you why / value that tea-cup. There
bfiD. your favorite stool TO my side and
lit down. and you shall not hear an imag-
mary. but true, story, which | hope you
will remember all the days If your life'
You know my husband was carpen.
| ter-indeed, | may say he is; though hs
does not work as hard as he used with hi.
hands. think he does with his head. and
hear that his power of calculation i,
clear and rapid
"Ob, yes.' said Lucy; al have heard
Mr.. Grey say that temperance kept his
brain clear"
Il married him when was very young ;
! continued Mrs. Grey-"some said too
| young to take the cares of the world upor
me but thought my husband, who wa:
a well-educated man. would teach me how
to bear them--at least that was what
thought and believed; but the real truti
was. loved him very dearly, and if there
are faults, We are not inclined to see then
in those we love- 4"
Then said the saucy Lucy, looking
archly into Mrs. Grey's face. 81 do no
think. Granny. you love me very much. for
you alw avs see all my faults ever so big. !
MY dear oner' replied her Old friend
Il hope / see them all because | am anx
ious my Lucy should be very perfect; an,
if her faults were not known. how couc
they be corrected? And she has just dis
played one"
"A fault" repeated Lucy. opening he
great gray eyes. -