Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-29

with a spice of bitterness. 1.-The Con-
necticut branch of the Rossell family cal
their victuals off of plates and drink
their tea out of cups and sapcers. and
set their tables with something besides
platters."
"Yes9" said Mr.. Peck, with that i'm
pertinent air OF innocence which is
thoroughbred Yankees strongest and
most reliable weapon; II thought likely.
By-the-way, what do you think of tha,
silk ?" he asked, returning suddenly TO
business matters.
at is lovely" answered Amy, with un'
concealed enthusiasm.
Times are pretty pinching. eh ?"
Amy blushed at.the thought that the
provoking peddler had overheard every
word OF her whispered conversation.
Miss Car'line spoke up briskly: "well,
yes, they be-" She placed her arms
akimbo ready to conduct an argument If
one should be forced upon her.
You're right, they be-" said MIR.
Peck, approvingly. Plenty OF money
in the banks, the papers say. but none in
the pocket. eh? Taxes high, trade dull,
property down. know how it is. You
needn't DO ashamed, ladies. TO confess
that you can't scrape up the wherewithal
to pay for a silk dress this year. But
s'pose take the prico of it out in trade
and dicker?"
The eyes OF both women frightened
simultaneously. Eve. in the temporary
absence of Adam, conducted the preim-
mary negotiation for the delivery OF that
unfortunate apple. and from that day to
this. no woman. ever lived who was not
endowed with an inherent iondness for
striking a bargain. They both. looked
inquiringly at Mr.. Peck.
IL have q friend, he explained. "in
New York who takes q great fancy TO
pottery-buys it and sells it, you know,
and thinks as much OF it as | do OF dry
goods or grecnbacks. He's singular
sort of man, and it occurred to mo as
| sa, here just now that might take that
platter and those other utensils that you
said your branch OF the family was in the
habi. of using. and any such little traps
as you happen to have about the house
that might take them for. him, you
know. and give you this silk-eh ?"
Miss Carline's wrinkled face fairly
dances with delight. The chance to clear
out "mess of traps" from the house. TO
haggle over the price OF each. and to Sc
cure for Amy coveted gift at cost so
small seems TO be crowding too much
pleasure into single opportunity. For
do but state the simple unromantic
truth when | declare that in this old
house, whose foundation timbers had
withstood the storms of two hundred
and thirty years. no particular value was
placed upon the heir-looms which had
come down through an unbroken line oil
Rossells. Every thing was preserved
and cared for with a neatness character
istic OF the New England household. But
it had never entered the mind OF Miss
Car'line that porcelain, which the deit
hands of the Celestisls had fashioned be-
fore the secret of its composition was
carried TO France, was greatly to be pre-
ferred over the Iron stone china" Of the
modern potteries. with its coarse solidity
and glsring white face.
The great soup tureen. with its gener-
Gus ladies. proiusely decorated with
elaborate designs in the pure blue OF the
genuine Chinese cobalt CHE supply OF
which was exhausted more than one
hundred years ago); the dinner plates
with their figures OF the mandarins, with
the overcoming Sacred Mountains as
perpetual background; the delicate tea
plates. deeply, darkly, beautifully
blue;" the egg-shell cups. concealing
curious designs, which only became Wis
ible when the tea was poured in; the
big platter, which had first attracted the
peddler's attention, and which, without
crevice or crack on its broad surface,
had celebrated its centennial--these were
only few of the many things which
were quickly laid out for the inspection
OF Mr.. Peck. There was a pair OF can
dlesticks which had been sent from Eng
land in 1850; they were ordinary brass
candlesticks, and when Mr.. Peck pro-
posed TO throw them in for two dollars
Miss Car Rhine turned her face TO hide hei
satisfaction.
Amy was all excitement till the trade
was completed. When the peddlel
measured of the twenty yards OF silk
and gathered up the truck" which h'
had taken in payment, and drove his lou
black horses down the road, the delight
ed girl tried to assume that repose o
manners (which stamps the caste o
We're de Vere," and failed conspicuously
That silk is rotten. 1t don't stand t
reason that peddlers 90 travelling through
the country trading of dry.goods tha
are worth anything for old crockery ant
brass csndlesticks. say it don't stant
to reason" This was young Mr.. Eli
sententious comment on the transaction