The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-22
GRANDMorHER'ssGoLD LBucKLE
IA GREEN DOOR OPENS.

The July morning glowed with TIN
heat of an Italian summer, the SUI
poured down rays of intense whit
light on the marble facade ofthe Churcl
of Santa Croce III Florence, and on TN
open square in front, where the statu
p of Dante seemed carved out of snow
In the shadow of the pavement, whcr
, the morning had not yet devoured al
the darkness, few cafe loterers occu
pied tables, or an occasional pedestrian
passed., hat in hand. The houses sur
rounding the square had a lifeless, closed
aspect; few pale children glanced on
of doorways; even horses and donkey.
dropped their heads beneath shelterins
walls, as if awaiting the fiery ordeal o
MONDAY.
Henry Toppingham, emerging from
| the cool darkness of the church, where
he had spent an hour with the conscien
tious zeal of a tourist, felt all his senses
smitten by the dazzling light and sitting
atmosphere of the day. However, he
braved sun-strOke to cross the square
and admire the statue of Dante. Few
obstacles daunted him in travel. and he
liked TO believe that few obstacles
would check him in life, if courage and
prompt action could overcome them
lie was a gOod-looking young man.
with fiaxen hair and mustache, and san
guine blue eyes. Having surveyed the
statue, he retreated to the curbsione, to
discover the nearest route back to the
Arno. lie asked no direction of any
one, although those languid frequcnters
of the cafe would have courteously aid
ed him. Several streets converge to-
ward the Duomo and river from this
square; Harry Toppingham gladly
sought the shelter of the nearest one
which led to his destination.
The street was narrow, gloomy, and
silent. The young man paused to sur
vey massive palazzo with grated win
dOws and great closed gates surmounted
by coronet, and as he did so he observ-
ed the Green Door beyond. II was
such an enticin2 and unusual Green
Door, with sly and mysterious aspect
about it, as if it had been opened i'm q
blank wall of aristocratic lineage, which
occasioned an apologetic setting toward
the corner of the street, that Henry
Toppingham was Immediately attracted
Add TO this that it stood inyiiinoly open
revealing q glimpse beyond, with the
|
may be naturally inferred that the fiv
was not slow in approaching the spi-
dcr's web, with curiosity and interest
manifest on his countenance. The Green
Door evidently guarded a shop, and the
proprietor, a lean dry man, with yellow
skin, and vulpine nose pendent over q
black mustache, surveyed the stranger
with one sweeping, rapid glance, and
led the way to his treasure chambers,
first closing the portal.
Henry Toppingham smiled and glanc-
ed about him. lie delighted in cnriosi-
ty shops at home in America; the very
name possessed charm to his ear. Here
was a rare one in the city of Florance
without name or number, and reached
only through Green Door, 1t was
still early in the morning, and he in
tended to enjoy himself.
AT first survey this bric-a-brac mag
azinc presented many attractions over
those rich establishments where every
article possesses intrinsic value, as set
forth by supercilious shopman. Here
were mounds of rubbish from which TO
sift gem at leisure in dusky corners or
dark cabinets, a mysterious twilight
penetrating the lofty, dingy rooms from
a single high window. The collector,
in shabby coat with elbows frayed, was
good-humored, patient, and exercised
no surveillance other than to select such
trinkets as might suit the customer
| Pictures, empty frames, and broken
statues Uttered the floor; open shelves
lined the walls, containing enamels,
snuff-boXcs. crucifixcs, paste Jewels,
and furnished silver filagree-work
Henry Toppingham was fascinated to
explore the depths of inner chambers
hung with bits of tapestry and damask
to raise the lids of battered strong
boxes, to open old parchment volumes,
like dried autumn leaves. A superb
Florentine cat, large, plump, and Sc
rene, had stretched herself on fragment
of purple satin in a cracked porcelain
punch-bowl, and blinked at him. Twin
dragon heads of brass grinned at him
from either side of an ancient bureau,
which brimmed with costly articles
piles of filmy lace of cobweb texture
china cups; amber chains, like globes
of sunshine; an agate casket filled with
canoes and pearl rosaries. Above his
head lowered one fthosc quaint groups
from sequestered monastcries-a black
Madonna and Child, wearing gilded
crowns. A panel of stained glass, rob
bed from its place in chapel or church
rested between an ebony cabinet anC
embroidered armchair, and the colorel
robes of mitred saint in the centre
glowed with the richness ofa ruby, ever
in that dark shop. Clearly treasures
were abundant behind the Green Door
yet the net despised no trifc, rs wretch
ed pictures, mended vases, and debris
of broken marble evinced. The sharI
glance of the customer noticed through
an open door an assortment of humber
wares-household utensils, crockery
fire-shovels and tongs, and even piles o
shabby garments. This must he sor
of pawn brokers' establishment.
The collector, lean, dry, and patient
piled Henry Toppingham with man,
tempting bats. What articles of per
sonal adornments are more seductive tt
a young man than studs and sleeve-but
tons? Stern fate DEGREES that he decor
ates only his linen, while his sisters ma,
accumulate scores oftinkling ornament
pendants, earrings, bracelets, twink
ling rings, and chains innumerable
This magician's cave now seemed fillet
with studs and sleeve-buttons. Etrus
can, onyx, crystal, intaglios ratified ou
, Of drawers, boxes, the collectors owl
pockets, while studs of every imagina
bic variety, from sparkling diamond
drops to flies and bugs of coral, wer,
presented to our hero, and he was no
proof against their attractions. Ther
his prudence was literally stormed
dazzled and bewildered by Roman ant
Greek coins of massive gold and silver
| H. hot Ia. Ill. a