The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-09
Romance Of an Old Cream
Jug.

should like to get out and get few apple
blossoms"
'Stuff and nonsense" said the Widow
Wallis, austerely; "havcn't you got work
TO do--mlk to skim, butter to work over,
dishes to wash, and two dozen shirts Just
in from the laundry to finish off before
dinner time9 Go about it at once and don't
let me hear any more folly about apple
blossoms
For Mrs. Wallis belonged to the work.
ing brigade of the world, and did not be-
lieve in aesthetic of auy kind.
Buttcrcups, and red sunsets, and many
tinted rainbows had always been a stand
ing problem to her, and she could not un-
derstand how man of sense could possibly
prefer golden hair to red, or u daisy pink
complexion to honest freckles.
And her two older daughters, Naomi and
Miranda Ann, agreed with her entirely on
this as on all other subjects.
But Ruth was different. Ruth treasured
up half open rosebuds in surreptitious
glasses of water, sowed, flower seed under
the dairy window, read poems in her own
room, aud cried when the honeysuckle vine
was raised from before the porch pillars.
"Rotting all the posts and harborng ear
wigs and spiders" said the widow severely.
"But the flowers are so pretty" pleaded
Ruth.
''Prctty," snortcd the widow, as if the
term were a synonym for all absurdity and
ak-mindedness, 81 do think, Ruth, you
are almost fool" . o.,
So upon this golden May morning, When
the lilies were nodding their purple plumes,
and the apple blossoms spread their sheets
OF billowy pink over all the orchards Ruth
was condemned to milk skimming in the
dairy and The finishing OF the shirts in the
kitchen. ,st.. n', -
She was standing in front of the milk
room window, busy with shining pans
after all there was certain poetry in the
I, occupation-when all of sudden whs-
kered and mustachcd face presented itself,
all framed in the easement. .."r
'Goodness mel" cried Ruth, with q
violent start, which had nearly upset one
Of the vessels and then recovering her
presence of mind, she added: tsWhat do
you want !" .D..f
II beg your pardon" said the appari-
tion-and Ruth began to perceive that it
had rather fine eyes and was no longer a
very young apparition-'T am afraid I
startled YOU" ira aH.#a& 81.
eyes, you did, rather" admitted Ruth,
'but If you're tramp, please go on, we
never give to tramps. And If you're a
sewing machine agent or anything of the
sort, It's of no use. And'--
"You are Mistaken" said the owner of
the dark eyes, with comical curl of the
lips. 81 am not one of these-I am in the
china business"
"Oh," said Ruth, beginning to compre-
hehd, "vases, and little dogs and parrots
for cast off clothes. But we wear all our
things out and mother makes rag carpets of
them afterward." .
. "Very laudible of her, I am sure, !"
nodded the stranger. But may ask what
you will take for that twisted cream pot on
the shelf just over your head2"
Ruth glanced up with startled eyes. 3
''lt was my Grandmother Crocus's," she
said s'and It's so old fashioned we never
use 1t. Mamma keeps radish seeds in IT,"
"Exactly, said the stranger. 'It's very
old and that's the reason want it,"
Ruth thought of the men who had been
reported as trayersing the country in search
Of antiquities, old furniture, and articles of
vertu. Could this be ore of theme
"lts mine" !" said she coloring deeply.
"My Grandmother Crocus left 1t to me in
"Wouldn't you rather have ten dollars
to buy yourself new hat 2" said the
'eA"h6SAt SDnNihBiJsa -tft. ElH...
ooh, thousand times, !" cried Ruth
eagerly. i;.S,l ~ - it
"Then It's a bargain, = said the gentle
man taking out q pocket book, which
seemed perfectly apoplectic with bank notes.
/ mo. 1t isn't, said Ruth. I'll couldn't
sell 1t, indeed" a,a&t
"Ah, "said the stranger, ''perhaps there
are old family associations connected with
ggs Il " / g.. "a. = . 4 q.
"Oh, no, never saw my grandmother
Crocns, Ruth replied, rather bewildercd.
;'say twenty said the stranger coax.
. ingly. II d. S1,e. ,1 .if
) sell it.'",.3 XIV, !. .%ss,sI11 .ii' .rg0
You are devoted to old china, thcna"
"Thc face came nearer, and the eyes
sparkled as If their owner had found a
5 kindred soul. IA, Il .3, 5st. figaE8 os
3 ~ hate II, = saidA Ruth. d n l,4: .ss.,,.
/; The dark eyes recoiled a pace or two. u
fgIf Then you'll let me have the old cream
I pot for twenty dollars 2" said lie, peraua-
sively. q I b h, j,5t<, stt s;is az .33