Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-07-30
Romance of an Old Cream
jug.


| should like TO get out and get Il few appl,
blossoms
stuff and nonsense, said the Widow
Wallis, austerely; ''havent you got worl
/ 10 do-milk to skim. butter to work over
dishes to wash, and two dozen shirts JUS
in from the laundry to finish off befor,
I dinner time. Go about it at once and dom
let me hear any more folly about appl,
I blossoms
For Mrs. Wallis belonged 10 the work
ing brigade Of the world. and did not be
/ lieve in aesthetic of auy kind.
Buttercups, and red sunsets, and many
/ tinted rainbows had always been stand
ing problem "a her, and she could not un.
derstand how man of sense could possibly
prefer golden hair to red, or daisy pink
complexion to honest freckles.
And her two older daughters. Naomi and
Maranda Ann, agreed with her entirely on
/ this as on all other subjects.
But Ruth was different. Ruth treasured
( up half open rcsebuds in surreptitiOus
I glasses of water, sowed flower seed under
/ the dairy window, read poems in her own
room. and cried when the honeysuckle vine
was raised from before the porch pillars.
''Rotting all the posts and harboring ear
wigs and spiders" said the widow severely.
But the flowers are 50 pretty. pleaded
Ruth.
.'Pre'ty." Spnrted the widow. if the
term were a synonym for all absurdiiy and
: weak-mindedness, Il do think. Ruth, YOU
are almost fool
So upon this golden May morning. when
the lilies were nodding theirpurple plumes,
and the apple blossoms spread their sheets
of billowy pink over ali the orchards, Ruth
was condemned to milk skimming in the
dairy and the finishing OF the shirts in the
kitchen.
She was standing in front of the milk
room window, busy with shining pans
after all there was certain poetry in the
occupation-whcn all of a sudden a whis-
kered and mustached face presented itself.
all framed in tie easement.
Goodness me :" cried Ruth, with a
violent start, which had nearly upset one
of the vessels, and then recovering her
presence of mind, she added: ''What do
YOU want :"
Il 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-'I am afraid |
startled YOU
Yes, you did, rather" admitted Ruth,
''but if you're a 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. Il am not one Of these-I am in the
china business.
.'Oh," said Ruth, beginning to compre-
hend, '.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, | am sure,
nodded the stranger. But may ! ask what
YOU will take for that twisted cream pot on
the shelf just over your head. =
Ruth glanced up with startled eyes.
1T was my Grandmother Crocus's," she
said: land it's so old fashioned we never
use it. Mamma keeps radish seeds in il. "
Exactly, said the stranger. Its very
Old and that's the reason want it..
Ruth thought of the men who had been
reported as traversing the country in search
of antiquities, old furniture, and articles OF
vertu. Could this be one of them!
s.It's mime" said she coloring deeply.
INV Grandmother Crocus left il to me in
her will.
Wouldn't YOU rather have ten dollars
to buy yourself a new hat = said the
stranger, coaNingly.
s-Oh, a Thousand times, cried Ruth
eagerly.
Then it's bargain" said the gentle
man taking out a pocket book, which
seemed perfectly apoplectic with bank notes
..No, it isn't, said Ruth. II couldn't
sell it, indeed.
"Ah.n said the stranger, ''perhaps there
are old family associations connected win
it.'
..Oh. no, nj ,er saw my grandmother
Crocus. " Ruth replied, rather bewildered-
..Say twen,v.- said the stranger coax
ingly.
ITS no use, declared Ruth, Il cannot
sell it," 81,
You are devoted to old china, then:
.sThe face came nearer and the eyes
sparkled as if their owner had found
kindred soul.
Il hate it, said Ruth.
The dark eyes recoiled pace or two.
.sThen you'll let me have the old cream
no, for twenty dollars - said he, pers'ia-
sively. -;,t
But Ruth would only reiierate win
down-cast eyes and deepening blushes-
Il can't sell it.
Mr.. winfield Napier, walked away,
milling his moustache and pondering over
the old piece of English ware which had ;"
attracted his attention.
..ru sit down formally before that cream
no, - said he: .I'll besiege it. 1t shall De
mine, or shall know the reason why. =,
For MIR. Napier was connoisseur IN
ceramics, and the moment bis side ldie game aiiSt
cast upward through Mrs Walliss s. milk milk
rocm window, as he drank glass oil wafer
at the we'll. had fallen on the piece of Eng