Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-06-10
Romance OF an old Cream jug.

ooh, mother" said Ruth Wallis,
chow [ should like to get out and get a
few apple blossoms"
"Stuff and nonsense" said the Widow
Wallis, austerely; 'haven't you got
work to do-milk to skim, butter to
work over, dishes to wash, and TWO do
zen shirts just in from the laundry 10
finish off before dinner time? 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-
lleve in aesthetics of any kind.
Buttercups, and red sunsets, and ma
ny tinted rainbows had always been a
standing problem to her, and she could
not understand how man of sense
could possibly prefer golden hair to red
CIR a daisy pink complexion to honest
freckles.
And her two older daughters, Naomi
and Miranda Ann, agreed with her en-
tirely on this as on all other subjects.
But Ruth was different. Ruth trea ,
sured up half open rosebuds in surrepti-
tious glasses of water, soWed flower eed
under the dairy window, read poems in
her own room, and cried when the hon
eysuckle vine was raised from before the
porch pillars.
"Rotting all the posts and harboring
carvings and SPIDERS" said the widow
severely.
"But the flowers are SO pretty" plead
ed Ruth
pretty" snorted the window, as if
the term were synonym for all absur-
dity and weak-mindedness, II do think
Ruth, you are almost fool"
So upon this golden May morning,
when the lilies were nodding their pur
10 {la IL
spread their sheets Of billowy pink over
all the orchards, Ruth was condemned
to Understanding 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 occupati0n-when all of a sudden
whiskered and mnstached face present
ed ITSELF all framed in the easement.
Goodness mel" cried Ruth, with
violent start which had nearly upset one
of the vessels, and then recovering her
presence of mind, she added: ''What
do you want"
81 beg your pardon" said the appari-
tion-and Ruth began to perceive that
it had rather fine eyes, and was no
longer very young apparition-'I am
afraid I startled you"
''Yes, you did, rather" admitted Ruth,
"but if you're a tramp, please 90 on, we
never give to tramps And if you're
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 q comical curl of
the lips. ~ am not one of these-I am
in the china business"
"Oh," said Ruth, beginning to com
prehend, ''vases, and little dogs and
parrots, for cast-otf clothes. But we
wear all our things out, and mother
makes rag carpets Of them afterward."
Every laudable 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
head?'
Ruth glanced up with startled eyes.
at was my grandmother Crocus's,"
she said; "and it's SO old-fashiored we
never use it. Mamma keeps radish
seed in it,
Exactly" said the stranger. at is
very old, and that's the reason I want
Ruth thought of the men who had
been reported as traversing the country
III search of antiquities. old furniture.
and articles of virtu. Could this be one
of them?
Its NINE" said she, coloring deep,
MY grandmother Crocus left it to me
in her will.n
"Wouldn't you rather have ten dol
the stranger, coaxingly
"Oh, thousand times" cried Ruth
eagerly.
Then it's bargain" said the gen
man, taking out pocketbook, which
seemed to be perfectly apOplectic with
bank notes.
mo, it isn't" said Ruth. "I-I
couldn't sell it, indeed"
''Ah," said the stranger, perhaps
there are old family associations con-
nected with ito"
ION, no, never saw my grandmOth-
er Crocus," Ruth replied, rather bewil
dered.
Say twenty" said the stranger coax
ingly.
TITS no use," declared Ruth, "I can
not sell it,"
You are devoted to old china, then ?"
Ihe lace came nearer, the eyes
sparkled, as if their owner Lad fuond a
kindred soul
II hate it," said Ruth.
The dark eyes rec0iled q pace or two.
"Then you'll let me have the old
creampot for twenty dollars ?" said he,
pefSuaSlVeiy.
But Ruth would only reiterate with
downcast eyes and deepening bushes
~ can't sell it."
MIR. WINFIELD Napier walked away,
pulling his monstache and bordering
over the old piece of English ware which
had so attracted his attention.
"I1l sit down formally before that
creampot," said he; "I'll besiege it. 1t
shall be mine, or I shall know the rea
son why"
For Mr.. Napier was connoisseur in
ceramics, and the moment his idle
glance cast upward through Mrs Will
ISIS milk room window. as he drank
glass of water at the well, had fallen on
the piece Of English china, his soul COW
eted it.
"Pve just month to stay here before
/ must go back to my dingy old law of
flee again." meditated he. "a man can
do great deal in a month";
And he set himself regularly to work
to win the treasure which he had yearn-
ed for deeply.
Day after day he strolled to the old
farmhouse, now with this excuse, now
with that, a handsome, courtly, middle |