The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-02-11
A JAPANESE JAR.

A JAPANESE JAR.
"I think it cruel, absolutely cruel
and l can't understand it, and never
SHALL" said pretty Amy Iselin, with
sob in her voice and mist of unshet
tears blarring her vision and making
the gorgeous pattern of the jar which
she held dance in magnifed proportions
before her eyes.
st wasn't dear auuty that was cru
eI," replied the calmer May. "She
meant to give us this house and all she
had. ! know she did, for she told me
30 hundred times. Why, l recOllect
perfectly her putting her hand on that
little writing desk, and saying: Write
your letters here sometimes, dear. II
will make you think Of me- Do YOU
think she would have said that, if she
had meant that Cousin Elisha should
have the desk? | know the will gives
all to him; but there's some mistake. |
am convinced, some horrid, dreadful
mistake. | know aunty never meant
to leave anything to Cousin Elisha,
and to us only her clothes and that jar,
which our father brought her home
from his first long voyage. Tho will
saws 80; but doesn't make the a,t diff
ference in what think
That will" broke in impetuous
Amy, sis dated seventeen years ago,
when you were not four years old and
| almost q baby. | know as well az
you do that she made another. No
body need tell me that. But where is
it! What did she care for Cousin
Elisha7 She never saw him and hard
ly ever spoke of him: and how dearly
she loved US both, especially you, May.
| am sure she never meant to leave us
out in the cold, with our bcggarly sew
en- hundred a year; just enough to
starve OH somewhere i'll the country,
but not enough to keep Il roof ovel
our heads, or give US any pleasure,
Or A sob.
The room i'll which the sisters sal
was one of those charming .ld-fashion
ed rooms which still survive here and
there in city streets, which the ploW
Of Improvement has so far spared. 1t
had pannelcd wainscotting, painted
white, a high white chimney-piece,
with futed pilasters, and ''toothed'
cornice Of carved wood. The furniture
was dark with age-only the blooming
girls and the old fashioned ''bow pot
of jonquils and tulips on the table
spoke of youth and spring; but over all
these breathed that choice aroma which
makes quaint things even more delight
full than new-the aroma of well-or-
dered, century-old home.
"Thc jar Is worth great, great deal,
Miss Peters says" remarked May, after
a pause of silence. "Shc thinks ne
could get four hundred dollars for 1t,
if We sentit to Tiffany's."
docs she really? | can't bear to
think of selling it, though; only | sup
pose we must. Here, May, put 1t on
the side table, please. It's dreadfully
heavy"
How do such things happen? Was
there some failure in responsive be-
tween the two volitiOns, as Amy lifted
and May held out her hands to receive
the jar, or was the accident result OF
some tricksy fate, bound not TO be
thwarted in its malicious designs? Ger
tain it is that, between the two, itslip
ped and fell. Mays rapid clutch only
gave ii a new and. rapid direction to-
ward the marble hearth-stone, OF
which it struck heavily. With 1
scream Of dismay, Amy threw hcrsel
on her knees and gathered it up. Toe
late, The jar was a wreck. A large
hole appeared on one side, and there
several fragments lay on the floor.
at is clean break; that is one com
fort. 1t will rivet beautifully" declar
ed May, when the first shock of horro
was past.
''But of what use is broken jar
We can't sell it, No one will want i
now"
mo, suppose not; but we will hav'
it meLded and keep it in remembrance
of papa and auniy."
Its Just our luck, isn't it2' sighet
Amy, as May wrapped the pieces in pa
per AID deity made one parcel cf tn
three. "Just cur luck. We only haC
one thing in the world, and now we'v
smashed that"
at is too, too bad," said May, SORROW
fully, as she turned the key of litti
cupboard at the side of the Gimme.
and laid the parcel of broken chini
, on a shelf inside. AS she did SO, sh
: gave little exclamation.
81 ~What is it2" asked her sister.
nNothing. Only I've cnt my fnse