Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-28

LII the pam 'Oniy nam ha0 time 10 overhaul
1t since you've been here"
Naturally ?" interrupted Mrs. Symington.
But suppose ii is all in good condition.
''Sartinly. sartinly." said Aunt Grizzly. "You
can LOOK at it yourself you like, Niece Ara
BELLA"
"Oh, that is not at all necessary said Mrs.
Symington- But now as to the price, Aunt
Grizzy3 2"
II amt one to haggle with my relations. :"
said Aunt Grizzly. giving the frying-pan shake
over the blazing sticks. ''Set your own price,
SAY So"
"Do you think, Aunt Grizzly" hesitated the
city lady, THAT twenty-five dollars would be q
reasonable compensation for itl"
Wen, yes, said Aunt Grizzly. ut never cost
me that, because"
mo, Of course not" hurriedly fnterposed Mrs.
Symngton. and she produced the twenty five
dollars, all In gold haf-eagles, with the ex-
ultant feeling OF one who has picked q precious
diamond out of the dust. But | should wish
you to feel that had dealt fairly with you In a
matter like this"
''Well, Ihain't no reason to complain" said
Aunt Grizzly. ''S0me folks fancies cheeny.
don't. plates plate to me, and a cups a
cup, and you're kindly welcome to my set if
you've took notion to it,
Mrs. Symington went home the next day.
through whirlwind OF snow, having been fed
upon pork and sausages sausages aud pork. at
every meal since her arrival, and retaining a
very vivid recollection Of the Maine winds and
tempests.
Il don't think I'd go back there again even
for set of old china" said Mrs. Symington. as
she seated herself Oh the velvet cushions of the
Palace-car and shrank shiveringly inside of her
seal dOlman and ffeece-lined fur gloves. Aunt
Grizzel will never die natural death; she'll be
blown away, like Mother Hubbard"
But all these petty fluctuations were forgotten
as thing out OF mind on the brilliant January
morning on which. in front Of the sea-coal fire
in her own coy drawing-roOm, she unpacked
the coarse wooden box wherein were concealed
the priceless treasures of Aunt Grizzly Grump-
toms china.
q small shrek Of dismay. MEN are 80 dread
fully careless. Oh, here they are on the top all
wrapped in separate pieces of paper
''Eh!" said Mr.. Symington, standing by. with
a hammer and screw-driver brandished in either
hand. Are these a ntiquesS'
Good gracious mel" gasped Mrs. Symngton
What can this possibly mean!"
For the china which she unwrapped from its
coverings OF coarse brown paper was cheap
and common style, such as is associated in the
mind with tea chrOmOs, gaudy Autographs and
statesmen of the Hcbraic persuasiOn-white. with
q band of imitation gold around each piece. and
coarse flower sprawling below, as if it had
been laid on with miniature whitewash-brush
This is never my grandmother Grumpton's
Old china. said Mrs. Symington. bursting into
with force which cracked two plates. "I'll
write to Aunt Grizzly at once. and this misun-
Outstanding shall be cleared up
In the course OF time an answer came from
Wild River. stiftly written in pale ink. and con-
veying in its tout ensemble the general impress
sion that Aunt Grizzly had wrestled with it as if
1t had been fit of the Asiatic cholera.
DEAR NEICE Git said),-"With Love and
duty take up my Pen to inform You that the
China is all right. Bot from Snefiey & Pipkin,
IN Boston, last November. at Eight (ss) Dollars
the Set, to be transported at my own Dammage
As for my Mothers old Set, witch Captain Bao-
cock bro't from Calcutta in the Year 1896, I
Gave it to Ills Neice Helen HOsmer two Yeres
ago for Pare of Gold Spectackles and Fur
Muff, being SO Cracked and Old fashion that it
wasn't worth no more. But am told that she
puts it on Ebony Shelves in her Best Parlor
But Helen never was more than Half-W itted
ana your set witch you took home with YOU is
worth Deal the most Money. So you have
the Best Bargain. With love, I remain, Your
An! said Mr. SymingtOn who had been list
ening intently to the contents of this much blot
ted and besmeared piece of manuscript sealed
with Aunt GriZzy's thimble top, and still retain
ing subtle OdOr of fried sausages ald griddle-
cakes. "A seal dolman at three hundred dol
lars. thirteen dollar hat, a pair of fifteen dol
lar fur gloves. fifty dollar journey, and a
twenty-five dollar Investment. all tor a set of
emma which you can buy anywhere on the Bow
cry or Grand street for ten dollarsl How does
that look. my dear. as viewed in the light of
political economy"
And Mrs. Symington answered only by her
tears
There, there, Bella. don't fret" said her hus-
band, kindly. Let the thing go for what it is
worth. Forget it,
but l can't help ff-fretting," sobbed Mrs.
Symington. ''One thing is quite certain, how
ever never will be such a fool again. will
not spend another cent for ceramics until have
economical enough to pay for this outrageous
swindle."
Gently. my dear. gently" said her husband
NOW you are going too far. Aunt GriZzel was
honest enough. You said you wanted her china.
and she sold you her china at your own terms -
But didn't mean this china said Mrs. Sy-
mington.
How was she to know what You meant?"
SAID Dir. SymingtOn. "Chna is china, and to
me one piece is as good as another"
And Mrs Symington was too broken down
and spritless even to argue the point with him.
Webster as a Host.
Robert C. Winthrop
How could l ever forget those delightful days
which spent there with him. forty years ago.
more or less! His matchless form rises to nv
eye at this moment as he welcomed the British
minister and myself at his door on a mid-sum-
mer morning, clad in his favorite rustic suit
with the brOad-brimmed white hat overshadow-
on bro ip,cf ho L