Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-04-06

"Don't touch them. Stanhope," said
she, with a small shrek of dismay.
"Men are so dreadful careless, On,
here they are on the top, all wrapped
in seperate pieces of paper"
sEh ?" said Mr.. Symington, standing
cy with a hammer land screw-driver
brandished in either hand care these
antiques ?"
"Good gracious ME p gasped Mrs.
Symington. "What can this possibly
mean ?"
For the china which she unwrapped
from its coverings of coarse brown
paper was d cheap and common style.
such as is associated in the mind with
tea chromos, gaudy Autographs and
with band of imitation gold around
each piece, and a coarse flower sprawl
ing below, as if it had been laid on with
a miniature whitewash brush.
''This is never my Grandmother
Grumpton's old china" said Mrs.
Symington, bursting into tears, and
pushing the hideous atrocities away
with force which cracked two plates.
'I'lI write to Aunt Grizzly at once, and
this misunderstanding shall be cleared
up"
In the course of time an answer
came from Wild River, stiff1y written
in pale ink, and conveying in its tout
ensemble the general impression that
Aunt Grizzy had wrestled with it as if
it had been a fit of the Asiatic cholera
"DEAR NEICE" (itsaid), with Love
81 +nl~n Do, To I,,co
You that the China is all right Bot
from Smelly & Pipkin. in Boston, last
November, at Eight ($8) the Set, to be
transported at my own Dammage. AS
for my Mothers old Set, witch Captain
Babcok bro't from Calcutta in the
Year 1897, Gave it to his Neice Helen
Hosmer two Yeres ago for Pare Of
Gold Spectackles and d Fur Muff, be-
ing so Cracked and Old-fashioned that
it wasn't worth no more. But [ am
told that she puts it on Ebbony Shelves
in her Best Parlor. But Helen never
was more than Half-Witted and your
Set witch you took home with you is
worth a Deal most Money. So you
have the Best Bargain. With love, |
remain, Your Aunt to Command,
'GRLZZEL GRUMPTON."
'EAh = said Mr.. Symington, VINO had
been listening intently to the contents
of this much blotted and besmeared
piece Of manuscript, sealed with AUNT
Grizzy's thimble top, and still retaining
a subtle odor of fried sausages and grid
die cakes. GA seal dolman at three
hundred dollars, thirteen-dollar hat,
a pair Of fifteen-dollar fur gloves, a
fifty-dollar journey and a twenty-five
dollar investment, all for set of china
which you can buy anywhere on the
Bowery or Grand street for ten dol
lars How does that look, my dear,
as viewed in the light Of political econ
omy?"
And Mrs. Symington answered only
by her tears.
"There, there, Bella, don't fret" said
her husband, kindly. "Let the thing
go for what it is worth Forget it."
"But I can't help fffretting," sobbe d
Mrs. Symington. Gone thing is quite
certain, however, never will be such
a fool again. [ will not spend another
cent for ceramics until I have econo-
mixed enough to pay for this outrageous
sWindIe."
Gently, my dear, gently" said her
husband. "Now you are going to far
Aunt Grizzle 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" sale
Mrs. Symington.
Chow was she to know what you
meant?" said MIR. Symington. "Chins
is china, and to me one piece is as gooC
as another"
And Mrs. Symington was too broken
down and spiritless even to argue the
point with him.-Baaur.