Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-04-02
THE BLUE CHINA TEA SET.


One cup and saucer one little red
edged plate: one bone-handled knife and
fork: one silver spoon marked Il. ).
and worn thin with much usage. Ii did
no. take Emma Smith very long 10 clear
away her breakfast-table.
1T does seem, she said, speaking
aloaI. presumably TO the cat, "as if
q ~ poorer and poorer every day!
hal a little butter with my oatmeal yes
terday. To-day haven't any. There's
only handful of potatoes left in the bin,
and four apples and few carrots. And
I've no money Yes. it's come to that
I've got to sell Aunt Desires old blue
Canton china!"
As she uttered the words, moisture
came into her eyes which made the
white crocuses along the garden walk
waver as if high wind had swept over
them.
No one would have believed that
i ma Smith had once been the prettiest
girl in Norvalton Now and then blue
light would sparkle into her eyes, faint
flush of color woul rise to her withered
cheeks, which might recall the days Of
yore, but these came seldom. She was a
dressmaker by trade. but she had some-
how gone out Of fashion. People looked
askance at her Paris plates and doubted
her ability to hang skirt or cut a sur
plice waist The dashing Madame
from New York got all the local custom.
And there were times when Emma hear
tily wished that she had accepted Asa
IL H.pper, instead of jeering at his suit
She had scarcely packed up the blue
Canton china set in dilapidated splint
basket when the sound of creaking
wheels was heard, and Old Ma'am Per-
kins. seated on an aerial perch amid
brstling array of crockery and tinware,
driving patient old horse, who paid no
sor, of attention TO shaken reins or be-
laJoring whip, came in view. Emma
ran out to intercept her.
want to buy ANYTHING, Emma?
Emma Smith shook her head. Mrs.
Perkins, said she, I'm wantin' to sell.
1.-The land To sell what, Emma
Aunt Desires old set o china. Real
Canton. Flown blue. The hull set
perfect and not chip nor crack in it.
"What ye want for itS'
81 haint no idea what it's wuth,"
sighed Emma. Anything it'll bring.
wal, hand it up here an I'll dew my
level best for ye. said Old Ma'am Per-
kins. I'm going down Bedford way
this trip and some one may take fancy
10 it.
1t was late in the April twilight when
the crockery cart once more stopped at
the door Emma ran out 10 greet the
cheerful old woman who sat on 1t.
"Wal, cried Oil AIaam, Il sold it!'
"Did you?" Emma had cherished an
illogical, sort of lingering hope that the
blue china might prove unstable and
thus come lack TO her after all.
And who do you guess bought it!
Asa Hopper, up to the Brook Farm.
ASA Hopper
"Folki say he's going 70 be married,
said Old 1Ia'am Perkins. Anyhow,
he's furnished up the house real slick,
with new red store carpet in the best
room, and new wall paper, and Noting
ham lace curtains. Had property left
him from the Fairfield county Hoppers.
aided Old Nia'am. "Says he Seems to
me that china looks sort o natural! !
And saws |: 'Iwouldn't wonder if you'd
took tea off it before now. 1t belongs
t. Emma Smith. the dressmaker, down
in Norvalton, says |, and she amt so
well of a, she was-and she wants TO
sell it, Saws he: How much'll ye take
for it, Saws l twenty-five d,llars,'
for thought there want no Use in sell
in it for notning). Says he: I'll take
it, An here's the MOI cy all in gold,
III a shamny leather pur , in the bottom
OF my pocket.
And away she dro c, chuckling to her.
self.
Emma Smith went back iato the
drear, room, lighted her candle and set
her elf 10 work to apportion this unex-
pected vindfall to her various debts and
deficiencies; and through ii all her heart
was as heavy as lead.
Its nothing to me that Asa Hopper
is son g to be married, said she to her
self. Hes a real good fellow, and I'm
sure hope he'll do we'll But-but |
dMn't spose he'd have forgot me SO
svou.
And big round tear, like miniature
SOAP bubble, splashed down on the little
he o. gold pieces.
As Miss Emma Smith reached up to
nut The money away in cracked tum-
bier. at the back Of the dresser shelf, she
saw. standing there, stocky little cream
pitcher with the inevitable Chinese on
the badly foreshortened bii lge, traced
in flowing blue lines on its apopleuc
sides.
There, said she, Il forgot to send
that cream pitcher with the rest. I'm
sure l don't know how it ever came
here.
Just then there came knock at tho
door. Miss Smith had nearly dropped
the pitcher in the start she gave. She
went to the door and there stood Asa
Hopper himself.
Good evening, Emma!" said he, just
exact tly as if ten years had not elapsed
cince their last meeting.
Good evening, Asa, said the dress
maker. Il know what you came for.
S down.
You do, eh:" Asa turned very red
and diligently busted the inside Of his
h.. with his silk handkerchief.
You've come for that blue pitcher
th, belongs to your set, and here it is
No. haint. said Asa Hopper. pay