Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-04-05
THE BLUE CHINA TEA SET.

and worn thin with mucn usage. AZ ulo
not take Emma Smith very long to clear
away her breakfast table.
at does seem," she said, speaking
aloud. presumably to the cat, -as if
grew poorer and poorer every day /
had 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
Emma Smith had once been the prettiest
girl in Norvalton. Now and then blue
light would sparkle into her eyes, q faint
dush of color would rise to her withered
cheeks, which might recall the days OF
yore, but these came seldom. She was
Giressmaker 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 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
Hopper, 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-
Rims, seated on an aerial perch amid
bristling array of crockery and tinware,
driving patient old horse, who paid no
sort of attention to shaken reins or be-
laboring whip, came in view. Emma
ran out to intercept her.
sWant to buy anything, Emmar"
Emma Smith shook her head. Mrs.
Perkins, said she, "rm wantin' to sell.
@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 it?"
81 haint no idea what it's with,
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 "Pm going down Bedford way
this trip and some one may take fancy
to it.
1t was late in the April twilight when
the crockery cart once more stopped at
the door. Emma ran out to greet the
cheerful old woman who sat on it.
"Wal," cried Old Ma'am, Il sold It'll"
ibid your Emma had cherished an
Illogical, sort of lingering hope that the
blue china might prove unstable. and
thus come back to her after all.
"And who do you guess bought it3
Asa Hopper, up to the Brook Farm"
ASA Hoppera"
"Folks say he's going to be married,
said Old Ma'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 oounty Hoppers.
added Old Ma'sAA Says he: Seems to
I me that china loohs sort o natural y
And says I: 'TwouldAt wonder if you'd
took tea of II before now. 10 belongs
! to ENnna Smith, the dFessmaker, down
! in Norvalton,' says L and she amt so
vel off 40 she was-and she wants to
sell it Says he: How muckn We take
sor it?' Ssys /: Twenty-Five dollars
I for l thougAs there ws'Ht no use in SELL
in il for notAiAgl Says he: IN take
tl' An hsre's the money all in gold,
IN shamny leather purse, in the bottom
IF my pocket
I And away she drove, chuckfng to her.
elf.
Emma Smith went back into the
sreavy room, lighted her candle and set
.erssaf to woPh to sprovsscn this unex-
ssossd windfall to he's vswious debts and
ofacicnciss; and through il all her heart
yss @ heavy as lead
~It's nothing to me that Asa Hopper
going to be married, sad she 10 her
Ola Hes real good fellow, end I'm
ne j hope hs'll do wsil Ms%-Aat I
kdn't spOse he'd have forget me SO
o1,"
Ass big round tear, like Q miniature
og bubhas, spaashed down on the little
~v Of gold pieces
AZ Miss Emma Smith reached UP to
ID the money away in a cracked tum-
or, ut the back Of the dresser shelf, she
W, standing there, stochy little cream
echer with the inevitable Chinese on
Q badly foSeshortened bridge, traced
flowing blue lines on its spopletic
lea
n There, said she, II forgot to send
at cream pitcher with the rest. I'm
co / don't know how it ever came
re-"
lust then there came knock at the
or. Miss Smith had nearly dropped
pitcher in the start she gave. She
at to the door and there stood Asa
PIPER himself.
Good evening, Emmal" said he, just
city as if ten years had not elapsed
II &c their last meeting.
Good evening, Asa, said the dress
i xer. II know what you came for.