The Faulkland quiz., 1892-06-25
THE TEAPOT.

I
There wab once proud Teal Pot: i
was proud of its real china, proud o
its long spout, and proud of its broa,
handle. 1t had something at botl
the front and the back--the spout il
front, and the handle at the back, anc
about this it used to talk; but it die
not talk about its lid. for that wal
cracked and riveted; ; it had defect and
one does not care to talk about one't
defects; other people do that quite
enough. Caps, Cream-Jug and Sugar.
Basin, the whole a-service-would
think about md talk over the lid'f
deficiency much more than about the
nne handle aud the distinguished-loo
ing spout; the Teapot was aware'ofthat.
~ know them" it sad to itself 81
know my own weakness too, and 1
acknowledge it; that is my humility,
my modesty. Failings we all have,
but one has gifts too. The cups receive
handle, the Sugar Basin lid; / re-
ceive both gifts, and one thing in front
which they never get get spout,
which makes me queen of the tea table.
10 the Sugar Basin and Cream-J ug
1t is granted to be the ministers Of
sweet flavor; but am the dispenser,
the manager: distribute the blessings
among the thirsty sons of men. With
IN me is the Chinese leaf brewed up in
the boiling, tasteless water"
All this the Teapot used to say In
the merry time of its youth. 1t stood
upon the Widespread table; ii was lift
ed by the daintieet of hands. But the
dainty hand was awkward; the Teapot
fell; off snapped the spout, off snapped
the handle; the I'D IS not worth men
tloning-enough has been said about
that already. Tne TEAPOT lay In a
ifainting. ft on the floor, while the boil
ing water ran out OF it. 1t was heavy
blow, and the hardest part OF it was
that they laughed at IL, and not at the
awkward hand.
81 never get the remembrance of il
out of my head," said the Tea-Pot.
the last time that it was recountinp its
career to itself. 81 was called invalid.
put by in corner, and on the next
DAY was given to a woman who used
to beg for dripping. ] sank into pow
erty, stood without word, either
without or within, but there as stood
began my better life.
I'VE are born one thing and become
altogether another. They put mould
inside me, which for a teapot is to
be buried; but in the mould was laid a |
flower bulb. Who laid it the Q, who |
gave 1t me, | do not know; given 1t |
was, in exchange for the Chinese leaf |
and boiling water-in exchange for the
broken-off handle and spout. And the
bulb lay in the earth, the bulb Law
within me; it was my heart, my living
ineart and such one as had never
had before.
There was life within me, there
was strength and vital force. The |
pulse beat, the bulb shot out sprouts; it
was near bursting with thoughts and
emotions They broke ont in flower:
/ saw it, / held it; forgot myself in
Its beauty blessed thing IL is to for
get ones self in othersl /.
1t did not say thank YOU to me. il
did not think about me; II was admired
and praised. ] was 30 glad about it,
what must it not have beenl Ia
Zone day heard some one saw that
= deserved better pot. They hit me
light across the side; 1T was fearfulIy
painful, but the flower got better Dot
and l was thrown out into the court-
yard. to lie there like an old potsberd.
ont l have the memory: of that can
aot bedepriyed."