The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10
A PRESENT FROM MARCATE.

/ house, and after all, as I've said 10 my
! self many's the time, what's the good Of
/ people purviding these here conveniences
! if no one don't avail themselves
! Each of the old men knew the details
! in the life of the other to which allu-
sion had been made. but the want of
4 originality in their conversation did not
/ depress them. They had preferred the
| old familiar topics 10 any novelty.
Mr.. Peters poured the tea into the
| large cups. one Of which had a magenta
rim touched up with gold, and the other
a picture Of some sea sands, with cr1no-
| lined ladies and short-frocked children
| disporting themselves upon them. and
on which was written in fancy letters,
/ For a Good Boy" These and the
brown teapot and plate or two COM
prised Mr.. Peters's supply OF crockery.
Mr. Dimick was better off in this re-
spect. He had quite an array on the
shelf in his room and on the mantel-
piece "Sairey'' had had a mania for
china and he had not liked to part with
her possessions. She had been won't 10
purchase her marmalade in glass sugar
{ basins and milk-jugs, and her tea at
stores where a handsome vase was given
away with half pound. There We're
also two highly colOred ornaments which
had belonged to her brother, who was a
Forester" and of which she was justly
proud They were opposite each other
on the mantelpiece next to the blue and
white Iustres which Dimick had given
her on the twentieth anniversary Of their
wedding One represented gentleman
in a green tunic with a leg and a man,
the other half leg from the knee down
ward being superseded by shiny brown
dog. In his hand he held a red hare,
which was hanging head downward.
Perhaps there was nothing in all the
world which Mr.. Dimick priced so Nigh
~ as these "Foresters.' net only be
cause they had been Sairey's brother :,
and then Sairey's. but because as works
of art he regarded them as beyond re-
preach
Mr.. Dimick. being a visitor, was pre-
scented with the Margate cup. It's CON
tents were very dark and very much
sweeteued. Milk was a luxury usually
reserved for Sundays. Mr.. Peters ala
not think it was an Improvement TO the
taste of tea He said so now. II sort
of softens it down, don't You know
ne remarked Now and then for
change a drop OF milk amt TO be de-
spised. but for settin' you up don l De
Heve that tea should be diluted.
They drank their tea very slowly and
contentedly. Their days were so long
that the little pleasures had TO be pro-
tracted Mr. Peters, by reason of his
toothlessness. soaked his bread so as TO
make il softer; Mr.. Dimick, who had
small appetite. nibbled a crust very
cheerfully. He always ate crust on
principle when he partook of Mr.. Pc
I tiers hOSplLdIlN- also Oh ptlliSiliV III
insisted on Mr. Peters's eating crumD
when the latter had tea in his room.
Presently. whether it was that a piece
of bread went the wrong way or from
other causes. Mr. Dimick was attacked
by a violent fit OF coughing. II came
upon him so suddenly that he was quite
unprepared and the teacup Tell on
his weak old knees on TO the fender
Had il fallen onto the floor il would
perhaps, not being remarkably dehcate'
have escaped injury, but its sharp con-
tact first with the edge of the fender
and then with the tongs had the effect
OF breaking it into several pieces. Inc
handle rolled under the CRATE, ana the
tea ran into the ashes. Mr.. Peters Sprang
up with such energy that he nearly let
his own cup fall. Then he deposited the
latter on the table and went down on
his stiff knees to inspect the injury. 1t
hurt him TO move quickly for one thing,
he was very much annoyed at the acct
dent for another, and he was a man or
an impulsiVe temperament, so that when
he saw the iTrcmediableness or the
breakage he grew crimson in the face
and said furiOusly. You've smashed 1t
TO atoms And there amt nothing l
valued like inst that bit Of chiney!
Poor Mr. Dimick tried TO apologize, but
he was at the moment physically IN
capable Of doing so. He was very red
in the face and the tears were stream
ing from his eyes He shook his head
deprecatingly. But whenever he tried TO
speak the cough began again.
You'd ought to have put II down
when you see the cough comm on
continued Mr.. Peters mercilessly; tea
cups of that kind don't grow In cutters
that YOU should treat 'em so cheap. II
it had been yours ] make no doubt
you'd have taken better care of it. Not
as YOU could help coughin'-that's your
infirmity-but YOU might have set the
cup out Of mischief first If there's
thing l can't abide it's 10 have my fur
niture destroyed, and that cup val
ued special 1t weren't like any other
cup TO me-
AIr. Dimick looked at him piteously.
I'm that-sorry. Peters, he said indis-
tinctly: II wouldn't have let it go-if
the coughin' hadn't cOme-suddint like;
but the ticklin' began and then-the cup
sort OF leapt off my lap-and I couldn't
have stopped it-not if it had been ever
so"
"Ah. well. we'll" said Mr. Peters.
whose temper had well-nigh spent itself,
and who was already beginning 10 be
mollifed; there's proverb that 1T
l suppose it'll hold good for tea too.
spoke hasty. OF course you didn't do il
for the purpose. Don't name it any
more, Dimick, don't name it.
But this softening on his part affected
Mr.. Dimick more than his anger had
done. BY now, too, he had regained
command over his voice.
But / must name It," he said; its
only natral you should be vexed."
Mr. Peters had now resumed his seat,
one or two Of the broken pieces in his
hands He surveyed them ruefully, then
laid them on the table.
No" he said, I'm not vexed. OF
course I couldn't purtend as I'm not
sorry, for sorry 1 am. but accidents hap
pin in the best regulated families; and
I'm sure none couldn't be better regulated
than yours and mine Ha. ha. hal Don't
YOU look so downcast, Dimick. 1t amt
nothink. after all. I'd have had TO part
with that cup sooner or later, you know;
it couldn't have gon2 along TO heaven
with me. Ha, hai Cheer up, Dimick;
there's plenty more tea in the pot. And
if you'll jest let me step in and fetch one
Of your cups you can have il all comfort
able"
I'm sure you're very generous, Pet
ers." said Dimick, holding out his little
thin hand TO his friend, who grasped it
in his horny one. very generous. And
you valuin Of it, and all. But / can't
help feelin' you mind it more than you
own"
Mind IT, 1 do, Dimick," assented the
old man. II am but human, and a cups
a cup. And when / come back I'll just
tell yer what ] amt never mentioned 70
you afOre. why 1 sort of held to that
one. II was souveneer, you see"
He rose to go into Dimicks room. The
latter did not offer TO go himself He
was q good deal unset nv tho Iff+Ia acof