Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-12-07
GRANDMA'S CUSTARD CUPS.
rs ELIzApETn wEsTYN TIMLOw.

gy ELIzABErn wEsTYN TIMLOw.
Patty regarded visit to grandinam
mi as u little glimpse into Paradise. a
home there was such flock OF children
Of whom she was middle man," that i
was delightful to be the only little ont
in the large house, und have all hel
grandparents attention centercd upoi
her.
Grandmamna had u fascinating
home, with its wide, central hall ant
great rooms. Her father had been ,
sea captain, and the whole place was
full! of curious furniture, piles OF Won
tlerful seashells and great branches o.
coral. Queer, stuffed birds pccret
down from tall cabinets; feathery driet
grasses, from South America, nodded
in stately blue jars; quaint Japanes,
curiositics and odd Chinese toys, won
dcrful music boxes, and tables that tool
all apart, carvings and screws and dark
rich hangings--all these made tn,
great, dim parlor, especially, dream
Of strange delights to six-ycar-old
Patty.
She was n dainty, careful little body
MO no one ever felt obliged to say to her:
don't touch" She had never been
known to break or injure anything
therefore she WINS allowed to handle
anything she liked. and she always re.
placed things exactly as she found
them.
This winter Patty had not been very
well, and the doctor advised sending
her to the country for six months
Grandma was quite Us delighted to have
Ter little pet granddaughter MS Patty
was to go.
One OF her chief amusemcnts was to
20, with an older cousin, who lived
near, TO the little district school, which
WAC very new experience after her city
kindergarten. II was quite u walk
from grandma's to the little brown
schoolhouse, SO the children carried
their luncheops and ate them, picnic
fashion, clustering around the rusty
box stove. This was the widest eX-
element for Patty, for grandma put
her up such dainty little luncheons, and
II seemed so grown up to start OFF with
her primer tucked under her arm, and
her little wicker basket firmly graspcd
In her hand.
One day when grandma WINS out,
Patty, being alone, went roaming
around the pnrlors for amusement.
She listened at the seashells, and dec
GRATED herself with the strings Of queer
leads which lay heapcd up in cabinet.
once. She played with the carved
chcssnen and slowed them all away
ngain in their quaint little box of sweet
smelling wood. Then she wandered
over to wide, low cabinet, decorated
with carved dragons and grifiins.
She opened the lower doors and sat
down before them. The shelves were
filed with china; cups and saucers like
eggshells; cut-glnss dishes, flashing
buck the light; all rare, curious OF WI
liable. Patty was more or less familiar
with these, for they always decorated
the table on state occasions, SO she
pushed them aside with gentle fingers
TO see what might be behind them. She
knew grandma would allow her to in
vestigatc in this way, for she was nj
why's careful.
"0h, OIL" cried Patty, presently, In
the course OF her explorations. II don't
blieve grandma knows she hns these!
I've never, never seen them before"
She had discovered, In a distant cor
ncr, set of queer little cups without
saucers. They were Of brown, glazed
ware, with wreath Of pink rosebuds
around them. The shape was very
graceful, with twisted handles on each
aide.
'llow beautiful" sighed Patty, in
admiration, drawing one out. "What
cunning little handles! I'd like to drink
out OF it."
They were really little cups for bak-
Ing custards In; but rs grandma had
another set, which she preferred to
use, she had no occasion TO get these
out.
Putty surveyed the cup on all sides.
GLOW nice II would be 70 take to
school TO drink out of. instead OF that
old tin dipper." she thought, suddenly.
Fl don't b'licve grandma would mind.
Ill Just ask her when she comes home.
Patty put the other things back In
their places, and carried the little cup
10 her room, instead Of putting II back
rs she should have done. Then she ran
down to the sunny kitchen, where
good-natured Roxy was always ready
10 talk to her and tell her stories. When
grandma came home, the little girl had
quite forgotten all about the cup.
The next morning. however. when
she ran to get her things ON for school,
she suddenly remembered II, and took
Il up to admire It again.
II wonder u grandma would mind"
she thought. uneasily. Down In her
Leari she began to be ireadfully afraid
w would, end she bod set her heeft ea