The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-06

While we were wondering about
this, she arose and went to chest of
drawers near by, and, taking out an
object in flannel bag, resumed her
seat by the fire. Out of the bag she
drew sort of silver vase. Very
quaint and queer it was, with strange
carving around the brim, and several
characters traced upon it, but we
could not understand them.
cts a spoon holder, isn't it!" said
Evelyn.
That's as good name as any,"
said Deborah, "but / misdoubt it's
ever having held a spoon. I'll tell
you about it. Over there lived sea-
captain, who had an only child, a
little girl named"
"Yes, yes, know!" l cried, clasp
ing my knees in delight.
"Then go on and tell il" said Deb
orah, setting her lips.
mo, no, indeed we don't, we only
think" pleaded Evelyn; "please go
on, Deborah!"
"It's bad to think too much when
story's being told you," said Deb
orah. "Well, once there was sea-
captain who had little girl and no
body else. When she was very small
he often returned from voyage and
took her on his knee and told her
tales the like of which you never
listened to in all your days! For
sailors know things nobody else
knows, and hear things nobody else
hears, and see things you wouldn't
believe if you saw them with your
own two eyes!
"Well, one night he took his little
daughter on his knee and said
81 had a mighty fine thing to
bring you, daughter. But it's left in
queer enough place-a place that
beats the Crazy James best sailingp
"What is it, father?' said she.
"There,' said he, drawing at his
pipe, well call it teapot, for short,
says he. Then she was very much
surprised, for she had no earthly use
for teapot.
"'Yes, teapot will do, said the
Captain, with one eye closed; it had
good bulk, and lip to the main,
and lid to it, and it was solid gold.
Yes, sir and he brought his hand
down on the chair arm, solid gold,
or I'm ahoat in the Nor Sea; and it's
yours, my daughter, toop
"Then he went on to tell his
daughter of voyage he had made, l
forget just where, hut to a heather
country where the bestdressed
people wore snake fangs and shell
necklaces, with alligator teeth for
Sundays. And, to cut long story
short, they did some trading and
sailed for night and day to the
northwest, and in seas where the
Captain had not been before.
"Just at shutdown the Captain babe
Jack Mcclure look through his glass.
Gland to leewardp said the Cap
tain. Jack Mcclure, who was the
Captains friend, and had sailed with
him for many year, took the glass
and gazed awhile.
"'There's no land on the chart
hereabouts,' said he; MGR do | see
any. But if you say So, it's there,
Captain
"And although the Captain de-
clared he saw land palmer and plain
err, it was a long time before Jack
Mcclure could see it. Then the
Captain ordered a boat lowered,
and the anchor cast, and babe Jack
follow him, and they put off to Skin
mish about bit. The crew, being
used to the Captain and Jack Nc
CURE taking look at strange coasts
occasionally, thought nothing of it.
And now mind you'-Deborah Knox
leaned forward and tapped her
needle on her knee-'I'm going to
tell the facts as the Captain told
me-"
"We knew it was you'll" said Eve
Ign.
"It's bad to know too much when
you're listening to stories" said Deb
orah impressively.
"The Captain and Jack MEG uire
rowed outward to where they dis
cerned land, visible as if through a
fog and yet apparently near. 1t
proved to be small island in mid
sea. 1t was apparently covered with
dwarf, scrubby shrubbery and low
rocks overhanging the sea. Here and
there they discerned fame-colored
flowers, growing low to the ground,
ard vines with some strange sort of
fruit. But of human life there was
not sign. They tied the boat and