Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-08-04
Aunt Carries China.

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Aunt Carrie Wilson and she made US
stay for tea.
/, "Oh, Aunty. what lovely china
Where have you kept it so longp' ask
ed Kate as aunty brought out tray OF
dishes.
The china was indeed OF quality
and pattern both rich and rare. Aunty
set down the tray and babe US draw
our chairs up to the table before she
answered Hates question.
81 never bring out this china, Kate,
only when | feel | need q special re-
hinder OF lesson 1 learned twenty
years ago, and hope never to forget.
"A story! oh, do tell usl"
"Well, dears, eat your biscuit and
drink the tea out of the little cups you
admire so much, and as / intended to
tell you the story. now is the best time,
and hope as Kate is so soon to set up
housekeeping she will profit a little
from it,.
Kate blushed prettily and | settled
myself to listen.
at is over twenty years ago since
Jack and | set up housekeeping. He
was only book-keeper with Mills &
Davis, where he is now partner. Ours
was double wedding. My cousin
Dora was married at the same time.
Her husband had better position and
larger salary than your Uncle Jack,
and | am afraid Dora was little ex-
travagaDt too. They took house not
far from ours and Dora would come
over very often. One day she came
over for me TO go shopping with her.
"'There's no use, Dora, i exclaimed,
Il have no money to spend, but Dora
declared she had some and finally per-
suaded me TO accompany her. We Wis
tied one store after another, until ]
must go home.
"Just come in here, and then / will
go too"
I'VE entered a handsome crockery
store and at Dora's request was taken
to the china department. Now, my
greatest desire had always been to pos
sess china tea set and | felt a little
envious as | saw Dora choose a lovely
set.
THAT beautiful china. only five dol
lars?" / asked in surprise as | saw Dora
paying the clerk.
"She laughed. You simple little
goose, put eleven more fves with it !
and you will get at the price.
.'Sixty dollars! Oh, Dora''
"'Well, it is just this way, Carrie;
pay five dollars down and take my
china home, and every month for a
year | bring five dollars; then it is paid |
for, and | don't miss the money as |
should If paid it down, she explained.
''For once in my life was dazzled by
Dora's good management. Now, / saw
this set there and did so want to pos
sess it! | thought if Dora could get
set, why not | in the same way? So in
the end paid over my first installment
on the china.
at was not until / was nearing
home, | thought of what Jack would
say. He never stinted me in any way,
but felt In my heart that he would
not approve, and the thought made me
so | asked Dora's advice.
"'Tell Jack, indeed No, should
think not. Just tell him il cost five
dollars, which is partly true, you
know
Il am ashamed that / took her adj
vice. Well, TO shorten my story, |
TO meet the first three pay
ments, but the fourth was drawing near
and hadn't near enough to meet it.
| worried myself quite i'll over it. One
day when | felt desperate an old man
came to the door and explained that he
was buying old clothes. | saw chance
Of making little money and gathered
up quite bundle for him, including an
old coat OF your Uncle Jacks. / didn't
get much for them but put it away to-
wards the five, small as il was. In
about fifteen minutes Jack came home.
He looked worried and went straight
up stairs. In short time he came
down and came into the room where
was sitting.
Did you put my old Office coat
away, Carrier he asked
YES: why?' / asked anxiously, for
4
noticed how pale he was.
"'Where did you put it?'
Il gave 1t to'-but girls the look
On his face froze the words on my lips.
Carrie, | am ruined, he gasped;
The pocket in that coat contains one
thousand dollars in anoenvelope; it be- ,
ongs TO the firm {
I'll waited to hear no more, but flew
put OF the house in search OF the rag :
nan whom | had seen turn in at Dora's !
gate, and how prayed that he would !
still be there. He was paying Dora for /.
some clothes as | arrived. / walked