The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-11-25
A pearl is only pearl to one who knowa
its value. and TO Mrs. Graves IL Ii only

then be thrown aside, or some old WON
an will keep her milk in IL. No, ! ex-
pect 10 get the bowl at a bargain, and
INV conscience won't trouble me II
take it,"
Nelly was correct in thinking the
bowl would soon be in her possession.
la less than week Mrs. Graves sent Tor
her. She found the old woman in bed
In a cold room and suffering terribly
from rheumatic fever. On little table
by the bed was tumbler of water and
plate of food, sent in by some plying
neighbor.
"Seems as il that turns my stomach"
she said, pointing to the food, "but 1t
was mighty good in Mrs. Ives to send it.
Jenny" 10 little girl who had come
in, won't you pick up some chips and
make blaze, so you can boil some wa
ter and make a cup of tarragon tea?
I'm just parching with thirst. Miss
Nelly, / sent for you to tell you If you
want that bowl I'll sell it. I'm too sick
to work, and l haven't got cent to buy
medicine or firewood."
Nelly's heart beat high with delight.
Certainly, Mrs. Graves" she said. Il
meant what l said, and I'll give you
what you ask for it,"
| do you think dollar is too much?'
Nelly glanced at the abject poverty
Of the room, the poor old woman's pain
drawn face, and for very shame at her
self blushed deeply. But the bowl must
be hers.
Mrs. Graves" she said, hurriedly,
"Ill give you five dollars for the bowl,
and here's the money" She took it
out of her pocket.
Give dollars!" exclaimed the old
woman, in establishment. Miss Nelly,
honey, reckon it's because you want to
! give me the money. 1t amt certainly
because the bowl is worth half that"
ITO me 1t is" Nelly said, hastily, with
sudden twinge Of conscience, "and il
/ had more money I'd give it, but this
is my last cent"
"Oh, I'm afraid you're paying high
for just a within! Please bring me the
bowl, Miss Nelly so l can tell ii good-by
before you take ii away"
Nelly brought il to the bedside, and
the tears were in the old creatures eyes
| as she took il i'm her trembling hands.
at is all that is left me of the blessed
old time. When look at il / see them
all-father, mother, husband and chill
dren, all lying in the churchyard. 1t
was my wedding present from father,
Miss Nelly. remember the night | was
married. Everybody wished me health
and prosperity, but father, he says:
Health and prosperity are mighty good
things, but | wish for my children hon
esty and fair dealing with all the world
Yes, those were his exact words. IL is
hard TO part with the last thing / have
of his" She pressed ii to her quiyering
lips with a sob, and handed il 10 Nelly.
Don't think I'm not thankful to you,
Miss Nelly" she said, because I'm
sorry AZ parting with it. You have given
me six times its value. God bless you'll
You've kind heart. May God deal
with you as you've dealt with a poor,
desolate old woman!"
As Nelly hurried home with her treas
ure, these words kept ringing in her
ears and beating at her heart. Some
how she did not feel as triumphant over
the bargain as she had expected. But
the next day she packed her bowl and
took the first train for the city of New
Orleans.
"Why. it's unique-it's worth it's
weight in gold, NELL" her aunt cried,
ecstatically. "Where did you pick ii
up? What did you give for ito"
"Oh, / got it at bargain" was all
Nelly would say.
There was netting of Mrs. Daven-
ports friends at her house that night
to inspect the bowl. One Of them, Mr..
Wentworth, gentleman of large for
tune, whose collection of old china was
one of the most costly in the United
States, was enthusiastic in his admira-
ton. ~ never saw but one like this
before, and il was in n private collec-
ton in Japan. IL would be priceless If
Il weren't for that chip on the edge
and that brown stain; but even az il Is,
It's worth $500 to any collector, and
I'd be glad to give that or more TO own
II, II you ever care 20 part with II, Miss
Nelly"
That night, when Nelly lay sleepless
on her bed, the words OF old Mrs. Graves
kept ringing in her ears. "And he says:
Il wish for them honesty and fair deal
ing" and then the words so fervently
spoken: May God deal with you as
you've dealt with poor, desolate old
wonnnl"
When she rose in the morning her
mind was made up. She told her aunt
the story, concealing nothing of her
own cupidity.
"And now, aunt" she said. 81 look
upon myself as only the custodian of
the bowl. ! am going to get all can
for II, and make, so far as can. the
poor old woman comfortable for the
rest Of her life"
When II was found that the bowl was
for sale, the bidding was fast and fu-
rious among the collectors; but none
went higher than Mr.. Wentworth, and
IL became his property for $500.
The story Of the destitute woman who