The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-02

~ am looking about to get a piece of old
crockery to glue to q FRIEND"
path. She was about to make her usu-
al inquiry regarding old dishes when
she caught sight of the platter on
which the cherries were preserving.
For all there was only the border of
laurel leaves and blossoms visible
Mrs. Ridgeway's practiced eye told her
that this was Lafayette landing plat
ter. In imagination she could see the
whole picture-the two steamers and
numerous small boats in the water, the
row of six smoking cannon in the fore
ground and the marshals and sentinels
riding about, while underneath it all,
in dark blue letters, were the words,
Landing of Lafayette at Castle Gar
den, New York Aug "a, 1924" All of
this was as plain to this student of
ceramics as if the platter lay at that
moment before her.
''My dear lady, would you be willing
to part with this old platter for con
sideration?'' Mrs. Ridgeway eagerly
inquired.
"Oh, dearie, no." Mrs. Esterbrook an
swered, looking up. "Why, that old
blue platter belonged to my settin out,
and it's every piece I've got left Of the
set. never broke 'em myself to speak
Of, but in my younger days was sick
good deal, and hired help do raise
the mischief with dishes"
Eyes, indeed they dor and Mrs.
Ridgeway spoke feelingly, thinking of
how many more treasures she might
have cleaned If it had not been for
these same yandals-the hired help.
II was looking about to get piece
of old crockery to give to q friend for
a wedding present" said Mrs. Ridge
way, sitting down on the bowlder and
looking at the platter with longing
eyes. "Why, I can't see nick in it,
she continued as she examined it.
eyes, there's one queer shaped one
right on the underside of the rim,'
Mrs. Esterbrook explained, holding up
the platter.
III you'd been willing to part witt
the dish, I'd have paid you $40 for It,
Mrs Ridgeway added regretfully.
''Ten dollars!" and Mrs. Esterbrook
gave little start. Queer that it should
have been just the amount that She
had calculated only an hour or two be
fore that she needed to enable her tc
go to Johnnie's wedding. Here was q
chance to surprise him. 1t was q
temptation. She laid down her iror
spoon and, absently picking up peony
leaf, frightened some bees that were
gathering about the sweetmeats.
Connected with the old blue platter
were thousand pleasant memories OF
family gatherings, of Thanksgiving
dinners, of wedding festivities. They
all came crowding into her mind now
and seemed to forbid her parting with
this memorial of those times But or
the other hand was Johnnie's wedding
and she did so long to go! She pictur.
ed his surprise at seeing her when she
had written that she could not come.
"Er-what did you say you wanted
the old platter for?" she asked falter.
ingly.
"To give to a friend who is getting a
collection of old pieces of crockery,'
spoke up Mrs Ridgeway eagerly. ..This
would be put in a pretty cupboard
with glass doors, where it would be
very ornamental, besides being so well
cared for"
This put it in new light to Mrs
Esterbrook. All of her things were to
go to Johnnie after she was gone. But
1t was no ways likely that Johnnies
wife would be one who would care at
all for such an old relic as this. Ger
tainly it would be better to take up
with this offer, when the money would
be SO acceptable, and be assured that
the platter would be sent where it
would be so priced. Yes, she would
let it go.
THE cherries are about summed now"
she observed as she started to take the
platter into the house. "It's the last