Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-09-16
THE OLD
BLUE JAR
DO oCOo 5000 oG0o oCGo oGGo &C


lltown for the summer she made up
r mind that she would bend all her
ergies to wheedle Aunt Phoebe out Of
old blue ginger jar that Uncle
Illus had brought home from China,
tie thinking that the old slant eyed,
sided mandarin would take such a
fular interest in her joys and sor
VS..
che old blue jar had perched for
ny years on the corner of the high
ntelpiece in the old fashioned coun-
parlor, and Aunt Phoebe knew that
she gave it to Clementine she would
We a dreadfully lonesome feeling
cry time she stood on a chair to dust
old clock, the shells, the peddler
ses, the leather fans and other COM
mons of its lofty abode. But Glenn
tine was an accomplished wheedler,
d the fond old aunt finally said she
ght have her wish.
When Aunt Phoebe gave over to
ementine her right and title to the
blue jar, Randall was leaning in
window and idly sitting rose leaves
IN the old climbing vine through the
shes of his tennis racket. He sympa-
zed with her lively admiration for
antique and unique in china and
s glad that she had attained her
hrt's desire. but a more absorbing in
lest possessed his manly breast
Elementine was going home in the
rning, and he had been trying in
N for several days to get the feeble
1rage of his ardent convictions up
the deciarative point. She was such
Nj lively. fun loving girl, and love, you
bw. is such intensely serious bust
u.s. Several times Randall fancied
had found her in a sober and prop
VI h receptive frame of mind, when
h q trifing jest she would defeat
intention and put the little god to
int.
low, however, when the slant eyed
ndarin on the blue jar winked at
through the vines. Randall said to
pseIf enthusiastically:
Well, old boy, that's the very thing!
hnk you for the bright idea! Are
y all as clever as you are over in
na?"
that night, in his room under the
es, he constructed an eloquent let
to Clementine and in the early
rning sneaked into the parlor and
posited 1t in the robust bosom of the
blue mandarin.
If she finds it before she goes home,
all right" said the timorOus. ador-
fellow, "and if she doesn't find it
il afterward it will be all right too"
ut the mandarin felt little funny
t day, so when Clementine packed
trunk he inspired her to stuff the
ger jar full of her silken hose, that
precious article might take no risks
breakage in its voyage. So when
bdall parted from her at the station
made no sign of knowing anything
particular, and his hopeful heart de-
ed that she would surely find the
er when she reached home, and he
lid then hear from her.
ow, Clemintine was a girl who al
IS had great many things on her
d, and when she had unpacked the
hsured jar and placed it on dainty
lie in her pretty parlor-with a self
gratulatory thought that it was so
bectable to have things that ones
tive had brought from China-she
billy forgot the curious load that the
hdarin had on his breast. She missed
silken hose. of course. and pestered
bit Phoebe with messages about
n.
Milltown, as you may imagine,
hdall waited for the answer to his
er. Awhile he waited patiently,
impatiently awhile, and then
ed into his law books with that
mposure of settled distress" which
FRS have known in every age and
be. He did not dream that the slant
d mandarin would be guilty of the
entlemanly trick of intercepting a
letter.
ut the fun loving mandarin knew
bit he was about He was not with
experience In these matters, and
wanted to punish Clementine a
and bring her to the proper con-
on Of seriousness.
nd Clementine was feeling the stu
with all the sobriety that was de-
bic. She had suspected all sum-
that Randall had a tender feeling
her which she felt qualified to re-
ocate, but she was proud girl and
ID not by a feathers weight infiu-
the balance Of his attentions.
refore behind her smiles she had
not little wounded that he had
wed her to come home without hav-
given expression to his sentiments.
she, too, now took on a sober
htenance and banished thought and
let by joining several new clubs
taking membership in two or three
e charitable organizations.
st before Christmas Randall one
experienced in his breast a sort Of