Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-09-08

was arraid or the conclusion TO which
they were leading me. Maggie. II
ever a girl needed comfort and en-
couragemert and heart ming. did
then.
And got II. dear.
For there was a man at the door
with great basket Of azaleas-pale
innocent things-and a letter for ma
Here 1t is. Let me read ii TO you:
MY DEAR MISS OMAR:
once on a time there was a Lucdess
Pot, marred in the making, that had the
luck TO be OF service to Pipkin.
II was saucy Pipkin, though a very
winning one, and II had all the heaRh
ana strength the poor Pot lacked
Pbh i;yssi; Morally-morally. that young
flpkln was IN most unwholesome con-
oiuon. Already its fair. smooth surface
was scratched and fOuled II was un-
mindful OF the treasure OF good IL con-
famed, and its responsibility to keep that
good intact And II seemed destined TO
metal
What the Luekless Pot did was little
being ignorant Of the art by which dia-
monos may be attained easily and hon.
estly-but II gave the Little Pipkin q
chance
What the Pipkin did with that chance
the Pot learned tonight, with such
pleasure ana satisfaction as made II i'm
possible Tor him not to share IL with
her. So while he sent Burnett out to
the conservatory to cut azaleas, he wrote
ner a note to try 10 convey 10 her what
he felt when, in that nicely polished,
neatly decorated and self-respecting Ves-
sci on exhibition In Mrs. Gates red room,
he recognized the poor little Pipkin OF
other days
The Pot, al you know. was a sort Of
stranded bh Of clay that had never
filled the use for which pots are created.
he had little human TO interest him. The
fate OF the Pipkin. therefore he had
often pondered on; and. In spite Of i'm
probabilities had had faith in a certain
quality Of brave sincerity the little thing
showed; quality that shone through ac-
Quired faults like star in a murky sky.
This justification of his faith in the
Pipkin may seem small matter TO make
so much Of And yet the Pot-that sleeps
not well o, nights, as Is the case with
damaged pots-will take to bed with him
tonight a pretty, pleasant thought due
just 10 this.
But do not think the Pot an idealist
II he were, he might have been tempted
TO mistake the Pipkn for a statelier,
more pretentious Vessel-a Vase, say,
all graceful curves and embossed sides,
but shallow. perhaps. possibly lacking
breadth. No, the Pipkin is pipkin,
made OF common clay-even though II
has the uncommon sweetness and
strength 10 overcome the tendencies of
clay-and fashioned fer those common
uses OF life. deprivation OF which 10
anything that comes from the Potter s
hands Is the most enduring the most
uncommon sorrow.
o pretty little Pipkin, thanh the Pot
ter who made you as yoV are, as you
will be-a thing that can cheer and stay
mems souls by ministering to the human
needs OF them For you, be sure, the
Pot,er's "a good fellow and twill all
be WELL"
For the Pot-hr sails shortly, or rather
he is to be carled abroad by some opti-
mistic friends whose hopes he does not
share-to Celebrated repair shop for
damaged pots Whether he shall return
patched and mended into temporary SEM
blanCt of a useful Vessel; whether he
shall continue to be merely the same old
IIckless Pot. or whether he shall return
al all. o Pipkin. does not matter much
But II has been well that, before we
two behind the veil had passed, we met
again, and you left me such a fragrant
memory.
LATIMER
o Maggie, Maggie, some day | hope
to see that man and tell him how
sorely the Pipkin needed the Pot
letter!