The San Francisco call., 1906-08-26
The Cixh CuCt0Iner
and the Cilvcr
Teapot.
Copyright 1906. BY NJ S. chapman

- =
she liked always TO remember
Margaret Snow The memory OF that
pale, blind old maid with her sorrow
ful story and her patient endurance,
never died out OF the girls heart. The
pitiful little episode OF the silver tea
pot, which she pawned so unwilIingIy,
and only out Of sheer necessity: the
sad tale recounted by the crushed crea-
ture, and the unexpected part which
she took herself in the conclusion of
such tale; all these things served to
keep green the memory Of the sad
woman whom Hagar called her sixth
customer. There was even something
ludicrOus in parts Of the affair; some
thing naive and childiike in the sbso-
lutte simplicity OF the romance; but
FEagar never saw its humor. All she
knew was that Margaret was a martyr
or saint. and that the world was the
loser for not knowing her story. Such
as il is, the tale runs thus:
Il was dusk one November evening
when Margaret entered the shop. with
a parcel tied Up in an old towel. Hagar
knew her well by sight as blind
woman who lived in an attic at the
top Of the end house in Carby's Cres-
cent and as one who earned a hard
and penurioUs living by weaving hand
baskets OF straw for great emporium
at the corner Of the outside street
These baskets speciality of the great
shop-were given TO customers in
which TO carry away small parcels;
and as the demand was constant, the
supply was the same. Margaret could
always sell as many of these baskets
as she could weave; but. although
skillful and nimble with her long
fingers. she could rarely earn more
than o shillings a week On tthis she
had TO live, and dress. and buy food,
so her existence was really kind OF
miracle. Still. she had never asked
charity Of "a single soul, being proud
and reserved; and in all the years she
had dwelt in Carby's Crescent she had
never entered the pawnshop. Knowing
this, Hagsr was astonished TO see her
standing in one Of the sentry boxes
with the bundle placed on the counter
before her.
II, SUeer
surprise. What is the matterq Is there
anything that I can do for you2"
The thin pale face of the woman
flushed as she heard herself called by
her name; and her voice was hesitating
and low as she laid one slender finger
on the bundle. before making reply.
4 have been i'll, Miss Stanley" she
explained, softly. so / have not done
much work lately Very little money
pay my rent and-and--" She broke
down altogether, and added desper-
ately: Please lend me something on
this"
Hagar became a business woman at
once. What is it?" she said undoinR
the bundle deftly.
It is-it is-a silver teapot" fall
tered Miss Snow; the only valuable
j possess I wish 20 pawn il for three
months, until can redeem it, II
hope to repay the money by then.
Three-three pounds Will be" Her
voice died away in her throat; and
dagar saw her poor thin hand steal
Up 70 her averted face 10 brush away
a tear.
The teapot was a square one OF
Georgian design. with futed sides an
elegantly curved spout and a smooth
handle of ivory Hagar was quite will
REQUIRED
pounds, as the silver was worth more
until she made a curious discoverv
The lid Of the pot was closed tightly
ano soloered all round. in a manner
which made il quite impossible to be
opened This odd circumstance rem
oered the teapot for all practical pur-
poses entirely useless; no one could
use an hermetically sealed vessel.
ny Is this teapot closed?" asked
Hagar in surprise.
TT was done thirty wears a1o my
by order" replied the blind woman. in
calm voice; then, after a pause she
added IN faint and hesitating ones.
Ihere are letters in H."
Letters? What lettersg'
Mine and-a persons with whom Won
nave no concern. Please DO not ask
any more questions. Miss Stanley. Give
me the money and let me go. hope TO
neoeein the teapot in three months"
hagar hesitated and looked doubtful
As il is sealed up, the teapot is hardly
of much use" she said, after a pause
Take II back, Ny dear Miss snow. and
I II lend you the three pounds"
Lnank you, no." replied the old maid
colby take charity from no one
II you cant lend the money on the tea
pot give me back my property"
On Wei. III take il in pawn II you
Here are three sovereigns. and III
make out the ticket at once"
The hand of the blind woman closed
on the money with a sigh of mingled
regret and relief. When HaCar returned
with the ticket she saw that Margaret
was fOndling the piece Of silver as
though unwilling to part with n. She
drew back, flushing. on hearing the an
preaching footsteps OF Hazar and TAX
ing the ticket n silence, moved away
with tears running down her withered
cheeks. Hagar was touched by this
mute misery.
can you find your way back home in
the darknessT she called out.
MY dear said the elder woman with
dignity, "day and night are the same TO
me. You forget that I am blind. Also"
she added. with an attempt at lightness
i know every inch Of this neighbor-
hood"
When she departed Hagar put away
the teapot. and wondered little over
the ode circumstance OF il being closed
and containing love letters She was
certain that the letters were full OF love
from the faltering way in which Mar
garet had mentioned them: also be-
cause they were her own and "a per-
sons with whom you have no con-
cern"
That last sentence, as spoken by the
blind woman showed Hagar only foo