The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-06-17
The Sixth Customer
and the Silver Teapot

thaI pale, blind old maid, with her sor-
TOWIul story and her patient endur-
ances never died out Of the girls heart
The pitiful little episode of the silver
teapot, which she pawned so unwill-
lngiy, and only out of sheer necessity;
the sad tale recOunted by the crushed
creature, and the unexpected part
which she took herself in the conclu-
sion OF such tale: all these things
served to keep green the memory of
the sad woman whom Ragar called her
sixth customer. There was even some
thing ludicroUs in parts of the affair.
something naive and childlike in the
absolute simplicity of the romance; but
Hagar never saw its humor. All she
knew was that Margaret was a mar
tyr or a saint, and that the world was
the loser for not knowing her story.
Such as it is, the tale runs thus:
1t was dusk one November evening
when Margaret entered the shop, with
a parcel tied up in an old towel Ha-
gar knew her well by sight as a blind
woman who lived in an attic at the top
of the end house in Carby's Crescent,
and as one who earned a hard and pc
nuriOus living by weaving hand bas-
kets Of straw for a great emporium at
the corner of the outside street. These
basketS-a specially Of the great shop
were given to customers in which to
q.
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 MIN
bic with her long fingers, she could
rarely earn more than 10 shillings a
week. On this she had to live. and
dress, and buy food, so her existence
was really a 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, Hagar was
astOnished to see her standing in one
Of the sentry boxes, with the bundle
placed on the counter before her.
Miss SnOwL" cried Hagar. in sheer
surprise. What is the matter? Is
there anything that I can do for you?"
The thin pale face of the woman
flushed as she heard herself called by
her name; and her voice was hesitat-
ing and low as she laid one slender
finger on the bundle, before making re-
ply.
7 have been i'll, Miss Stanley" she
explained, softly, so I have not done
much work lately Very little money
has come in. II am obliged to-to pay
my rent and-and-" She broke down
altogether, and added desperately:
Please lend me something on this
HaSar became business woman at
once What is it?" she said, undolng
the bundle deity
1T is-it is-a silver teapot" faItered
Miss Snow; the only valuable I pos
seSS- L wish to pawn il for three
months, until 1 can redeem il. II
hope 10 repay the money by then. Three
three pounds will be" Her voice
died away in her throat; and Hagar
saw her poor thin hand steal up to her
averted face to brush away a tear.
The teapot was a square one Of Geor- /
glan design, with fiuted sides, an ele- I
gantly curved spout, and a smooth han
PIE Of ivory. Hagar was quite willing
ITO lend on it the required three pounds,
las the silver was worth more. until she
made curious discovery The lid of .
the pot was closed tightly, and soldered /
az round, in a manner which made fl
quite impossible to be opened. This odd /
circumstance rendered the teapot for
all practical purposes entirely useless.
no one could uNe a Theoretically sealed /
vessel.
Why is this teapot closed2" asked
Hagar in surprise.
1t was done thirty years ago by my
order replied the blind woman in 2 /
calm voice; then, after a pause. she
added III faint and hesitating tones:
Il here are letters in it."
A1CNtEAo- W nose letters
Mine and-a persons with whom YOU
have no concern. Please do not ask
any more questions, Miss Stanley. Give
me The money and let me 90. I hope TO
redeem the teapot in three months"
Hagar hesitated and looked doubtful.
As 1t Is sealed up, the teapot is hard
" Of much use" she said, after q
pause. Take 1t back, my dear Miss
Snow, and I'll lend you the three
pounds"
Thank you, no." replied the old
maid coldly. 81 take charity from no
one. If you can't lend the money on
the teapot, give me back my property"
on. well, I'll take 1t in pawn if YOU
ike, reJOlned HagaT, with a shrug. /
Here are three sovereigns, and I'll
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 Hagar re-
turned with the ticket she saw that
Margaret was fOndling the piece of
silver as though unwilling 10 part with
It. She drew back, flushing, on hear
ing the approaching footsteps of Ha-
gar, and taking the ticket in silence.
moved away with tears running down
Ter withered cheeks. Hagar was
touched by this mute misery.
can you find your wav back home
In the darkness she called out.
My dear said the elder woman with
dignity, day and night are the same
TO me. You forget that 1 am blind ,
Also she added, with an attempt at
lghness. know every inch Of this ,
When she departed Hagar put avav
the teapot and wondered a little over
the odd circumstance of it being closed ,
and containing love letters. She was
certain that the letters were full Of love
from the faltering way in which Mar ,
gaTet had mentioned them: also he I
cause they were her own and "a nor :
sons with whom you have no con
Germ I
That last sentence, as spoken by the 7
blind woman, showed Hagar only TOO
Tuly her indOmitabIe reserve and bride ,
she must have been reduced TO her last Y
rust before she could have brought
herself to pawn the queer casket-and !
I teapot as a receptacle for love let Z