Part 9 (1/2)

”I am so pleased that we asked her to do it,” said Mrs. Morrison, smiling across the table at the story-teller. ”I had my suspicions before, and now they are confirmed,” she added.

”I am just proud of you, Lil,” said Miss Moore, beaming on her friend.

”I think it is a lovely story, but couldn't you have more about the fairies, Miss Sherwin?” Frances asked.

”And about the wedding and what the bride had on,” suggested Gladys.

”But did you really make it all up?” inquired Emma.

The young lady laughed. ”No, I only found it between the lines of the song, and I certainly think it can be improved.”

”The moral is such a fine one,” remarked Mrs. Morrison.

”That faith and courage can always find a way--yes, isn't it, if one could only live up to it,” said Miss Moore.

”It has given me a great deal to think about,” added the Spectacle Man.

”The bridge is broke--but faith and courage will find the way; yes, I like it,” and he nodded his head emphatically.

”I thought morals weren't interesting,” said Frances, at which they all laughed, and Miss Sherwin said she hoped she had not made hers too prominent. ”I feel very grateful to you for liking it,” she added.

”I want you to elaborate it a little and send it to _The Young People's Journal_,” Mrs. Morrison said.

Miss Sherwin shook her head, but Miss Moore declared she would see that it was done.

Peterkin, who had been completely forgotten in the interest of the story, created a sensation just here by catching one of his sharp lower teeth in his frill, thereby causing temporary lockjaw. He was promptly released by Miss Moore, who declared he should not be dressed up again.

After he had gone into seclusion under the sofa, and the rest of the company were eating grapes and apples, Mr. Clark took down the Toby jug from the mantel shelf.

”It seems hardly right to tell another story to-night after the beautiful one we have listened to,” he said, ”but this is a very short one, and I promised Frances. This brown ware is called Rockingham, and you see how the likeness of a very fat old gentleman is embossed upon it. It is said that there once lived a jolly toper named Toby Fillpot.

In the course of time he died and was buried, and then, according to an old drinking song:--

”'His body when long in the ground it had lain, And time into clay had resolved it again, A potter found out in its covert so snug, And from part of fat Toby he formed this brown jug.'

”In fact, I believe he made a number of them, and dedicated them to friends.h.i.+p, mirth, and mild ale.”

”It seems to suggest d.i.c.kens; doesn't he somewhere mention a Toby jug?”

asked Mrs. Morrison.

”I don't remember, but it is likely,” answered Mr. Clark.

”Was your grandfather an Englishman?” Miss Sherwin asked.

”Yes, he was English and my mother was French.”

”I was sure there was French somewhere,” said Mrs. Morrison.

The children thought the jug very funny and interesting, but Frances did not want to touch it after she had heard the story.