Part 24 (2/2)
”You would have to go to some other mills, then,” smiled Mr Marwood ”We make no C C ware here”
”What is C C ware?”
”Ask Mr Croyden,” replied Mr Marwood ”You see, we have a little joke about it His name is Charles Croyden and sometimes in jest we call him C C Now C C ware (an abbreviation for cream-colored) is one of the cheapest of the white earthenwares When first manufactured it used to be of a pale yellowish tint, but now it is made in white Nevertheless its quality has not been materially irades of chinas it is a favorite quip of ours to call hihed heartily
”I will ask hirinned the boy
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CHAPTER XVIII
THEO'S GREAT CHOICE
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Theo was as good as his word
That noon as he and Mr Croyden sat at luncheon he remarked mischievously:
”You did not tell me, sir, that you made C C ware here”
Mr Croyden raised his eyes quickly and laughed
”So they passed that joke on to you, did they?” he said ”C C ware indeed! You young rascal! I have half a mind now not to send to your mother that blue vase you adirl's head on it?” cried Theo ”Are you really going to send it to Mother?”
”If you behave yourself I arimly froain some time”
”Oh, Mother'll be crazy over that vase It is a corker!” exclai it”
”You shall carry it back to her then, since you think she will like it,” declared Mr Croyden ”That is unless you would rather select as a present a piece of C C ware,” he added humorously
Theo smiled and shook his head
”Or maybe you would prefer a bit of Saham ware, or yelloare, or stoneware, or ironstone china, or white granite, or Queen's”
”Jehoshaphat! Are there all those kinds of earthenware?”
”Yes, and that is not the full list, either,” replied Mr Croyden ”We have a great many kinds of crockery, and as each variety has its cheaper as well as its rades, it makes an almost endless number of styles The better types of white earthenware are made from carefully selected and well mixed clays, and more nearly approach porcelain, of which they are iood and in consequence they fill a large place in o in for such chinas we respect a well-ood earthenware is an art in itself Many a rule attends its successful manufacture For example, the bottom of a heavy piece must not be too thick, or it will crack, because a treins to dry and shrink The sides pull from every direction, and therefore the bottom must be sufficiently thin to be elastic, and sufficiently thick to be strong And that is only one of the problems to be faced by pottery and earthenware makers So you see they, as well as we, have troubles”