Collector's Pieces

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 236, 5 October 1937, Page 19

Collector's Pieces

By E. M. GLEAVES.

(SHORT STORY.)

EVER since that cake basket came into the family mother has been clean crazy over silver jugs and things. I've never said it before, but I do think I'iiole George ought to have known letter than to have saddled us with

I But there —thank goodness!—it's finished with now so far as the j.avinoii|> goes and perhaps I should be wise to start dropping hints about a bicvele before anything else crops up. One never knows what sort of a club card will l>e on our mantelpiece. Uncle George had just finished his tea one Saturday when mother set an old metal jug down on the table lnere, our George, I know ye've «ot an eye for summat good, wat dVe think uv that?" She put her hands on her hips and stepped back a pace «W)i T>n ie u rge gaV€ a gleat guffawWell, I'll be ..." She did not let him finish. "No yer dunna, our George; if yer canna say wat ye've got ter say about a bit uv a jug wi'out swearin', I'll march it off," and, picking the ugly old thing up, she began rubbing it tenderly with her apron, 'it s a collector's piece if yer did but know it."

At this Uncle George took the jug out of her hands and began to examine it minutely. "If it isna the cream jug out of the set wat Becky tried to palm off on me an' Milly Dixon I eat my hat' —yer know '00 I mean, Sally? Ethel Dixon's Milly—lives down in Lambeth where I lodged when I worked in London that time."

"If you cudna put yer motty in I shud think you was sickenin' for summat, our George—it's a good piece. I'm sure, an' worth no end, the woman said."

Becky! I'd like to teach her a lesson,' e says. Me an' Milly goes as red ae fire. 'I've had this set a dozen times or

more to value. What did you pay for it?' J r j

"I explained, wishin' as the earth nd swaller me. 'Well,' says 'e at last, 'we'll cure her. You go and demand your deposit back. Tell her you can't afford it. She'll have enough to say to keep you standing there until an' old man dodders in and pretends he wants to buy the set for hie wife's golden wedding.' "I'd stopped away from work an" I was pretty mad. I can tell yer, so wo goes back as the old gent says—but wat that young Becky said when"«he sees us —especially about cleanin' them thin >s an' washin' the bage! ° "She wus goin' ter sue me an' I dunna know what when in dodders an old nodger jinglin , 'is money in 'is pocket. Is eyes seemed ter fasten on them wash-leather bags bulgin , wi' the things in 'em. 'E says, breathlese-like, 'if they are the eame pattern—oh—if they arc' Becky turns 'ohey-sweet. 'There, my dear,' she says ter Milly, 'I'll do my very best fer yer; they're worth double wat ye're askin'.' She eays ter the old man, 'A beautiful set, eir, that this lady wat'.? come ter misfortune i« sellin' at a cruel sacrifice' 'Wat about the five shilling;' asks Milly low.

"Becky looks took aback, but the oM gent wus gloatin' over the pieces. 'E raises 'is 'ead. 'What are you askiji' fer them young lady? , 'Five pounds, an' they're worth it, collector'* pieces; look fer yerself. They don't keep any eort no things in wash-leather bage lik3 them.' 'Five pounds is a fair price,' 'e says, an' Milly was goin' ter say summit when Becky gives 'er our deposit back like she'd promised afore we'd gone

Mother took a seat and glared first at V rifle George and then at me. "It's a small world," he murmured, "a small, wicked world. 'Ave yer bought it, Sally ?" "No," she replied glumly, "I 'ad but sixpence an' that was fer 'Enery's tea —I'd promised 'im 'addick. I stood lookin' in the winder when the missus comes out. 'I eee ye've Rot an eye fer a good thing, me dear,' she says, "that's a bargain, slip in an' 'ave a look at it.'

"Well, she persuades meter bring this 'e»e cream jug 'ome. 'I can trust yer, me dear,' she says, 'an' I'll tak' 30/ cash or £2 at sixpence a week. It's a cruel sacrifice." she says, 'but my client 'as ter part with it, an' it's bin in the family ter years.'

"Wat's wrong wi' it, George?"

"There's nowt wrong wi , it, Sally, if yer puts it a that?ns, but I'll just tell yer wat 'appened ter me an' Milly. We wus walkin' down a road one night when wi' one accord-like we stops an' looks in a rubbishy second-'and ehop. We both spotted a teapot-sugar-an'-cream in th' winder. 'There's a lot uv money ter be made if yer knows 'ow ter spot a genuine antique,' says Milly ter me very low. 'Just wat I wus thinkin',' I says to 'er, an' before the words wus 'ardly out uv me mouth ojit comes a slip uv a girl. ~ "' 'Twixt fourteen an' fifteen, no more,' she says, off-'and-like. 'It's a lovely old pewter set that, a real sacrifice as yer can see. Some dealer'll come along 'nd make 'is pounds where dad is only askin' shillin's. A lady an' gent like you could sell it in Bond Street like snuff. Just 'ave a look at these 'ere wash-leather bags wat it came in; they don't put any sort uv stuff in wash-leather bags, I'll teli yer.' "So in we goes, an' in the end I puts five bob on it an' walks out wi' the lot. 'If yer don't get £50 fer it, gentleman,' she says, 'me name's not Becky

Pringle.' "Well, me an' Milly polishes them pieces up until yer could see yer face in 'em, an' washee them bags, they wus all that dirty ye'd never believe. , 'Milly, I says, 'wat about goin' up an' sellin' it ter one uv them grand shops? : You can dr«-s up fine an' pretend as yer grandma left it ter yer. , "Ter cut a long story short, as the sayin' is, we starts out next niornin' — 'er as the lady an , me carryin' the basket a yard be'ind 'er. She stops at a china shop. I says, "Ere, 'old on, it's a jeweller's we wants.' She shuts 'er eye down an' walks in. "Well, ehe were that good, Sally, I wus all but took in meself. She says, low an' sobbylike, 'I've some old pewter to sell.' Milly wus very pretty. 'I'm terribly sorry, we only do china and glass,' says the young gentleman. 'Oh,' stammers Milly, 'only china and glass?' 'Yes, only china and ..." He looks at Milly —I cud 'ave laughed. 'I can give you a introduction to a gentleman who does pewter. Family treasures, I sup-

pose ?' "Milly nods. 'Here,' says the young gent ter someone be'ind a desk, 'take this lady to Mr. Jacobs and ask him to look at the pewter.' An' off we sails ter another very grand ehop. When they 'ears as Mr. Josephs 'as sent us, we wue taken upstairs where a little old gentleman sits at a table wi' 'is specs low on 'is nose—a reg'ler beak, an' an eye wat bored yer like a gimlet.

"Milly blushes an* begins. 'I know,' he eays gently, it's not nice to part with your treasures. Let me see them.' I pulls them dratted things out uv th' basket and at the first glance 'e starts laughin' like as if 'e'd never stop. 'Oh-ho-ho/ 'e siys, 'that young madam

oh* wP the etuff. 'Look in agen, dear,' she eays sweetly. 'Then we can equaro up.'"

"I never know ,wat ter believe outer your tales, our George," eaid mother suspiciously. t'ncie nodded to me. "There's sixpence for you, Georgie, it ye'll run an' take this cream jug bae* wi' Mr. Jacobs' compliments." • • * •

I was off like a ehot, and when I got home Uncle George took a coin out%f his pocket. "I'll mak' it a shillin' if she «aid the same ter you as wnt she said ter that old gent when 'e up 'an told 'er wat 'e thought uv 'er an' 'er dad—buyin" fakes an' sellin' them ter mugs. Out wi' it, Georgie."

I had no hope at all. She had just gasped and said, "Well. I'll be jiggered!" And so did mother ae Uncle George flipped over that shilling.