“Why, dear,” exclaimed Aunt Sarah, “there are several chairs to match it in the attic, which you may have when you start housekeeping for your very own.  And,” laughingly, said her Aunt, “there is another old, oval, marble-topped table in the attic, containing a large glass case covering a basket of wax fruit, which you may have.”

“No, Aunt Sarah,” said Mary, “I don’t believe I want the fruit, but I will accept your offer of the table.  Well, Aunt Sarah, I know you won’t have this old, black what-not standing in the corner of the room.  I do believe it is made of spools, strung on wire, as supports for the shelves; then all painted black, imitation of ebony, I suppose.  It must have been made in the Black Age, at the same time the old corner cupboard was painted, as Uncle John told me he scraped off three different layers of paint before doing it over, and one was black.  It was originally made of cherry.  It certainly looks fine now, with those new brass hinges and pretty, old-fashioned glass knobs.”

“Yes, Mary,” replied her Aunt, “and there is an old corner cupboard in the attic which belonged to my father, that you may have, and, with a very little labor and expense, Ralph can make it look as well as mine.  It has only one door and mine possesses two.”

“Aunt Sarah,” exclaimed Mary, “you are a dear!  How will I ever repay you for all your kindness to me?”

“By passing it on to some one else when you find some one needing help,” said Aunt Sarah.

“Such a collection of odd things, Aunt Sarah, as are on this what-not I never saw.  Old ambrotypes and daguerreotypes of gone and forgotten members of the ‘freinshoft,’ as you sometimes say.  I don’t believe you know any of them.”

“Yes, the red plush frame on the mantel shelf contains a picture of John’s Uncle, a fine-looking man, but he possessed ‘Wanderlust’ and has lived in California for many years.

“Oh, you mean the picture on the mantel standing near those twin gilded china vases, gay with red and blue paint?”

“Yes; and that small china and gilt stand with little bowl and pitcher was given me when a small child.”

“Suppose I bring a basket and we will fill it with articles from the mantel and what-not,” said Mary, “and carry them all to the attic, until you have a rummage sale some day.  We’ll burn these ‘everlasting’ and ‘straw’ flowers, and pampas grass, and this large apple stuck full of cloves.  Here is a small china dog and a little china basket with a plaited china handle decorated with gilt, and tiny, pink-tinted china roses.  And these large, glass marbles containing little silver eagles inside; also this small, spun-glass ship and blue-and-pink-striped glass pipe.  Aunt Sarah, some of your ancestors must have attended a glass blowers’ exhibition in years past.”

“This branch of white coral, these large snail shells (when a child I remember holding them to my ear to hear a noise resembling the roar of the ocean), and this small basket, fashioned of twigs and tendrils of grape vine, then dipped in red sealing wax, certainly is a good imitation of coral, and this plate, containing a miniature ship composed of green postage stamps, we will place in your corner cupboard.”