“Yes, dear, that belonged to your Uncle John’s mother.  It has never been used and was manufactured over one hundred years ago at an old pottery in Bedminister Township, Bucks County.  Some of those other quaint, old-fashioned plates also belonged to John’s mother.  Your Uncle loves old dishes and especially old furniture; he was so anxious to possess his grandfather’s old ‘Solliday’ clock.  In the centre of the face of the clock a hand indicated the day of the month and pictures of two large, round moons on the upper part of the clock’s face (resembling nothing so much as large, ripe peaches) represented the different phases of the moon.  If new moon, or the first or last quarter, it appeared, then disappeared from sight.  It was valued highly, being the last clock made by the old clockmaker; but John never came into possession of it, as it was claimed by an elder sister.  I value the old clock which stands in the parlor because ’twas my mother’s, although it is very plain.  This old cherry, corner cupboard was made for my grandmother by her father, a cabinetmaker, as a wedding gift, and was given me by my mother.  Did you notice the strong, substantial manner in which it is made?  It resembles mission furniture.”

“Do tell me, Aunt, what this small iron boat, on the top shelf, was ever used for?  It must be of value, else ’twould not occupy a place in the cupboard with all your pretty dishes.”

“Yes, dearie, ’twas my grandmother’s lamp, called in old times a ‘Schmutz Amschel’ which, translated, means a grease robin, or bird.  I have two of them.  I remember seeing my grandmother many a time, when the ‘Amschel’ was partly filled with melted lard or liquid fat, light a piece of lamp wick hanging over the little pointed end or snout of the lamp.  The lamp was usually suspended from a chain fastened to either side.  A spike on the chain was stuck into the wall, which was composed of logs.  This light, by the way, was not particularly brilliant, even when one sat close beside it, and could not be compared with the gas and electric lights of our present day and generation.  That was a very primitive manner of illumination used by our forefathers.

“Mary, did you notice the gayly-decorated, old-fashioned coffee pot and tea caddy in the corner cupboard?  They belonged to my grandmother; also that old-fashioned fluid lamp, used before coal-oil or kerosene came into use; and that old, perforated tin lantern also is very ancient.

“Mary, have you ever read the poem, The Potter and the Clay?’ No?  Then read it to me, dear, I like it well; ’tis a particular favorite of mine, I do not remember by whom it was written.”

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY.

(Jeremiah xviii 2-6.)

    The potter wrought a work in clay, upon his wheel;
    He moulded it and fashioned it, and made it feel,
    In every part, his forming hand, his magic skill,
    Until it grew in beauty fair beneath his will.