Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1874 — THE CRINKLETON MYSTERY. [ARTICLE]

THE CRINKLETON MYSTERY.

Our grotesque teapot was an article decidedly ugly, wearing a permanent and disagreeable grin, and with a kind of snake arrangement for handle and spout. The gentle associations—the day’s labor -floneTib'rtfrawlngln'~Tdmnrtire~firertbe~ family circle, with the cheering and not inebriating results—seem wholly incompatible with the use of such an article; and the spectacle of the amiable, fluid poured from such a vessel by gentle hands almost a painful one. But I would not part with it for any money; it is held in affection like a cherished heirloom. Yet it is damaged—indeed, from the net- - work of lines and cracks which cover it, even an unprofessional could see that it had been “ smashed” into an hundred pieces at least. So it has. One day it got a fall —was dropped—and lay on the floor, shivered into a heap of fragments. The restoration, deemed impossible at first, was undertaken for a large sum of money, which was paid -with delight, for that fall brought about what you are now going to hear. I well recollect the day that my dear father secured it, and when he said it was “ a unique.” We could see no beauty in it, although w r e tried hard to do so; and as to its uniqueness, we rather thought that was an advantage *■ for the world, and, for the spread of taste. He was considered a general enthusiast, this Mr. Crinkleton, and, as I once overheard a brother amateur whisper to his friend, “like a particular saucer—all cracked: -anthfiended,” and, though I should not say it, still the conviction began to force itself on me of late years that, from over-devotion to this pursuit, he had grown a little odd. Not that he was one of the reckless, wasteful amateurs, with whom collecting is a passion as impossible to be resisted as drinking, and who devour and swallow everything with a reckless craving. He had the most surprising taste and judgment, and it was admitted that the choicest and most valuable portion of his collection had been gathered very cheaply, when he was a poor man. But I can see I have been assuming a good many things as known which there has not been time to tell. I, who have now the grotesque teapot in my hand, and am relating this story; was his son —a son that worshiped him and sympathized with what friends called his hobbyr though ! frankly own I never could understand how this plate was precious, or that jug was rare, or this “ bit” of Palissy worth more than the number of sovereigns that would cover its surface. I confess, indeed, I had a feeling, but it was one of repulsion, for those bro vn lizards which kept crawling over the green plates. However, he understood these things and I did not, though lie often offered to leach, or, rather, inspire, me. Gradually the house began to fill with these treasures. Corner shelves and cupboards appeared and were crowded. Cabinets became choke full, and the fame of the- “ Crinkleton Collection” began to spread. As is usual -in-such cases, public opinion was divided, one portion of the community laughing at and pitying that poor man who was wasting his own and the family substance in a lot of crockery and gallipots; the other looking knowing and saying that “ little old Crinkleton” knew well what he was about, and would, by and by, sell the collection for ten times the amount it cost him. It did, indeed, seem likely; for what he had bought for a few shillings he was now offered pounds. I was all .this time what is called “ a little thing” —a pet, dividing the affection of my father with his other treasures. That constitued our united family —I finding new relations every day in the shape of china dogs, Chelsea shepherds, Dresden beauties and Toby jugs. Oh, /the Battersea enamel snuff-boxes and wine labels! the tea urns of rare Bedlin! —but I must leave this subject, or I shall never get on. One day, however, there came a surprise, not to say a shock, for me. That queer little Crinkleton. as the neigbors and friends would call him, had brought some new treasures and curiosities. Alas! a step-mother and her daughter. They were very designing people, and, I believe, frightened him into it: "He was shrinking and timorous; he would never have had courage to carry such a scheme into execution. Thenceforth began a new and, for me, a terrible life. They brought no money with them, though he was persuaded that he was doing what is called “ a good thing.” They very soon convinced him of the contrary. Two more rapacious spoilers could not be conceived' Every moment in the day they were making an inventory of “ the property” about-Ahem with a questioning eye. An order was sternly set forth that all buying was to be given up, and that “ good money” was no longer to be squandered on rubbish. Y*et it could be seen that 'with an extraordinary

inconsistency watched jealously over every article of the property, counting them and taking good care to ascertain their value. All our life in- that house was of a sudden changed. Our poor dear father seemed to shrink and cower away under this despotism. As for me, I felt that all happiness was gone and that I was living in a prison under the charge of jailers. Many were the little furtive walks he took with me—l being no older than eight or ten years—when we would make our way guiltily to the narrow lane or street to"gaze at curiosities which he dared not purchase. It was miserable for me, whose hand was in his, to note his wistful looks, and even more miserable to see that this was but part of his sufferings under this slavery which grew more and more galling every day. It was on one of these occasions that we spied the grotesque teapot. The sight brought the color to his cheeks, for he had nothing of that pattern in the coleetion. It was exposed in a poor, mean little den —not a curiosity shop at all—a kind of huckster’s place. Here the teapot was offered with a view of finding some purchaser who would use it for the purpose of making tea. He was enraptured with it. He could at least ask the price. Four-and-sixpence —worth, he said, five guineas, and would be worth double by and by. As we went out it was offered for three-and-six. It was very tempting, but he resisted it then. The next day he took me out with him for a walk, but this was for a second inspection. He delayed long before he could make up his mind, but at last the imrchasewaemia.de. Then it..was. to b&brouglit home, and then came the difficulty. Where was it to be placed?—for their Argus eyes would detect the slightest change. But they had an instinct that something was wrong. The daughter was in the parlor window, looking up and down the street, while she—l always thought (lot her as though she were a unique, like the teapot —opened the door and gave a policeman-like look at his figure. The grotesque was hidden away under his coat, but a great protuberance revealed its place of concealment. We were both arrested, the trembling victim assailed by both women, and the grotesque confiscated on the spot, as, indeed, all his treasures had been already. I saw them later inspecting it curiously and with eager eyes, for they had a suspicion of its value, and aft§r all trusted to his judgment. Indeed, latterly I noticed that this pair w r as inspecting the cabinets; and more than once I had surprised them with their heads bent down over some little cup or figure. One day, too, I heard them talking earnestly about some one they called “ Dimbley’s man,” and what he had said. This did not make much impression, but in a day or two I airain heard mremark l about “Dimbley’s man,” to the effect that he was coming to-morrow. In our next little w r alk, grown curious about the matter, I asked my father: “ Who is Dimbley’s man, father?” He started, “ Why?” he said; “what about him? what doyou know about him? who wants him?” These questions were put quickly and with agitation. I told him wliat I had heard, when he almost gave a cry, and turned sharply round to go home. 1 ‘ I see what they are at. I suspected it. They want to sell the things.” We returned hurriedly —he was in a perfect fever, and, when he entered, fletv to inspect his treasures, which he found all safe, though he discovered the two women busily engaged in peering into the cabinets and handling them cautiously. But with them was a gentlemanly and fluent personage, who was giving his opinion and admiring the collection. He read the whole situation at a glance. The color flew to his cheeks, and, with vehemence that was wholly artificial and unnatural, he addressed the party. “I know well what all this means," he said; “ I’ll not have it —I’ll not allow it. It is robbery. I’ll not part with these things but with my life. Go away, sir,” he said to the gentlemanly man, “ this is my property. They are not to be valued or sold.” To do him justice the gentlemanly man was much put out at this incident, and declared truly that he had merely come, as he supposed, at Mr.. Crinkle ton’s request. And he took his .. departure at once. Then my father turned on them. “Let a finger be laid on my treasures,” he cried, “ and I will do something desperate. I’ll send them to-morrow to some museum—give them awav —sooner than have them scattered. Mind, take warning, for they are part of my life!” The two ladies were very much taken aback at this sudden explosion, and even tried to soothe him. But for the rest of the day he was terribly excited, and the following morning was lying ill in bed with wild eyes and all the symptoms of fever. A doctor was sent for to attend him —an eminent practitioner—who looked grave. Indeed, the two ladies caught the reflection from his face, and looked grave and disturbed. I was the only one whom he seemed to recognize, though indistinctly. Again there was fresh whispering, and inspection of papers and property. And again his eyes peered out wistfully toward the door, as if he could see the spectral images of his collection floating away in the direction of Dimbley’s.’ He grew worse and worse. To my inexpressible grief it one morning passed round the house in a mysterious way that we were to lose him. Some one came running for me, and took me by the hand to lead me to him. There was a piteous intelligence in his eye, and a gleam of light came into it as he saw me. He was moving his arms. and pointing, and trying to speak. The lady who was his wife kept turning up her eyes and shaking her head, as who should say his wits were gone. But he. kept his imploring glance fixed on me, making as though fie would clutch someting in jiis hand. I was sure I could have sworn it was one of his pet treasures, and stole away to rack my little brain with desperate attempts. At first I thought it must be two precious

figures of Old Bow, representing Kitty Clive and Woodward Martin, as the fine lady and gentleman, and I returned with these in my hands. A fresh eagerness came into his eyes, and he seemed to smile and nod his head, as though it was something near what he desired. Some curious stupidity came over me —or was it my trouble? for I surely ought to have guessed, and gone out to choose some other article, which should be the right one. While I was taking a hurried bird’s-eye glance over the collection they came running to me again, and I was dragged in to see the last friend I had on earth in his agony. #•■***** * So he passed away; and after a scarcely decent interval the two women were going about with avaricious eyes, counting up the treasures. This time there was no one to interfere with “Dimbley’s man,” and the eminent firm had pronounced that the whole, when submitted to competition at tlieir well-known mart, would bring a vast sum. By the will of the deceased collector, made shortly after his second marriage, the whole of the property was to go to her, and a small pittance was kept for us, that is, for me and my sister, who was at a cheap boarding-school. A great fuss began to be made about the Crinkleton collection, and it was discovered that another portion was at some museum in the country, where it had been exhibited, and which was quite as valuable as that in our house. The whole, it was expected, would bring £IO,OOO or £12,000. They were gloating over their prospect. We —that is, my "sister and I—would "be beggars, but that" they did not think about. —- By and by the inventory was taken, the catalogue made out, and the prospect discovered to be even more inviting. The men in green baize arrived to pack and carry aw r ay. Spring vans stood at the door. We saw the whole stripped gradually—there was not to be a relic kept (so I was told) to remind us of the dear old collector -who had brought them together. Very timorously I begged that they would let me choose something which I might keep as a souvenir; but an excuse was made that a list had been taken, and that it would be impossible to make any alteration now. Utterly shocked and almost desperate with rage at such heartlessness, 1 came to the resolution that I would have what I wanted, and determined to secure what was associated with one of the last acts •f my father’s life at which I had assisted, namely, the old teapot. That should be mine, and should not be subjected to the profanation of a sale. I did not care for the penalties, which I knew would be awful; they might put me to the torture, they should never know where I had concealed this relic. My plans were well laid. I chose a monielli wiien uiey liau. & uiit uui, duu, laK* ing no one into my confidence, prepared to execute the daring scheme. It was a nervous task. The teapot was placed, with a few other articles not yet removed, on a high bracket of antique pattern over the chimney-piece. Even standing on a chair R could not - reach it; was not to be daunted. I constructed a sort of ladder formed of chairs, which, with much trepidation, I ascended. I secured, the grotesque teapot; but. without ever having heard the Latin quotation, Facilis descensus , I found myself cordially indorsing its truth and stood there on a precarious balance carefully holding the treasure, and not knowing what to do next. To get dow r n and leave the teapot, it might be thought, would be the simplest course- but, with my nerand its own insecurity, the structure now began to totter. The next instant I heard her on the stairs. How it occurred I know not, but there followed a crash, I being left standing upon the insecure construction, while the old cherished teapot had slipped from mj r fingers, and was dashed into a hundred fragments on the hearthstonet They rushed in—l was dragged down, and in a storm of scoldings was hurried oft for punishment. It was inflicted with terrible severity, and I bore it without flinching. One thought was even then in my mind, to recover the shattered fragments, keep them in that condition, and perhaps one day, when I was richer, get them restored. When they were tired of scalding and beating, they had gone down-stairs; then, after waiting patiently, I w-atclred my opportunity and stole down. They had not thought it worth while to remove the fragments which lay there in a heap—the curved handle, the leering face, the spout, the lid. I gathered them up tenderly, and as I did so saw that a small piece of paper, folded up, was lying, as it-were, partially thrust into the spout. I took it up with the pieces, on the ground that it was a- relic of his that ought to be preserved, and reverently brought the whole mass away to my room. It seemed hopeless. I tried myself to put the pieces together in many different ways, but it was not to be done save by a miracle—a miracle, however, which skillful hands accomplishedr later. In a sort of despair 1 laid it aside, and then carelessly opened the paper. It wife signed with his name, which was sufficient to give it an interest for me. And yet this only made me feel more acutely the cruel loss of the piece of earthenware, which I felt that nothing could ever restore to us. It was a long time indeed before I set myself seriously to the task of making out what was written on the slip of paper. It began, “ Codicil to my will,” and stated that it revoked the bequest of a particular date, and left all his personal property and effects, including the china, which was to be sold off, to his two children. This I did not quite understand at the time, nor did I see the full forGe and meaning of it. But seizing a favorable opportunity I got out of the house, and hurried to a friendly Mr. Baker—of course bald and benevolent—to show it. He started! as 'he read. “ This makes a most important difference," he said; “you must leave it with me, and I will call up in the morning.’! Everything, as it proved, was ours. The cruel pair got nothing save the small

sum that had been settled on her at the time of her marriage. The collection brought a vast sum—much more, indeed, than anyone had ever anticipated. And the teapot, as I have already said, repaired with the most exquisite art, now reposes in a place of honor.— Cassell's Magazine.