"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."

"And, Aunt Sarah, I suppose this deep, glass-covered picture frame