The Old Worcester Jug

by Eglanton Thorne
Available from Lamplighter Publishing
*****
The first chapter opens with a poor lady and her daughter coming to sell their keepsakes in Mr. Griffin’s china store. They looked genteel, although hard times had come, and Mr. Griffin drove a cheap bargain for the old Worcester jug, which he recognized as a treasure.

The lady died that night, and her daughter was left alone and uncared for. Mr. Griffin also became ill that night, and was tormented by the thought that he cheated the poor lady out of money that she might have needed for survival. When he recovered, he wanted to make amends, and, finding that the lady had died, took in the little girl, Maggie. His wife was nothing loath, as thirty years before, their own daughter died at about Maggie’s age.

The young doctor who treated Mr. Griffin is married in the course of the book to a beautiful, thoughtless young lady, who turned out to be Maggie’s aunt. (She nearly died at one point, and realizing her sinful state, came to the Lord, and her life changed. But then, that’s the way it always is; who can come Jesus and not be changed?) The doctor was concerned that Mr. Griffin should know about Christ. Eventually, Maggie’s grandfather visited the china shop, and immediately asked about the familiar looking Worcester jug. Mr. Griffin was evasive; he had grown to love Maggie, and didn’t want to give her up to her family.

Mr. Griffin came to know the Lord, and at the end of the book, when he was dying, he sent Maggie for her grandfather, although she had no idea they were related. When he came to the dying man, Mr. Griffin confessed the whole story of how he had come to have the Worcester jug, and of Maggie’s history. After Mr. Griffin’s death, his wife and Maggie go to live with her family.

This story reads like a Hesba Stretton or Isabella Alden book. The characters learn to see their sin in it’s hideousness, and how it hurts others. They learn of they joy to be found in repentance and following Jesus. It’s a beautiful, tender story, written to make the readers think, and definitely to be recommended!