l Copenhagen some time, and see how
beautiful it is."

"I will," nodded Theo. "But in all this china-making did Russia do
nothing?"

"Russia made her try," Mr. Croyden said. "Peter the Great was an
ambitious ruler who traveled the Continent over to see what other
countries were doing in the way of commerce and manufacture. When he
returned from one of his pilgrimages he made the people build a new
commercial and industrial centre--St. Petersburg, now Petrograd. Here
he set his subjects to making all sorts of artistic things such as he
had seen in Europe, especially brass, copper, and silver
articles. From 1744 to 1765 under the Empresses Elizabeth and
Catherine II a little really fine hard paste was produced. It was a
porcelain in imitation of Dresden; but there never was very much of it
manufactured. A little Russian porcelain was also made at Moscow and
Poland. The Russians never excelled in pottery and porcelain-making,
however, as they did in metal work."

Mr. Croyden rose.

"See," he said, "here comes your father! That means that we must bid
good-bye to china-making for to-day. I fear we shall have to say
good-bye to it altogether, too, for by to-morrow morning we shall be
getting into New York and separating for home. But you are not to
forget, Theo, that I want you to come to Trenton the first minute you
are rid of these crutches. Then I shall tramp you through my factories
and you shall see how all this porcelain we have talked of is made."

"I shall be mighty glad to come," responded Theo.

"I must leave it to your father's discretion, then, to notify me when
he thinks you are able to make the visit," added the merchant, turning
to Dr. Swift who had just joined them. "You just telephone me, Doctor,
when you think you can spare this boy of yours; will you?"

"You are very kind, Croyden."

"Not a bit! Not a bit!" protested Mr. Croyden. "I shall want to see
Theo, and I am anxious to have Mrs. Croyden meet him too. I only wish
we had a boy just like him; then I'd have somebody to leave my
business to."

He drummed on the window moodily.

"Who knows but I may be coming to help you make china one of these
days, sir," suggested Theo half jokingly.

The man wheeled sharply.

"I wish I thought you would," was his quick response. "If at the end
of your college career you find yourself with any such notion, sonny,
you'll be very welcome."

With an affectionate glance at the boy Mr. Croyden strode off int