Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-12
WIDOW SIMPSONS SPOONS.

ought to be rcckoncd among the classic spots
OF Scotland, inasmuch as it formed part Of the
duwry which Robert the Bruce bestowed on
his eldest daughter Margery, when she mar
ried Walter, the High Steward Of Scotland,
and thus became the progenitrix of the royal
and unlucky house of Stusrt. Lying midway
between Edinburg and Glasgow, those rival
queens Of the east and west, but out of the
common track of traffic and travel, it has been
for ages pastoral parish, of small and rather
backward farms. Of late years, coal has been
found there and steam and trade, which bid
fair TO leave the world no rustic corner, are
rapidly turning it into mining district; which
nobody thought Of about the time of the gen.
crsl peace when Bathgate lived on its own
oats and barley, wore its own holden gray,
and had but two subjects of interest-the corn
market and the kirk session. Among its
peaceabls and industrious population there
WAS ono dame who, though neither the veal
thiest nor the best born, stood, in her own es-
TEEN. above all but the laird and the minister
and her style and title was Widow Simpson.
This lady valued herself-not on the farm left
her by the good man who had departed this
life some seven years before the commence
ment Of our story, for its acres were few, and
shey consisted Of haIf-reclaimed moorland-
Rot on her grown.up son Robin, though he was
counted q likely and sensible iad-not on her
own thrifty housekeeping. though it was known
TO be on the tight screw principle-but on the
possession Of dozen silver teaspoons. Her
account of them was that they had be elonged
TO the Young Chevaler, and had been bestow-
I'd upon her grandfather In return for enter
tanning that claimant to the British crown, on
aiis march from Culloden-in proof of which
she was accustomed to point out half oblite-
rated crest and the initials C.. S., with which
they were marked. The Widows neighbors
however, had . different tale regarding their
coming into the family. 1t was to the effect
that her grandfather, who kept small inn
somewhere in Fife, had bought them from az.
i-doing laird for three gallons of Highland
rhlskey, and bestowed them on his grand
daughter, as the one of his family most likely
to hold fast to such an important acquisition.
In the family resided, in the capacity of
help, one Nancy Campbell, girl about nine
teen, who was suspected of having taken a
fancy to Robin, who rsciprocated the senti-
msnt. Nothing, however, would soften the
heart Of the widow as regards match, until
at last the following event occurred, and caus.
ed her to give way About the hay-making
time, distant and comparatively rich relation
was expected to call and take tea that evening
on his way from Linlithgow. 1t was no. often
that this superior relative honored her house
with visit, and Mrs. Simpson, determined
that nothing should be wanting to his enter
tainnent. brought out the treasured spoons
early in the fOrcnonn, with many injunctions
" touCHiHS tic care SHOuiQ take IN
frightening them up. While this operation |
WAS being conducted in the kitchen, In the |
midst OF one of those uncertain days which |
vary the northern June, sudden darkening |
VI the sky announced the approach of hea- |
Wy rain. The hay was dry and ready for |
housing. Robin and two farm men were |
sathering it in; but the great drops began to |
iail while considerable portion yet remained |
IN The field, and, with the instinct Of crop-pre-
fort, obaI u
Oy Nancy, leaving the spoons half secured |
upon the kitchen table. In her rapid exit tho |
girl had forgotten TO latch the door. The |
weasel and the kite were the only depredators |
Known about the moorland farm but while |
'ney were all occupied in the bayfield,, who |
should come that way bnt Geordy Wilson.
"eil, the kitchen door was open, and Geor- |
ny stepped in. He banged the settle with his !
stan, he coughed, he hemmed, he saluted the |
cay which sat purring on the windOw-seat,
ana at length discovered there was nobody |
"nh'n. Neither meal nor penny was to be
,,Apectsd that day; the rain was growing heay- |
o., O., some OF the hay must be- wet, and Mrs. |
,nnnpson would return in bad humor. But |
t."ooolects powerfully arrested Geordy's at |
Ia"oh; s,a one was the broth-pot boiling on the
', on "a, ana the other the silver spoons scattered
-, sooA considerable sniff, gave the ingredi- |
..S.. Gus stir with the pot-stick, and muttered, |
,ha INN" His proceeding with regard to |
hi, .',er must remain unmensioned; but,
ca =. ao nour after, when he was safely enscon- |
dr;ra farm house . mile of, the family were /
,hsu .u within doors by the increasing storm,
bro;, iouhd everything as it had been left-the |
,hs ',,a on tne IRE, the cat on the window-seat,
sue whiting and flannel on the table but not [
.p0oh "ea was there.
n " nar's the spoons7 7o cried Mrs. Simpson |
d,vu entire family, who stood by the fire |
mig tneir wet garments. Nobody could tell.
b,d had left them on the table when she |
hon. run 10 the hay. No one had been in the
d,,us, tney were certain, but nothing was
the ,boec. a,s The drawer was pulled out, and |
%s empty stocking exhibited. Every shslf,
,h..iy cornor was searched, but to no purpose: |
m. spoons had disappeared, and the state OF |
'ar" house may De imagined. Tho widow