Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1861-03-01

would be improved by that circumstance
Lost the spoons were, beyond doabt, and
the Widow bade fair to lose her senses.
The rich relation came at the appointed
time, and had such tea that he vowed
never again to trust himself in the house
of his entertainer But the search weni
on rabbit holes we're looked into for the
missing silver, and active boys were bri
bed to turn Oat magpie's nests. Well:
and barns in the neighborhood. were ex
plored. The criers of the nearest parish
es we're employed to proclaim the loss; ii
was regularly advertised a. kirkgate and
the marke. places and Mrs. Simpson be.
gan to talk of getting seareh-warrant for
the beggars' meal-poucb. Bathgate was
alarmed, through all its borders, concern
ing the spoons.
When almost a month wore away, and
nothing could be heard concerning the
spoons, the widows suspicion turned from
beggars, barus, and magpies, to light on poor
Nancy. She had been securing the
spoons, and left the house last; silver
I could not leave the table without hands.
1t was true that Nancy had always borne
an unquestioned character, but such spoons
were not TO be met with every day, aud
Mrs. Simpson was determined to haze
them back in her stocking. After sundry
hints to Robin, Who could not help think-
ing that his mother was losing her judg-
ment, she one day pumped the charge, to the
7 tabr Of 10 RI
anxiety in the search had been inferior
only to her own. Though poor and an
orphan, Nancy had scme honest pride /;
she i'm mediately turned out the whole
contents of her kist, (box,) uDstruDg her
pocket in Mrs. Simpsons presence, and
then ran with tears in her eyes to tell the
minister.
AS was common then in the country
parishes Of Scotland, difficulties aud dis
pu,es, which might have employed the
writers and puzzled the magistrates, were
referred to bis arbitration, aud thus law
suits aud scandal prevented. The minis
ter had heard, (as who 10 Bathgate had
no, p Of Mrs. Simpsons loss. Like the
rest of the parish, be thought it was very
strange; but Nancy Campbell was oue of
the most exemplary girls IN his cougrega,
tion-he could no, believe tha, the charge
preferred against her was true; yet the
pec1liari,ies OF the case demanded investi-
CATION With some difficulty, the minister
persuaded Nancy to return to her mistress,
bearing message to the effect that he and
two of his elders, who happened to reside
in the ghborhood, would come over in
the following evening, hear what could be
said on both sides, aud, if possible, clear
up the mystery. The widow was wei!
pleased with the minister aud Lis elders
coming to inquire after the spoons. She
put on her best uHtct-that Is to say, rap
prepared her best speeches, and enlisted
some Of the most serious and reliable Of
her neighbors to assist in the inyestiga-
tions.
Early in the evening Of the following
day-when the summer day was wearing
low and the field work was over-they
were all assembled in the clean secured
kitchen. The minister, elders, and neigh
bors, soberly listened to Mrs. Simpsons
testimony touching her los, silver, Nancy,
Robin and the farm-men setting by till
their turn came; when the door, which
had been left open to admit the breeze
for the evening was sultry-was quietly
pushed aside, and in slid Geordy, with his
usual accompanimsuts Of staff and wallet.
"There's ae room for ye here, Geordy,"
said she; "we're on weighty business"
"Weel, men," said Gcordy, turning TO
depart, sits o nae consequence. | ouly
came to speak about your spoons"
"Hae ye heard o them = cried Mrs.
Simpson, bouncing from her seat.
81 could na miss, beiu' blessed wi the
precious gift o hearin'; and what's bet
ter, saw them"
"Saw them, Geordy? whar are they?
and here's a whole shillin' for ye;" aud
Mrs. Simpsons purse, or rather a glove
used for tina. purpose, was instantly pro-
duced
"Weel," said Geordy, ~ slipped in one
day, and scein' the silver unguaried, l
thought some ill-guidei body might cove,
it, and jist laid it by, | may say, an,ang
The leares o that Bile, thiukin' you would
be sure to see the spoons when you went
to read"
Before Geordy had finished his reyela:
Tie" proudly displayed, but never.opencd
Bible, and nterspersed between its leaves
lay the dozen long sought spoons.
The minister of Ba,bgate could scarcely
command his gravity, while admonishipg
Geordy on the trouble and vexation his
trick had caused. The assembled neigh
bors laughed outright when the daft man,
pocketing the widows shilling, which be
had clutched in the early part Of his dis
course, assured them all that be kenned
Mrs. Simpson read her Bible So often,
,ha, the spoons would be certain to turn
ou. of it. Geordy got many basin of
br o,h, and luncheon Of bread aud cheese,
on account of that transaction, with which
he amused all the fresides of the parish.
Mrs. Simpson was struck dumb even from
scolding. The discovery put an end to
her ostentatious professions, and, it may
be hoped, turned her attention more to
practice. By way of making amends for
her unjust impu,atious on Nancy Camp
bell, she consented to receive her as
danch.er-in-law within the same year;
,,1 :, IA said thara uas paaca cvar affar.