Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-02-01

/ could not help thinking his mother was los
ing her Judgment, she, one day, pumped the
charge, 10 the utter dismay of the poor girl,
whose, anxiety in the search had been inte
rior only to her own. Though poor and an
orphan, Nancy had some honest pride; she
Immediately turned out the whole contents
Of her chist, (box) unstrung her pocket in
Mrs. Simrson's 5 presence, and ran with tears
in her eyes to tell the minister.
II was then common in the country par
ishes Of Scotland. that difficulties and disputes
which might have employed the writers and
puzzled the magistrates, were referred to his
arbitration, and thus lawsuits or scandal
prevented The minister had heard, as who
in Bathgate had not Of Mrs. Simpson S
loss. Like the rest Of the parish he thought
I it rather strange ; but Nancy Campbell was
one Of the most serious and mplary girls
! In his congregatiOn-he could not believe
! that the charge preferred against her was
! true yet the pecuiiarities of the case de-
/ manded investigation. 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 neighborhood would come
over in the following evening, hear what
could be said on both sides, and, if possible,
clear up the mystery. The widow was well
pleased at the minister and his elders coming
70 inquire after her spoons. She put on her
best naWch-that is to say, cap-prepared
her best speeches, and enlisted some of the
most serious and reliable of her neighbors to
assist in the invest tigation.
Early in the evening Of the following day
when the summer sun was wearing low
and the field work was Oyer-they were all
assembled in the clean-scoured kitchen, the
ministers, elders, and neighbors, soberly list
ening t. Mrs. Simpson S testimony touching
her lost silver, Nancy, Robin, and the farm
men sitting by till their turn came when
the door, which had been left half open to
admit the breeze-fOr the evening was sultry
was quietly pushed aside, ,and IN slid Geor-
dy Wilson, with hi, usual accompauiments
OF staff and wallet
d" There S nae room for We here, Geordy,"
said the widow; " we're on wcighty bust
ness"
Wed mem, said Geordy, turning to de
part, its of nae consequence. / only came
to speak about your spoons.
''Hae We heard o'them ?'' cried Mrs. .Simp-
son, bouncing from her scat.
Il couldna miss, bein' blessed WI the
precious gift o hearin'; and what's better,
saw them, =" said Geordv
Saw them, Geordy? Whar are they?
and here q whole shillin' for ye;" and
Mrs. Simpsons purse, or rather an old glove
used for that purpose, was instantly pro-
duccd
"Weel, said Gocrdy, II slipped in ae
day, and seein' the siller unguarded, tho't
some ill-guided body might coyet it, and jist
laid it by, | may say, amang the leaves O.
that Bible, thinkin' you would be sure to sec
the spoons when you went to read.
Before Geordy had finished his revelation,
Nancy Campbell had brought Down the
proudly displayed, but never opened Bible,
and lnterspersed between its leaves lay the
dozen OF long sought spoons.
The minister OF Bathgate could scarcely
command his gravity while admonishiug
Geordy on the trouble and vexation his trick
had caused. The assembled neighbors
laughed outright when the daft man, pock-
eting the widows shilling, which he had
clutched in the early part Of his discourse.
assured them all that he kenned that Mrs.
Simpson read her Bible so often the spoons
would be sure to turn up. GeOrdy got many
4 basin Of broth and many luncheon OF
bread and cheese on account of that transac- !
tlOn- Win which ne dUuseu All Tue AIeoluc9
of the parish. Mrs. Simpson was struck
dumb even from scolding. The discoveryput
an end 10 her ostentatious professions, and,
it may be hoped, turned her attention more
to practice. By way Of making amends for
her unjust imputations on Nancy Campbell,
She consented to receive her as a daughter
in-law within the same year ; and it IS said
there was peace ever after in the farm-housa,
but the good people Of Bathgate, when dis
cussiDg character Of more pretence than
performance, still refer to Widow Simpson
spoons.