Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-02-01
Miscellany. y .
WIDOW SIMPSONS SPOONS.
From the Leisure Hou!

on his eldest daughter MargcfY, Wncn SAT
married Walter, the High Steward of Scot
land, and thus became the progenitrix O
the royal and unlucky house Of Stuart. Ly
ing midway between Edinburgh and Glas
gov, those rival queens Of the east and west
but out Of the common track Of traffic anC
travel, it has been for ages a pastoral parish
OF small and rather backward farms. Q.
late years coal has been found there and
steam and trade, which bid fair to leave the
world no rustic corner, are rapidly turning
1t into a mining district which nobody
thought Of about the time of the general
peace, when Bathgate lived on its own oats
and barley, wore us own hOGden-gr2y, and
had but two subjects Of interest-the corn
market and the kinks 7ssiOn. Among its
ueaoesble and industrious population there
was one dame who, though neither the veal
thest nor the best born, stood, in her own
esteem, above all but the laird and the min
ister and her style and title was Widow
Simpson This lady valued hereelf-not
on the farm left her by the good man who
had departed this life some seven wears be-
fore the commencement of our stCry, for its
acres were few, and they consisted Of half
reclaimed mO0rland-nOt on her grown-up
son Robin, though he was counted likely
and sensible lad-not on her own thrifty
housekeeping, though it was known to be
on the tight screw Trlnciple-but on the pos
session OF dozen silver teaspoons. Her ac-
count Of them was that they had belonged
20 the Young Chevalier, and had been be-
slowed on her grandfather in return for en-
tertaning that claimant to the British crown
on his march from Culloden-in proof of
which she was accustomed TO point out
half obhterated crest and the initials c. S.
with which they were marked. The widows
neighbors, however, had a different tale re.
garding their coming into the family. 1t
was to the effect that her grandfather, who
kept small inn somewhere IN Fife, had
bought them of an ill-dong laird for three
gallons of Highland whskey, and bestowed
them on his granddaughter, 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 10,
who was suspected Of taking fancy to Rob
IN, who reciprOcated the sentiment. Moth
ing, however, would soften the heart Of the
widow as regards a match, until at last the
following event occurred, and caused her TO
give way About the hay-maklng time
distant and comparatively rich relation was
expected TO call and take tea that evening on
has way from Linlithgow. 1t was not often
that this superior relative honored her home
with a visit, and Mrs. Simpson, determined
that nothing should be wanting to his enter
tainment, brought out the treasured spoons
early in the forenoon, with many injunctions
10 Nancy touching the care she snould take
IN Frightening them up. While this opera
tion was being conducted in the kitchen, IN
the midst Of one of those uncertain days
which vary the Northern June, the sudden
darkening Of the ky announced the ap-
proach Of heavy rain. The hay was dry
and ready for housing. Robin and two farm
men were busy. gathering 1t in /; but the
the great drops began to fall while c0nsld-
cradle portion vet remained in the field, and,
with the instinct of crop preservation forth
rushed the widow, followed by Nancy, leay-
ing the spoons half secured on the kitchen
table. In her rapid exit the girl had forgot
ten to latch the door. The weasel and the
kite were the only depredators known about
the moorland farm but while they were al
occupied in the bayfield,, who shou-d come
that way but Geordy Wilson.
Well, the kitchen door was open, and
Geordy stepped in. He banged the settle
with his staff, be coughed, he hemmed, he
saluted the cat, which sat purrlng on the
window seat, and at length discovered there
was nobody within Neither meal nor pen
ny was to be expected that day the ram
was growing heavier, some OF the hay must
be wet, and Mrs. Simpson would return IN
bad humor But two objects powerfully
arrested Geordy's attention one was the
broth-pot boiling on the fire, and the other
the silver spoons scattered on the table
Bending over the former, Geordy took con
siderable sniff, gave the ingredients a STIR
with the pot-stick, and muttered, very
thIn.', His proceeding with regard 10 the
latter must Iemain uDmentloncd, , but halt
an hour after, when he was safely ensconced
m farm house a mile off, the family were
driven within doors by the increasing storm
they found everything as it had been lett
the broth on the fire, the cat on the window
seat, the whiting and flannel on the table :
hut not a spoon was there.
" Whar's the spoons ~ cried Mrs. Simp-
son to the entire family, who stood by the
FIRE drying their wet garments. Nobody
could tell. Nancy had left them on the
table when she ran to the hay. No one had
been in the house. they were certain, but
nothing was disturbed. The drawer was
pulled out, and the empty stocking exhibit
"a Every shelf. every corner was searched,
but 10 no purpose the spoons had disap-
peared, and the sta;e of the farmhouse may
be imagined. The widow ran through 1t
like one distracted, questioning, scoLdlng ana
seATching. Robin. Nancy and the iarln men
were despatched in different directions, as
soon as the rain abated, 10 advertise the
nelghooE, under the supposltion that some
srCling beggar or gipsey might have car
Ilea OF the treasure and woIld attempt TO
1.spos5 of ltin the parish. Nobody thought
o. Geordy Wilson, lie had not been spled
from the bayfield, bis circuits were wide !;
his visits to any house were not frequent !;
and if he eschewed Widow Simpsons from
the DAY Of her loss. it was believed Geordy
knew that neither her temper nor her liberal
lty would be improved by that circumstance.
Lost the spoons were, beyond doubt, aud
he widow bade fair to lose her senses. The
rlch relation came at his appointed time, anc
had such a tea that he vowed never again e
trust himself in the house OF his entertainer
But the search went on rabbit holes wer
looked into for the missing silver, and actlv
boys were bribsd to turn out magpie's nests
Wells and barns in the neighborhood wer
explored. The criers Of the three nearcs
parishes were employed to proclaim the loss
1t was regularly advertised at kirk-gate an
market place; and Mrs Simpson began
talk OF getting u Sc alTchwarrant for the bee
sar's meal-lou h. Bathgate was aarme
through all Its borders concerning the spoons
but when almost month wore away. an
nothing could be heard Of them, the widow
suspicious turned from beggars. barns an
magpies, to light on poor Nancy. She ha
been securing the spoons, and left the hou
last; silver could not leave the table withor
hands. 1t was true that Nancy had alws
borne an uuquestioned character; but SUE
spoons were not to be met with every da,
and Mrs Simpson was determined TO ha'
them back Ia her stocking. After sundr
hints of increasing breadth To Robin. VII