The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-16
Widows Simpsons Spoons.


In the Parish OF Bathgate, in Linlthgow
shire, Scotland, lived widow woman by the
name OF Simpson.
ln her family resided, In the capacity OF
help, one Nancy Campbell, q girl of about
niueteen, who was suspected OF having taken
fancy To Robin the widows son, who recip
rocated the sentiment. Nothing, however,
would soften the heart Of the widow as regard
ed n match, till at last the following event
having occurred, and caused her to give way !:
About the hay -making time distant and
comparatively rich relation was expected 10
Call aud take tea that evening on his way to
Linlithgow.
II was not often that the superior relative
honored her house with visit, and Mrs. Simp-
sou, determined that nothing should be want
Ing TO his entertainment, brought out the
treasured spoons early In the forenoon, with,
many injunctions TO Nancy touching the care
she should take in Frightening them up.
While this operation was being conducted in
the kitchen, 10 the midst of those uncertain
days which vary the Northern June, sudden
darkening of the sky announced the approah
oil heavy rain. The hay was dry and ready
for housing. Robin aud two farm-men were
busy gathering 1t In; but the great drops be
gan 70 fall while considerable portion yet
remained In the field, and, with the instinct of
crop preservation, forth rushed the widow,
followed by Nancy leaving the spoons half
secured on the kitchen table. In her rapid
exit, the girl had forgotten to latch the door.
The weasel and the kite were the only depre-
dators known about the moorland farm; but
while they were all occupied in the hay field,
who should come that way but Geordy viii
soni
Well, the kitchen door was open, and Geo
dy stepped In. He banged the settle with his
staff, he cougbed, he hemmed, he saluted the
Cat, which sat purring on the window-seat.
and at leagth discovered there was nobody
within. Neither meal nor penny was to be
expected that day; the rain was growing
heavier, some OF the hay must be wet, and
Mrs. Simpson would return in bad humor.
But two objects powerfully attracted Geordy's
attention; oae was the broth-pot boiling on
the hre, and the other the silver spoons scat
tered on the table. Bending over the former ,
Geordy took a considerable sniff. gave the in
gradients stir with potstick and muttered
very thln.' His proceeding with the latter
must remain unmentioned; but half an hour
AFTER, when he was snugly ensconsed In a farm
house mile OF, and the family were driven
within doors by the increasing storm, they
found everything as IL had been left-the
broth on the Dire, the cat on the window-seat
the whiting aud flannel on the table: but not
aspoon was there.
Where's the spoons ?" cried Mrs. Simpson,
10 the entire family, who stood by the fire dry
log their wet garments. Nobody could tell
Nancy had LETT them on the table when she
ran 70 the hay. No one had been In the
house; they were certain that nothing was
disturbed. The drawer was pulled out, and
the empty stocking exhibited. Every shelf,
every corner was searched, but TO no purpose !;
the spoons disappeared, and the state OF the
farmhouse may be imagined. The widow ran
through lt like one distracted, questioning,
scoidlng, and searching. Robin, Nancy, and
the farui.nen were dispatched in different di-
rections, as soon rs the rain abated, 10 adyer
tlse the neighbors, under the supposition that
some strollng beggar or gypsy might have
carried oil the treasure, and would attempt to
dispose OF 1t in the parish. Nobody thouht OF
Geordy Wilson; he had not been espied from
the hay field. Lost the spoons were, beyond
n boubt, and the widow babe fair to lose her
senses. The rich relation came at the ap-
pointed time, aud he had such tea that he
vowed never again TO trust himself in the
house OF mis- entertainer. But the search went
on; rabbits nolss were looked into for the
missing silver, and active boys were bribed
10 turn out magpie's nests. Wells aud barns
10 the neig1oornood we're explored.
Tue crers OF the three nearest parishes were
employed 10 proclaim the loss IL was regular
~ advertised at kirk-gate and market-pace !;
and Mrs. Simpson began 10 talk OF getting a
searcn-warrant Tor the beggar's meal pouch
Bathgate WAS alarmed through ali its borders
concerning the spoons; but when almost q
mouth wore away, aud nothing could be heard
OF Them, the widows suspicion turned from
beggars, barns, aud magpies to light on poor
Nancy. Sue mad been securing the spoons,
aud lett tns house last; silver could not leave
the table without hands. 1t was true that
Nancy had borne an uuquestionable charac-
acter; but such spoons were not TO be met
with every day, aud Mrs. Simpson was deter
mined 10 have them back in her stock
ing.
After sundry hints of increasing breadth to
Robin. who could not help thinking his mother
Was losing her Judgment, she one day plump
ed the charge, 10 the utter establishment aud
dismay OF The poor girl, whose anxiety in the
search had been inferior only to her own.
Though poor aud an orphan, Nancy had some
honest pride; she Immediately turned out the
contents OF her kist tboxl unstrung her pocket
10 Mrs. Simpsons presence, aud ran, with
tears in her eyes TO tell the minister.
As was then common TO the country par
ishes OF Scotland, difficulties and disputes
which might have employed the writers aud
puzzled the magistrates, were referred to his
arbitration. and thus scandal and lawsuits
prevented. The minister had heard-as who
In Bathgate had Dot-of Mrs. Simpsons loss
Like the rest OF the parish, he thought il
rather strange; but Nancy Campbell was one
OF the most serious and exemplary girls of
his congregation-be could not believe that
the charge preferred against her was true
yet the peculiarities OF the case demanded
investigation. With some difficulty the min
lister persuaded Nancy TO return to her mis-
tress, bearing message TO the effect that he
and Two OF mis- elders, who happened TO reside
In the neighborhood, would come over the fol-
lowing evening, hear what could be said on
poth sides. and, II possible, clear up the mys-
terry. The widow was well pleased ut the
minister aud his elders coming to inquire al
ter tue Spoons. She put on her best lnutch,
tthat Is TO say, capt. prepared her best speech
es, and enlisted some OF the most serious and
reliable OF her neighbors TO assist in the in
vestigation.
Early in the evening of the following dav
why-n the summer sun was wearing low. and
the field work was over, they were all assem-
bled ia the clean-scoured kitchen, the minis
tere, elders and neighb0rs, soberly listening
to Mrs. Simpsons testimony touching her
lost silver, Nancy Robin and the farm-men
sitting by till their tnrn came, when the door,
which had been left half open to admit the
breeze. for the evening was sutry, was quiet
ly pushed aside, and in slid Geordy Wilson,
with bis usual accompaniment OF staff and
wallet.
There's ma room for ye here, Geordy," said
the widow; were on weighty business"
"Weel. men," said Geordy, turning to de-
part, sits of nae consequence. / only came
10 speak about your Spoons"
lilac you heard o. them ?n cried Mrs. Simp-
son, bouncing from her seat.
II couldna miss being blessed VII the pre-
cious gilt o. hearin' and what's better, / saw
them" said Geordy.
"Saw them, Geordy? Whar are they? and
here's A whole shilling for ye." and Mrs
Simpsons purse, or rather an old glove used
for that purpose, was instantly produced.
'weel," said csordy, Il slipped in ae day,