Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-09-07
Widow simpsons spoons.
In the Parish of Bathgate. in Linlitl

man by the name Of Simpson.
In her family resided, in the capacity
of help one Nancy Campbell, girl of
about nineteen, who was suspected of
having taken a fancy to Robin, the wild
ow's son, who reciprocated the sentiment.
Nothing, however, would soften the
widows heart as regarded match, till at
last the following event having occurred,
and caused her to give way About the
hay-making time a distant and compara-
lively rich relation was expected to call
and take tea that evening on his way to
Linlithgow.
1t was not often that the superior reIa-
tive honored her house with visit, and
Mrs. Simpson, determined that nothing
should be wanting 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 ope-
ration was being conducted in the kitchen,
in the midst of these uncertain days which
vary the Northern June, sudden dark
ening of the sky announced the approach
of heavy rain. The hay was dry and
ready for housing. Robin and two farm
men were busy gathering it in; but the
great drops began to tall while a consider
able portion yet remained in the field. and,
with the instinct of crop preservation,
fotrh rushed the widow, followed by Nan
cy, 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 depreda-
tors known about the Mooreland farm :;
but while they were all occupied in the
bayfield,, who should come that way but
Geordy Wilson
Wen the kitchen door was open, and
Georly stepped in. lie banged the set
tie with his staff, he coughed, he hemmed.
he saluted the cat, which sat purring on
the window seat, and al length discovered
! that there was nobody within. Neither
meal nor penny was to be expected that
| day ; tn" rain was growing heavier, some
! Of the hay must be wet, and Mrs. Simp-
| son would return in bad humOr But two
! objects powerfully arrested Geordy's at
| tentiOn 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 considerable sniff.
gave the ingredients a stir with the pot
stick, and muttercd every thin" His
proceeding with the latter must remain
unmentioned but, half an hour later.
! when hc was safely ensconsed in farm
house half a mile off, and the family were
driven within doors by the increasing
storm, they found everything as it had
been letl-the broth on the fire, the cat on
| the windowseat, the whiting and flannel
on the table; but not spoon was there
where's the spoons? % cried Mrs
Simpson to the entire family, who stood
by the fire drying their wet garments. No
one 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 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 had disappeared, and the state
OF the farmhouse may be imagined The
widow ran through it like one distracted
questioning, scoldng and searching.
Robin, Nancy, and the farm-mep were
despatched in different directions. as soon
as the rain abated, to advertise the neigh
bors, under the supposition that some
strolling beggar or gipsey might have car
ried of the treasure, and would attempt to
dispose of it in the parish. Nobody
thought of Geordy Wilson he had not
been espied from the bayfield,. Lost the
spoons were, beyond a doubt, and the
widow bade fair to lose her senses. The
rich relation came at the appointed time.
and he had such tea that he vowed
never again to trust himself in the house
OF ms entertainer. But the search went
on; rabbits holes were looked into for
the missing silver, and active bows were
brlbed to turn out magpies' nest. Wells
ana barns IN the neighborhood were ex-
plored.
1he criers of the three nearest marshes
were employed to proclaim the loss: if
was regularly advertised at kirk-gate and
market-place and Mrs. Simpson BEGAN
to talk of getting search warrant for the
beggar's meal-pouch. Bathgate was
alarmed throughout its borders concerning
the spoons; but when almost month
wore away and nothing could be heard
of them, the widows suspicious turned
from beggarS barns and magpies to light
upon poor Nancy. She had been scour-
ing the spoons, and left the house last :.