Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-05-25
Miss Fydget,s Mistake.

~]AASo - y N6OO ASN JAoo NoAAAN 40 49, -
long and bootless search through the
pasture for a wandering brood of young
turkeys which had been missing since
morning.
She was warm and tired; one boot
was burst open on the side; her sunbon-
net hung limp at the back of her head !;
her gray curls were in true artistic con-
fusion, and a vicious blackberry briar
had torn her hands until she looked as
if she might have been in q skirmish
with the Zulus.
"But I wouldn't have minded all
that" was Miss Fydget's melancholy
comment to herself, "if only I could
have found my young turkeys! They
do say that there is company of tramps
loafing around the country, and"
just then the mild voice of an old man
sitting on the we'll. curb broke in upon
the thread of her ref1ections-an old
man in a shabby gray coat, buttoned
closely across his chest, shoes thickly
coated with dust. and a rude cane cut
from the woods. upon which he rested
his folded hands.
Miss Fydget started at the old man ;
the old man returned her gaze, depre-
catingly.
perhaps you're deaf, ma'am," said
the stranger, elevatlng his voice a
semi-tone or so higher.
mo more than yourself" said Miss
Fydget, naturally somewhat irritat-
ed.
would you have the kindness to give
me little milk"
Miss Fydget bethought herself of the
floating rumor she heard. Perhaps this
venerable vagrant was one of the very
band now marauding the wales and
glens of Rochemont; perhaps even now
he had corps of bloody~minded CO. ad-
tutors hidden behind the stone wall, or
under the moss-grown roof of the an
Gent smoKe-house. And Miss Fydget
was possessed of several pieces of an
tique silver, and had forty dollars in an
old teapot, on the uppermost closet
shelf!
"Who are yOu?" CURLY questioned
she.
"a man and BROTHER" the old man
answered, not without covert smile.
mo, you're not" said Miss Fydget,
incensed at what she deemed piece of
unnecessary insolence.
"Your'e tramp"
The stranger smiled.
us tramp, then, destitute of all the
privileges of humanity ?" he asked.
"Eh ?" said Miss Fydget.
':Tramps must live as well as other
people," pleaded the old man. Nov,
look at me-"
eyes," said Miss Fydget, "I'm look
ing at you, and a dusty. shabby looking
figure you are must say.
give walked fifteen miles since morn
ing, with nothing to eat or drink"
THAT'S what they all say" said Miss
Fydget, increduIously.
"WOuld it be any great stretch to
your hospitality to give me slice of
bread and drink of cool milk ?" he
persisted.
Miss Fydget stood for moment pom
dering the petition in her mind.
look here, old man." she said, at
are tramp, but suppose you are hui
man after all There's pile of knotty
pine stumps under the shed you may
split few for my cooking stove"
"But, ma'am-"
II knew how it would be-" shriIly in
terrupted Miss Fydget. "You're deal
too lazy to work you'd rather starve
than to do an honest days work, any
time"
II beg your pardon. "said the old man,
mildly. tits good many years since
split a pile of wood"
'.I'll go bail it is" said Miss Fydget.
satirically.
"But if you will get me the axe, I
will try and do my best" he added
meekly.
1.-The axe is hanging up in the wood
shed, at the left-hand side of the door, :"
said Miss Fydget, and she went into the
house, leaving her venerable visitor to
do as he pleased about accepting her Of
fer.
After she was within the four yellow
washed walls of her own kitchen, how
ever, it occurred to her that she had done
rather foolish thing.
II suppose he'd as soon split my head
open as the sticks ofwood, she thought
to herself. "And of course he knows
that Pm alone in the world-I mean in
the house; but it's pretty much the
same thing" with deep sigh. "And
ed within the next five minutes ?"
"Thud ~ came the sound of the axe,
descending with slow, regular strokes
upon the knotty stumps of yellow pine,
and Miss Fydget listened with a sort of
terrible fascination, wondering as she
did SO, what sort of relation in the mat.
ter of sound the human tympanum
might bear to the pine stumps
"What fool was !" said she to her
self.
And with nOiseiess movements she
went across the kitchen floor, and took
down rusty musket which had hung
suspended over ethe old brick chimney
ever since she was child.
II don't know as I could fire it off"
said she, but III try if | see any signs
of mischief"
1t was unnecessary. however She
poured out bowl of milk, first thrifty
pauslng to skim it, and then cut good
thick slice of rye bread, taking care to
secrete the bread knife when she was
through. And then. seating herself by
the window, her thoughts wandered
back to the question of the missing
brood of turkeys.
'He knows where they are, I'll bet
anything, and he shall tell me. Old
man-old man, 1 say !"
The venerable wood splitter paused at
the sound of her summons.
"Come here !" she called.
The old man obeyed.
you've done enough" said Miss
Fydget, inwardly rejoiced that he had
left his axe sticking in the last pine
knot. instead of coming towards her
brandishing it in the air, Powhatan
fashion.
THAT is what Twas Just thinking
myself" observed the old man, wiping |
his streaming forehead.
"And now" said Miss Fydget, sharp
ly and suddenly, as if she fain would
take him by surprise, where are my
turkeys ?"
"Eh ?" uttered the old man.
"My turkeys!" shrilly enunciated
Miss Fydget; my brood of sixteen
white turkey chicks ~ s-.--------
II am sure cannot say," said the
old man, with puzzled ecountenance.
THAT is false ~ said Miss Fydget Inn.
perially. "Ifyou don't know, your gang
does, and insist ON having my turkeys
back again. -
The old man looked bewildered. Miss
Fydget eyed him with a gaze calculated
to strike dismay into the most obdurate
heart. 3a ston