Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-05-12
lWFittsn for Ae BeacoR.) Nv
THE SISTERS TRIAL,
The Golden Thread.
BY wAYFARER.
CHAPTER
/" Duncan deech'd and Duncan pray'd;
Meg was deaf as Ailsa Craig,
Ha, ha, the wooing oit.n
BY wAYFARER.

Meg was deaf as Aisa Craig,
Ha, ha, the wooing Of"
When We introduced Pompey 10 the
reader, we neglected some items 81 his
history that he prided himself on as de-
serving notoriety, SO we will do hls
memory the honor TO record them. Be-
sides the tradi;ionary stocking full, I"
he was property holder, having re-
ceived with his free papers deed for a
one room house located on the square
in the rear Of the Court House, former
ly occupied as law Office by one Of
his young masters, removed to the West,
and which he had converted into snug
and comfortable bachelor apartments
for be II said in credit TO Pompey's con-
stdncy--he was that rara apis OF his
race, an old bachelor, and differed in no
particular from his white brethren Of
the exiled fraternity who seem to avenge
their consignment to "single blessed
ness" by showing their sptness and in
dependence in making themselves COM
Portable without the once coveted aid
Had he lived in the time OF the Cen
tennial, high premium would have
been offered for his furniture by some
Spectator in anti' uity, for Il all dated
prior TO the Revolution, and had adorned
some part of The mansion Of his "fust
master" coming 10 Pompey by the will
of his "last mistis." The high post ma
bogany bedstead, though much defaeed,
showed traces of ornamental workman
ship. and was The object Of his greatest
care.
II took up nearly the whole Of more
than half the portion Of the room he had
curtained off from the part appropriated
TO culinary purposes. leaving barely
space enough fora high chest Of drawers
and tall back, stiff bottom chair, both
OF the same material as the bedstead
Above The bureau hung a small oval
shaped mirror, reputed TO have done
private service on the field OF Cowpens
where The maternal grandfa;her-who
was the handsomest man Of his times
and consequently little vain--of this
"last misils" did distinguished public ser
vice, and above that. pasted on the wall,
was wood-cut OF an army officer.
dressed after the style Of the heroes
found represented 10 our school hsto-
ries, and supposed TO delineate the APP
pearance Of Col. Reed, by whose hero
ic band OF Eastern Shore militia history
informs US Sir Peter Parker OF Cock
rane's squadron lost his life.
Col. Reed, being the father Of the "lasi
mistis," his memory was revered and
his style initiated by the old Iegatee
with devotion and precision in keep
ing with the pride Of Ancestry" that
was his constant boast. He was al
ways glad OF an errand 10 the cottage,
since it was only on such occasions he
could make good any excuse for visit
and obeyed the order with more than his
usual alacrity.
Repairing 10 his sauctum, he pro-
ceeded TO fortliy himself for the new
attack he premeditated upon Rachel's
heart. The first action he made was q
peep in the mirror TO ascertain the con-
dition of his locks; finding il CONNIE il
faat, with the exception ofone neglected
plat that in his mornings exercise had
pushed its way through the bushy fore
top, he soon released this from its restric-
lions Of small Irvine and scraped il into
order with small-sized curry-comb,
included in his toilet appurtenancies.
He next investigated his pedal require
ments, and forthwith produced from I'M
der the foot of the bed a pair Of polish
ed leather pumps, coupled with pair
of socks checkered in blue and white,
the fancy handicraft of Mrs. Pry. and
gave his No. 10. measure more re-
spectacle appearance.
Next he opened divers colored band
box--an heirloom Of bis deceased moth
er--that occupied one corner Of the bu-
reau, and after gingerly lingering the
contents thereof, drew forth snow
white dickey, embellished BY duted ruff
Aes, and proceeded to arrange IT on his
person after the fashion Of the portrait
of the wood-cut. -
This, with the tip-toeing he was
compelled 10 do to bring has front into
proper range with the mirror that was
hung 20 accommodate the head more
particularly, and with the bobbing OF