The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-05-15
MisIell
The FOXglOve Mystery.

| Il dunnO as we We got anything TO give,
said Farmer Foxglove, looking obviously
around the kitchen "Phileny, she don't be-
lieve in givin' much, unless it's through the
Church Benevolent Guild" And Seraphina
isn't at home"
The widow Waterman gave little sniff of
mingled depreciation and humility.
"Times is very bad with me, Mr.. Fox
glove" said she, II haven't had no work
since August, and there amt nothin' to eat
in the house."
you don't tell me p said the farmer, who
was the softest-Learted of men. Here, give
me your basket! Phileny'll say Pm an old
fool; but don't care"
There's them as has entertained angels
unawares," whined the widow Waterman,
as she sdled into the room and held out her
ta.on- like-fingers to the fire of good pine logs
which was cracking and suffering cheerful
| ly on the hearth.
Anything less akin to the angelic tribe than
| Mrs. Waterman could scarcely be imagined
as she sat there with bedraggled gown, bon
net bent in onesided fashion over her eyes,
and gauzy rag ola shawl pulled across her
gaunt shoulders.
But Mr.. FoxgloVe, honest man, saw only
| her poverty and restitution.
With a trepidation not unlike the sensation
of schoolboy who robs an orchard for the
| first time, he went into the buttery and help
ed himself to half a cold roast fowl, q loaf of
| rye. bread, goodly wedge of yellow butter
out of a covered jar, and three-quarters of a
juicy apple pie.
It'll keep her for twenty-four hours at
least" he thought.
And then he opened Mrs. Foxglove's es-
pecial tin tea caddy, and fllched handful of
| the fragrant dried leaves, which he wrapped
IN rp, ;Ia h.,
viands.
II dunno what Phleny will say" he
| thought; but there! l amt made of stun,
nor yet of cast iron and steel films. And |
can't stand by and see fellow creetur starve
no matter how shiftess and good for nothin
she is"
And, CHANGING to notice how thin and in
| adequate the old woman's shawl was, he
| recklessly took down an old bombazine cloak
| originally bright brown, but now faded in
as many streaks as a zebras hide, which had
hung from time immcmorial in the back
entry
"There amt no more use in that old dud"
he thought, "and it'll keep the cold out |
And if Phileny makes fuss, I'll give her
new blanket shawl"
Mrs. Waterman went off rejoicing.
And when the first glow of satisfaction had
full fear took possession of him
"What will Phileny think ?" said he. II
guess, upon the whole, that won't say moth
in about it,"
Presently, Mrs Foxglove and Seraphina
| came home from the weekly meeting of the
Society for the Helpers of the Heather, in
jubilant spirits.
George Peterson was there" said Mrs.
Foxgoye. ale said he came after his aunt,
but it was my belief he wanted to walk home
| with Seraphina Just as if our gal was goin'
to keep company with Teller like that, as
hasn't got penny in the world, and works at
the saw-mill for a dollar day Not if |
know 1t p'
Certainly not" said the farmer, in con-
cilatory tone.
But Seraphina only hung down her head,
and said nothing.
LA, mel" said Mrs. Foxglove, from the
kitchen. what has come to things Here's
the cold chicken and the apple pie gone!
And the cover off the butter-jar, too ~
yves" said the farmer, coughing. IL
got sort o hungry, so l thought I'd jest take
smack"
Couldn't you have waited until supper
timer" said Mrs. Foxglove, severely.
Her husband was silent. Was it not just
possible, he thought, that the Recording
Angel might balance that ready falSehOod
against his recent act of charity, so that his
soul should be none the gamer by the COM
pound transaction Ii was so hard always
| to tell what was right.
Il was calcuatin' on that chicken for sup
| per-" said Mrs Foxglove. Now we shall
have to put up with cold billed pork and
mustard. But | don't s'pose, Nehemiah,
you'll want to eat much 7"
mo, of course not" said the poor man,
who was voraciously hungry.
where's the bombazine cloak, PAP" said
Seraphina, after the somewhat frugal supper,
as she took the milking-pail. "Its raining
| lttle and the cows haven't come home from
pasture yet"
an go arter 'em, Phiny," said the farmer,
starting up with alacrity.
/ "With your rheumatism? No, indeed"
said Seraphina. "What can haye become of
the cloak?" Pm sure left it here this
morning"
"If ] bad pair of eyes, I'd use EN-" said
Mrs Foxglove, coming to the rescue and
viewing the row OF empty pegs, with an eagle
glance. "Well, | declare Nehemiah" turn
ing to her husband, that comes o leavin'
you to keep house You must ha' gone off
and left the door open, and some tramp has
got in and robbed us .
II did just step ont to the woodpie for
some more logs" said the farmer, thankful