The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-12-25

/ ing the exhausted shopman in despair.
But when in the afternoon paperhangers,
/ plasterers. upholsterers, with choice suit
/ of furniture etc. arrived and were ''pass-
ed into the grim penetration Of the Den, .
the prophecy of Mrs. Crosspatch became
dcfunct
/ What could it mean?
That night desperate mind wearied by
/ conjectures which had been received with
out enthusiasm by the busybodies of Crab
town, suddenly preached daring specula-
ton:
'old man Migele's goin' to be married.
=: y
lie wasn't though!
y fortnight passed and the mystery was
nnsolved, when tie old eurmudgeon was
observed TO emerge thoughtfully from
his den and to take his way, with evil
deut agitation, to the Red Lion where
the stage coaches stopped to feed and set
down travellers to Crabtown. Here was
excitement Mrs. Crosspatch swore She
wouldn't miss ''tle first sight of the bride
for five pounds five
can assure you l was only one of at
least twenty who loiter red about the Red
Lion awaiting the new comer's arrival.
The ARROW" was pnnctual stage, and
| as the clock struck . p. NJ. the leaders of
| that vehicle were seen rounding Leafy
lane.
There was no gainsaying old Mig's agi-
tation now. His face was pale and he bit
his lips nervousIy.
Mrs. Crosspatch was a woman Of no
sympathy. 'Seryes him right; The old
fool, at his age."
The coach stopped The delightful
hustle which always accompanied the ar
rival of a stage coach began at once at the
Red Lion. We pressed forward, Mrs.
Crosspatch unbecomingly prominent in the
van, to see The future Mrs Miggle.
There were only two passengers for
Grabtown, and these were a little boy and
a little girl, both dressed in deep mourn
ing. In another moment old man Miggle
was kissing them. and saw the tears in
his cold, gray eyes
Their little luggage was soon committed
to Joe's care en- route for the den, and
before we had recovered enough to move,
the old man and the children were ont of
sight. Mrs. Crosspatch naturally broke
the Silence by clapping her hands.
Georges orphans, as | am standing
here
4 =
So they We're and to the astonishment Of
Crabtown old Migges disposition, though
very little changed toward others. was
softened aud altered to tenderness towards
his poor grandchildren. Everything that
could be done to please them--to decorate
Jenny and make a man. Of little George
was done The royal road to the grand
fathers heart was through admiration of
his orphaned charges, and assure you old
Miggle began to gain admirers: amongst
them myself On the boys tenth birthday
there was a merrymaking. with a jolly
supper and an extraordinary flow of hospi-
tality from Old Miggle himself who, with
much gravity, planted and adorned on that
occasion young silyer-fir tree in the cen
ter of the lawn in honor of the acknowl-
edged heir. Altogether ii was ain aston
ishing ceremony and wonderful event for
Crabtown. The Squire Though he drank
too much) was geniality and fluency them
selves; and Mrs. Crosspatch. who con-
trived to be engaged Ito help things
which she did TO her own mouth-was
heard TO declare. in her usually generous
manner: "Splendid-if it lasts -
Georgy and | were chums We sailed
our first boat in the river, and flew our
first kite on the breezy hills. The old man
sometimes accompanied us. leading the
pretty Jenny by the banda shy, modest
little divinity of eight-''likc her mother,
we supposed, for she did not resemble
Georgy, who was his fathers miniature.
So things passed for eighteen months.
Georgy was nearly twelve, and we'll
grown youth. His education, excellently
commenced and carried forward, would fit
him for any profession in time, and there
was no doubt that the contemplation OF
that profession occupied his grandfather
very constantly.
Georgy was fine, noble-hearted boy;
but with the likeness to his father he had
inherited the obstinacy of that parent. He
had made up his mind to he a sailor. /
know old Miggle desired him to choose
one of the learned professions, and /
warned the boy of the folly of angering his
grandfather.
One of these passions | once witnessed.
Georgy happened to mention his fathers
Names the expression which came over the
old mans face was terrible to witness. The
fury in which he silenced the lad and for
babe him to mention his fathers name
seemed for time to COW Georgy; but
perceived from that moment the son of
George AIiggle had set up an opposition to
his patrons wishes which threatened sad
results.
The boy told me the old man had spoken
to him one winter in regard to choosing a
profession, warning him at the same time
not to be rebellious, and instructed him to
ask his young friend, as usual, to the
CLr;s+,naS festivities