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


Miggle, as he was termed, and make bold
to assert thai everybody in Crabtown dis
| liked the old curmudgeon.
The most disagreeable old woman in
Crabtown, Sarah Crosspatch, used to
THANK goodness she hadn't such can
tankerous disposition as ''old Mig, as she
called him. and the dreaded Squire. Sir
| Nerjuice Bitterly of Gale Park, constantly
reminded the sufferers from his violent
tantrums thus: ''Well. if | had such a
filthy temper as old man Mggle, now, you
might growl." From which undoubted
evidence my readers will gather that Mr..
Miggle was not a cheerful companion
What was the secret. then, that eneourag-
ed the inhabitants of Crabtown to endure
this old tyrant and even to engage in wordy
conflict with him =? q can use no other ex-
preston for the process than ''wordy con-
tlict.' Such terms as argument or de
bate are altogether too euphemisticJ. The
power of old Miggle was the great per-
vading power of the world-gold, This
gained him the exterior courtesy and re-
spect of Crabtown; for though he had rea-
tives, his disposition was SO variable that
his flesh and blood, as the ncighbors bad
it, stood no more, or no better, chances OF
requests than the last person who had quar-
relied with the old rascal.
| should like to explain that when
wrote variable" as an epithet to old
Migges disposition | didn't infer for a
moment that he ever varied into kindli-
ness; he was variable as the English
weather Of March or November
His better moods were negatively endur-
able; he WASH $50 detestable as usual, -
was the expression used for them.
Miggle had fine house. 1t lad been
the Old Rectory and possessed ample ac-
eommodation. had grand lawn, splendid
shrubbely and lofty trees, and an orchard
and kitchen garden which the owner didn t
neglect since it proved a source Of consid-
cradle income to him. OF the exterior OF
the house and grounds most of us in Crab
town had had occasional glimpses, but
none of the inhabitants had ever been in
vited to view the internal economy of ''the
den, ," as it was called by its owner Here,
in sort of Robinson Crusoe style. the
eccentrictity continued to ike.
Certain facts connected with old Miggle's
previous history had got abroad in spite OF
his precautions as to the admittance of so
ciety; and at the time at which was first
made acquainted with the owner of the
'den, the rumor was rife that the cause
of his surliness and misanthropy arose
from disappointment he had experienced
through the refusal of an only SON to fol-
low the line of business life which his
father had obstinately set forth for him.
Report stated that, after many misunder-
standings, final and fatal quarrel between
parent and son had taken place, and with
furious words the door of the ''den" had
been closed ON the refractory George.
After this old Miggle withdrew himself
from society to which he had been hither-
to by no means averse; the name OF George
was expunged from the family bible. and
he became to his father as one dead.
Letters from the absent George were re-
fused admttance and now began that
cross-grained aspect of Miggle which was
so disliked in Crabtown.
Years before | saw him sailor had ac-
costed him in the street, and, bluntly stat
ing that he knew George, announced that
the recreant had married. Old man Mig
gle struck the sailor with his heavy cane
and then retired to his den, whence he
never reappeared till the whole affair aud
the talk it occasioned had passed into Oh
livon.
But there were not wanting evidences TO
show that the height of the mans wrath
against George was only proportionate to
the depth of his fathery love for him.
The old mans authority had been set at
naught and his vanity wounded, but the
offender was ''his George, the bright hope
that had helped TO cheer an early widower-
hood.
inst as | settled at Crabtown the last act
of the sorrowful drama was completed
One letter lad been admitted into the
..den.' There was reason for this; the
letter was not in Georges handwriting
and the paper was blaek-edged'
= = =
Within month OF my arrival in Crab
town old Miggle was observed to call at
Browns the decorator in High street. lie
also visited sundry shops where articles OF
personal adornment and knick-knaeks OF
various kinds were sold.
1t was reported By Mrs. Crosspatch Swho
had originally given me the description OF
Miggle which opens this sketcD that the
visitor only went to annoy the tradesfolk