Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-04-28

knew that neither her temper nor her
liberality would DO improved by that
circumstance.
Lost the spoons were beyond doubt,
and the widow babe fair to lose her
senses. The rich relation came at his
appointed time, and had such tea that
he vowed never again to trust himself
in the house of his entertainer. But the
search went on; rabbits holes were
looked into for the missing silver and
active boys were bribed to turn out mag
pies nests. Wells and barns in the
neighborhood were explored The criers
of the three nearest parishes were EN-
ployed to proclaim the loss; it was regu-
larly advertised at kirkgate and market
place, and Mrs. Simpson began to talk
of getting o search warrant for the beg
gars meal pouch. Bathgate was alarmed
through all its borders concerning the
spoons; but when almost month had
worn away and nothing could be heard
of them, the widows suspicious turned
from beggars, barns and magpies to
light on poor Nancy. She had been
securing the spoons, and had left the
house last; silver could not leave the
table without hands.
1t was true that Nancy had always
borne an unquestioned character, but
such spoons were not to be met with
every day, and Mrs. Simpson was deter
mined to have them back in her stock
ing. After sundry hints of increasing
breadth to Robin, who could not help
thinking his mother was losing her
Judgment, she one day pumped the
charge, to the utter establishment and
dismay of the poor girl, whose anxiety
in the search had been inferior only to
her own. Though poor and an orphan,
Nancy had some honest pride; she i'm
mediately turned out the whole contents
of her kist (box), unstrung her pocket
in Mrs. Simpsons presence and ran with
tears in her eyes to tell the minister.
As was then common in the country
parishes of Scotland, difficulties and dis
putes which might have employed the
writers and puzzled the magistrates were
referred to his arbitration, and thus law
suits or scandal prevented. Tho minis
ter had heard--as who in Bathgate had
not-of Mrs. Simpsons loss. Like the
rest of the parish, he thought it rather
strange; but Nancy Campbell was one
of the most serious and exemplary girls
in his congregation, and he could not
believe that the charge preferred against
her was true. Yet the pecViarities of
the case demanded investigator.
With some difficulty the minister per-
suaded Nancy to return to her mistress,
bearing message to the effect that he
and two of his elders who happened to
reside in the neighborhood would come
over the following evening, hear what
could be said On both sides, and if pos
s;ble clear up the mystery. The widow
was well pleased to have the minister
and his elders come to inquire after her
spoons. She put on her best mutch-
tnat is to say, cap-prepared her best
speeches and enlisted some of the most
serious and reliable of her neighbors to
assist in the investigation.
Early in t.4e evening Of the following
day-when the summer sun was wear
ing low and the field work was over
they were all assembled in the clean
secured kitchen, the ministers, elders
and neighbols, soberly listening to Mrs.
Simpsons testimony touching her lost
silver, Nancy, Robin and the farm men
sitting by until their turn came; Wien
the door, which had been left half open
to admit the breeze--for the evening
was sultry-was quietly pushed aside,
and in slid Geordy Wilson, with his
usual accompaniment of staff and wal
let.
"There's nae room for ye here, Geor-
dy," said the widow; "we're on weighty
business"
"Weel, men," said Geordy, turning
to depart, SITS of nae consequence. l
only came to speak about your spoons. "
"Hae ye heard O them?" cried Mrs.
Simpson, bouncing from her seat.
81 couldna miss beein blessed wi the
precious gift of hearin, and, what's bet
ter, l saw them," said Geordy.
"Saw them, Geordy? Whar are they:
and here's whole shillin for ye," and
Mrs. Simpsons purse, or rather an old
| giSys useti, FOR thatpurpose, was instant
ly produced.
"Weel," said Geordy, 81 slipped in ae
day, and seein the siller unguarded
thought some i'll guided body might
covet it, and jist laid it by, may say
amang the leaves O that Bible, thinkir
you would be sure to see the spoons
when you went to read"
Before Geordy had finished his revela
ton Nancy Campbell had brought dow
the proudly displayed but never opened
Bible, and interspersed between it
leaves lay the dozen of long sough
spoons.
The minister of Bathgate could scarce
ly command his gravity while admon
ishing Geordy on the trouble and vex
alton his trick had caused The as
: selnbled neighbors laughed outrigh
, when the daft man, pocketing tn
widows shilling, which he had clutche
4 in the early part Of his discourse, as
+ sured them all that he kenned Mrs
9 Simpson read her Bible SO often tn
], spoons would be certain to turn NJ
: Geordy got many a basin of broth an
It many luncheon of bread and cheese o
+ account of that transaction, with whic
n he amused all the firesides of the parisl
! Mrs. Simpson was struck dumb eve
l. from scolding. The discovery put a
6 end to her ostentatious professions, ant
Q it may be hoped, turned her attentio
g more to practice. BY way of maxim
it amends for her unjust imputations G
Nancy Campbell, she consented to r
5. ceive her as a daughter-in-law with
o the same year, and it is said there WI
+ peace ever after in the farmhouse; b.
d The good people of Bathgate, when d
l. 49,. - 3N.n