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


formed part of the dowry which Robert
the Bruce bestowed on his eldest daugh-
ter, Margery, when she married Walter,
the high steward Of Scotland, and thus
became the progenitriz of the royal and
unluclky house of Stuart. Lying mid
way between Edinburgh and Glasgow,
those rival queens Of the east and west,
bnt out of the common track of traffic
and travel, it has been for ages pas
toral parish of small and rather back
ward farms.
OF late years coal has been found
there, and steam and trade, which bid
fair to leave the world no rustic corner,
are rapidly turning it into mining dis
trict, which nobody thought of about
the time of the general peace, when
Bathgate lived ON its own oats and bar
ley, wore its own holden gray and had
but two subjects of interest-the corn
market and the kirk session. Among its
peaceable and industrious population
there was one dame who, though neither
the wealthiest nor the best born, stood
in her own esteem above all but the
laird and the minister, and her style and
title was Widow Simpson. This lady
valued herself, not on the farm left her
by the good man who had departed this
life some seven years before the COM
mencement of our story, for its acres
were few and they consisted of half re-
claimed moorland; not on her grown up
son Robin, though he was counted
likely and sensible lad; not on her own
thrifty housekeeping, though it was
known to be on the eight screw" prin-
ciple; but on tho possession of dozen
silver teaspoons.
Her account Of them was that they
had belonged to tho young chevalier,
and had been bestowed upon her grand
father in return for entertaining that
claimant to the British crown on his
march from Culloden-in proof of which
she was accustomed to point out a half
obliterated crest and the initials G. S.,
with which they were marked. The
widows neighbors, however, had q diff
ferent tale regarding their coming into
the family. II was to the effect that her
grandfather, who kept small inn some
where in Fife, had bought them from an
i'll doing laird for three gallons of High
land whiskey, and bestowed them on his
granddaughter as tho one of his family
most likely to hold fast to such an inn
portant acquisition.
In the family resided in the capacity
of ''help" one Nancy Campbell, girl
about nineteen, who was suspected of
having taken fancy to Robin, who re-
ciprocated the sentiment. Nothing, how
ever, would soften the heart Of the
widow as regards O match, until at last
the following event occurred and caused
her to give way: About the haymalSing
time q distant and comparatively rich
relation was expected to call and take
tea one evening on his way from Lin
lithgow. II was not often that this s,l-
perior relative honored her house with
d visit, and Mrs. Simpson, determined
that nothing should be wanting to his
entertainment, brought out the treas
ured spoons early in the forenoon, with
many injuuctions to Nancy touching the
care she should take in frightening
them up.
While this operation was being con-
Quoted in the kitchen, in the midst Of
one of those uncertain days which vary
the northern June, o sudden darkening
of the sky announced the approach of
heavy rain. The hay was dry and ready
for housing. Robin and two farm men
were busy gathering it in; but the great
drops began to fall while considerable
portion yet remained in the field, and,
with the instinct Of crop preservation,
sorth rushed the widow, followed by
Nancy, leaving the spoons half secured
on the kitchen table. In her rapid exit
the girl had forgotten to latch the door.
The weasel and the kite were the only
depredators known about the moorland
farm; but while they were all occupied
in the hay field, who should come thai
way but Geordy Wilson.
Well, the kitchen door was open, a1lt
Geordy stepped in. He banged thu
settle with his staff, he coughed, hi
hemmed, he saluted the cat, which So
purring on the window seat, and Il
length discovered there was nobody
within. Neither meal nor penny wa
to be expected that day; the rain wa
growing heavier, some Of the hay mus
be wet, and Mrs. Simpson would return
in bad humor But two objects power
fully arrested Geordy's attention; on
was the bro.h pot boiling on the fire an
the other the silver spoons scattered O
the table, Bending over the forme
Geordy took considerable sniff, CAV
the ingredients stir with the pot sticl
and muttered Every thin" His prt
ceeding with regard to the latter mu!
remain unmentioned; but half an hou
after, when he was safely ensconced
a farmhouse mile off and the famil
had been driven within doors by tho il
creasing storm, they found everythin
as it had Leen left--the broth on I'll
fire, the cat on the window seat, tt
whiting and flannel on the table; b,
not spoon was there.
"Whar's the spoons?" cried Mr.
Simpson to the entire family, wi
stood blythe fire drying their wet ga
ments. Mol ody could tell. Nancy hs
left them on the table when she ran
the hay. No one had been in the hous
they were certain, for nothing was di
turbed. The drawer was pulled ou
and the empty stocking exhibite
Every shelf, every corner, was searche
but to no purpose; the spoons had disa
peared and the state of the farmhou
may be imagined. The widow re-
through it like one distracted, questio
ing, scolding and searching. RObi
Nancy and the farm men were di
patched in different directions, as sot
as the rain abated, to inform the neie
l,nra findnr the s1lnnnsitinn that sni