Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-12-03

buxOm form fitting about the
kitchen In imagination: and when
the magples chattered in th IT
nests he could fancy that he sat
with her under the oak branches.
Then he grew wr0lh with the
magpies, who seemed to mock him
and ordered his pot boy to tear
the nest down.
In vain the boy pleaded for the
birds. 1t vain he declared that,
even If the new nests went the
old one in the tOpmost branches
should be left 'for luck
'lf the old magpies that built
that find it gone. they'll peck some
ones eyes out in the nighttime
said the boy, It's been known to
0e done often.'
But John Leaf, the soldier. had
cast away all his superstition.
I'll have those magDieS chat.
terlng about my ears no more. he
said. up and leave not a nest OF
them ali. Some of the noisy ras'
Gals will take possession of that
old rag if it is left hanging
So the boy obeyed. He planted
a ladder against the tree, and then
swung ont upon the branches.
There WAS a grieylOus noise; and
doubtless to this day old magples
cell their childIen of that massacre
of the innocents at the great oak
tree. But there were no birds to
chatter and scream in the boys
hands clutched at last. be came
down with the relic IN his hand,
and stood before his master with a
grin.
'Eh, master! n ay have all |
found in the old nestl he asked.
'Ifitis not a magpIe's egg said
John Leaf.
lite better than that said the
lad. IJs a silver ring.
Let me see it, cried John Loaf,
aud snatched it from his hand.
1t was the ring with which he
had phghted his troth to Betty
under the oak; and he knew that
the magpies had stolen 1t, and
that the Frenchman wore one that
resenrblcd it.
The first thing that John did
was to call himself hard names:
"a jealous fool! A suspicious brute
Heaven knows what else. Ttrn he
melted, aud all by himself in the
! wood beyond the house shed tears
and vowed to fnd Betty If she
still lived on earth.
Where he went, of whom he i'll
quired, matters not. But one Day
when the sun was setting IN thu
west, he opened little cottage
gate to which he had been directed
and saw at her knitting. under a
vine.covered porch, his Betty, not
changed one single bit. And She
She looked at hin aud dill no.
know him with his tim, sillow
face and his wooden leg.
What may you be wanting, sirf
she asked.
And lie said; 'Brttyp
And she cried ou'; 'Why, mercy
it's John Leafp
Then he cat down on DeDcl
close ty her side.
You know 1 never had many
words to spend on anything, Betty
he SAID: 'I'll come to the point at
once. 1 know now that yOn were
true, and no cheat, and That yor
never gave my ring to Monsieur
I for nd it-or my lad did, for Pa
not very good az climbing now =
In the old magpie's nest in the
oak tree.
so the magpie stole It, ebf
SAID Betty. We'll they are strange
birds. Pve heard they've taken
spoons before now
'And so, Betty said John, u
YOuli ONtIlOOh bhO p"SO ""N -
bygoners be bygoners I'll be
happy man.
! love you nOgrudge, said Bett.
r and bygOnes are bygones, Johl
t Leaf
But you'll let things he as the!
y we're Bettyl' said John, You'll b.
t nv sweetheart agalnG
b She aughed.
4 Don't you knowr she said. Wh
4 looR there
: He looked. Through the gat
D came a fOTelgn.IOoking man, wit
b gold rings in bis ears and a silve
ring upon his finger, who led b
n the hand a toddnng chiid.
!, swhy, its Monsieur said John
s You see,' said Betty, Il went
10 him to ask how he came by b