The Newtown bee., 1898-07-22
Newtown, Friday, July 90 1888
The Home Circle,
Old Joshua, The Wig-Maker.
MAY KELSEY CHAMPION IN TIE INDErEN-
DENT.

On narrow table, stretching across
the front Of the small, square room, stood
a row of wigs. One of them--the one at
the further end of the rOw-was the Gov
ernor's latest order, ard only just finish
ed. Full and curled and made Of the best
London hair, 1t would cost the magis-
trate a good, round sum; but the magis-
trate was able to pay. Next it was the
minister's, sent IN to be freshly carded
and dressed. The rest were samples to
advertise old Joshua's skill, and except
for an occasional shake to free them from
dust, had rested undiaturbed upon their
blocks for twenty years.
TIme-yellowed and fly-specked pieces
OF paper stitched to the crown labeled
these respectively "Grizzle," Bodied
Grizzle," "Bleached Tie" Brown
Horse" and white Goat"
Other brown and dusty papers, fasten-
ed to the walls of the small room, told
the very curious of the old wig-maker'f
customers that there might be obtained
also cards and brushes, curling tongs,
W0bA DhlAb1 A4OuAOA DAaCh OdAAS " III
printed directions for using, black satin
bags for the hair, and superior pomatum.
The early twilight Of a dark March af-
ternoon was shutting in, and, with a
sigh OF relief, Joshua brushed up the pile
Of white hair before him and put it away
In q box.
Pushing the wig-blocks together, he
covered the confused mass of "Grizzle,' -
Bodied Gri8Rle," "White Goat" and
%Brown Horse with a cloth, and then
with quick jerk drew the curtain that
hid the small wares on the shelves.
Periwigs and wash-balls and pomatum
were done with for the day. He had
hated them well for forty years, aud he
was glad to put them out Of sight at
night.
Over the cleared end o. the table was a
door. He opened it now, disclosing a
shallow closet, half the hight of the
room. With gentle reverence he took
down a thick book bound In leather, a
score Of small boxes and jars, and, lastly,
a mortar and pestle.
His eyes frightened and his face took
a look Of content as he held candle to
the blaze in the fireplace, and set it on
the table. Night after night and well
toward the morning light burned
there, shining through the shutterless
window to the street outside.
Passers-by had long since grown used
to the sight of the old man at work over
the mortar, or deep in the mysteries of
some book, q long black gown belted
about his STOPPING figure, and a black
velvet cap upon the shabby white wig
that 1t never occurred to him to renew or
cast aside. There were those who said
thst old Joshua studied magic, and
could turn base metals to gold; but
there were those, too, who said that this
was not true.
There was but one opinion, however,
regarding his knowledge of herbs and
his skill in the treatment of strange dis
eases. Far out on the turnpike and the
Boston post-road he was summoned.
But for his services as physician he
would take no payment; wig-making
was his trade; he lived by that, he would
say.
.Joshua had been at work for little
more than an hour, altering and weigh
Ing and grinding, when the door of the
back room slowly opened. A slender,
pale child Of about fourteen came up to
the table.
aGrandfather
"Eh2 On yes, Barbara; you may
uIx that box OF powdered crabs eyes