Feathertop: A Moralized Legend

           "Dickon,"criedMotherRigby,"acoalformypipe!"

           Thepipewasintheolddame’smouthwhenshesaidthesewords.Shehadthrustitthereafterfillingitwithtobacco,butwithoutstoopingtolightitatthehearth,whereindeedtherewasnoappearanceofafirehavingbeenkindledthatmorning.Forthwith,however,assoonastheorderwasgiven,therewasanintenseredglowoutofthebowlofthepipe,andawhiffofsmokecamefromMotherRigby’slips.Whencethecoalcame,andhowbroughtthitherbyaninvisiblehand,Ihaveneverbeenabletodiscover.

           "Good!"quothMotherRigby,withanodofherhead."Thankye,Dickon!Andnowformakingthisscarecrow.Bewithincall,Dickon,incaseIneedyouagain."

           Thegoodwomanhadrisenthusearly(forasyetitwasscarcelysunrise)inordertosetaboutmakingascarecrow,whichsheintendedtoputinthemiddleofhercorn-patch.ItwasnowthelatterweekofMay,andthecrowsandblackbirdshadalreadydiscoveredthelittle,green,rolledupleafoftheIndiancornjustpeepingoutofthesoil.Shewasdetermined,therefore,tocontriveaslifelikeascarecrowaseverwasseen,andtofinishitimmediately,fromtoptotoe,sothatitshouldbeginitssentinel’sdutythatverymorning.NowMotherRigby(aseverybodymusthaveheard)wasoneofthemostcunningandpotentwitchesinNewEngland,andmight,withverylittletrouble,havemadeascarecrowuglyenoughtofrightentheministerhimself.