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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
Nextcameapairofscarletbreeches,oncewornbytheFrenchgovernorofLouisbourg,andthekneesofwhichhadtouchedthelowerstepofthethroneofLouisleGrand.TheFrenchmanhadgiventhesesmall-clothestoanIndianpowwow,whopartedwiththemtotheoldwitchforagillofstrongwaters,atoneoftheirdancesintheforest.Furthermore,MotherRigbyproducedapairofsilkstockingsandputthemonthefigure’slegs,wheretheyshowedasunsubstantialasadream,withthewoodenrealityofthetwosticksmakingitselfmiserablyapparentthroughtheholes.Lastly,sheputherdeadhusband’swigonthebarescalpofthepumpkin,andsurmountedthewholewithadustythree-corneredhat,inwhichwasstuckthelongesttailfeatherofarooster.
Thentheolddamestoodthefigureupinacornerofhercottageandchuckledtobeholditsyellowsemblanceofavisage,withitsnobbylittlenosethrustintotheair.Ithadastrangelyself-satisfiedaspect,andseemedtosay,"Comelookatme!"
"Andyouarewellworthlookingat,that’safact!"quothMotherRigby,inadmirationatherownhandiwork."I’vemademanyapuppetsinceI’vebeenawitch,butmethinksthisisthefinestofthemall.’Tisalmosttoogoodforascarecrow.And,bytheby,I’lljustfillafreshpipeoftobaccoandthentakehimouttothecorn-patch."
Whilefillingherpipetheoldwomancontinuedtogazewithalmostmotherlyaffectionatthefigureinthecorner.
