Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-27

enough to put the amorous soul in blaze
What wonder, then. when at arms length
from her, in the full flush Of the spirits which
the harvest brings, he threw his arms around
her and fondly kissed her! Ii was a crime
admitting Of no atOnement, except by con
mlttlng 1t again, which brought after IL no re-
pentant tears or remorse of conscience; for be
went away, and his ears tingled with the deli
cious electricity from Bettys fingers
betty went home and told her mother, and
her mother told the old man, who was smoking
his pipe on the doorsill. lie mumbled and
g:oaned, but did not take IL much 10 heart
Bal BsrkalOO would. at some day OF other.
come into possession Of good farm, and that
alone would atsne for a multitude of sins.
Nevertheless, this improper act was talked of.
and produced good deal Of scandal. The
young people at their little gatherings would
cry out, Who kissed Betty Scudder - putting
an arch and emphatic emphasis upon the first
word, which was provocative Of mirth. At
last the matter became so aggravated that il
was deemed advisable to bring up the culpriJ,
and at least TO try him for misdemcanor.
The gay blade Of Coram was summoned IN
answer 10 the charge, as well as those who
could testify to the kissing of Betty Scudder
The investigation excited a deal OF interest
rom the place where IL happened, through all
tho intervening villages, to Montauk Point
Old maids and old wives discussed II with
Coram, and Of young Buckram, Of young
Skunk's Manor and Of young Mesquite Cove,
the words became a provcrb that was handed
down through several generations, with their
accompanying cadence, 4" IVho kissed Betty
S,udder >
Young Barkaloo camo to the trial in brave
suit OF clothes and with a snowy team OF
horses, accompanied by all the gallantry of
Coram. His hair looked redder and his
trcckles more numerous than ever, while his
merry laugh was heard on the way, as if L.
defy the consequences Of his misdemeanor
What had he done! Merely stolen a kiss in
open day from one of the fairest of Ewes
daughters, which he was willing to replace
| with another. Did Betty condemn him. Ii
she did at first, there was no reason to think
that, upon reflection, she admired his dashing
boldness, that she was stung with compuuc-
ton for boxing his ears, and that with a ,-o-
man tenderness, she now sympathzed with
him him in his peck Of troubles 20 | have
somewhere read that, a. a young man one day
was twisting up wheatsheaf in the field, hg
bound up viper or a rattlesnake, which
made an effort to strike him. We shall see
whether his Sheaf contained a rattlesnake or
flowers The following extract is from the
town records of Coram, copied pevJatiDs elite
y0tum
"l5 October, 17Cl. William Barkaloo for
kissing Betty ScuGder. Fady POlhemu. testi-
fed that he was in the wheat field Of Mr. Lud-
lam, and that he saw him put his arms around
her neck, but that he did not see him kiss her
Cannot say that be heard him say he meant
to do it. Knows the defendant very well, but
never played cards With him. Bought Gov
OF him before last fast-dsy, for which
paid him; have also travelled with him con-
siderable, all right. Did not hear him smack
her, but thinks he might have heard IL If hc
had done so. Knows nothing moro about it,
"Sooky Carl examined.
4" Justice Probasco-State what you know
"Sooky-I know William see him a run
ming, but could not say what it was about
Did not see her box his ears but heard others
say she done so. Know nothing about HE
milking the cow with Betty. Believe his char
acter is good. Left the field before sundoyn.
Did not hear Othniel Everett say that the case
would come into court.
"Peter NOstrand examined.
"Justice Probssco-Stste what YOU know.
"Peter Nostrsnd-Was ia the field. but az
the fuTder end. Did not notice that We de-
fendant kept near Betty. II he had a done
80, think he should have seen him, but can't
say, as he was too far off. Saw him rupniu..
but cant say what il was for. 1t he kissel
her, would like 10 been in his place. That's
all, may it please the court. Laughter
"Silence! This proceeding is shameful.
"Andreas hashaw examined-See him do
1T; was within three feet of him. He done /.
all TO onceit. Believe that Betty could ;.Yt
have helpti 1t. Do not blame her for strikiny
him Thinks she served him right Never
made any offer Of marriage to Better Scud-
der Conduct always proper to her. Have
no Ill Will against William Barkaloo
" Several other examinations made Fired
Los. and bound over TO keep the peace
Thus much havo L been permitted e. copy
from the records Of Coram, and for the rest .;
this adventure in smacking am indebted Z,
Judge Benson, the historian. Of Long Island.
and the author of Ante Revolutionary anu
Revolutionary Incidents, A" who has paid nuch
attention TO such things.
When Bill Barkaloo was fined fftecn sbil
lings be roared out with laughter, and in fact
he had been gigling and laughing ever since
he came into court. He thrust his hand int,
his pocket and paid the fine in pieces Of eiyh.,
out OF goOdly store Of cash which he had in
hand He also told the justice to do his wors.;
that he was an old fool, and that as Iony n
the girls liked him he could afford to 1sv.
that he would do the same thing over again,
and he defed all the electmen of Coram: Lhs-
he was of age that day, and that the BibI,
would prove il. He drove forthwith To Betty-
Scudder's where be found the old man pickin..
up chips, and the old woman Straining mills
In the dairy, and Betty in tears because Hip
had been brought into court, and he pronoscJ
to marry her. Nor do the records of the Is
land, nor the historian, nor Judge Benson
himself, declare that she refused the suit. %,
the contrary, she said thai she would thin.
of it, and she did think Of il, and she turned
1t over in her mind; and when it was viewed
IN all Its aspect, and when that fine farm on
Hampstead Plains was taken duly into account,
neither did old Mr.. Scudder nor young Mr.,
Seudder venture TO raise any objection. On
the contrary, they thought that the wild GA
of William had already been sown, and those
whom God had joined together let no man nut
assunder. Consequently, when the New
Year came round, with its happy congratula-
tons, and the new cider was clarified, aud
Coram, for once in a twelvemonth put on =
glad aspect, and the selectmen relaxed their
frowns, and the minister smiled, the minister
was invited TO the comfortable homestead.
and there, (amid the same happy company
which bound the sheaves Of wheat in the late
golden, glorious harvest, when he had made
prayer, and showed how all things worked
together for the good OF those who loved the
Lord: when he had nictnroL -.Ioan;r.. p...l-