Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-31
ora FL1Rr BY WOMEN.
A True Story of the Early Settlement of
Pennsylvania.

pothc cISutE YEARS aSO tHc IOW HOuIlSiIUB
town Of EastOn, on the Delaware, was but n
small settlement in one Of the remote and COM
parOtively wild portions Of Pennsylvania. Not
far from the Delaware double row Of low
rooted, quaint-lOoking stone houses formed
the most pOpulOus part Of the settlement.
The good .IIuuS of that
period were of the class described by dis
tinguiShed chrOnicer, who "Stayed at home,
read the Bible, and wore frOckS." They wore
the same antiquated quilted caps and parti-
colOred hOmcSpun gowns that were in fashion
in the days Of the renowned Woutcr Van
Twiler; their pockets were always filled with
work and the implements of industry, and
their gowns and their husbands coats were cx-
cluSively Of domestic manufacture.
In cleanliness and thrifty houSewifcry, they
were eXcellcd by none who had gone before
or who came after them. The wcll-Scourcd
stOopS and dcntrcs, fresh and immaculate every
mnrning, attcSted the ncatnrSS prevailing
throughout the dwellings. The precise order
that rcigncd within the departments Of kitch.
en-, parlOr and chamber could not be disturbed
by any out of-door- c0mmoti0n. Cleanliness
and cOntentment were the cares of the house
hold. The tables were spread with abundance
Of the good old time, and not small was the
pride Of those mnistcring DANES in setting
f1tth the yiands prepared by their own indus
trious hands. 1t must not be supposed that
all their care and -frugality were inconsistent
with the dear exercise Of hospitality, or other
social virtues usually practiced in every fe-
male community. II the visits paid from house
to house were less frequent than in modern
times, there was the same generous interest
in the concerns Of others, and the same desire
in each to save her ncighbor trouble by kind.
ly taking the management Of affairs upon her
self cvinced by So many individuals Of the
present tlav.-ln short the domestic police of
Easton, at that remote period, was apparently
as remarkable for vigilance and severity in
hunting out Offenders as it has proved to be in
modern civilization.
The arrival--Of new residents from the city
was an event Of importance enough in itself TO
cause NO small stir in that quiet community
The runOr that n small house, ricturcsqucly
situated at the edge of n wood some distance
from the village, was being fitted up for the
new corners, was soon spread abroad, and gave
rise to many cOnjecturcS and surniSeS. The
furniture that paradcd in the wagons before
the aStouiShcd eyes of the settlers was different
from any that had been seen before and,
though it would have been thought simple
enough, or even rude at the present day, cx
hibitcd too much Of metropolitan taste and
luxury to meet their approval. Then gar
dener was employed several days to set in or
der the surrounding plot Of ground, and set
out rose bushes and ornamental plants; the
fence was painted gaiy, and the inclosure Sc
cured by neat gate.
A few days after light travelling wagon
brought the tenants to the abode prepared for
them. Within the memory Of a generation
hardly any occurrence had takcn place which
excited so much curiosity. The doors and
windows were crowded with gaZcrS, and the
younger part Of the population were hardly
restrained by parental authority from rushing
after the cqupngr The female, who sat with
n boy on the back seat, wore thick veil, but
the pleasant face of a middlc-aged man, who
looked about him and bowed courtcouSly to
the different groups attracted much attention.
The man who drove had jolly English face,
brt0kcning very communicative disposition :;
nor was the promise broken to the hope; for
that very evening the same parsonage was
seated among few grave,looking Dutchmcn,
who fingered at the tavern, dealing out his in
formation literally to such as chose to Qucs-
linn him. The newcomer, il appeared, was
member Of the Colonial Assembly, AMI had
brought his family to ruStcatc for season on
the banks of the Delaware. This family con-
sisted of his English wife and son about
seven years old They had been eeustamed,
he said, tn the society of the rich and gay,
both in Philadelphia and in Europe, having
spent some tine in Paris before their coming
to this country
The information given by the loquaciouS
driver, who seemed To think the village not n
little honorcd in so distinguished an accession
to its inhabitants, produced no favorable i'm
preston. The honest mynhcerS, however,
were little inclined to he haStv in their iudg-
ment. They preferred consulting their wives,
who waited with no little patience for the
Sabbath morning. expecting then to have
full opportunity of criticiSing their new neigh
horS.
They were doomed to disappointment; none
of the family was at the place Of meeting, al
though the practice Of church going was one
so timchonored that journey of ten miles on
foot to attend religious service was thought
nothing of, and few, even of the most worldly
minded, venturrd on an omission. The non.
appearance of the stranger was dark omen.
The next day, however, the danes Of the
settlement had an opportunity of seeing Mrs.
Winton-fOr so shall call her, not choosing
to give her real name-aS she came out to
purchase few Articles of kitchen furniture.
Her style of dress was altogether different
from theirs. Instead Of the hair pOmatumcd
back from the forehead, she wore it in natural
rinGlctS; instead Of the short stuffed pctticoatS
IN vogue among the Dutch danes, long and
flowing skirt set off to advantage a figure oi
remarkable grace. At the first glance one
could not but acknowledge her singular beau.
tv. Her form was fautleSS inSymmetry, and
her features eXQniSitrly regular; the complex
ion being a clear brown, set off by luxuiiant
black hair, and pair of brilliant dark eyes
The expression Of these was not devoid of a
certain fascination, though it had something tC
excite diStru>t in the supplemented fair ones
who measured the claims of the stranger tC
admiration. They could not help thinking
there was want Of innate mOdeSty in the bold
restless wandcrings Of those eyes, bright a,
they were, in the perfect selEpossesSion the
English Woman showed in her somewhat
naughty carriage. Her voice, too, thougl
mclodious, was not low in its tones, and hcl
laugh was merry, and frequently heard. II
short, she appeared, to the untntored judg
ment OF the danes of the village, decidedly
wanting in reserve and the SoftncSs natural {
youth in women.
While they shook their heads, and were Sh,
Of conversation with her, it was not littl,
wonderful to notice the different effect pro
duccd on their Spouses. The honest Dutch
men surveyed the handsome stranger will
undiSguised admiration, evinced at first by
prolonged stare, and on after occasions b,
such rough courtesy as they found Opportu
nitv Of showing, with alacritv Offering TO he