The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-22
SILENT"FOR FORTY YEARS.
A DELAWARE COUNTY FAMILY's STRANGE
BEHAVIOR.


A most singular tale Of domestic infelicity
extending over period of forty years, comes
from Media, Delaware county. On the Pro
vidence road, mile and a-haIf from this
pretty little town, near the Rose Tree Hotel
lives Mrs. Isaac Ysrnall, whose husband for
forty years prior to his demise, which occur
ed few years ago, never addressed a word
to his wife. The latter did likewise, though
both lived under the same roof during all
those years. Old Isaac YarnaI first settled
where his wife and family are now located
fully a half century ago. Mrs. YarnalI, who
Is now "a years Of age, is spoken Of as being
a quiet, kind and clever neighbor, though
extraordinarily headstrong. This character
istic, it Is said, was the principal feature In
the composition of her husband, who other
wise bore the reputation of being a fair.
square man.
This same stubbornness was not alone
confined to the parents, for the three daugh-
ters and two sons were also imbued with Ii
to a remarkable degree, The only children
living are the daughters. not one of whom
has exchanged a word with one another for
years, though they too dwell together with
farm house near the Rose Tree Inn. These
pecuiarities Of the family are known to all
the farmers for miles around. What at first
appeared surprising and inexplicabIe has be-
come so commonplace that the strange do
in0s Of the Yarnalls have long ceased to be
subject of comment among the country folk
of the section. Isaac Yarnsll was an indus
trious and thrifty tiller of the soil. He plod-
ded along diligently and saved his hard
earned dollars until he amassed sufficient to
purchase a huadred-a acre farm. This he
worked until his death, and by judicious in
vestnents managed to leave behind him the
snug sum of s25, 900, on which the family are
now living.
The trouble between himself and wife was
brought about in this way: MIS-. YaInaIl
was bequeathed a small sum of money by a
relative, which her husband desired to use
In purchasing farming implements and other
wise improving the property. His better
half said no. Isaac vowed that unless he
was given the money he would never speak
another word to her. True to his vow he
steadfastly refrsined from speaking for for
ty long years. The daughters who were
nothing but mere than children when this
falling out occurred, tried to get the father
and mother to make up, but failed.
Reared under such surroundings It Is not
surprising that when the girls grew to wo-
manhood they should take sides with their
disagreeing parents. One upheld the father,
another the mother, while .he third, after
vainly trying to bring about a harmonious
feeling between all hands, became disheart-
ened and gave up the task. The daughters
have, since they quarreled, always ignored
each others presence. At the fathers fu-
neral q carriage was provided for the girls
to convey them to the cemetery. When the
funeral cortege was leaving the house the
girls found they were expected to ride to-
gether. They at first refused, but persistent
coaxing and the fear of creating scene suf-
feed to induce them to stif1e their repugnant
feelings for the time being, and the daugh-
ters rode of together. A stranger visiting
the YarnalPs would fail to discover at the
first any family differences. The old lady
and the three daughters address the cOnver-
sation entirely to the visitor and wait patient
ly until each question is answered before
propounding another. When alone they eat
together, but never speak. and move about
the house utterly obivious of each others
presence PHILADELPHIA Record.