Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-26
ONLY TWO BEECHNUTs.
An Interesting Love Story of Rev
dictionary Times.

An old brown farm house has stood
for years OF the highway between
Ridgetield and South Salem, in Con-
necticut. 1t vas so near the New York
and Connecticut boundary line that a
stone could be thrown twenty yards or
more from the door steps into either
State. 1t has sheltered generation after
generation of the same family for more
than a hundred years. Afew days ago
it became necessary to tear down this
old building, and in removing the dis
carded furniture that had grown shaky
with years of solitude in the musty gar
ret, a small chest was found. Nothing
was in it but a package no larger
than a spool. On opening the tattered,
faded paper covering two beechnuts
were disclosed, exactly alike, perfectly
preserved and whose shells were as
hard as glass. An examination of the
crambling inclosure revealed some
writing that was scarcely legible. The
almost vanished sentence was deci-
phercd as follows:
"Thesc are the beechnuts that Philip and
Martha exchanged october 18th, IT'S.
The little nuts that had lain for a
hundred years untouched are now to be
carefully preserved, especially as asso-
ciated with them is a family tradition.
The, history which the discovery of
these beechnuts has revived is as fol-
lows: A huge bowlder frowns upon
the old Salem turnpike perhaps a mile
from the New York State line. 1t con-
ceals the highway toward the west by
reason of the sharp turn that is made
around it. Leaning against the bowl
der ono mild afternoon in October,
ITS, was a young man. His eyes
were resting on the vista of buff, brown,
and scarlet foliage that stretched far
away, and through which patches of
blue water OF the lake beyond could be
seen.
ts.Bcautiful," he said. "Ah, if l only
If l. had not this business in hand;
and their outposts are just beyond"
Even as he spoke he started, listened,
and in an instant so changed his man
ncr that he seemed a tired and listless
soldier, with no care for the landscape
that had charmed him.
AS the footsteps that had caused the
change Of approached, and
seemed about to round the boulder, he
still kept his eyes half closed with the
expression of WEAKNESS, nor did he lift
them until the steps stopped in front of
him. Then looking up he saw a child,
a Girl of ten or twelve, may be. The
little n spoke.
'.Where is your musket?" she asked.
care you then SO used to seeing
soldiers with guns, my maid, that. you
wonder l haven't any?"
Not always, but now. Why, my
father ana my brother John have gone
away with their muskets, and so has
every one"
'.Mayhap they have gone shooting
the gamer"
ooh, no; for they put on their three
cornered hats, like yours, and l dldhear
my brother say surely there'd be a bat
lie tomorrow"
The young soldier no longer assumed
the look of wearied Indifference. His
MANNER. however, did not suggest to
the child that he burned within.
.:Mv little maid" he said, 81 have
something better than a tlint-lock. l
will show it to YOU"
From the inner folds of his homesPun
coat he drew forth a small portfolio
nnd then, sitting on a shelf OF the rock
onened the case, placed 1t upon MS
knee. and then sharpened a crayon.
..Your pretty face, my maid, is set so
oh.rminoly by the bright leaves on the
bank back of you, that if you will let ct
me- will sketch it, and you may have
:" Thu child's eyes sparkled, but she
said: You were tired and almost asleep
\ Slight, quick smile though tht temper '7aI,no
oil xith sadness, fitted over the young
mans face, and he said: eyes, put You
have have awakened me. Now stand as still
a. With quick. vigorous strokes the
young ma piled his crayon, ;, no." fs ",,e
then Slancing up at the ch'lo' la'''