The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-11-09
ONLY TWO BEECHNUTS


years on tue highway fWlWeeU ana
South Salem. In Connecticut IL was 40 near
the New York aud Connecticut boundary line
that n stone could be thrown twenty yards
Or moro from tho door stops into either State.
It has sheltered generation after generation Of
the same fam ily for more than hundred years.
A few days ago 1t became necessary to tear
down this old building. and In removing tho
discarded furniture that had grown shahy with
years. OF solitude in tho musy carrot. small
ohest wa found. Nothing was In IL but pack
Ago no larger than n spool. On opening tho
tattcrcd. faded papor covering two Dccchnul5
were disclosed. exactly alike, perfectly rre-
served. and whose shoiis were u.s. hard AS glass.
An examination Of the crumbl.ns enclosure
revealed some writing that wa. scarcely legi-
Bile The almost vanished sentence was do
ciphcrcd rs follows:
These nre the bccchnu;s that rhi,ip aui Martha es.
changed Oct ~, iITS
Tho littlo nuts that had lain FOR hundred
yoars untouched are now to bc carefully pre-
served. especially n associated with them Ia n
family tradition. The history which tho dis
covcry OF these bcechnuts has revived Is ~ fol-
lows: A huge boulder frowns upon the old Sa-
lem turnpike perhaps milo from the New
York State line. II conccal5 the highway to-
ward tho wost by reason OF she sharp turn That
is made around 1t. Leaning against this
boulder ono mild afternoon In October 177s.
was young man. His oyos were resting on
mo Nlslt vi pNll, DEONu anu NCdtl'l I'.Ius" tiNt
stretched far away. and through which patches
of blue water Vt tho Lake beyond could be seen.
Beautiful" he said. All, IL I only-if |
had not this business in haud and their out
posts are Just beyond"
Even as he spoke no started. lstoncd and
In an instant SO changed his manner that he
seemed Il tired and is,loss soldier. with no
care for the landscape that had charmed HIM.
AS the footsteps that had caused the change
OF manner approached and seemed about to
round the boulder lie still kept his eyes half
closed with ;ho expression OF WEAKNESS. nor
did hc lift thom until the steps stopped in
front of him. Then looking up. he enw n child.
n girl Of 10 or ~ may bc. Tho little one spoke.
Whore Is your mu-kctf' sho ASKED.
Are YOU thnn used TO seeing soldiers with
Not aiways but now Why ny father ana
NV brother John have gone away with their
Mayhap they nave gone shooting tho Gnm.Y
,oh no; for they Gqt IN {heir thlGa:e3,rMerad
sgTrnly thete.d be = battle t",iaorrow. ,,,,
however DID hot suggest to the child that he
Nv little maid. he said. ",Ihngc something
Netter than iiint,lock. | will! show i, to you"
From the inner folds OF his homespuu coat he
on a shelf 81 tho rock. opened tho csse. patSi
Y1%%r ri face face a% y l il m IN
BY the bright leaves on tho tank. back Of yH'I
tina, 4 you yin LET me- viii skcteh It, and YOU
The chiId's tyes sparklah but she said. You
were tired and almost aseHp ~ / came"
no saiI '"Nes. bnt You lave awaE.Hed ne
Nov stand sin rs Won can"
Mith quick, v-otods strokes the y"un- man
.died his crayon now and then aur.nG 40 at
the chids iuce. Bptu ware silent some mo-
pr aad. Sri,at af so fn1 A%2
tina to make cartridges for him"
ma Ara a2T Ee he saw h Esr 2q S aYcr 'aHT
come back. Mnyhap there'll be no bat.c."
he E'S WSirh !%y DID your 1n tS aSd
brother go my chi d -
'fS " 1R He to OF HG soDr." to the White
Plains. There" holding up tho portrait.
too much, When l hayo fixed that it win lie
d%nei Then Tth few r%G 5t."GT he fin
:. It's nv face! it's my facet cried the child.
Nov. what is yonr name. that may write it
beneath thc portrait =
She told him. and he wrote:
Ruth Phillips, by phi,ip.
There" he said, my hrst name is the same
yoHr e s s5o ere Ina" at + I'M nice %
soldier quickly took u small mar from his port
ssop ,S lSn fo M, arr WGd aas' an
he studied IL II moment aud was about 10 turn
s hm WIN Ss r hG s. t6 %, n a' i
his ste"d 10 his hes irr,,'lr., AA,noit alrn.,!y
the seat 9n tie rock. Then, with such nueuc,
a. caused hor TO- raise hoy eyes IN some I"r-
ers nj 1H az nl diS'S% t w ana XII H
man, dashed hy. The, horse was eh"cl'd M
man th@r'np6n lied us tai! H: i Inai hi
been henL.ns ,"Ner n" child tnr4eL s.awty.
carew2rn expression was again ~ nj fa,r Il
VA S shsS q n2Msy to iGsk Of nf"r-a
young woman; Though the soldier stead
from eyes that We're rounded with asiun!sh-
meat a they YER" luminous and sfiarchig;
lure ne nat i HS' m In TO % HE hh sT AND ny
poisGd riding hat that tho bnrning leaves Of a
ina merit %@ o d ,3q Er a., as Win mry i "ms
briGhter thin that of a ienf that almost rested
horse aud rider we're moulded together; me
SK Hn r sn H |E tf earn LIEU
ture gla,liGned his artistic eye. iot hi; active
Hnt S Was sy Mr. ts as to "r t1e"t
sait; a., on Patty. see the picture of me the
The older sister put out her nnoccupied
hand and received the portrait, not yet ,nkn
her from the soldier, \, lGst shs Glanced
%na,es, hid ras;yed: (, %%%s..H She turned t5
The solder bowed. and tho young woman
made mental note of the grace with which this
What rorf -ho asked though hor tones
war ch not e, 50 aI Mtat, i 4 the %Sras
1T l. almost perfect"
lam a, veil aware as you that 1t is not SO,
H. s,mi''ai Slightly. FOR he could not help it
At tue lull"fIpbS UlinNGf OF the slfl. nut IT
said quietly " Cont tnentnl soldier"
The soldier bowed.
Don't YOU know yoH are on dangerous
ground; You are within the British lines
Il hope soon to Ice sai".
Tho young woman gathered up her roios
STRAY So FAR from home. Come with me- Thor
she seemed t. hesitate. and ut icngth said l.
The young soldier. who had nos stirred. " How
lon, lime needed you 10 draw this Z"
liut n icw minutes"
They are precious. Dare YOU draw mine Z
II would ha u pleasure"
viii you."
Retnain. then as you are" Again ,rawinl
forth his portfolio and liking one long search
in- glance on the girl. En began his work. A.
he went on she had both dosIrr and OppOrtuui
ty to observe him. She ,saW that he was tall
sincwy. Young, and as he looked M with tn
inuuiring glance Of the AR list. it was imurossn,
upon her that he WAS handsome and stron.
hnYnnl All mon -hn had own cnnn. SIN snN