River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-01-15
ONLY TWO BEECHNUTS.
A Revolutionary Love Story.

THAT "a stDuS CUulu Dt buAONh twenty 1dINH Vi
more from the door steps into either State l
has sheltered generation after generation of
the same family for more than a hundred
years A few days ago it became necessary to
tear down this old bilding, and in removing
the discarded furniture, that had grown shaky
with years of solitude in the musty garnet, q
small chest was found Nothing was in it but
n package no larger than a spool On opening
the tattered, faded paper covering, two beech
nuts were disclosed exactly alike, perfectly
preserved, and whose shells were as hard as
glass. An examination of the crumbling in
closure revealed some writing that was scarce
ly legible. The almost vanished sentence was
deciphered . follows:
These are the beechnuts that Phillip and
Martha ex hanged Oct. 10, 1778
The little nuts that had lain for a hundred
years untouched are now to be carefully pre-
served, especially as associated with them is a
family tradition The history which the dis
covery of these beeclnuts has revived is as
follows huge boulder frowns upon the
old Salem turnpike, perhaps mile from the
New York state line. 1t conceals the highway
toward the west by reason of the sharp turn
that it makes around it Leaning against this
boulder one mid afternoon in October, IT'S
was 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.
"Beautiful." ne said "Ah, if only-if
had not this business in hand; and their out
posts are Just beyond"
no 10 ba cfa fiafa mr.
an instant so changed his manner that ht
seemed a tired and listless soldier, with nc
care for the landscape that had charmed him
AS the footsteps that had caused the change
of manner approached, and seemed about Il
round the boulder he still kept his eyes hall
closed with the expression of WEAKNESS, MOI
did he lift them until the steps stopped IL
front OF him Then looking up he saw child
a girl of ten or twelve years may be. The lit
tie one spoke
where il your musket?" she asked
care YOU then so used to seeing soldiers
with guns, my maid, that you wonder haven
mot always, hut now Why, my father ant
nv brother John have gone away with theil
muskets, and so has everyone"
''Mayhap they have gone shooting the game:'
sob no; for they put on their three corner
cd hats, like yours, and did hear my brother
say surely there'd be a battle tomorrow"
The Young soldier no longer assumed The
however, did not suggest to the child that h
burned within.
'My little maid," he said, 81 have some
thing better than flint-lock. / will show it t.
you"
From the inner folds of his homespun Goa
he drew forth a small portfolio and then, sit
ting on 4 shelf OF the rock, opened the case
placed it upon his knee and then shqrpened
-crayon.
'|Your little face, my maid, is set so charm
Iperly IN. the BRIGHT lpaVaa the hank hack
YOU that if you VIII let me 1 will sketch it, ant
you may have the portrait"
The child's ewes sparkled, but she said
''You were tired and almost asleep az l came.
slight, quick smile, though tempered witt
sadness, fitted over the young mans face, anC
he said: Eyes, but You have awakened me
Now stand az still as you can"
With quick, vigorous strokes the young maj
piled his crayon, now and then glanclng up
the child's face Both were silent some mo-
ments At length he said: "And so YOU
brother does predict battle to morrow"
eyes. He did say so, and did ask sister
Martha to make cartridges for him.
''And now he has gOne-there, there, my
maid" for he saw her chin culver. ''He viii
come back. Mayhap there'll be no battle.
They were silent few moments longer; theI
he said: (Which way didyOur father and broth
or go, my child?"
''Bv the turnpike to the White Plains"
ooh, hOi oh, yes, of course, to the Whit
Plains There" holding up the portrait
i'there have foreshortened the nose a LITTLE
too rauch. When l have fixed that it vii
be done" Then with a few rapid strokes
he finished the sketch, and gave it to th
child.
ITS my facet it's my facet" cried thu
child
Now, what is your name, that may write
DC cath the pOrtrait?"
she told him and he wrote:
Ruth Philips, by Philip.
There" he said my first name Is tn
same as your last one. That Is nice, ism
it,"
As she stood gazing at the portrait the younl
soldier quickly took small map from his port
folio and traced with his finger a highway unit
1t stopped at point marked White Plains
Then he studied 1t a moment and WAS abou
to turn away when the clatter o
horses boofs startled him. The rider b.
the sound, was pressing his steed to his hes
mettle Almost abruptly the young soldie
seized the child and led her to the seat on ia,
rock Then with such fluency caused he
to raise her eyes iii some surprise, he spoke o
the picture, and was thus engaged, as he IN
tended to be- when the horseman dashed by
The horse was checked as suddenly as though
snOt dead, and the young man thoreupOn liftet
his tall figure that had been bending over th'
child, turned slowly, and when he looked NJ
the weary CarewOrn expression was again on hi
face IT was changed, however, to a look o
surprise that was not counterfeited as his eye
fall on a young woman. Though the soldIe
steadfastly received the look that the girl gave
him from eyes rounded with establishment al
they we're luminous and searching, yet he die
not fail to note the exquisite picture that sh'
made. The hign and jauntily poised riding ma
that the burning leaves of a maple almost
touched as with a fiery plume; the thick coil o
hair the complexion that was br ghter thar
that of a leaf that almos. rested on the cheek
the figure seated as though horse and ride
were moulded together: the coal black ANNA
gently paving on the earth, all backed by the
brilhancy of the forest--this picture gladdeneC
his artistic eve Yes his active mind was busy
with queries as 10 her identity. But the little
girl solved the question She siad: ooh, Pat
", see the picture of me the man did draw.
The older SISTER put out her unoccupie'
hand and received the portrait not yet taking
her ewes from the soldier. At last she glanced
at the portrait, then scrutinized it more closely
t;li it seemed to the young man that many
minutes had passed. At length she turned t
him and said, You did this"
The soldier bowed and the young woman
made mental note of the grace with which this
cOmmon souldier made courtesy.
"What for?n she asked, though her tones
were not so abrupt as the words.
''The little maid pleased me.
1T - almost perfect
Il am as well aware as you that 1t Is not so.
''WhO are youy"
He smiled slightly, for he could not help it
at the imperious manner of the girl, but h
said. quietly "A Continental soldier
The soldier bowed
Don't you know you are on dangerous
ground2 You are within the British lines.
Il hope soon to he safe.
The Young woman gathered up her reins
saving as she did 50: Ruth, you should 10
stray so far away from home. Come with me
Then she seemed 10 hesitate, and at length
said to the Young soldier, who had not stirred
How long time needed you to draw this
But few minutes
'Fhey are precious. Dare you draw
mine:"
1T would be pleasure
''Will youy7
Remain, then, as you are Again drawing
forth his portfolio, and fixing one long, search
ing glance at the girl he began his work A
he went on she had both desire and emporium
itv to observe him. She saw that he was tall
sinewv, Young, and. as he looked up with III
inauiring glance of the artist II was impress
ed upon her that he was handsome and stront
beyend all men she had ever seen. She say
the quick sometimes strong, sometimes deli
= cate strokes of the cTayon, and saw grace Il
both He ventured not word At length tn
girl said: Who is your commander
He seemed not 10 hear and she asked again
Without pausing in his work he said, Co
Tyler of the Seventh Connecticut
''You are from below
Il was
That is what mean. You were .portrai
sketcher<"
sYes. in New York before the war"
Suddenly she said DO you know you ms.
be killed tomorrow
Perhaps"
81 mean that great battle Is expected"
The young man made most vigorous str0k
but without looking up said quietly: 'YOl
are better informed than shall reach m
command 20 night
Il have been doing my part, she said .