Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-13
ONLY TWO DEECHNUTS.

y
and South Salem, i'll Connecticut. 1t was
SO near the New York and Connecticut
boundary line that stone could be thrown
twenty yards or more from the door-steps
ZION after generation of the same family fol
more than hundred years. A few days
ago il became necessary to tear down this
old building, and in removing the discard
ed furniture that had grown shaky with
years Of solitude in the musty garnet, j
small chest was found. Nothing was in il
but package 40 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 crumbiing inclosure revealed some
writing that was hardly legible. The al
most vanished sentence vas deciphered as
follows These are the beechnuts that
Philip and Martha exchanged October 10,
177S"
The little nuts that had lain for a hun
bred wears untouched are ROW to be care
fully preserved, especially as associated
with them is a family tradition. The his
tory which the discovery of these beech
nuts has revived is as follows: A huge
bowlder frowns upon the old Salem turn
pike perhaps mile from the New York
State line. 1t eonceals the highway toward
the west by reason Of the sharp turn that
is made around it. Leaning against this
bovlde- one mild afternoon in October,
I77S, 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 = he said. ''Ah, if l only
If l had not this business on hand-and
their outposts are just beyond
Even as he spoke he started, listened,
and in an instant so changed his manner
that he seemed tired and lstless 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 bowlder, 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 look
ing up, he saw child, q girl of 10 or u,
maybe. The little one spoke,
Where is your musket?' she asked.
"Are you then so used to seeing soldiers
with guns, my maid, that you wonder |
haven't any
Not always, but now. Why, my father
and my brother John have gone away with
.heir muskcts. and so has every one
"Mayhap they have gone shooting the
game?
"Oh, no; for they put on their three
cornered hats, like yours, and | did hear
my brother say surely there d be battle
tomorrow"
The young soldier no longer assumed the
look Of wearied indifference. His manner,
However, did not suggest to the child that
lie burned within.
"My little maid" he said, Il have some
thing better than tint-lock. / will show
1t TO you"
From the inner folds of his homespun
coat he drew forth small portfolio, and
then, sitting on q shelf of the rock, opened
the case, placed it upon his knee, and then
sharpened a crayon. Your little face, my
Inaid is set so charmingly by the bright
leaves on the bank back OF you that If you
will let me | will sketch it, and you may
have the portrait"
The childs ewes sparkled, but she said,
q You were tired and almost asleep as /
came"
A Slight, quick smile though tempered
with sadness, fitted over the young man 5
face, and he said, Yes, but you have
awakened me Now stand still as YOU
can
With quick, vigorous strokes the young
man piled his crayon, now and then glanc-
ing up at the child's face. Both were
silent some moments. At length he said
And SO your brother does predict battle
tomorrow
Yes. He did say so, and did ask sister
Martha TO make cartridges for him.
l., 1. = iAr fr,x-
maid" for he saw her chin culver. " he
will come back perhaps. Mayhap there L
be no battle"
They were silent few moments longer
then he said: (Which way did youl
father and brother go, my child?"
BY the turnpike to the White Plains.
"Oh, no! oh, yes, of course, to the White
Plains. There holding up the portrait
there, have foreshortcned the nose lit
tie too much. When hayc fixed that i
will be done" Then with q few rapit
strokes he finished the sketch and gave i
10 the child.
It's my face it's my face" cried th'
child
Now, what is your name. that 1 ma!
write it beneath the Portrait
She told him and he wrote
Ruth Phillips, by Philip.
There" he said my first name is tn
same rs your last one. That is nice, ism
it2"
As she stood gazing at the portrait tn
Young soldier quickly took small ma
from his portfolio and traced with his ipge
A highway until it stopped az 4 pom
marked White Plains. Then he studied III
moment. and was about 10 turn away whcl
the clatter of horses hoof5 startled him
The rider. by the sound, was pressing III
steed to his best lnettle. Almost abrupt.
the Young soldier seized the child and LEI
her 10 the seat on the rock. Then, VIII
such tiucncy as caused her 10 raise her eye
with some surprise, he spoke of the picture
and was thus engaged, as he intended 10 be
when the horseman dashed by. The hors
was checked, rs suddenly rs though sho
dead, and the young man thereupon lite
his tall figure that had been bending owe
the child, turned slowly, and when h
looked up the weary, caTeYorn expression
was again on his face 1t was changed
however, 10 a look of surprise tina
was not countcrieited rs his eyes fell on
young woman. Though the soldier stead
tasty received the look that the girl CAV
him from eyes that were rounded with as
constituent as they were luminous ant
searching, yet he did not fail to note tn
exquisite picture that she made The higl
and Jaunuly poised riding hat that tn
burning leaves of maple almost touche,
as with fiery plume the thick coil q
hair, the complexion that was brighte
than that of leaf that almost rested o.
the check; the figure, seated as thong
horse and rider were nodded together; tn
coal-black animal gently paving the earif
all backed by the bril!iancy Of the forest
this picture gladdened his artistic eye. Y,
his active mind was busy5swith queries as t
her identity. But the little girl solved III
question. She said: Oh, Patty, see til
picture of me the man did draw"
The older sister put out her unoccupie
hand and received the portrait, not yet tai
ing her eyes from the soldier. At last 81
glanced at the portrait, then scrutinized
more closely till it seemed to the your
man that many minutes had passed. 1