The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-01-01
ONLY TWO BEECHNUTS.
il Revolutionary Love Story:

i Revolutionary Love Story:
An old brown farm house has stood for
years on the highway between Ridgefeld and
South Salem, in Connecticut It was so near
the New York and Connecticut boundary line
that stone could be thrown twenty yards or
more from the door steps into either State. I
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, a
small chest was found. Nothing was in it but
a package no larger than spool On opening
the tatte1ed, 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 as follows:
These are the beechnuts that Phillip and
Martha exchanged Oct. 10, ITS.
The little nuts that had lain for hundred
served, especially as associated with them is a
family tradition The history which the dis
covery of these beechnuts has revived is as
follows: A huge boulder frowns upon the
old Salem turnpike, perhaps mile from the
New York state line. It conceals the highway
toward the west by reason of the sharp turn
that it makes around it. Leaning against this
boulder one 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.
beautiful" he said: .Ah, if I only-it !
had not this business in hand; and their out
posts are just beyond"
Even as he spoke he started, listened, and
an instant so changed his manner that he
seemed tired and listless 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, he still kept his eyes half
did he lift them until the steps stopped in
front of him. Then looking up he saw child,
. girl of ten or twelve years may be. The lit
tie one spoke.
F'Where is your musket?" she asked
care you then so used to seeing soldiers
with guns my maid that you wonder haven't
"Not always, but now. Why, my father and
my brother John have gone away with thei1
muskets, and so has everyone
''Mayhap they have gone shooting the game?'
ooh, no; for they put on their t6ree-corner-
ed hats, like yours, and did hear my brother
say surely there'd be battle tomorrow.
ho M
look of wearied Indifference. His manner
however, did not suggest to the child that he
burned within.
sMy little maid" he said, 81 have some
thing better than = f1int-lock. will show it tc
you"
he drew forth small portfolio, anf 1en, sit
ting on shelf Of the rock, opened me case
placed it upon his knee and then sharpened q
''Your little face, my maid, is set so charm.
ingly by the bright leaves on the bank, back Of
you, that if you will let me will sketch it, anc
you may have the portrait"
The child's eyes sparkled, but she said
tsYou were tired and almost asleep as I came.
A slight, quick smile, though tempered with
sadness, fitted over the young mans face, anc
he said eyes, but you have awakened me
Now stand as still as you can"
With quick, vigorous strokes the young maj
Rl-eu LIS ciayoA, 1OW aho 'neA SAanc1ne up
the child's face. Both were silent some mo-
ments. At length he said: "And SO you1
brother does predict a battle tomorrow"
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. s'Ho will
come back. Mayhap there'll be no battle
he said: (Which way didyour father and broth
or co. nv child?"
by the turnpike to the White Plains"
ooh, no! oh, yes, of course, to the White
Plains. There" holding up the portrait
'there, I have foreshortened the nose a little
be DONE" Then with few rapid strokes
he finished the sketch, and gave it to the
child.
t.Its my face! it's my facet" cried the
child
stNow, what is your name, that may write il
beneath the portrait?"
She told him and he wrote:
Ruth Philips, by Philip.
''There," he said, "my first name is the
same as your last one. That is nice, ISM
it,"
As she stood gazing at the portrait the youne
soldier quickly took small map from his port
folio and traced with his finger highway unit
it stopped ut a point marked White Plains.
Then he studied it a moment, and was abou
to turn away when the clatter Of
horses hoofs startled him. The rider, by
the sound, was pressing his steed to his bes
mettle. Almost abruptly the young soldier
seized the child and led her to the seat on the
rock. Then with such f1uency as caused bel
to raise her eyes in some surprise, he spoke Of
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 lifted
his tall figure that had been bonding over the
child, turned slowly, and when he looked uI
the weary careworn expression was again on his
surprise that was not counterfeited as his eyes
fell on young woman. Though the soldier
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 she
made. The high and jauntily poised riding ha!
touched as with fiery plume; the thick coil Of
hair, the complexion that was brighter thar
that of leaf chat almost rested on the cheek
the figure, seated as though horse and rider
were moulded together; the coal black ANNA
gently paving on the earth, all backed by the
brilliancy Of the forest-this picture gladdenet
with queries as to her identity. But the little
girl solved the question. She siad: ssOh, Pat
ty, 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 eyes from the soldier At last she glanced
at the portrait, then scrutinized it more closely
till it seemed to the young man that many
minutes bad passed. At length she turned tt
him, and said, ''You did this!"
The soldier bowed, and the young woman
made mental note Of the grace with which thif
common souldier made courtesy.
'sWhat for?" she asked, though her tones
were not so abrupt as the words.
*The little maid pleased me-"
TT ia almost perfect"
II am as, Veil aware as you that it is not so.
"Who are you?" .,
He smiled slightly, for he could not help it.
1T the iynperious manner of the girl, but hi
said, qHietiy, "A Continental soldier
fAiou were i'll, mayhap, and fell behind?"
1.-THE soldier bowed.
sDon'ts you know you are on dangerous
fpround? You are within the British lines"
81 hope soon to be safe.
So HSuug woman gathered up her reins
sayinbsS 1hs13tl 40: 81 Ruth, you should no
stray e. sHa lrdp home Come with me:
fTben she seemed 90 and ct length
did to the young soldier, Who hSdApt stirred
Tow long time needed y6u to ilfaS stkissa
tafew minut 3 s sss
are precious Dare you draw