Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-11-18
ONLY TWO BEECHNUTS.

An old brown farm house has stood
for years on the highway between
Ridgefeld and south Salem, Connecti-
cut. 1t was so near the New York and
Connecticut boundary line that a stone
could be thrown 20 yards or more from
the door steps into either state, II has
sheltered generation after generation of
the same family for more than a hun
dred years. a few years ago It became
necessary to tear down this old build
ing, and in removing the discarded fur
niture that had grown shaky with years
of solitude in the musty garnet, small
chest was found. Nothing was In it
but package no larger than a spool.
On opening the tattered, faded paper
covering two beechDuts were disclosed,
exactly alike, perfectly preserved, and
whose shells were as hard as glass. An
examination of the crumbiiGg enclosure
revealed some writing that was scarcely
leglble. Tie almost vanished sentence
was deciphered as follows:
''TheSe are the beechnuts that Philip
and Martha exchanged October 10,
1775."
The little nuts that had lain for
hundred years untouched are to be
carefully preserved, especially asSocia-
ted with them is a family tradition
The history which the discovery OF these
beechnuts has revived is as follows: a
huge boulder frowns upon the old Sa-
lem turnpike perhaps a mile from the
New York state line. 1t conceals the
highway toward the west by reason OF
the sharp turn that is made around 1t.
Leaning against the boulder one MID
afternoon in October, 117S, was ayOung
man. His eyes were resting on the
vista of buff, brown and scarlet folla2e
that stretched far away, and through
which patches of blue water OF the lake
beyond could be seen.
beautiful" he said. ''Ah, II only
if 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
ner that he seemed tired and IlstlesS
soldier. with no care for the landscape
that had charmed him.
As the footsteps that had caused the
change of manner approached, ana
saen,ed about to round the boulder, ne
still kept his eyes half closed win an an
expression Of WEAKNESS, nor oiu lie nv
them until the steps stopped IN lroiit VI
him Then looking up he saw a chl!d,
a girl of 10 or r.. maybe. Inc I'lle
one spoke. Lon, ostad
- ro1 then so used to seeing SOL
d;ors with guns, my maid, that you
wonder ] haven't anyf
..Not always, but no. Why, my tain
or and my brother John nave guie 49, amay
with their muskets, and SO mas e''i'
one." ~ rona shooting
the game" ,,. On their three
orad hats like yours, and dld near
corIsned CO., hrother W saw surely there'd be bat
de to morrow. ,.- ossumed
tne If wearied Indifference. MS
manner. r however, did not susse'' ~
the child that he burned Witiiu WI. ..1 have
' INV little maid," he sald, - n"'I
,omatbing better than nihI io0A'
will show it to you. u,osn,,r
E,on the inner folds OF MS holneS2In lt SdI;o
From iraw s, forth a small portfollo'
and then sitting on a s snsii ~ ~ mon his
onened the case, placeu pad " a crayon.
Ipee and then sharpenea :" ;o set 50
X VonI little face, my malu, aus ss On the
ndb..rmingly ~. by the brlgh5e ieaNe' zo,, will let
cna,ht hact of you, that II you wiz i,oro reo
oanh, iii Iii sketch it, and you may i'"''
the porslhaIdi, h,Id,s eyes sparkled, but .,sne sne
the ..Tnm ea,,u were tired and almostasieep
as.I came" IT, emile though tenn
,orsd with sadness, ilIaees ha sa;d "Yes,
peiu~ p"nc mans face, and ne ne '@ Now stand
yOans '. vou have awakened ine' wv
ssiil I as you can" strokes the young
Wltngda5is W9d his crayon, now anu Roth Roth
iaan plleG m n at the child's face. ,ength 10th
glancing up some or moments. Az ledG Hos sa
were slient ,snd nd so your brother uo''
nnredict ne dict battle tOmOiao .aV So and did ask
pisY ives He did say sO' cartridges for
.:,ter r Martha to make
nim;" I'd now he has go1srtsSSIrne;a s.- eSIn culver
AIN n;d - - for he saw ner han han there'Il
my n.y. n w:II come back. MA'nf
be no battle; title silent few %E%eosI1 GiS TOar
They weis (which way otu S,,
.ben be s salu- nr,tber 60, my childf white
'' ..By the turnpike 70
Plains. l. ves of course, 70 tbe |
sss ass5 5sss tss !, s ,sS ss 9s T5ss
have liked tna, 1apid d strokes he finished 'ns
with sna sss gave It to the CHILD. 9acep cried
SITS my facel It's NY