Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-23

knowledge is of no more value in the
past than past knowledge in the future.
She could not crochet, because there
were no crochet needles; there were no
states of the union, and it seemed
doubtful If there was multiplication
table, there was 30 little to multiply.
So Letitia had to set herself to nc
quiring the wisdom of her ancestors.
She learned to card, and Ratchet, and
spin, and weave. She learned to dye
cloth, and make course garments, even
for her great-great-grcut-gr grandfather,
| Capt. John Hopkins. She knitted yarn
stockings, she secured brass and pew
ter, and, more than all, she learned all
he catechism. Letitia had never be-
fore known what work was. From long
before dawn until long after dark, she
toiled; she was not allowed to spend one
idle moment. She had no chance TO
steal out and search for the little green
door, even had abe not been SO afraid
of wild beasts and Indians.
She never went out of the house ex-
cept on the Sabbath day. Then, in fair
or foul weather, they all went to meet
ing, ten miles through the dense forest.
Capt. John Hopkins strobe ahead, his
gun over his shoulder. Goodwife Hop
kins rode the gray horse, and the girls
rode by turns, two at n time, clinging
to the pillion at her back. Letitia was
never allowed to wear her own pretty
plaid dress, with the velvet collar, even
to meeting. 1T would create a scam
dial in the sanctuary" said Goodwill
Hopkins. So Letitia went always In
the queer little coarse and scanty gown,
which seemed to her more like bng
than anything else; and for outside
wraps she had, of all things, home,
spun blanket pinned over her head. Her
great-great-grand and her great
great-aunts were all fitted out in sim
liar fashion. Goodwife Hopkins, how
ever, had great wadded hood and o
fine red cloak.
There was never any fire in the meet
ing house, and the services lasted all
day-with short recess at noon-dur-
ing which they went into a neighboring
house, sat around the fire, warmed their
half-frozen feet, and ate cold corn cakes
and pan cakes for luncheon. There
were no pews in the meeting house,
nothing but hard benches without
backs. If Lctitia tidgeted, or fell asleep,
the tithing man raped her.
Letitia would never have been al
lowed to stay away from meeting had
she begged to do 80, but she never did.
She was afraid to stay alone in the
house because Of Indians.
Quite often there was a rumor of hos
tile Indians in the neighborhood, and
twice there were attacks. Letitia
learned to load the guns and hand the
powder and bullets.
She grew more and more homesick as
the days went on. They were all kind
to her, and she became fond of them, es-
pecially of the great-great-grand-
mother of her own age, and the little
grcat-aunts, but they had seldom any
girlish sports together. Goodwife Hop
kins kept them too busy at work. Once
in awhile, as a great treat, they were as
lowed to play bean porridge hot for fif-
teen minutes, They were not allowed
to talk after they went to bed and there
was also little opportunity for girlish
condolences.
However,t there came day at last when
Capt Hopkins and his wife were called
away to visit sick neighbor, some
twelve miles distant, and the. four girls
were left in charge of the house. Al
seven o'clock at night the two youngest
went to bed, and I.etitia and her great.
great-grandmother remained up to
wait for the return of their elders, as
they had been instructed. Then it was
that the little Observation-Disclosures
showed Letitia her treasure. She had
, only one, and was not often allowed to
look at 1t, lest it wean her heart away
from more serious things. 1t was kept
in secret drawer of the great chest for
|, safety, and was nothing but d little sill
yer snnfY-box with n picture on the top
It contained little fiat glass bottle
about an inch and half long
1.-THE box belonged to my GRANDPA
Their, and the bottle to his mother.
have them because am the eldest, but
I must not set my heart on them un
, duly" said Letitia's great-great-grand
mother.
Letitia tried to count how many
,, greats belonged to the ancestors who
had first owned these treasures but i
made her dizzy, She had never told the
story Of the little green door to any OF