The Newtown bee., 1897-01-01

young people can talk in the same room, and not disturb the old people or set the work folks and the boys to titterin' as they used to do when we were young.
 It was discovered here in the Con- necticut Valley, which has always been place of providences. Just as I said, it is a savin' of fire and lights in the winter time, and it suggests the right re- lstions among families of property. It is sort of guidepost to life. The elder" she added, "appr oves of ccurtin' sticks, when the family offer them to their acceptable visitors, and do"
 Mrs Short straightened up at the pro- noun "I," giving bob to her high cap border. She folded her hands on her lap and looked directly at Caleb.
 The later picked up an ear of corn and drum med on one side of the basket.
 "Well, Asenath, may be you do, but do not know whether do or not"
 "Kalub, don't you want that should show you one?'
 "Where did you get it, Asenath?"
 "Asahel made it for me. I told him how to make it, but when I cnme to ex plain to him what it was for his face fell. and he turned red and he said, 'hyppogriffo.' I wonder where he gor that word-'hyppogriffon It has a pagan sound; Asahel, he mistrusted" "Mistrusted what, Asenath?"
 "Well, l haven't told you quite all When the head of family knows that a certain young man is comin' to visit him at certain time and hangs up a courtin stick over the mantel-tree shelf, or the dresser, it is a sign to the visitor he IS | welcome"
 "But there is no need of sign like that, Asenath"
 Asenath rose, went into the spare bed room, place of the mahogany bureau the mourning piece, yaIences and escon ces, and brought out a remarkable look ing tube, which seemed to have leather ears at each end, and which was some dozen feet long.
 "Moses.'' said Caleb, "and all the patriarchs " he added. "Let's you anG me try it. There, you put it up to your ear and let me speak. Is the result satisfyin'?"
 l Asenath assured him that the expert. ment was quite satisfactory.
 "Well, well," said Caleb. ''Now will go on shellin' corn and think mat ters over; it may be all right if the elder says it is."
 For few minutes there was rain o1 corn into the basket, when Caleb started up and said, "Cracky!' He put his hand into one pocket after another, then went up to the peg board and took down his fur overcOat and felt of the pockets in it. He came back to the place of the corn smelling doubtfully, and be. gan to trot, as it were, around the bas. ket, still putting his hand into one pocket after another.
 s.Lost anything, Kalub?" asked Asepath.
 |' "Yes, the stage driver gave me a parcel directed to Asahel, in the care of Amanda, and don't know what did with 1t. meant to have told yeu about 1t, but you set ma all into confusion over that there courtin' stick" We know not how many old New Eng land homesteads may have courting stick among their heirlooms, but imag inc that they are few. Such stick used to be shown to the curious in the Longmeadow neighborhood of Spring. field, Mass, and we think 1t may be seen there still. It was especially associated with the manners and customs of the Connecticut Valley towns, and 1t left behind 1t some pleasing legends in such pastoral villages as Northampton. Hsdley and Hatfield. It was a promis. k Ing object lesson in the domestic life ot the worldly wise, and could have been hardly unwclcome to marmlet mxidene and Yustic beaux.
 Caleb Short continued his shelline corn for time. but he worked slowly, He II Int turned around and looked ai hIa wife, who was sewing rags tor ! to be.braided mat.
 'sWsll, what ls 1t now, Kalobf'' 6skcd tlse latter. x
 q sAsahe1sr
 ssYxs-szr kn0w--I've besn fhinkin, nn6h obsnt hln of late. Hs csnne V n