The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-23
A YANKEE
TRICK
II Was Perpefrated T.uo
Hundred Years
Ago
By F. A. Mitchell


New York city in a parlor car ant
pass almost Immediately into Connect
cut realize the difference between {
twentieth and seventeenth century
transition over the same route.
There was no more similarity be
tween the settlers of Manhattan island
and Connecticut than between a pump
kin and clay pipe. The Dutchman OF
New Amsterdam was good natured
easy going person made rotund by
drinking schnapps and composed him
self by the smoking Of much tobacco
The Englishman of Connecticut was q
long, lean party given to the selling of
various articles of his own raising or
manufacture, which he had the faculty
OF selling TO others for good money.
He has been accused-unjustly, Of
course-of making nutmegs of wood
and selling them for the real article.
Hence the name Of the Nutmeg State.
One morning toward the close Of the
seventeenth century Walter Ten Eyck.
q young Dutchman of New Amster-
dam, thinking that all the selling should
not be done by the Yankee to the New
Amsterdamers, set out from the city
for Connecticut with load of peltries
on his back that he hoped to dispose Of
to his neighbors there. Trudging along
the road called the Bouwerie-s since
corrupted to Bowery-he crossed the
Harlem river by ferry-a rowboat- and
proceeded on his way. After few
days travel he reached the village of
Stamford. There he displayed his pelts
in the market place.
There were plenty of would be pur-
chasers for them, but they all preferred
to trade rather than to buy for cash
Walter held out for some time, refus
ing to take what was offered him, but
at last, feeling sure that he would not
get any money from these hungry look
ing persons, consented to trade. When
the day was ended he had parted with
his skins and had instead dozen
pumpkins, one Of the first clocks made
IN the province and dozen pairs of
suspenders cut from the skin Of deer.
Walter looked ruefully at his various
articles, wondering how he was to take
them to New Amsterdam and what he
would do with them when he got them
there. Suddenly he heard woman's
voice say:
Are your goods for saleT'
Looking up he saw girl with
pleasant face regarding his stock.
mot In Connecticut" he said, 81
should only trade them for others that
have not the means Of transporting
to my home In New Amsterdam. If
there is anything among them that
you want help yourself"
Noticing that the girls eyes were fix
ed on pair Of beaded moccasins, Wal
ter handed them to her. She took them
as II undecided whether to accept them.
Where do you stay tonight?" she
asked.
THAT l do not know. thought of
asking leave to sleep in the meeting
house."
l think my father will take you In.
He is Pardon Weatherby. am Pa
dence Weatherby We will give YOU
shelter In return for what you have !
given me-"
waiter looked at his pumpkins and |
other articles. wondering what he |
'hould do with them. Then he picked |
lp the clock and. taking 1t under his
arm, leaving the rest of the articles
where they We're, he went away with
he girl. He was received by her ia.
her and mother, who, noticing that he
wore good clothes, thought he might |
nave money, SO they babe him wei
'ome. He spent the evening with Pa
ience very happily, for she was a
'ood girl and seemed to be much pleas
q with the young Dutchman. At bed
line he was shown into room which
1t did not have the spick and span
appearance of the rooms of his home
n New Amsterdam, was not uncom.
ortable.
That night when Pardon Weatherby
nd his wife We're going to bed the
Wife said to the husband:
lt seems that our neighbors have
AIKEN everything the young man has.
nd unless he has a little money for
lis travels there is nothing left for us
ut himself. Patience is of an age to
marry, and there is none of the young
len here to whom would care to give
er or whom she will marry. Mayhap
'e can hold on to him for her"
Spoken wisely" said Weatherby.
l could myself get what he has with
ut trouble. but for an affair such as |
ou suggest woman is the best man.
ger. leave it to you.'
When Walter came down from his
pom the next morning he found a
ood breakfast awaiting him. After
had eaten he proposed to settle for
Is entertainment and took from his
urse some silver pieces for the pur-
ose. What was his astonishment
hen the woman declined to take
lem and invited him to remain with
lem as long as he liked,
Walter was at loss to know what
lis liberality meant. He certainly
d not suspect that, whereas the I