Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-04-03
A YANKEE
TRICK
II Was Perpetratsd Ttoo
Hundred Years
Ago

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Ix Hundred Years I
Il Ago I
l$ By F. A. Mitchell
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Few persons who 30 eastward from
New York city In q parlor car and
pass almost Immediately into Connect
cut realize the difference between Z
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 pump
kin and clay pipe. The Dutchman of
New Amsterdam was a good natured,
easy going person made rotund b.
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.
a 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- since
corrupted to Bowery-he crossed the
Harlem river by ferry-a rowboat-and
proceeded on his way. After a 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 a dozen
pumpkins, one Of the first clocks made
In the province and a dozen pairs OF
suspenders cut from the skin Of 1eer.
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 salsr
Looking up he saw q girl with q
pleasant face regarding his stock
!"Not In Connecticut" he said, Il
should. only trade them for others that
7 have not the means Of Transporting
to my home In New Amsterdam. II
there is anything among them that
you want help yourself"
Noticing that the girls eyes were h1-
ed on pair Of beaded moccasins, Wal
ter handed them to her. She took them
as If undecided whether to accept them.
"Where do you stay tonightT she
asked.
"That I do not know. thought Of
asking leave to sleep In the meeting
house."
/ think my father viii take you In.
he Is Pardon Weatherby. I am Pa.
tence Weatherby. We will give you
shelter In return for what you have
given me-"
Walter looked at his pumpkins and
other articles, wondering what he
should do with them. Then he picked
up the clock and, taking 1t under his
arm, leaving the rest Of the articles
where they were, he went away with
the girl. he was received by her IA
ther and mother, who, noticing that he
wore good clothes, thought he might
have money, 80 they bade him vel
come. He spent the evening with Pa
tence very happily, for she was .
good girl and seemed to be much pleas
ed with the young Dutchman. At bed
time he was shown into room which,
Il It did not have the spick and span
appearance of the rooms Of bis home
in New Amsterdam, was not uncom-
Portable.
That night when Pardon Weatherby
and his wife were going to bed the
wife said to the husband:
1T seems that our neighbors have
taken everything the young man has,
and unless he has little money for
his travels there Is nothing left for us
but himself. Patience Is Of an age to
marry, and there Is none Of the young
men here to whom I would care b. give
her or whom she will marry. Mayhap
we can hold on to him for her"
Spoken wisely" said Weatherby.
II could myself get what he has with
out trouble, but for an affair such as
you suggest q woman is the best man
ager. leave it to YOU"
When Walter came down from his
room the next morning he found
good breakfast awaiting him. After
be had eaten he proposed to settle for
his entertainment and took from his
purse some silver pieces for the pur-
pose. What was his astonishment
when the woman declined to take
them and invited him to remain with
them as long as he liked.
Walter was at q loss to know what
this Dberality meant He certainly
did not suspect that whereas the
townspeople had taken bis skins, the
yoman was planning to take bis own
skin with his live body In It for her
6aughter. lft
Walter spent some time at the Weath.
erbys'. He found sitting up to Patience
far more attractive than trading with
me people q the settlement and he
was IN no hurry to get back 10 New
Amsterdam. It was not long before ks
was caught In Dame Weatherby's net.
though, as has been mentioned, Pa
tence was . good GIRL 20 there was
nothing to his disadvantage IN being
thus captured
But when week after week parsed
A. - -