Way Down East Or Portraitures of Yankee Life

of the first and second generations, are justly renowned for their grave character, their moral uprightness, which sometimes was rather more than perpendicular, and the vigilant circumspection which each one exercised over Ix's neighbor as well as himself. It is true that Connecticut, from an industrious promulgation of her " Blue Laws," has acquired more fame on this score than other portions of the " universal Yankee nation," but this negative testimony chapter{Section 4against the rest of New England ought not to be allowed too much weight, for wherever the light of history does gleam upon portions further " Down East," it shows a people not a whit behind Connecticut in their resolute enforcement of all the decencies of life, and their stern and watchful regard for the well-being of society. The justice of this remark will suffi- siently appear by a few brief quotations from their judicial records. . In the early court records of New Hampshire, in the year 1655, may be found the following entry: " The Grand Jury do present the wife of Mathew Giles, for swearing and reviling the constable when he came for the rates, and likewise railing on the prudenshall men and their wives. Sentenced to be whipped seven stripes, or to be redeemed with forty shillings, and to be bound to her good behavior." Another entry upon the records the same year w as follows: " The Grand Jury do present Jane Canny, the wife of Thomas Canny, for beating her son-in-law,...