The Courting Candle

"Tis time to come in from the porch, Sarah."

Sarah White was a proper young colonial woman who believed in all the good rules for virtuous behavior that her mother taught her. But sarah, also being a bit headstrong would often defy her training by dallying a bit too long when her suitor came to call. "Come in from the porch, Sarah," her mother would call. "Tis not yet time," Sarah would respond and continue doing whatever it is that young lovers do when spared the watchful eye of their elders.

Now Sarah's father, being a strict man, could not long tolerate her boldness, and so devised an ingenious solution. Taking the family candle holder, he placed it on the porch next to Sarah. He then adjusted it to measure a precise amount of time.

"Come in from the porch Sarah," her mother would call. "Tis not yet time," Sarah would respond. "The candle has burned down to the first ring. So tis time," said her father. Legend has it that from the incident the "courting candle received its name.

Legend also has it that if a father liked the gentleman who came calling for his daughter, he set the candle to burn longer and if he did not like the gentleman who came calling, he set the candle to burn faster.