Nancy writes: "In Martha Ballard's diary of 18th-century English-American life in Maine, upon which was based Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's book "A Midwife's Tale," she refers to young brides who married but remained for a time in their parents' homes. Does anyone know whether this was done among our Dutch-Americans ancestors?" I do not know of instances of this, but in Land So Fair, pp. 14-15, when Grietje Cosyns announces to her parents her desire to marry Herman Th. v Zell, they agree, finally, on condition that she not live with him until she has "attained a more decent age." This is fine with Grietje, who "didn't want to live with him anyway. I'd have to cook and clean all day." Her father takes her point. "What she means is all she wants to do is . . . " I think Grietje was a lusty lady. Not only did she marry at 12, she married a second time to Jan Pietersen Haring, and not too long after his death in 1683, at age 35 she married Daniel De Clark, who was seven years her junior. She outlived him. Firth Haring Fabend