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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of Saint Nicholas

-

-This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and 

-most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions 

-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms 

-of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online 

-at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, 

-you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located 

-before using this eBook.

-

-

-Title: The Book of Saint Nicholas

-

-Author: Dominie Nicholas Ægedius Oudenarde

-

-Release Date: August 14, 2023 [eBook #71404]

-

-Language: English

-

-Credits: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team

-         at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images

-         generously made available by The Internet Archive/American

-         Libraries.)

-

-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF SAINT NICHOLAS ***

-

-                          Transcriber's Notes

-

-Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.

-

-

-

-

-                               THE  BOOK

-                                  OF

-                            SAINT NICHOLAS.

-

-

-                  TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL DUTCH

-                                  OF

-                  DOMINIE NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.

-

-

-                               NEW-YORK:

-                    HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.

-                                 1836.

-

-

-     [Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by

-                          JAMES K. PAULDING,

-     in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.]

-

-

-

-

-                               CONTENTS.

-

-

-                                                                    PAGE

-

-  Dedication                                                           5

-

-  Author's Advertisement                                               7

-

-  The Legend of Saint Nicholas                                        13

-

-  The Little Dutch Sentinel of the Manhadoes                          33

-

-  Cobus Yerks                                                         73

-

-  A Strange Bird in Nieuw-Amsterdam                                   89

-

-  Claas Schlaschenschlinger                                          105

-

-  The Revenge of Saint Nicholas                                      128

-

-  The Origin of the Bakers' Dozen                                    148

-

-  The Ghost                                                          167

-

-  The Nymph of the Mountain                                          192

-

-  The Ride of Saint Nicholas on Newyear's Eve                        206

-

-

-

-

-                                  TO

-

-                    THE SOCIETIES OF SAINT NICHOLAS

-

-                                IN THE

-

-                           NEW NETHERLANDS,

-

-                            COMMONLY CALLED

-

-                               NEW-YORK.

-

-

-                   MOST DEAR AND WORTHY ASSOCIATES,

-

-In obedience to the command of the good saint who is equally an object

-of affectionate reverence to us all, as well as in due deference to the

-feelings of brotherhood which attach us irrevocably to those who honour

-his name, his virtues, and his country, I dedicate this work to you

-all without discrimination or exception. As descendants, in whole or

-in part, from that illustrious people who, after conquering nature by

-their industry and perseverance, achieved liberty by their determined

-valour, and learning and science by their intellectual vigour, I

-rejoice to see you instituting bonds of union, for the purpose of

-preserving the remembrance of such an honourable lineage, and the ties

-of a common origin. While we recollect with honest pride the industry,

-the integrity, the enterprise, the love of liberty, and the heroism

-of old “_faderland_,” let us not forget that the truest way to honour

-worthy ancestors is to emulate their example.

-

-That you may long live to cherish the memory of so excellent a saint,

-and such venerable forefathers is the earnest wish of

-

-                      Your associate and friend,

-                                  NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.

-

- Nieuw-Amsterdam, July, 1827.

-

-

-

-

-                                  THE

-

-                        AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT,

-

-    WHICH IS EARNESTLY RECOMMENDED TO THE ATTENTIVE PERUSAL OF THE

-                           JUDICIOUS READER.

-

-

-You will please to understand, gentle reader, that being a true

-descendant of the adventurous Hollanders who first discovered the

-renowned island of Manhattan—which is every day becoming more and more

-worth its weight in paper money—I have all my life been a sincere and

-fervent follower of the right reverend and jolly St. Nicholas, the only

-tutelary of this mighty state. I have never, on any proper occasion,

-omitted doing honour to his memory by keeping his birthday with all

-due observances, and paying him my respectful devoirs on Christmas and

-Newyear's eve.

-

-From my youth upward I have been always careful to hang up my stocking

-in the chimney corner, on both these memorable anniversaries; and this

-I hope I may say without any unbecoming ebullition of vanity, that on

-no occasion did I ever fail to receive glorious remembrances of his

-favour and countenance, always saving two exceptions. Once when the

-good saint signified his displeasure at my tearing up a Dutch almanac,

-and again on occasion of my going to a Presbyterian meeting house with

-a certain little Dutch damsel, by filling my stockings with snow balls,

-instead savoury oily cookies.

-

-Saving these manifestations of his displeasure, I can safely boast

-of having been always a special favourite of the good St. Nicholas,

-who hath ever shown a singular kindness and suavity towards me in all

-seasons of my life, wherein he hath at divers times and seasons of

-sore perplexity, more than once vouchsafed to appear to me in dreams

-and visions, always giving me sage advice and goodly admonition. The

-which never failed of being of great service to me in my progress

-through life, seeing I was not only his namesake, but always reverently

-honoured his name to the best of my poor abilities.

-

-From my youth upward I have, moreover, been accustomed to call upon

-him in time of need; and this I will say for him, that he always

-came promptly whenever he was within hearing. I will not detain the

-expectant reader with the relation of these special instances, touching

-the years of my juvenility, but straightway proceed to that which is

-material to my present purpose.

-

-The reader will please to comprehend that after I had, with the labour

-and research of many years, completed the tales which I now, with an

-humble deference, offer to his acceptance, I was all at once struck

-dumb, with the unparalleled difficulty of finding a name for my work,

-seeing that every title appertinent to such divertisements hath been

-applied over and over again, long and merry agone. Now, as before

-intimated to the judicious reader, whenever I am in sore perplexity

-of mind, as not unfrequently happens to such as (as it were) cudgel

-their brains for the benefit of their fellow-creatures—I say, when thus

-beleaguered, I always shut my eyes, lean back in my chair, which is

-furnished with a goodly stuffed back and arms, and grope for that which

-I require in the profound depths of abstraction.

-

-It was thus I comported myself on this trying occasion, when, lo! and

-behold! I incontinently fell asleep, as it were, in the midst of my

-cogitations, and while I was fervently praying to the good-hearted St.

-Nicholas to inspire me with a proper and significant name for this my

-mental offspring. I cannot with certainty say how long I had remained

-in the bonds of abstraction, before I was favoured with the appearance

-of a vision, which, at first sight, I knew to be that of the excellent

-St. Nicholas, who scorns to follow the pestilent fashions of modern

-times, but ever appears in the ancient dress of the old patriarchs of

-Holland. And here I will describe the good saint, that peradventure all

-those to whom he may, in time to come, vouchsafe his presence, may know

-him at first sight, even as they know the father that begot them.

-

-He is a right fat, jolly, roistering little fellow— if I may make

-bold to call him so familiarly—and had I not known him of old for a

-veritable saint, I might, of a truth, have taken him, on this occasion,

-for little better than a sinner. He was dressed in a snuff-coloured

-coat of goodly conceited dimensions, having broad skirts, cuffs mighty

-to behold, and buttons about the size of a moderate Newyear cooky.

-His waistcoat and breeches, of which he had a proper number, were

-of the same cloth and colour; his hose of gray worsted; his shoes

-high-quartered, even up to the instep, ornamented with a pair of silver

-buckles, exceedingly bright; his hat was of a low crown and right broad

-brim, cocked up on one side; and in the buttonholes of his coat was

-ensconced a long delft pipe, almost as black as ebony. His visage was

-the picture of good-humoured benevolence; and by these marks I knew him

-as well as I know the nose on my own face.

-

-The good saint, being always in a hurry on errands of good fellowship,

-and especially about the time of the holydays of Paas and Pinxster;

-and being withal a person of little ceremony, addressed me without

-delay, and with much frankness, which was all exceedingly proper, as we

-were such old friends. He spoke to me in Dutch, which is now a learned

-language, understood only by erudite scholars.

-

-“What aileth thee, my Godson Nicholas?” quoth he.

-

-I was about to say I was in sore perplexity concerning the matter

-aforesaid, when he courteously interrupted me, saying,

-

-“Be quiet, I know it, and therefore there is no special occasion for

-thee to tell me. Thou shalt call thy work ‘THE BOOK OF ST. NICHOLAS,’

-in honour of thy _patroon_; and here are the materials of my biography,

-which I charge thee, on pain of empty pockets from this time forward,

-to dilate and adorn in such a manner, as that, foreseeing, as I do,

-thy work will go down to the latest posterity, it may do honour to my

-name, and rescue it from that obscurity in which it hath been enveloped

-through the crying ignorance of past generations, who have been seduced

-into a veneration for St. George, St. Dennis, St. David, and other

-doughty dragon-slaying saints, who were little better than roistering

-bullies. Moreover, I charge thee, as thou valuest my blessing and

-protection, to dedicate thy work unto the worthy and respectable

-societies of St. Nicholas in this my stronghold in the New World. Thou

-mightst, perhaps, as well have left out that prank of mine at the

-carousing of old Baltus, but verily it matters not. Let the truth be

-told.”

-

-Saying this, he handed me a roll of ancient vellum, containing, as

-I afterwards found, the particulars which, in conformity with his

-solemn command, I have dilated into the only veritable biography of my

-patron saint which hath ever been given to the world. The one hitherto

-received as orthodox is, according to the declaration of the saint

-himself, little better than a collection of legends, written under the

-express inspection of the old lady of Babylon.

-

-I reverently received the precious deposite, and faithfully promised

-obedience to his commands; whereupon the good St. Nicholas, puffing

-in my face a whiff of tobacco smoke more fragrant than all the spices

-of the East, blessed me, and departed in haste, to be present at a

-wedding in Communipaw. Hereupon I awoke, and should have thought all

-that had passed but a dream, arising out of the distempered state

-of my mind, had I not held in my hand the identical roll of vellum,

-presented in the manner just related. On examination, it proved to

-contain the matter which is incorporated in the first story of this

-collection, under the title of “The Legend of St. Nicholas,” not only

-in due obedience to his command, but in order that henceforward no one

-may pretend ignorance concerning this illustrious and benevolent saint,

-seeing they have now a biography under his own hand.

-

-Thus much have I deemed it proper to preface to the reader, as some

-excuse for the freedom of having honoured my poor fictions with the

-title of The Book of St. Nicholas, which might otherwise have been

-deemed a piece of unchristian presumption.

-

-

-

-

-                            THE STORY BOOK

-

-                                  OF

-

-                            SAINT NICHOLAS.

-

-

-

-

-                      THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS.

-

-

-Everybody has heard of St. Nicholas, that honest Dutch saint, whom I

-look upon as having been one of the most liberal, good-natured little

-fat fellows in the world. But, strange as it may seem, though everybody

-has heard, nobody seems to know anything about him. The place of his

-birth, the history of his life, and the manner in which he came to

-be the dispenser of Newyear cakes, and the patron of good boys, are

-matters that have hitherto not been investigated, as they ought to have

-been long and long ago. I am about to supply this deficiency, and pay

-a debt of honour which is due to this illustrious and obscure tutelary

-genius of the jolly Newyear.

-

-It hath often been justly remarked that the birth, parentage, and

-education of the most illustrious personages of antiquity, are usually

-enveloped in the depths of obscurity. And this obscurity, so far

-from being injurious to their dignity and fame, has proved highly

-beneficial; for as no one could tell who were their fathers and mothers

-on earth, they could the more easily claim kindred with the skies, and

-trace their descent from the immortals. Such was the case with Saturn,

-Hercules, Bacchus, and others among the heathens; and of St. George,

-St. Dennis, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and the rest of the tutelaries,

-of whom—I speak it with great respect and reverence—it may justly be

-said, that nobody would ever have heard of their progenitors but for

-the renown of their descendants. It is, therefore, no reflection on

-the respectable St. Nicholas, that his history has hitherto remained a

-secret, and his origin unknown.

-

-In prosecuting this biography, and thus striving to repay my

-obligations for divers, and I must say unmerited favours received from

-this good saint, after whom I was christened, I shall refrain from all

-invention or hyperbole, seeking the truth industriously, and telling it

-simply and without reserve or embellishment. I scorn to impose on my

-readers with cock and bull stories of his killing dragons, slaughtering

-giants, or defeating whole armies of pagans with his single arm. St.

-Nicholas was a peaceful, quiet, orderly saint, who, so far as I have

-been able to learn, never shed a drop of blood in his whole life,

-except, peradventure, it may be possible he sometimes cut his finger,

-of which I profess to know nothing, and, therefore, contrary to the

-custom of biographers, shall say nothing.

-

-St. Nicholas was born—and that is all I can tell of the matter—on the

-first of January; but in what year or at what place, are facts which I

-have not been able to ascertain, although I have investigated them with

-the most scrupulous accuracy. His obscurity would enable me to give him

-a king and queen for his parents, whereby he might be able to hold up

-his head with the best of them all; but, as I before observed, I scorn

-to impose such doubtful, to say no worse, legends upon my readers.

-

-Nothing is known of his early youth, except that it hath come down

-to us that his mother dreamed, the night before his birth, that the

-sun was changed into a vast Newyear cake and the stars into _oily

-cooks_—which she concluded was the reason they burned so bright. It

-hath been shrewdly intimated by certain would-be antiquaries, who

-doubtless wanted to appear wiser than they really were, that because

-our worthy saint was called Nicholas, that must of course have been

-the name of his father. But I set such conjectures at naught, seeing

-that if all the sons were called after their fathers, the distinction

-of senior and junior would no longer be sufficient, and they would be

-obliged to number them as they do in the famous island of Nantucket,

-where I hear there are thirty-six Isaac Coffins and sixteen Pelegs.

-

-Now, of the first years of the life of good St. Nicholas, in like

-manner, we have been able to learn nothing until he was apprenticed to

-a baker in the famous city of Amsterdam, after which this metropolis

-was once called, but which my readers doubtless know was christened

-over again when the English usurped possession, in the teeth of the

-great right of discovery derived from the illustrious navigator,

-Henricus Hudson, who was no more an Englishman than I am.

-

-“Whether the youth Nicholas was thus apprenticed to a baker on account

-of his mother's dream, or from his great devotion to Newyear cakes,

-which may be inferred from the bias of his after life, it is impossible

-to tell at this distant period. It is certain, however, that he was so

-apprenticed, and that is sufficient to satisfy all reasonable readers.

-As for those pestilent, curious, prying people, who want to know the

-why and wherefore of everything we refer them to the lives of certain

-famous persons, which are so intermingled and confounded with the

-lives of their contemporaries, and the events, great and small, which

-happened in all parts of the world during their sojourn on the earth,

-that it is utterly impossible to say whose life it is we are reading.

-Many people of little experience take the title page for a guide, not

-knowing, peradventure, they might almost as safely rely upon history

-for a knowledge of the events of past ages.

-

-Little Nicholas, our hero, was a merry, sweet-tempered caitiff,

-which was, doubtless, somewhat owing to his living almost altogether

-upon sweet things. He was marvellously devoted to cakes, and ate up

-numberless gingerbread alphabets before he knew a single letter.

-

-Passing over the intermediate years, of which, indeed, I know no more

-than the man in the moon, I come to the period when, being twenty-four,

-and the term of his apprenticeship almost out, he fell desperately in

-love with the daughter of his worthy master, who was a burgomaster of

-forty years standing. In those unprecocious times, the boys did not

-grow to be men and the girls women, so soon as they do now. It would

-have been considered highly indecent for the former to think of falling

-in love before they were out of their time, or the latter to set up

-for young women before they knew how to be anything else. But as soon

-as the worthy Nicholas arrived at the age of twenty-four, being, as

-I said, within a year of the expiration of his time, he thought to

-himself that Katrinchee, or Catharine, as the English call it, was a

-clever, notable little soul, and eminently calculated to make him a

-good wife. This was the main point in the times of which I am speaking,

-when people actually married without first running mad either for love

-or money.

-

-Katrinchee was the toast of all the young bakers of Amsterdam, and

-honest Nicholas had as many rivals as there were loaves of bread in

-that renowned city. But he was as gallant a little Dutchman as ever

-smoked his way through the world pipe foremost, and did not despair

-of getting the better of his rivals, especially as he was a great

-favourite with the burgomaster, as, indeed, his conduct merited.

-Instead of going the vulgar way to work, and sighing and whining

-out romance in her ear, he cunningly, being doubtless inspired by

-Cupid himself, proceeded to insinuate his passion, and make it known

-by degrees, to the pretty little Katrinchee, who was as plump as a

-partridge, and had eyes of the colour of a clear sky.

-

-First did he bake a cake in the shape of a heart pierced half through

-by a toasting fork, the which he presented her smoking hot, which

-she received with a blush and did eat, to the great encouragement of

-the worthy Nicholas. A month after, for he did not wish to alarm the

-delicacy of the pretty Katrinchee, he did bake another cake in the

-shape of two hearts, entwined prettily with a true lover's knot. This,

-too, she received with a blush, and did eat with marvellous content.

-After the expiration of a like period, he did contrive another cake

-in the shape of a letter, on which he had ingeniously engraven the

-following couplet:—

-

-    “Wer diesen glauben wöhlt hat die vernanft verschworen,

-    Dem denken abgesaght sein eigentham verlohren.”

-

-The meaning of which, if the reader doth not comprehend, I do hereby

-earnestly advise him to set about studying the Dutch language

-forthwith, that he may properly appreciate its hidden beauties.

-

-Little Katrinchee read this poesy with a sigh, and rewarded the good

-Nicholas with a look which, as he afterward affirmed, would have heated

-an oven.

-

-Thus did the sly youth gradually advance himself in the good graces of

-the little damsel, until at length he ventured a downright declaration,

-in the shape of a cake made in the exact likeness of a little Dutch

-Cupid. The acceptance of this was conclusive, and was followed by

-permission to address the matter to the decision of the worthy

-burgomaster, whose name I regret hath not come down to the present time.

-

-The good man consulted his pipe, and after six months' hard smoking,

-came to the conclusion that the thing was feasible. Nicholas was a

-well-behaved, industrious lad, and the burgomaster justly concluded

-that the possession of virtuous and industrious habits without houses

-and lands, was better than houses and lands without them. So he gave

-his consent like an honest and ever to be respected magistrate.

-

-The news of the intended marriage spoiled all the bread baked in

-Amsterdam that day. The young bakers were so put out that they

-forgot to put yeast in their bread, and it was all heavy. But the

-hearts of the good Nicholas and his bride were as light as a feather

-notwithstanding, and when they were married it was truly said there was

-not a handsomer couple in all Amsterdam.

-

-They lived together happily many years, and nothing was wanting to

-their felicity but a family of little chubby boys and girls. But it was

-ordained that he never should be blessed with any offspring, seeing

-that he was predestined to be the patron and benefactor of the children

-of others, not of his own. In good time, and in the fullness of years,

-the burgomaster died, leaving his fortune and his business to Nicholas,

-who had ever been a kind husband to his daughter, and a dutiful son to

-himself. Rich and liberal, it was one of the chief pleasures of the

-good Nicholas to distribute his cakes, of which he baked the best in

-all Amsterdam, to the children of the neighbourhood, who came every

-morning, and sometimes in the evening; and Nicholas felt his heart warm

-within his bosom when he saw how they ate and laughed, and were as

-happy, ay, and happier, too, than so many little kings. The children

-all loved him, and so did their fathers and mothers, so that in process

-of time he was made a burgomaster, like his father-in-law before him.

-

-Not only did he entertain the jolly little folk of the city in the

-manner heretofore described, but his home was open to all travellers

-and sojourners who had no other home, as well as those who came

-recommended from afar off. In particular the good pilgrims of the

-church, who went about preaching and propagating the true faith, by the

-which I mean the doctrines of the illustrious reformers in all time

-past.

-

-The good Nicholas had, in the latter part of his life, embraced these

-doctrines with great peril to himself, for sore were the persecutions

-they underwent in those days who departed from the crying abominations

-of the ancient church; and had it not been for the good name he had

-established in the city of Amsterdam, among all classes, high and low,

-rich and poor, he might, peradventure, have suffered at the stake.

-But he escaped, as it were, by a miracle, and lived to see the truth

-triumph at last even throughout all the land.

-

-But before this came to pass his faithful and affectionate helpmate

-had been taken from him by death, sorely to his grief; and he would

-have stood alone in the world had it not been for the little children,

-now grown up to be men and women, who remembered his former kindness,

-and did all they could to console him—for such is ever the reward of

-kindness to our fellow-creatures.

-

-One night as he was sitting disconsolate at home, thinking of poor

-Katrinchee, and wishing that either she was with him or he with her, he

-heard a distant uproar in the street, which seemed approaching nearer

-and nearer. He was about to rise and go to the door to see what was

-the occasion, when suddenly it was pushed open with some violence, and

-a man rushed past him with very little ceremony. He seemed in a great

-hurry, for he panted for breath, and it was some time before he could

-say,

-

-“I beseech thee to shut the door and hide me, for my life is in danger.”

-

-Nicholas, who never refused to do a good-natured act, did as he was

-desired, so far as shutting and barring the door. He then asked,

-

-“What hath endangered thy life, and who art thou, friend, that thou art

-thus afraid?”

-

-“Ask me not now, I beseech thee, Nicholas—”

-

-“Thou knowest my name then?” said the other, interrupting him.

-

-“I do—everybody knows thee, and thy kindness of heart. But ask me

-nothing now—only hide me for the present, and when the danger is past I

-will tell thee all.”

-

-“Thou art no murderer or fugitive from justice?”

-

-“No, on my faith. I am sinned against, but I never injured but one man,

-and I was sorry for that. But hark, I hear them coming—wilt thou or

-wilt thou not protect me?”

-

-“I will,” said the good Nicholas, who saw in the dignified air and open

-countenance of the stranger something that inspired both confidence and

-awe. Accordingly he hastily led him into a remote apartment, where he

-secreted him in a closet, the door of which could not be distinguished,

-and in which he kept his money and valuables, for he said to himself,

-I will trust this man, he does not look as if he would abuse my

-confidence.

-

-“Take this key and lock thyself in, that thou mayst be able to get out

-in case they take me away.”

-

-Presently there was heard a great hallooing and banging at the outward

-door, with a cry of “Open! open!” and Nicholas went to the door and

-opened it. A flood of people rushed in helter-skelter, demanding the

-body of an arch heretic, who, they said, had been seen to take refuge

-in the house. But with all their rage and eagerness, they begged his

-excuse for this unceremonious proceeding, for Nicholas was beloved and

-respected by all, though he was a heretic himself.

-

-“He's here—we saw him enter!” they cried.

-

-“If he is here, find him,” quoth Nicholas, quietly. “I will not say he

-is not here, neither would I betray him if he were.”

-

-The interlopers then proceeded to search all parts of the house, except

-the secret closet, which escaped their attention. When they had done

-this, one of them said.

-

-“We have heard of thy having a secret place in thy house where thy

-money and papers are secured. Open it to us—we swear not to molest or

-take away aught that is thine.”

-

-The good Nicholas was confounded at this demand, and stood for a moment

-not knowing what to say or what to do. The stranger in the closet heard

-it too; but he was a stout-hearted man, and trusted in the Lord.

-

-“Where is thy strong closet?” cried one of the fiercest and most

-forward of the intruders. “We must and will find it.”

-

-“Well, then, find it,” quoth Nicholas, quietly.

-

-They inspected the room narrowly, and knocked against the walls in

-hopes the hollow sound would betray the secret of the place. But they

-were disappointed, for the door was so thick that it returned no hollow

-sound.

-

-They now began to be impatient, and savage withal, and the ferocious

-leader exclaimed,

-

-“Let us take this fellow then. One heretic is as good as another—as bad

-I mean.”

-

-“Seize him!” cried one.

-

-“Away with him!” cried another.

-

-“To the stake!” cried a third.

-

-They forgot the ancient kindness of the good man; for bigotry and

-over-heated zeal remember not benefits, and pay no respect to the

-obligations of gratitude. The good Nicholas was violently seized, his

-hands tied behind him, and he was about to be carried away a sacrifice

-to the demon of religious discord, when the door of the closet flew

-open, and the stranger came forth with a step so firm, a look so lofty

-and inspired, that the rabble quailed, and were silent before him.

-

-“Unbind this man,” said he, in a voice of authority, “and bind me in

-his stead.”

-

-Not a man stirred. They seemed spell bound, and stood looking at each

-other in silent embarrassment.

-

-“Unbind this man, I say!”

-

-Still they remained, as it were, petrified with awe and astonishment.

-

-“Well, then, I shall do it myself,” and he proceeded to release the

-good Nicholas from his bonds, while the interlopers remained silent and

-motionless.

-

-“Mistaken men!” then said he, looking at them with pity, mingled with

-indignation, “you believe yourselves fulfilling the duties of your

-faith when you chase those who differ from you about the world, as if

-they were wild beasts, and drag them to the stake, like malefactors who

-have committed the worst crimes against society. You think that the

-blood of human victims is the most acceptable offering to your Maker,

-and worse than the ignorant pagans, who made martyrs of the blessed

-saints, sacrifice them on the altar of a religion which is all charity,

-meekness, and forgiveness. But I see you are ashamed of yourselves. Go,

-and do so no more.”

-

-The spirit of intolerance quailed before the majesty of truth and

-genius. The poor deluded men, whose passions had been stimulated by

-mistaken notions of religious duty, bowed their heads and departed,

-rebuked and ashamed.

-

-“Who art thou?” asked Nicholas, when they were gone.

-

-“Thou shalt soon know,” replied the stranger. “In the mean time listen

-to me. I must be gone before the fiend, which I have, perhaps, only

-laid for a few moments, again awakens in the bosoms of these deluded

-men, or some others like them get on the scent of their prey, and

-track their victim hither. Listen to me, Nicholas, kind and good

-Nicholas. Thou wouldst have endangered thy own life for the safety of

-a stranger—one who had no claim on thee save that of hospitality—nay,

-not even that, for I was not thy guest by invitation, but intrusion.

-Blessed be thee and thine, thy house, thy memory when thou art dead,

-and thy lot hereafter. Thou art worthy to know who I am.”

-

-He then disclosed to him a name with which the world hath since rung,

-from clime to clime, from country to country. A name incorporated

-inseparably with the interests of truth and the progress of learning.

-

-“Tell it not in Gath—proclaim it not in the streets of Askalon,”

-continued he, “for it is a name which carries with it the sentence

-of death in this yet benighted city. Interests of the deepest

-nature—interests vitally connected with the progress of truth—the

-temporal and eternal happiness of millions living, of millions yet

-unborn, brought me hither. The business I came upon is in part

-performed; but it is now known to some that I am, or have been in the

-city, who will never rest till they run me down and tear me in pieces.

-Farewell, and look for thy reward, if not here, hereafter—for, sure as

-thou livest and breathest, a good action, done with a pure and honest

-motive, is twice blessed—once to the doer and once to him to whom it is

-done.

-

-The good Nicholas would have knelt to the mighty genius that stood

-before him, but he prevented him.

-

-“I am no graven image, nor art thou an idolater that thou shouldst

-kneel to me. Farewell! Let me have thy prayers, for the prayers of a

-good man are indeed blessings.”

-

-Saying this, the illustrious stranger departed in haste, and Nicholas

-never saw him more for a long time. But he said to himself,

-

-“Blessed is my house, for it hath sheltered the bright light of the

-universe.”

-

-From that time forward, he devoted himself to the good cause of the

-reformation with heart and soul. His house was ever the refuge of the

-persecuted; his purse the never-failing resource of the distressed; and

-many were the victims of bigotry and intolerance whom his influence and

-entreaties saved from the stake and the torture. He lived a blessing to

-all within the sphere of his influence, and was blessed in living to

-see the faith which he loved and cherished at length triumph over the

-efforts of power, the arts of intrigue, and the fire of bigotry.

-

-Neither did he forget or neglect the customary offices of kindness

-and good will to the little children of the city, who continued still

-to come and share his goodly cakes, which he gave with the smile and

-the open hand of kind and unaffected benignity. It must have been

-delightful to see the aged patriarch sitting at his door, while the

-little boys and girls gathered together from all parts to share his

-smiles, to be patted on the head, and kissed, and laden with his

-bounties.

-

-Every Newyear's day especially, being his birthday, as it came round,

-was a festival, not only to all the children, but to all that chose to

-come and see him. It seemed that he grew younger instead of older on

-each return of the season; for he received every one with smiles, and

-even his enemies were welcome to his good cheer. He had not the heart

-to hate anybody on the day which he had consecrated to innocent gayety,

-liberal hospitality, and universal benevolence. In process of time,

-his example spread among the whole city, and from thence through the

-country, until every village and town, nay, every house, adopted the

-good custom of setting apart the first day of the year to be gay and

-happy, to exchange visits, and shake hands with friends and to forgive

-enemies.

-

-Thus the good Nicholas lived, blessing all and blessed by all, until

-he arrived at a happy old age. When he had reached fourscore years, he

-was sitting by himself late in the evening of the first of January, old

-style, which is the only true and genuine era after all—the new style

-being a pestilent popish innovation—he was sitting, I say, alone, the

-visiters having all departed, laden with gifts and good wishes. A knock

-was heard at the door, which always opened of itself, like the heart of

-its owner, not only on Newyear's day, but every day in the year.

-

-A stately figure entered and sat down by him, after shaking his hand

-right heartily. The good Nicholas was now old, and his eyesight had

-somewhat failed him, particularly at night.

-

-“Thou art welcome,” quoth the old man.

-

-“I know it,” replied the other, “every one is welcome to the house of

-the good Nicholas, not only on this, but every other day. I have heard

-of thee in my travels.”

-

-“Thou knowest my name—may I not know thine?”

-

-The stranger whispered a name in his ear, which made the heart of the

-good Nicholas leap in his bosom.

-

-“Dost thou remember the adventure of the closet?” said the stranger.

-

-“Yea—blessed be the day and the hour,” said the old man.

-

-And now they had a long conversation, which pertained to high matters,

-not according with the nature of my story, and therefore I pass them

-by, more especially as I do not exactly know what they were.

-

-“I almost fear to ask thee,” at length said Nicholas; “but thou wilt

-partake of my cheer, on this the day of my birth. I shall not live to

-see another.”

-

-Old people are often prophetic on the duration of their lives.

-

-“Assuredly,” replied the other, “for it is neither beneath my character

-nor calling to share the good man's feast, and to be happy when I can.”

-

-So they sat down together and talked of old times, and how much better

-the new times were than the old, inasmuch as the truth had triumphed,

-and they could now enjoy their consciences in peace.

-

-The illustrious visiter staid all night; and the next morning, as he

-was about to depart, the aged Nicholas said to him,

-

-“Farewell—I shall never see thee again. Thou art going a long journey,

-thou sayst, but I am about venturing on one yet longer.”

-

-“Well, be it so,” said the other. “But those who remain behind will

-bless thy name and thy memory. The little children will love thee, and

-so long as thy countrymen cherish their ancient customs, thou wilt not

-be forgotten.”

-

-They parted, and the prediction of the good Nicholas was fulfilled.

-He fell asleep in the arms of death, who called him so softly, and

-received him so gently in his embrace, that though his family knew he

-slept, they little thought it was for ever.

-

-When this news went abroad into the city, you might see the worthy

-burgomasters and citizens knocking the ashes out of their pipes, and

-putting them quietly by in their buttonholes; and the good housewives,

-ever and anon lifting their clean white aprons to their eyes, that they

-might see to thread their needles or find the stitches, as they sat

-knitting their stockings. The shops and schools were all shut the day

-he was buried; and it was remarked that the men neglected their usual

-amusements, and the little children had no heart to play.

-

-When the whole city had gathered together at the side of his grave,

-there suddenly appeared among them a remarkable and goodly-looking

-man, of most reverent demeanour. Every one bowed their bodies, in

-respectful devotion, for they knew the man, and what they owed him. All

-was silent as the grave, just about to receive the body of Nicholas,

-when he I have just spoken of lifted his head, and said as follows:—

-

-“The good man just about to enter the narrow house never defrauded his

-neighbour, never shut his door on the stranger, never did an unkind

-action, nor ever refused a kind one either to friend or foe. His heart

-was all goodness, his faith all purity, his morals all blameless, yea,

-all praiseworthy. Such a man deserves the highest title that can be

-bestowed on man. Join me then, my friends, old and young—men, women,

-and children, in blessing his memory as _the good Saint Nicholas_;

-for I know no better title to such a distinction than pure faith,

-inflexible integrity, and active benevolence.” Thus spake the great

-reformer, John Calvin.

-

-The whole assembled multitude, with one voice and one heart, cried

-out, “Long live the blessed memory of the good St. Nicholas!” as they

-piously consigned him to the bosom of his mother earth.

-

-Thus did he come to be called St. Nicholas; and the people, not content

-with this, as it were by a mutual sympathy, and without coming to any

-understanding on the subject, have ever since set apart the birthday

-of the good man, for the exercise of hospitality to men, and gifts to

-little children. From the Old World they carried the custom to the

-New, where their posterity still hold it in reverence, and where I

-hope it will long continue to flourish, in spite of the cold heartless

-forms, unmeaning ceremonies, and upstart pretensions of certain vulgar

-people, who don't know any better, and therefore ought to be pitied for

-their ignorance, rather than contemned for their presumption.

-

-

-

-

-                                  THE

-

-                         LITTLE DUTCH SENTINEL

-

-                                OF THE

-

-                              MANHADOES.

-

-

-“How times change in this world, and especially in this New World!”

-exclaimed old Aurie Doremus, as he sat at the door of his domicil—the

-last of the little Dutch houses, built of little Dutch bricks, with

-gable end turned to the street—on a sultry summer evening, in the year

-so many honest people found out that paper money was not silver or

-gold. Half a dozen of his grown-up grandchildren were gathered about

-him, on the seats of the little porch, the top of which was shaped

-something like an old revolutionary cocked hat, as the good patriarch

-made this sage observation. He was in fine talking humour, and after a

-little while, went on amid frequent pauses, as if taxing his memory to

-make up his chronicle.

-

-“It was the twenty-fourth—no, the twenty-fifth of March, 1609, that

-Hendrick Hudson sailed from Amsterdam. On the fourth of September,

-after coasting along Newfoundland to Cape Cod, from Cape Cod to

-Chesapeake Bay, and thence back again along the Jersey coast, he came

-in sight of the Highlands of Neversink, and anchored in the evening

-inside of Sandy Hook. This was in 1609—how long ago is that, Egbert?”

-said the good man, turning to me.

-

-“Two hundred and sixteen years,” replied I, after sore tribulation, for

-I never was good at ciphering.

-

-“Two hundred and sixteen years—well, at that time there was not a

-single white man, or white man's habitation, in sight of where we are

-now sitting, in the midst of thousands, ten of thousands—I might almost

-say hundreds of thousands. Ah! boys, 'tis a rapid growth, and Heaven

-grant it may not afford another proof, that the quick of growth are

-quick of decay.” After musing a little he proceeded, as if speaking to

-himself rather than to us.

-

-“If it were possible that an Indian, who had lived on this spot at

-the time of Hudson's first visit, could rise from the dead, with

-all his recollections of the past about him, what would he think at

-beholding the changes that have taken place. Nothing that he had

-ever seen, nothing that he had ever known, would he recognise; for

-even the face of the earth has passed away, and the course of the

-mighty rivers intruded upon by the labours of the white strangers. No

-vestiges, not even the roots of the woods where he hunted his game—no

-landmarks familiar to his early recollections—no ruins of his ancient

-habitations—no traces to guide him to the spot where once reposed the

-remains of his fathers—nothing to tell him that his eyes had opened on

-the very spot where they closed two hundred years ago.” Again he paused

-a few moments, and then resumed his cogitations.

-

-“And this is not all, its name and destinies, as well as its nature,

-are changed. From the Manhadoes of the ancient proprietors, it passed

-into the New-Amsterdam of the Dutch, and the New-York of the English;

-and now,” continued he, his eyes sparkling with exultation—” now it is

-the possession of a free and sovereign people. The sandy barren which

-formed the projecting point of our isle, and where a few Indian canoes

-were hauled up, is now the resort of thousands of stately ships, coming

-from the farthest parts of the earth, and bearing the rich products

-of the New World into every corner of the Old. Their masts bristle

-around the city, like the leafless trees of a wintry forest. The rugged

-island, to which nature had granted nothing but its noble situation,

-and which seemed condemned to perpetual sterility, is now become a

-region of rich gardens and white groups of houses—the very rocks are

-turned to beds of flowers, and the tangled swamps of ivy clinging about

-the stinted shrubbery, into smooth lawns, embellishing and embellished

-by the sprightly forms of playful lads and lasses, escaped from the

-city to enjoy a summer afternoon of rural happiness. All, all is

-changed—and man the most of all. Simplicity has given place to the

-ostentatious, vulgar pride of purse-proud ignorance—the wild Indian

-to the idle and effeminate beau—politeness to ceremony—comfort to

-splendour—honest mechanics to knavish brokers—morals to manners—wampum

-to paper money—and the fear of ghosts to the horror of poverty.” Here

-again the old man paused, and seemed to retire within himself for a

-minute or two; after which I observed him begin to chuckle and rub his

-hands, while his mischievous old eye assumed a new vivacity.

-

-“I wonder what figure our Dutch belles or beaux of 1700, or thereabout,

-would make at a rout, or the Italian opera? I'faith I believe they

-would be more out of their element than the Indian I spoke of just now.

-They would certainly make rare sport in a cotillon, and I doubt would

-never arrive at that acme of modern refinement, which enables people

-to prefer sounds without sense, to sense without sound—and to expire

-with ecstasy at sentiments expressed in a language of which they don't

-comprehend a word.”

-

-“But did they believe in ghosts, grandfather?” asked the youngest

-little granddaughter, who was just beginning to dip in the modern

-wonders of romance, and had been caught by the word ghost in the old

-gentleman's harangue.

-

-“Ay, that they did, and in everything else. Now people believe in

-nothing except what they see in the newspapers—and the only exercise

-of their faith appears, not indeed in believing a crust of bread is a

-shoulder of mutton, but that a greasy rag of paper is a guinea. I have

-heard my grandfather tell fifty stories of ghosts and witches; but

-they have all passed from my memory, except one about a little Dutch

-sentinel, which he used to repeat so often, that I have never forgotten

-it to this day.”

-

-“Oh, tell us the story,” cried the little romance reader, who was

-the old gentleman's prime favourite, and to whom he never thought of

-denying anything, either in or out of reason. “I'll give you two kisses

-if you will.”

-

-“A bargain,” cried the good Aurie; “come hither, baggage.” The little

-girl presented first one rosy cheek and then the other, which he kissed

-affectionately, and began as follows, while we all gathered about him,

-and listened like so many Schahriars.

-

-       ─────────────────

-

-“Once upon a time, then, to use the words of a pleasant and instructive

-historian, the governors of New-Amsterdam were little kings, and the

-burgomasters such great men, that whoever spoke ill of one of them,

-had a bridle put into his mouth, rods under his arms, and a label on

-his breast recording his crime. In this trim he was led by the sheriff

-and tied to a post, where he remained a spectacle to the public, and

-an example to all evil doers—or rather evil sayers. I wonder how such

-a custom would go down nowadays, with the great champions of the

-liberty of the press? Then, too, instead of street inspectors, whose

-duty it is to take care of one side of a street and let the other take

-care of itself, there were roy meesters to look to the fences, and

-keep the cows from trespassing on their neighbour's pastures—then the

-houses were covered with reeds and straw, and the chimneys were made

-of wood—then all matrimonial disputes were settled by ‘a commissary

-of marriage affairs,’ and no man could eat a loaf of bread, except

-the flour had been inspected by the ‘comptroller general of the

-company's windmill,’ who could be no other than the sage Don Quixote

-himself—then, the distinction of ranks, instead of being designated by

-great and little barons, was signified by great and little burghers,

-who danced hipsey-saw and reels—plucked the goose—rambled on the

-commons, now the park, for nuts and strawberries—made parties of

-pleasure to enjoy the retired shades of the Ladies' Valley, since

-metamorphosed into Maiden Lane—shot bears in the impenetrable forests

-of Harlem Heights—hunted the deer along the Bloomingdale road—and

-erected Maypoles on the first of May, in the great meadow where the

-college now stands.”

-

-“In what year of our Lord was that?” asked the little pet lady.

-

-“Why, in the year 1670, or thereabout, you baggage.”

-

-“I declare I thought it must have been somewhere about the year one,”

-said she, laughing. The old man patted her cheek, and went on.

-

-“About this time the good citizens of New-Amsterdam were most

-especially afraid of three things—Indians, ghosts, and witches. For the

-first, they had good reason, for the Indians inhabited the country

-around them in all directions, and though the honest Amsterdamers could

-beat them at a bargain, there was another game at which they had rather

-the advantage. In regard to ghosts and witches, I cannot say as much

-in justification of their fears. But that is neither here nor there.

-Some people that will run like a deer from real danger, defy ghosts

-and witches, and all their works; while the fearless soldier who faces

-death without shrinking in a hundred battles, trembles and flees from

-a white cow in a churchyard, or a white sheet on a clothes line, of

-a moonlight night. It was thus with honest JAN SOL, the little Dutch

-sentinel of the Manhadoes.

-

-“Jan was a short, square-built, bandy-legged, broad-faced, snub-nosed

-little fellow, who valued himself upon being an old soldier; a species

-of men that, with the exception of travellers, are the most given to

-telling what are called tough stories, of any people in the world.

-According to his own account, he had been in more pitched battles than

-Henry the Lion, or Julius Cæsar; and made more lucky escapes than any

-knight-errant on record. The most miraculous one of all, was at some

-battle—I forget the name—where he would certainly have been killed, if

-he had not very opportunely arrived just after it was over. But though

-one of the most communicative persons in the world, he never gave any

-tolerable reason for visiting New-Amsterdam. He hinted, indeed, that

-he had been invited over to discipline the raw provincials; but there

-was a counter story abroad, that he was drummed out of the regiment

-for walking in his sleep, and emptying the canteens of the whole mess.

-Indeed, he did not positively deny that he was apt to be a rogue in his

-sleep; but then he made it up by being as honest as the day when he was

-awake.

-

-“However this may be, at the time I speak of, Jan Sol figured as

-corporal in the trusty city guard, whose business it was to watch

-during the night, to guard against the inroads of the savages, and

-to enforce, in the daytime, the military code established for the

-good order and well being of the metropolis. This code consisted of

-nineteen articles, every one of which was a perfect blue law. Bread

-and water, boring tongues with a red-hot iron, hanging, and such like

-trifles, were the least a man had to expect in those days. The mildest

-infliction of the whole code, was that of riding a wooden horse, for

-not appearing on parade at the ringing of a bell. This town was always

-famous for bellringing. Jan had many a ride in this way for nothing.

-Among the most rigid of these regulations, was one which denounced

-death for going in and out of the fort, except through the gate; and

-another, ordaining a similar punishment for entering or leaving the

-city by any other way but the land poort, after the mayor had gone his

-rounds in the evening, and received the keys from the guard.

-

-“The state of society, and the neighbourhood of the Indians, I suppose,

-made these severe restrictions necessary; and we are not, while

-sitting quietly at our firesides, out of their reach, to set ourselves

-in judgment upon our ancestors, who planted the seeds of this empire in

-the midst of dangers. In the little sketch of New-Amsterdam to which

-I have before referred, and which is well worth your reading, it is

-stated that the gate was shut in the evening before dark, and opened at

-daylight. At nine o'clock the tattoo was beat, as the signal for the

-honest folks to go to sleep as quick as possible, and it is recorded

-they all obeyed the summons in the most exemplary manner. The sentinels

-were placed at different points considered the most accessible, and

-changed every half hour, that being the limit of a quiet, orderly

-Dutchman's capacity for keeping awake after nine o'clock.

-

-“One bright moonlight night, in the month of August, it fell to the lot

-of Jan Sol to mount guard, not a hundred yards from the great gate, or

-land poort, which was situated in Broadway, near where Trinity Church

-now stands. Beyond this, between Liberty and Courtlandt streets, stood

-the company's windmill, where nearly all the flour was made for the

-consumption of the little metropolis. The place where he took his

-rounds was a sand bank, elevated above the surrounding objects, and

-whence he could see the river, the opposite shore of New-Jersey, then

-called Pavonia, the capacious bay, and the distant hills of Staten

-Island. The night was calm, and the cloudless sky showed thousands of

-wandering glories overhead, whose bright twinklings danced on the slow

-undulating surface of the glassy mirror. All round there was perfect

-silence and repose, nothing moved upon the land or the waters, neither

-lights were burning nor dogs barking; these sagacious animals having

-been taught, by a most infallible way of appealing to their instincts,

-that it was unlawful to disturb the somniferous indulgences of their

-masters. It was a scene for poetic inspiration, but Jan Sol was no

-poet, although he often availed himself of the poetic license in his

-stories. He was thinking of something else, besides the beauty of the

-night and the scene. The truth is, his nerves were very much out of

-order at that moment.

-

-“It was about the time that witches made their first appearance in

-the New World, whither they came, I suppose, to escape the pleasant

-alternative of being either drowned or hanged, proffered to them in

-those days by the good people of England. But they got out of the

-frying pan into the fire, as history records, particularly to the

-eastward of the Manhadoes, where some of them underwent the ordeal of

-Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Others fled to New-Amsterdam, greatly

-to the discomfort of the good citizens, who took such umbrage at

-broomsticks, that the industrious and cleanly housewife's vocation of

-sweeping the parlour twelve times a day was considered as naught. It is

-affirmed, that instead of a broom, they used the broad-brimmed Sunday

-hats of their husbands in blowing away the dust, for fear of being

-taken for witches. There was a universal panic, and a universal dust

-throughout all the city.

-

-“But this was not the worst of it either. Just about this time Dominie

-Egidius Luyck prophesied the world was coming speedily to an end, as

-plainly appeared from the great quantity of toad stools, which made

-their appearance in the Ladies' Valley and Windmill Meadow after a

-heavy rain. This prophecy was followed up by the appearance of the

-northern lights, falling stars, and mysterious rattlings of invisible

-carriages through the streets at midnight. To crown all, an inspired

-fanatic had passed through the Broadway, crying out 'Wo, wo to the

-crown of pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim. Two woes past, and the

-third coming, except ye repent—repent—repent.' All these horrors now

-encompassed the imagination of Jan Sol, as he paced the little sand

-hillock with slow steps, and from time to time started at his shadow.

-The half hour seemed an age, and never did anybody long so much for the

-appearance of a corporal's guard to relieve him.

-

-“He had not been on his watch more than ten minutes, or so, when,

-happening to look towards the opposite shore of Pavonia, he saw

-something moving on the waters like a canoe shooting across the river.

-Five hundred Indians with tomahawks and scalping knives all at once

-stood before the little sentinel, whose imagination was ready cocked

-and primed for the reception of all sorts of horrors. He had a great

-mind to fire his gun, and alarm the garrison, but a little of the fear

-of his companions' jokes restrained him for that time. However, he

-drew a pistol, and refreshed his courage with a little of the genuine

-Schiedam, after which he ventured to look that way again. But the canoe

-had disappeared in a most miraculous manner, and Jan was satisfied in

-his own mind, that it was neither more nor less than the ghost of a

-canoe. There was not much consolation in this; but it was better than

-the five hundred Indians, with their tomahawks and scalping knives.

-

-“The night breeze now sprung up with its chilling dews, and cooled

-Jan's courage till it nearly fell down to the freezing point. The wind,

-or some other cause, produced a sort of creaking and moaning in the

-old crazy windmill, which drew the eyes of the little sentinel in that

-direction. At that moment, Jan saw a head slowly rising and peeping

-over the wall, directly in a line with the windmill. His eyes became

-riveted to the spot, with the irresistible fascination of overwhelming

-terror. Gradually the head was followed by shoulders, body and legs,

-which Jan swore belonged to a giant at least sixteen ells high. After

-sitting a moment upon the wall, the figure, according to Jan's relation

-before the governor next morning, put forth a pair of enormous wings,

-and whirling itself round and round in a circle—while its eyes flashed

-fire, and its teeth appeared like live coals—actually flew down from

-the wall towards the governor's garden, where it disappeared, or rather

-sank into the ground, close by the garden gate. Jan fired his gun,

-and one might have supposed he killed himself, for he fell flat on his

-face, apparently as dead as a door nail.

-

-“Here he was found by the relief guard, about five minutes afterwards,

-with his face buried in the sand hill. The moment they touched him,

-he began to roar out with awful vociferation, ‘Wo, wo to the crown of

-pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim.’ They could make nothing of Jan

-or his story, and forthwith carried him to the ‘big house,’ as it was

-called, where the governor resided, and who, together with the whole

-corporation and city, had been waked by the discharge of the gun. Such

-a thing had not happened within the memory of man. Jan told his story,

-and swore to it afterwards; but all he got by it, was a ride on the

-wooden horse the next morning. The story, however, took wind, and there

-was more liquor sold that day at the Stadt Herberg, or city tavern,

-than for a whole week before. Coming upon the back of the dominie's

-toad stools, the northern lights, the rumbling of the invisible wheels,

-and the mysterious denunciation of the drunkards of Ephraim, it made

-a great impression; and many, not to say all, believed there must be

-something in it. Several people went to church the next day, who had

-not been there since they were christened.

-

-“Measures were taken the following night, and for several nights

-afterwards, to detect this gigantic spectre, but in vain. Nothing

-appeared to disturb the quiet repose of the guard and the city, till

-the next Saturday night, when it came to Jan Sol's turn to take his

-watch upon the sand hill, about the same hour as before. They say Jan

-fortified himself with a double allowance of Schiedam, and put a little

-Dutch Bible in the pocket of one of his breeches. But all would not do,

-for many people were ready to swear afterwards, that his hair stood on

-end so sturdily that he could hardly keep his tin cap upon it. Ghosts,

-hobgoblins, and all that sort of thing, have not only a propensity to

-visit some one particular person, but are likewise extremely regular in

-their habits, as well as in their hours of appearing. Exactly at the

-same hour the little canoe shot from Pavonia—the night breeze sprang up

-as before—the old windmill began to creak and moan—the gigantic spectre

-peered over the wall at the same spot as before, and cautiously glaring

-round with his fiery eyes, unfurled his mighty wings, and after turning

-a few somersets, flew towards the gate of the governor's garden, where

-he disappeared as before. This time Jan was too far gone to fire his

-matchlock, but a few minutes after he was found almost insensible with

-fright, by the relief guard, who carried him before the governor next

-morning, where he swore to the same story, and was complimented with

-another ride on the wooden horse.

-

-“But the repetition of a miracle is sure to make it less miraculous;

-and a wonder twice told is almost half proved. People began to believe,

-and from believing, to be sure there was something out of the way, at

-least, in this affair. Miracles, like misfortunes, never come single;

-and almost every one had a wonder of his own to reinforce that of the

-little Dutch sentinel. At least fifty of them happened within less than

-a week, each more alarming than the other. Doors opened at midnight, by

-invisible hands—strange black cats with green eyes, and sparks of fire

-flying out of their backs, appeared at different times—the old mahogany

-chests of drawers made divers strange noises, and sometimes went off

-with a report almost as loud as a pistol—and an old woman coming into

-market with cabbages before daylight in the morning, met a black

-figure, she could almost swear had a tail and a cloven foot. A horseman

-was heard in the middle of the night galloping furiously towards the

-land poort, crying ‘Whoa! whoa!’ with a hollow voice; and what was very

-singular, though several persons got up to look out of the windows,

-not one could see the least sign of horse or horseman. In short, the

-whole city of New-Amsterdam was in a panic, and he was a bold man that

-did not run away from his own shadow. Even the ‘big house’ where the

-governor dwelt, was infected, insomuch that his excellency doubled his

-guards, and slept with loaded pistols at his bedside. One of these made

-a voluntary discharge one night, and the bullet passed right through

-the picture of Admiral Van Tromp, which hung up in the chamber. If it

-had been the admiral himself he would have been killed as sure as a

-gun. This accident was considered as very remarkable, as there were no

-hair triggers in those days, to go off of themselves.

-

-“There was at that time a public-spirited little magistrate in office,

-by the name of DIRCK SMET, a pipemaker by trade, who was the father

-of more laws than all the lawyers before or after him, from Moses

-down to the present time. He had the itch of legislation to a most

-alarming degree, and like Titus, considered he had lost a day when he

-had not begotten at least one law. A single circumstance or event, no

-matter how insignificant, was enough for him. If a little boy happened

-to frighten a sober Dutch horse, which, by-the-way, was no such easy

-matter, by flying his kite, the worshipful Dirck Smet would forthwith

-call a meeting of the common council, and, after declaiming a full hour

-upon the dangers of kiteflying, get a law passed, denouncing a penalty

-upon all wicked parents who allowed their children to indulge in that

-pestilent amusement. If there happened a rumour of a man, a horse, a

-cow, or any other animal being bitten by a mad dog, in some remote part

-of New-England, or elsewhere, Dirck Smet would spout a speech enough

-to make one's hair stand on end, about the horrors of hydrophobia, and

-get a law passed against all the honest mastiffs of New-Amsterdam, who

-had no more idea of running mad than I have at this moment. Owing to

-the number of little creeks intersecting the city, and the quantity of

-grass growing in the streets at that time, there was never a finer city

-for raising flocks of geese than New-Amsterdam—in fact, there were as

-many geese as inhabitants. Dirck declared war against these in a speech

-of three hours, which so overpowered the council, that they all fell

-asleep, and passed a law banishing the geese from the city; although

-one of the members, who had the finest goose pond in the place, talked

-very learnedly about the famous goose that saved the capitol. It is

-said that Dirck's antipathy to these honest birds arose from having

-been attacked and sorely buffeted by a valiant old gander, whose

-premises he had chanced to invade on some occasion. He was, indeed, the

-most arrant meddler and busybody of his day, always poking his nose

-into holes and corners, ferreting out nuisances, and seeking pretexts

-for new laws; so that if the people had paid any attention to them they

-would have been under a worse tyranny than that of the Turk or the

-Spaniard. But they were saved from this by a lucky circumstance—the

-council thinking they did enough by making the laws, let them take care

-of themselves afterwards; and honest Dirck Smet was too busy begetting

-new laws, to mind what became of the old ones. Nevertheless, he got

-the reputation of a most vigilant magistrate, which means a pestilent

-intermeddler with people's domestic sports and occupations, and a most

-industrious busybody in attempting impossibilities.

-

-“As soon as Dirck Smet heard the story of the inroads of the winged

-monster, he fell into a fever of anxiety to do something for the good

-of the community. He was on the point of proposing a severe law against

-winged monsters, but from this he was dissuaded by a judicious friend,

-who represented the difficulty of catching this sort of delinquents,

-and that this was absolutely necessary, before he could punish them.

-Baffled in this point, he fumed about from one place to another,

-insisting that something must be done for the quiet and security of the

-city, and that a law of some kind or other was absolutely necessary

-on the occasion, if it were only to show their zeal for the public

-good. It was his opinion that a bad law was better than no law at all,

-and that it would be an inexcusable piece of negligence to let these

-interloping monsters fly over the wall with impunity.

-

-“All this while his excellency the governor of New-Amsterdam said

-nothing, but thought a great deal. He was a little jealous of the

-popularity of Dirck Smet, who had got the title of Father of the City,

-on account of having saved it from the horrors of flying kites, mad

-dogs, and hissing ganders. In fact, they were two such great men, that

-the city was not half large enough for them both, and the consequence

-was, that instead of assisting, they only stood in each other's way,

-like two carts in a narrow lane. We can have too much of a good

-thing, even as regards laws and rulers. The governor was determined

-to do nothing, for no other reason that could ever be discovered

-than because his rival was so busy. The fears of the good citizens,

-however, and their increasing clamours against the negligence of their

-rulers, at length roused the activity of the governor, who forthwith

-convened his council, to deliberate upon the best means of saving the

-city of New-Amsterdam.

-

-“Dirck Smet, who was ex-officio a member, was in his glory on this

-occasion, and talked so much that there was no time for acting. At

-length, however, the inward man gave out, and he had not breath to say

-anything more. It was then, tradition says, that a silent old member,

-who never made a set speech in his life, proposed, in as few words as

-possible, and in a quiet colloquial manner, that measures should be

-first taken to ascertain the truth of the story, after which means

-might be found to detect the miracle or the impostor, whatever it might

-be. It is affirmed the whole council was astonished that a man should

-be able to say so much in so few words, and that henceforth the silent

-member was considered the wisest of them all. Even Dirck Smet held his

-tongue for the rest of the sitting, thus furnishing another striking

-proof, my children, that good sense is an overmatch for the most

-confirmed garrulity. The same old gentleman suggested, that as Saturday

-night seemed to be the period chosen for his two visits by the winged

-monster, it would be advisable to place some of the most trusty of the

-city guard in ambush in the vicinity of the spot where, according to

-the testimony of Jan Sol, he had flown over the wall, to intercept

-him there, or at least overtake him in his progress to the governor's

-garden. Everybody wondered at the wisdom of this proposal, which

-was adopted with only one dissenting voice. Dirck Smet moved, as an

-amendment, that the word ‘progress’ should be changed to ‘flight,’ but

-it was negatived, greatly to his mortification, and therefore he voted

-against the whole proposition, declaring it went against his conscience.

-

-“Accordingly, the next Saturday night a party was got in readiness,

-of six picked men of the city guard, under the command of Captain

-Balthaser Knyff, of immortal memory, who had faced more ghosts in his

-generation than any man living. The whole band was equipped with an

-extraordinary number of nether garments for defence, and fortified

-with double allowance of Schiedam, to keep up their courage in this

-arduous service. The captain was considered a person of the greatest

-weight in all the city; and in addition to this, he added to his

-specific gravity, by stuffing into his pocket all the leaden weights

-he could borrow of a neighbouring grocer, for he did not know but

-the monster might fly away with him. His comrades remonstrated that

-this additional weight would impede his pursuit of the foe; but the

-captain nobly replied, ‘it was beneath a soldier to run, either from or

-after an enemy.’ The most perfect secrecy was preserved in all these

-arrangements.

-

-“Thus equipped, they took their station, about eleven o'clock on the

-Saturday night following the last appearance of the winged monster,

-under cover of one of the neighbouring houses, and there waited the

-coming of the mysterious visiter. Twelve o'clock, the favourite hour

-of spectres of all sorts, came and passed, yet no spectre appeared

-peeping over the wall. By this time they began to be wearied with

-long watching, and it was proposed that they should take turns, one

-at a time, while the others slept off the fatigue of such unheard-of

-service. The lot fell upon Jan Sol, who being, as it were, a sort

-of old acquaintance of the spectre, was supposed to be particularly

-qualified for this honour. Jan forthwith posted himself at the corner

-of the house, upon one leg, to make sure of keeping awake, as he

-had whilome seen the New-Amsterdam geese do, ere they were banished

-from the city, by the inflexible patriotism of Dirck Smet, the great

-lawgiver.

-

-“The little Dutch sentinel stood for about half an hour, sometimes on

-one leg, sometimes on the other, with his head full of hobgoblins and

-his heart full of fears. All was silent as the grave, save the sonorous

-music of the captain's vocal nose, or, as it might be poetically

-expressed, ‘living lyre,’ which ever and anon snorted a low requiem to

-the waning night. The moon was on the swift decrease, and now exhibited

-an arch not unlike a bright Indian bow, suspended in the west, a

-little above the distant horizon. Gradually it sank behind the hills,

-leaving the world to the guardianship of the watchmen of the night, the

-twinkling stars. Scarcely a minute after, the heart of honest Jan was

-sent bumping against his trusty ribs, by the appearance of something

-slowly rising above the indistinct line of the city wall, which I ought

-to observe was made of wood. The spectre gradually mounted higher

-and higher, and rested on the very spot where he had seen it twice

-before. The teeth of Jan Sol chattered, and his knees knocked against

-each other—but he stood his ground manfully, and either would not or

-could not run away. This time the spectre, though he appeared with two

-enormous wings projecting from his shoulders, did not whirl them round,

-or expand them in the manner he had done before. After sitting perched

-for a few moments on the wall, he flew down to the ground, and crept

-cautiously along, under cover of the wall, in a direction towards the

-big house. At this moment, the trusty Jan with some difficulty roused

-his companions, and silently pointed to the spectre gliding along as

-before related. Whether it was that it saw or heard something to alarm

-it, I cannot say; but scarcely had the redoubtable Captain Knyff risen,

-and shaken from his valiant spirit the fumes of sleep and Schiedam,

-when the spirit took as it were to itself wings, and sped rapidly

-towards the gate of the governor's garden. The party pursued, with

-the exception of the captain, who carried too much weight for a race,

-and arrived within sight of the gate just in time to see the spectre

-vanish, either under, over, or inside of it, they could not tell

-which. When they got to the gate, they found it fast locked, a proof,

-if any had been wanting, that it must have been something supernatural.

-

-“In pursuance of their instructions, the guard roused the governor,

-his household, and his troops, with the intention of searching the

-garden, and, if necessary, every part of his house, for the purpose

-of detecting this mysterious intruder. The garden was surrounded by a

-high brick wall, the top of which bristled with iron spikes and pieces

-of bottles set in mortar. It was worth a man's life to get over it.

-There was no getting in or out except by the gate, on the outside of

-which the governor stationed two trusty fellows, with orders to stand

-a little apart, and perfectly quiet. Now all the governor's household

-was wide awake, and in a rustle of anxiety and trepidation, except

-one alone, who did not make her appearance. This was the governor's

-only daughter, as pretty a little Dutch damsel as ever crossed Kissing

-Bridge, or rambled over the green fields of the Manhadoes. Compared

-to the queer little bodies that figure nowadays in the Broadway,

-seemingly composed of nothing but hats, feathers, and flounces, she was

-a composition of real flesh and blood, which is better than all the

-gauze, silk, tulle, and gros de Naples in the world. “A man marries a

-milliner's shop instead of a woman nowadays,” said the old gentleman,

-glancing a little archly at the fashionable paraphernalia of his pretty

-pet granddaughter. “Her face and form was all unsophisticated native

-beauty, and her dress all simplicity and grace.”

-

-“Is that her picture hanging in the back parlour?” asked the little

-girl, in a sly way.”

-

-“Yes; but the picture does not do justice either to the beauty or the

-dress of the original.”

-

-“I hope not,” said the other; “for if it does, I am sure I would not be

-like her for the world.”

-

-“Pshaw, you baggage,” replied the old gentleman, “you'll never be fit

-to hold a candle to her.”

-

-“The search now commenced with great vigour in the garden, although Jan

-Sol openly declared it as his opinion, that they might look themselves

-blind before they found the spectre, who could fly over a wall as easy

-as a grasshopper. He accordingly kept aloof from the retired part of

-the garden, and stuck close to his noble commander, Captain Knyff, who

-by this time had come up with the pursuers. All search, however, proved

-vain; for after a close investigation of more than an hour, it was

-unanimously agreed that the intruder, whether man, monster, or ghost,

-could not possibly be hid in the garden. The governor then determined

-to have the house searched, and accordingly the whole party entered for

-that purpose, with the exception of the two sentinels without the gate.

-Here, while rummaging in closets, peering under beds, and looking up

-chimneys in vain, they were alarmed by a sudden shout from the garden,

-which made their hearts quake with exceeding apprehension. The shout

-was succeeded by loud talking and apparent tugging and struggling,

-as if between persons engaged in hot contention. At the same moment

-the governor's daughter rushed into her chamber, and throwing herself

-on the bed with a loud shriek, remained insensible for some time.

-Everybody was sure she had seen the spectre.

-

-“It appears that while the search was going on in the big house, and

-the attention of everybody employed in that direction, the sentinels

-outside the gate heard the key cautiously turned inside, then, after

-a little pause, slowly open. A face then peeped out as if to take an

-observation, and the owner, apparently satisfied that the coast was

-clear, darted forward. The first step, he unluckily tripped over a

-rope which these trusty fellows had drawn across the gate, and fell

-full length on the ground. Before he could recover his feet the two

-sentinels were upon him, and in spite of his exertions kept him down,

-until their shouts drew the rest of the guard to their assistance. The

-spectre was then secured with ropes, and safely lodged in the cellar

-under a strong escort, to await his examination the next morning. Jan

-Sol was one of the band, though he insisted it was all nonsense to

-mount guard over a spectre.

-

-“The council met betimes at the sound of a bell, rung by a worthy

-citizen, who, in addition to his vocation of bellringer, was crier of

-the court, messenger to the governor, sexton, clerk, and gravedigger

-to the whole city of New-Amsterdam. It was something to be a man in

-those days, before the invention of steam engines, spinning jennies,

-and chessplaying automatons caused such a superfluity of human beings,

-that it is much if they can now earn salt to their porridge. At that

-time, men were so scarce, that there were at least half a dozen offices

-to one man; now there are half a dozen men to one office; all which is

-owing to machinery. This accumulation of honours in the person of the

-bellringer, made him a man of considerable consequence, insomuch, that

-the little boys about Flattenbarrack Hill chalked his name upon their

-sleighs, and it is even asserted that he had an Albany sloop called

-after him. I could, therefore, do no less than make honourable mention

-of a person of his dignity.

-

-“After the council met, and everything was ready, the door of the

-cellar was cautiously opened, and Jan Sol, at the head, that is to

-say, in the rear of a file of soldiers, descended for the purpose of

-bringing forth this daring interloper, who had thus, from time to

-time, disturbed the sleep of the sober citizens of New-Amsterdam. Jan

-offered to bet a canteen of Schiedam, that they would find nobody in

-the cellar; but, contrary to all expectation, they presently came

-forth with the body of a comely youth, apparently about the age of

-five-and-twenty, which was considered very young in those days. Nothing

-was more customary there, than for a sturdy mother to bastinado her

-boys, as she called them, after they had grown to be six feet high.

-They were all the better for it, and made excellent husbands.

-

-“When the young man came into the presence of the puissant governor

-of the New Netherlands, he appeared a comely person, tall, fair

-complexioned, and pleasant of feature. He was asked whence he came,

-and not having a lawyer at his elbow to teach him the noble art of

-prevarication, replied without hesitation,

-

-“‘From Pavonia.’

-

-“‘How did you get into the city?’

-

-“‘I climbed the wall, near the company's windmill.’

-

-“‘And how did you get into the governor's garden?’

-

-“‘The same way I got out.’

-

-“‘How was that?’

-

-“‘Through the gate.’

-

-“‘How did you get through the gate?’

-

-“‘By unlocking it.’

-

-“‘With what?’

-

-“‘With a key.’

-

-“‘Whence came that key?’

-

-“No answer.

-

-“‘Whence came that key?’

-

-“‘I shall not tell.’

-

-“‘What induced you to scale the wall and intrude into the garden?’

-

-“‘I shall not tell.’

-

-“‘Not if you are hanged for not telling?’

-

-“‘Not if I am hanged for not telling.’

-

-“‘What have you done with the wings with which, according to the

-testimony of Jan Sol, you flew from the wall, and through the street to

-the governor's garden?’

-

-“‘I never had any wings, and never flew in the whole course of my life.’

-

-“Here Jan Sol was called up, and testified positively to the wings and

-the flying. There was now great perplexity in the council, when the

-keeper of the windmill demanded to be heard. He stated he remembered

-perfectly well, that on the two nights referred to, he had set his

-windmill going about the hour in which Jan Sol saw the spectre whirl

-round and fly from the wall. There had been a calm for several days

-previous, and the citizens began to be in want of flour. He had

-therefore taken advantage of the rising of the wind at the time, to

-set his mill going. A little further inquiry led to the fact, that the

-place where the spectre scaled the wall was exactly in a line with the

-windmill and the spot where Jan held his watch. It was thus that the

-spectre became identified with the wings of the mill. This exposition

-marvellously quieted the fears of the good people; but there were

-a number of stern believers who stuck by the little sentinel, and

-continued to believe in the winged monster. As for poor Jan, he looked

-ten times more foolish than when he used to be caught emptying the

-canteens of his comrades in his sleep. This elucidation being over, the

-examination proceeded.

-

-“‘Did you know of the law making it death for any one to enter or

-depart from the city between sunset and sunrise, except through the

-gate?’

-

-“‘I did.’

-

-“‘What induced you to violate it?’

-

-“‘I shall not tell.’

-

-“‘Was it plunder?’

-

-“‘I am no thief.’

-

-“‘Was it treason against the state?’

-

-“‘I am no traitor.’

-

-“‘Was it mischief?’

-

-“‘I am not a child.’

-

-“‘Was it to frighten people?’

-

-“‘I am no fool.’

-

-“‘What is your name?’

-

-“'My name is of no consequence—a man can be hanged without a name.'

-

-“And this was all they could get out of him. Various cross-questions

-were put to entrap him. He replied to them all with perfect freedom

-and promptitude, until they came to his name, and his motives for

-intruding into the city in violation of a law so severe, that none as

-yet had ever been known to transgress it. Then, as before, he declined

-answering.

-

-“In those early days, under the Dutch dynasty, trial by jury was not

-in fashion. People were too busy to serve as jurymen, if they had

-been wanted; and the decision of most cases was left either to the

-burgomasters, or if of great consequence, to the governor and council.

-Justice was severe and prompt, in proportion to the dangers which

-surrounded the early colonists, and the spirit of the times in which

-they flourished. They lived in perpetual apprehension; and fear is

-the father of cruelty. The law denouncing death to any person who

-should enter the city between sunset and sunrise, except by the gate,

-was considered as too essential to the security of the citizens to

-be relaxed in favour of any one, especially of a person who refused

-to tell either his name or the motive for his intrusion. By his own

-admission, he was guilty of the offence, and but one course remained

-for the council. The young man was sentenced to be hanged that day

-week, and sent to the fort for safe keeping till the period arrived.

-

-“That day the daughter of the governor did not appear to grace the

-table of his excellency, nor in the management of those little

-household affairs, that are not beneath the dignity of the daughters of

-kings. She was ill with a headache, and kept her bed. The governor had

-no child but her, and though without any great portion of sensibility,

-was capable of all the warmth of parental affection. Indeed, all his

-affections were centred in this little blooming offspring, who was

-the only being in all the New World that carried a drop of his blood

-coursing in her blue veins. He was also proud of her—so proud, that his

-pride often got the better of his affection. She had many admirers—for

-she was fair, wealthy, and the daughter of the greatest governor in

-the New World, not excepting him of Virginia. It followed, as a matter

-of course, that she was admired, but it was at an awful distance. The

-honest Dutch swains, who had not pursued the female sprite through

-all the mazes of romance, and learned how ofttimes highborn ladies

-stooped to lads of low degree, gaped at her at church, as if she had

-been a sea serpent. They would as soon have thought of aspiring to the

-governor's dignity, as to the governor's daughter. Besides, he was one

-of those absurd old blockheads, who consider nobody good enough for

-their daughters at home, and hawk them about Europe, in search of some

-needy sprig of nobility, who will exchange his mighty honours for bags

-of gold, and a fair, blooming, virtuous virgin into the bargain. He had

-sworn a thousand times, that his Blandina should never marry anything

-below a Dutch baron.”

-

-“Was her name Blandina—was she my namesake?” interrupted the little

-granddaughter.

-

-“Yes, girl, she was your great great grandmother, and you were

-christened after her,” said the old man, and proceeded.

-

-“This fear on the part of the young fellows of New-Amsterdam, and this

-well-known determination of the governor, kept all admirers at an awful

-distance from the young lady, who grew up to the age of eighteen,

-loving no one save her father, now that her mother was no more; and an

-old black woman, who had taken care of her ever since she was a child.

-The throne of her innocent bosom had remained till then quite vacant,

-nor did she know for certain what it was that made her sometimes so

-weary of the world, and so tired of the length of the livelong sultry

-summer hours. She walked into the garden to pluck the flowers, until

-she became tired of that. She strolled with her old nurse into the

-rural retirement of Ladies' Valley, and the shady paths which coursed

-the wood where the Park is now, until she became tired of these. In

-short, she became tired of everything, and so spiritless, that her

-father was not a little alarmed for her health.

-

-“About this time the governor was called by important political

-business to the eastern frontier, and the journey was expected to

-take up several days. During his absence, a party was formed to cross

-the river, and spend the day in rambling about the romantic solitudes

-of Weehawk, then a sort of frontier between the white man and the

-Indian. Blandina was pressed to accompany them, and at last consented,

-although against the will, not only of the governor's deputy, but of

-the governor himself, who would certainly have forbidden it, had he

-been present; but he was a hundred miles off, and in the absence of

-the governor there was nobody equal to the governor's daughter. The

-morning was fine, and the party set out as happy as youthful spirits

-and youthful anticipations could make them. Here they rambled at will

-and at random, in groups, in pairs, and alone, just as it suited them;

-gathering together to take their refreshments, and again separating, as

-chance or will directed them.

-

-“Blandina had separated from the others, and wandered, almost

-unconsciously, half a mile from the landing place by herself. Perhaps

-when she set out, she expected some of the beaux to follow, but they

-stood in such awe of her, that not one had the temerity to offer his

-attendance. Each being occupied with his own pursuits and reflections,

-no one missed the young madam for some time, until their attention was

-roused by a shriek at a distance in the wood. After a momentary pause,

-the shrieks were repeated in quick succession, and almost immediately

-succeeded by the report of a gun. The little group of young people was

-struck with dismay, and the first impulse was to run to the boats,

-and escape into the stream. But to do them justice, this was but an

-involuntary selfishness, for the moment they missed Blandina, the young

-men prepared to pursue in the direction of the shrieks and the gun. At

-this crisis, a figure darted swiftly from the wood, bearing the young

-lady insensible in his arms, and approaching the group, placed her with

-her head in the lap of one of the girls, while he ran to the river, and

-returned with some water in his hat.

-

-“Blandina soon came to herself, and related that she had been seized

-by an Indian, and rescued by the young man, who, all the young damsels

-presently discovered, was very handsome. He wore the dress of a

-gentleman of that day, which, sooth to say, would not cut much of a

-figure just now. He was accoutred as a sportsman, and had in his bag

-sufficient evidence of his skill. It was decided on all hands that the

-stranger, having saved the life of Blandina, or at least rescued her

-from captivity, was destined to be her future husband, and that her

-time was now come. Such prophecies are very apt to be fulfilled. The

-stranger announced himself as the son of the ancient and honourable

-Lord of Pavonia, and was blushingly invited by Blandina to come and

-receive the thanks of her father, when he should return from the

-eastern frontier. But he only shook his head, and replied with a

-dubious smile, ‘Are you sure I shall be welcome?’

-

-“From this time Blandina became more languid and thoughtful than

-ever. When the father returned, and heard the story of her straying

-into the woods, and of her deliverance, he swore he would reward the

-gallant young man, like a most liberal and puissant governor. But when

-afterwards, on inquiring his name, he found that he was the son of

-the Lord of Pavonia, he retracted his promise, and swore that the son

-was no better than the father, who was an arrant splutterkin. They

-had quarrelled about boundaries; his excellency claiming the whole

-of the river on the west side, up to the high-water mark, while the

-Lord of Pavonia, whose territories lay exactly opposite the city of

-New-Amsterdam, had the temerity to set nets, and catch shad in the very

-middle of the stream. The feud was bitter in proportion to the dignity

-of the parties and the importance of the point at issue. The governor

-commanded his daughter never to mention the name of the splutterkin, on

-pain of his displeasure.

-

-“Rumour, however, says that the young man found means to renew his

-acquaintance with Blandina, and that though she might never mention

-his name to her father, she thought of him all day, and dreamed about

-him all night. After a while the rumour died away, and the people

-began to think and talk of something else. Some of the young men,

-however, who happened to see the culprit that had dared to leap over

-the wall against the statute, thought he had a strong resemblance to

-the youth who had rescued Blandina from the Indian. The young lady,

-as I said before, continued ill all day, and for several days after

-the condemnation of the spectre youth, who persevered in obstinately

-refusing any disclosure of his name, or his motives for scaling the

-walls of New-Amsterdam. In the mean time the period of his execution

-approached; only two days of life now remained to him, when Blandina,

-with an effort, determined to bring her fate to a crisis at once. She

-rose from her bed, pale and drooping like a lily, and tottering to her

-father's study, sank at his feet.

-

-“‘Father,’ said she, ‘will you forgive him and me?’

-

-“‘Forgive thee, my daughter; I have nothing to forgive, so that is

-settled. But who is the other?’

-

-“‘My husband.’

-

-“‘Thy husband!’ exclaimed the puissant governor, starting up in dismay;

-‘and who is he?’

-

-“‘The youth who is sentenced to die the day after the morrow.’

-

-“'And who is he—in the d—l's name, I had almost said,' exclaimed his

-excellency, in wrathful amazement.

-

-“‘He is the son of the Lord of Pavonia,’ replied she, hiding her face

-with her hands.

-

-“‘And thou art married to that splutterkin?’

-

-“‘Yes, father.’

-

-“'Then I shall take care to unmarry thee—the knot the parson tied the

-hangman shall untie the day after the morrow, or I'm no governor. But

-who dared to marry thee against my will?'

-

-“‘Dominie Curtenius.’

-

-“'He did—then the dominie shall hang by the side of the splutterkin. Go

-to thy chamber, to thy bed, to thy grave, thou art no daughter of mine.'

-

-“Poor Blandina crawled to her bed, and wept herself into a temporary

-forgetfulness. The next day she was so much worse, that the old nurse

-declared she would die before her husband. The governor kept up a good

-countenance, but his heart was sorely beset by pity and forgiveness,

-which both clung weeping about him. He went so far as to sound some of

-the council about pardoning the young man; but one of them, who was

-suspected of looking up to the fair Blandina, talked so eloquently

-about the safety of the city and the public good, that he was fain to

-hold his tongue, and shut himself up, for he could not bear to see his

-daughter.

-

-“At length the day arrived, big with the fate of poor Blandina and

-her unhappy husband. She sent to her father for permission to see him

-before he died, but the governor, after a sore struggle, denied her

-request.

-

-“‘Then, indeed, he is no longer my father,’ cried Blandina, and sinking

-upon her bed, covered her head, as if to shut out the world. Presently

-the bell tolled the hour of the sacrifice, and its hollow vibrations

-penetrated the ears of the mourning wife. In spite of her weakness, and

-the endeavours of the old nurse, she started up, and rushing towards

-the door of her chamber, exclaimed, wildly, 'I will see him—I will go

-and see him die.' But her strength failed her, and she sank on the

-floor. In the mean time a scene, peculiarly interesting to the fortunes

-of Blandina, was passing below. The proud, obdurate, rich old Lord of

-Pavonia, had heard of the capture, the condemnation of his only son.

-For a while his pride and hatred of the Governor of New-Amsterdam

-almost choked the thought of entreaty or concession to his ancient

-enemy. But as the time approached, and he heard of the situation of his

-son, and of his unfortunate wife, who had never offended him, his heart

-gradually relented. When the morning arrived, and he looked across the

-smooth river, from the long porch fronting his stately mansion, towards

-the spot where his son was about suffering an ignominious death, he

-could restrain his feelings no longer.

-

-“Calling for his boatmen and his barge, and hastily putting on his

-cocked hat and sword, he embarked, crossed swiftly over the river, and

-landing, proceeded directly to the big house. He demanded an audience

-of the governor.

-

-“'The splutterkin is here too—but let him come in, that I may be

-satisfied the old dog is as miserable as myself,' said the governor,

-with tears in his eyes.

-

-“The Lord of Pavonia entered with a stately bow, which was returned in

-as stately a manner by the governor.

-

-“‘I come,’ said Pavonia, ‘I come,’ and his voice became choked, ‘to ask

-the life of my son at your hands.’

-

-“‘Thy son has broken the laws, and the laws have condemned him to

-death, justly.’

-

-“‘I know it,’ said the other; ‘but what if I pay the price of his

-ransom?’

-

-“‘I am no money higgler.’

-

-“‘But if I surrender the right of the river to high-water mark?’

-

-“‘What!’ said his excellency, pricking up his ears, ‘wilt thou? And the

-shad fishery, and the diabolical gill nets?’

-

-“'Yea—all—all,‘ said the other, 'to save the life of my only son.’

-

-“‘Wilt thou sign, seal, and deliver?’

-

-“'This instant—so I receive back my boy alive.'

-

-“‘Stay, then, a moment.’

-

-“The governor then hastily directed his bellringer to call the council

-together, and laid the proposition before them. The concession was

-irresistible, and the council decided to pardon the son, on condition

-that the father executed the deed of relinquishment. He did so, and the

-young man was forthwith set at liberty. It is time for me to retire,”

-said our good grandfather, “so I must cut short my story. The meeting

-of the husband and his faithful wife took place without witnesses, and

-none was ever able to describe it. Blandina speedily recovered, and

-lived to see her children's children play about the room by dozens.

-The Lord of Pavonia and the Governor of New-Amsterdam continued a sort

-of grumbling acquaintance, and dined together once a year, when they

-always quarrelled about the fishery and high-water mark. In process

-of time, their respective fortunes became united in the person of the

-winged monster, and formed a noble patrimony, some of which I inherited

-with your grandmother.

-

-“Jan Sol underwent many a joke, good, bad, and indifferent, about

-the winged monster. But he continued to his dying day to assert his

-solemn belief, that the young Lord of Pavonia and the spectre were

-two different persons. Many a time and oft did he frighten his wife

-and children with the story, which he improved every time he told

-it, till he was at length gathered to his fathers, as his fathers

-had been gathered before him. He had enough people to keep him in

-countenance, for there were hundreds of discreet citizens, who treated

-all doubts concerning the appearance of the winged monster with as

-little toleration as do the good folks of the town of Salem the wicked

-unbelievers in the existence of the great sea serpent.”

-

-

-

-

-                             COBUS YERKS.

-

-

-Little Cobus Yerks—his name was Jacob, but being a Dutchman, if not a

-double Dutchman, it was rendered in English Cobus—little Cobus, I say,

-lived on the banks of Sawmill River, where it winds close under the

-brow of the Raven Rock, an enormous precipice jutting out of the side

-of the famous Buttermilk Hill, of which the reader has doubtless often

-heard. It was a rude, romantic spot, distant from the high road, which,

-however, could be seen winding up the hill about three miles off. His

-nearest neighbours were at the same distance, and he seldom saw company

-except at night, when the fox and the weasel sometimes beat up his

-quarters, and caused a horrible cackling among the poultry.

-

-One Tuesday, in the month of November, 1793, Cobus had gone in his

-wagon to the little market town on the river, from whence the boats

-plied weekly to New-York, with the produce of the neighbouring farmers.

-It was then a pestilent little place for running races, pitching

-quoits, and wrestling for gin slings; but I must do it the credit to

-say, that it is now a very orderly town, sober and quiet, save when

-Parson Mathias, who calls himself a son of thunder, is praying in

-secret, so as to be heard across the river. It so happened, that of

-all the days in the year, this was the very day a rumour had got into

-town, that I myself—the veritable writer of this true story—had been

-poisoned by a dish of Souchong tea, which was bought a great bargain

-of a pedler. There was not a stroke of work done in the village that

-day. The shoemaker abandoned his awl; the tailor his goose; the hatter

-his bowstring; and the forge of the blacksmith was cool from dawn till

-nightfall. Silent was the sonorous harmony of the big spinning wheel;

-silent the village song, and silent the fiddle of Master Timothy Canty,

-who passed his livelong time in playing tuneful measures, and catching

-bugs and butterflies. I must say something of Tim before I go on with

-my tale.

-

-Master Timothy was first seen in the village, one foggy morning, after

-a drizzling, warm, showery night, when he was detected in a garret, at

-the extremity of the suburbs; and it was the general supposition that

-he had rained down in company with a store of little toads that were

-seen hopping about, as is usual after a shower. Around his garret were

-disposed a number of unframed pictures, painted on glass, as in the

-olden time, representing the Four Seasons, the old King of Prussia, and

-Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in their sharp-pointed cocked hats; the

-fat, bald-pated Marquis of Granby, the beautiful Constantia Phillips,

-and divers others, not forgetting the renowned Kitty Fisher, who, I

-honestly confess, was my favourite among them all. The whole village

-poured into the garret to gaze at these chef d'œuvres; and it is my

-confirmed opinion, which I shall carry to the grave, that neither the

-gallery of Florence, Dresden, nor the Louvre, was ever visited by so

-many real amateurs. Besides the pictures, there were a great many other

-curiosities, at least curiosities to the simple villagers, who were

-always sure of being welcomed by Master Tim with a jest and a tune.

-

-Master Tim, as they came to call him when they got to be a little

-acquainted, was a rare fellow, such as seldom rains down anywhere, much

-less on a country village. He was of “merry England,” as they call

-it—lucus a non lucendo—at least so he said and I believe, although he

-belied his nativity, by being the merriest rogue in the world, even

-when the fog was at the thickest. In truth, he was ever in a good

-humour, unless it might be when a rare bug or gorgeous butterfly,

-that he had followed through thick and thin, escaped his net at last.

-Then, to be sure, he was apt to call the recreant all the “vagabonds”

-he could think of. He was a middle-sized man, whose person decreased

-regularly, from the crown of his head to the—I was going to say, sole

-of his foot—but it was only to the commencement of the foot, to speak

-by the card. The top of his head was broad and flat, and so was his

-forehead, which took up at least two thirds of his face, that tapered

-off suddenly to a chin, as sharp as the point of a triangle. His

-forehead was indeed a large field, diversified like the country into

-which he had rained down, with singular varieties of hill and dale,

-meadow and plough land, hedge and ditch, ravine and watercourse. It had

-as many points as a periwinkle. The brow projected exuberantly, though

-not heavily, over a pair of rascally little cross-firing, twinkling

-eyes, that, as the country people said, looked at least nine ways from

-Sunday. His teeth were white enough, but no two of them were fellows.

-But his head would have turned the brains of a phrenologist, in

-exploring the mysteries of its development; it was shaped somewhat like

-Stony Point—which everybody knows as the scene of a gallant exploit of

-Pennsylvanian Wayne—and had quite as many abruptnesses and quizzical

-protuberances to brag about. At the upper extremity of his forehead, as

-he assured us, he carried his money, in the shape of a piece of silver,

-three inches long and two wide, inserted there in consequence of a

-fracture he got by falling down a precipice in hot chase of a “vagabond

-of a beetle,” as he was pleased to call him. Descending towards terra

-firma, to wit, his feet, we find his body gradually diminishing to his

-legs, which were so thin, everybody wondered how they could carry the

-great head. But, like Captain Wattle, each had a foot at the end of

-it, full as large as the Black Dwarf. It is so long ago that I almost

-forget his costume. All I recollect is, that he never wore boots or

-pantaloons, but exhibited his spindles in all weathers in worsted

-stockings, and his feet in shoes, gorgeously caparisoned in a pair of

-square silver buckles, the only pieces of finery he ever displayed.

-

-In the merry months of spring and summer, and early in autumn, Master

-Timothy was most of his time chasing bugs and butterflies about the

-fields, to the utter confusion of the people, who wondered what

-he could want with such trumpery. Being a genius and an idler by

-profession, I used to accompany him frequently in these excursions, for

-he was fond of me, and called me vagabond oftener than he did anybody

-else. He had a little net of green gauze, so constructed as to open and

-shut as occasion required, to entrap the small fry, and a box with a

-cork bottom, upon which he impaled his prisoners with true scientific

-barbarity, by sticking a pin in them. Thus equipped, this Don Quixote

-of butterfly catchers, with myself his faithful esquire, would sally

-out of a morning into the clovered meadows and flower-dotted fields,

-over brook, through tangled copse and briery dell, in chase of these

-gentlemen commoners of nature. Ever and anon, as he came upon some

-little retired nook, where nature, like a modest virgin, shrouded her

-beauties from the common view—a rocky glen, romantic cottage, rustic

-bridge, or brawling stream, he would take out his little portfolio,

-and pointing me to some conspicuous station to animate his little

-landscape, sketch it and me together, with a mingled taste and skill

-I have never since seen surpassed. I figure in all his landscapes,

-although he often called me a vagabond, because he could not drill me

-into picturesque attitudes. But the finest sport for me, was to watch

-him creeping slily after a humming bird, the object of his most intense

-desires, half buried in the bliss of the dewy honeysuckle, and just

-as he was on the point of covering it with his net, to see the little

-vagrant flit away with a swiftness that made it invisible. It was an

-invaluable sight to behold Master Timothy stand wiping his continent of

-a forehead, and blessing the bird for a “little vagabond.” These were

-happy times, and at this moment I recall them, I hardly know why, with

-a melancholy yet pleasing delight.

-

-During the winter season, Master Timothy was usually employed in the

-daytime painting pleasure sleighs, which, at that period, it was the

-fashion among the farmers to have as fine as fiddles. Timothy was

-a desperate hand at a true lover's knot, a cipher, or a wreath of

-flowers; and as for a blazing sun! he painted one for the squire,

-that was seriously suspected of melting all the snow in ten leagues

-round. He would go ten or a dozen miles to paint a sleigh, and always

-carried his materials on a board upon the top of his head—it was before

-the invention of high-crowned hats. Destiny had decreed he should

-follow this trade, and nature had provided him a head on purpose.

-It was as flat as a pancake. In the long winter evenings it was his

-pleasure to sit by the fireside, and tell enormous stories to groups

-of horrorstruck listeners. I never knew a man that had been so often

-robbed on Hounslow Heath, or had seen so many ghosts in his day, as

-Master Tim Canty. Peace to his ashes! he is dead, and, if report is to

-be credited, is sometimes seen on moonlight nights in the churchyard,

-with his little green gauze net, chasing the ghosts of moths and

-beetles, as he was wont in past times.

-

-But it is high time to return to my story; for I candidly confess I

-never think of honest Tim that I don't grow as garrulous as an old

-lady, talking about the revolution and the Yagers. In all country

-villages I ever saw or heard of, whenever anything strange, new,

-horrible, or delightful happens, or is supposed to have happened, all

-the male inhabitants, not to say female, make for the tavern as fast

-as possible, to hear the news, or tell the news, and get at the bottom

-of the affair. I don't deny that truth is sometimes to be found at the

-bottom of a well; but in these cases she is generally found at the

-bottom of the glass. Be this as it may—when Cobus Yerks looked into

-the village inn, just to say How d'ye do to the landlady, he beheld a

-party of some ten or a dozen people, discussing the affair of my being

-poisoned with Souchong tea, which by this time had been extended to the

-whole family, not one of whom had been left alive by the bloody-minded

-damsel, Rumour.

-

-Cobus could not resist the fascination of these horrors. He edged

-himself in among them, and after a little while they were joined

-by Master Timothy, who, on hearing of the catastrophe of his old

-fellow-labourer in butterfly catching, had strode over a distance of

-two miles to our house to ascertain the truth of the story. He of

-course found it was a mistake, and had now returned with a nefarious

-design of frightening them all out of their wits by a story of more

-than modern horrors. By this time it was the dusk of the evening, and

-Cobus had a long way to travel before he could reach home. He had been

-so fascinated with the story, and the additions every moment furnished

-by various new comers, that he forgot the time till it began to grow

-quite dark; and then he was so horrorstruck at what he had heard,

-that he grew fast to his chair in the chimney corner, where he had

-intrenched himself. It was at this moment Master Timothy came in with

-the design aforesaid.

-

-The whole party gathered round him to know if the story of the

-poisoning was true. Tim shook his head, and the shaking of such a head

-was awful. “What! all the family?” cried they, with one voice. “Every

-soul of them,” cried Tim, in a hollow tone—“every soul of them, poor

-creatures; and not only they, but all the cattle, horses, pigs, ducks,

-chickens, cats, dogs, and guinea hens, are poisoned.” “What! with

-Souchong tea?” “No—with coloquintida.” Coloquintida! the very name was

-enough to poison a whole generation of Christian people. “But the black

-bulldog!” cried Timothy, in a sepulchral voice, that curdled the very

-marrow of their innermost bones. “What of the black bulldog?” quoth

-little Cobus. “Why, they do say that he came to life again after laying

-six hours stone dead, and ran away howling like a d—l incarnate.” “A

-d—l incarnate!” quoth Cobus, who knew no more about the meaning of that

-fell word than if it had been Greek. He only knew it was something

-very terrible. “Yes,” replied Timothy; “and what's more, I saw where

-he jumped over the barnyard gate, and there was the print of a cloven

-foot, as plain as the daylight this blessed minute.” It was as dark

-as pitch, but the comparison was considered proof positive. “A cloven

-foot!” quoth Cobus, who squeezed himself almost into the oven, while

-the thought of going home all alone in the dark, past the churchyard,

-the old grave at the cross roads, and, above all, the spot where John

-Ryer was hanged for shooting the sheriff, smote upon his heart, and

-beat it into a jelly—at least it shook like one. What if he should

-meet the big black dog, with his cloven foot, who howled like a d—l

-incarnate! The thought was enough to wither the heart of a stone.

-

-Cobus was a little, knock-kneed, broad-faced, and broad-shouldered

-Dutchman, who believed all things, past, present, and to come,

-concerning spooks, goblins, and fiends of all sorts and sizes, from a

-fairy to a giant. Tim Canty knew him of old, for he had once painted a

-sleigh for him, and frightened Cobus out of six nights' sleep, by the

-story of a man that he once saw murdered by a highwayman on Hounslow

-Heath. Tim followed up the story of the black dog with several others,

-each more appalling than the first, till he fairly lifted Cobus's

-wits off the hinges, aided as he was by certain huge draughts upon a

-pewter mug, with which the little man reinforced his courage at short

-intervals. He was a true disciple of the doctrine that spirit and

-courage, that is to say, whiskey and valour were synonymous.

-

-It now began to wax late in the evening, and the company departed, not

-one by one, but in pairs, to their respective homes. The landlady, a

-bitter root of a woman, and more than a match for half the men in the

-village, began to grow sleepy, as it was now no longer worth her while

-to keep awake. Gradually all became quiet within and without the house,

-except now and then the howling of a wandering cur, and the still more

-doleful moaning of the winds, accompanied by the hollow thumpings of

-the waves, as they dashed on the rocky shores of the river that ran

-hard by. Once, and once only, the cat mewed in the garret, and almost

-caused Cobus to jump out of his skin. The landlady began to complain

-that it grew late, and she was very sleepy; but Cobus would take no

-hints, manfully keeping his post in the chimney corner, till at last

-the good woman threatened to call up her two negroes, and have him

-turned neck and heels out of doors. For a moment the fear of the big

-black dog with the cloven foot was mastered by the fear of the two

-stout black men, and the spirit moved Cobus towards the door, lovingly

-hugging the stone jug, which he had taken care to have plentifully

-replenished with the creature. He sallied forth in those graceful

-curves, which are affirmed to constitute the true lines of beauty; and

-report says that he made a copious libation of the contents of the

-stone jug outside the door, ere the landlady, after assisting to untie

-his patient team, had tumbled him into his wagon. This was the last

-that was seen of Cobus Yerks.

-

-That night his faithful, though not very obedient little wife, whom

-he had wedded at Tappan, on the famous sea of that name, and who wore

-a cap trimmed with pink ribands when she went to church on Sundays,

-fell asleep in her chair, as she sat anxiously watching his return.

-About midnight she waked, but she saw not her beloved Cobus, nor heard

-his voice calling her to open the door. But she heard the raven, or

-something very like it, screaming from the Raven Rock, the foxes

-barking about the house, the wind whistling and moaning among the

-rocks and trees of the mountain side, and a terrible commotion among

-the poultry, Cobus having taken the great house-dog with him that

-day. Again she fell asleep, and waked not until the day was dawning.

-She opened the window, and looked forth upon as beautiful an autumnal

-morning as ever blessed this blessed country. The yellow sun threw a

-golden lustre over the many-tinted woods, painted by the cunning hand

-of Nature with a thousand varied dies; the smoke of the neighbouring

-farmhouses rose straight upward to heaven in the pure atmosphere, and

-the breath of the cattle mingled its warm vapour with the invisible

-clearness of the morning air. But what were all these beauties of

-delicious nature to the eye and the heart of the anxious wife, who saw

-that Cobus was not there?

-

-She went forth to the neighbours to know if they had seen him, and

-they good-naturedly sallied out to seek him on the road that led from

-the village to his home. But no traces of him could be found, and they

-were returning with bad news for his anxious wife, when they bethought

-themselves of turning into a byroad that led to a tavern, that used

-whilome to attract the affections of honest Cobus, and where he was

-sometimes wont to stop and wet his whistle.

-

-They had not gone far, when they began to perceive traces of the

-lost traveller. First his broad-brimmed hat, which he had inherited

-through divers generations, and which he always wore when he went to

-the village, lay grovelling in the dirt, crushed out of all goodly

-shape by the wheel of his wagon, which had passed over it. Next, they

-encountered the backboard of the wagon, ornamented with C. Y. in a true

-lover's knot, painted by Tim Canty, in his best style—and anon a little

-farther, a shoe, that was identified as having belonged to our hero,

-by having upward of three hundred hobnails in the sole, for he was a

-saving little fellow, though he would wet his whistle sometimes, in

-spite of all his wife and the minister could say. Proceeding about a

-hundred rods farther, to a sudden turn of the road, they encountered

-the wagon, or rather the fragments of it, scattered about and along

-in the highway, and the horses standing quietly against a fence, into

-which they had run the pole of the wagon.

-

-But what was become of the unfortunate driver, no one could discover.

-At length, after searching some time, they found him lying in a tuft

-of blackberry briars, amid the fragments of the stone jug, lifeless

-and motionless. His face was turned upward, and streaked with seams

-of blood; his clothes torn, bloody, and disfigured with dirt; and his

-pipe, that he carried in the buttonholes of his waistcoat, shivered all

-to naught. They made their way to the body, full of sad forebodings,

-and shook it, to see if any life remained. But it was all in vain—there

-seemed neither sense nor motion there. “Maybe, after all,” said one,

-“he is only in a swound—here is a little drop of the spirits left in

-the bottom of the jug—let us hold it to his nose, it may bring him to

-life.”

-

-The experiment was tried, and wonderful to tell, in a moment or

-two, Cobus, opening his eyes, and smacking his lips with peculiar

-satisfaction, exclaimed, “Some o' that, boys!” A little shaking brought

-him to himself, when being asked to give an account of the disaster of

-his wagon and his stone jug, he at first shook his head mysteriously,

-and demurred. Being, however taken to the neighbouring tavern, and

-comforted a little with divers refreshments, he was again pressed for

-his story, when, assuming a face of awful mystification, he began as

-follows:—

-

-“You must know,” said Cobus, “I started rather late from town, for I

-had been kept there by—by business; and because, you see, I was waiting

-for the moon to rise, that I might find my way home in the dark night.

-But it grew darker and darker, until you could not see your hand

-before your face, and at last I concluded to set out, considering I

-was as sober as a deacon, and my horses could see their way blindfold.

-I had not gone quite round the corner, where John Ryer was hung for

-shooting Sheriff Smith, when I heard somebody coming, pat, pat, pat,

-close behind my wagon. I looked back, but I could see nothing, it was

-so dark. By-and-by, I heard it again, louder and louder, and then

-I confess I began to be a little afeard. So I whipped up my horses

-a quarter of a mile or so, and then let them walk on. I listened,

-and pat, pat, pat, went the noise again. I began to be a good deal

-frightened, but considering it could be nothing at all, I thought I

-might as well take a small dram, as the night was rather chilly, and I

-began to tremble a little with the cold. I took but a drop, as I am a

-living sinner, and then went on quite gayly; but pat, pat, pat, went

-the footsteps ten times louder and faster than ever. And then! then

-I looked back, and saw a pair of saucer eyes just at the tail of my

-wagon, as big and as bright as the mouths of a fiery furnace, dancing

-up and down in the air like two stage lamps in a rough road.

-

-“By gosh, boys, but you may depend I was scared now! I took another

-little dram, and then made the whip fly about the ears of old Pepper

-and Billy, who cantered away at a wonderful rate, considering.

-Presently, bang! something heavy jumped into the wagon, as if heaven

-and earth were coming together. I looked over my shoulder, and the

-great burning eyes were within half a yard of my back. The creature

-was so close that I felt its breath blowing upon me, and it smelled

-for all one exactly like brimstone. I should have jumped out of the

-wagon, but, somehow or other, I could not stir, for I was bewitched

-as sure as you live. All I could do was to bang away upon Pepper and

-Billy, who rattled along at a great rate up hill and down, over the

-rough roads, so that if I had not been bewitched, I must have tumbled

-out to a certainty. When I came to the bridge, at old Mangham's, the

-black dog, for I could see something black and shaggy under the goggle

-eyes, all at once jumped up, and seated himself close by me on the

-bench, snatched the whip and reins out of my hands like lightning. Then

-looking me in the face, and nodding, he whispered something in my ear,

-and lashed away upon Pepper and Billy, till they seemed to fly through

-the air. From that time I began to lose my wits by degrees, till at

-last the smell of brimstone overpowered me, and I remember nothing

-till you found me this morning in the briars.”

-

-Here little Cobus concluded his story, which he repeated with several

-variations and additions to his wife, when he got home. That good

-woman, who, on most occasions, took the liberty of lecturing her

-good man, whenever he used to be belated in his excursions to the

-village, was so struck with this adventure, that she omitted her

-usual exhortation, and ever afterwards viewed him as one ennobled by

-supernatural communication, submitting to him as her veritable lord

-and master. Some people, who pretend to be so wise that they won't

-believe the evidence of their senses when it contradicts their reason,

-affected to be incredulous, and hinted that the goggle eyes, and the

-brimstone breath, appertained to Cobus Yerks's great house-dog, which

-had certainly followed him that day to the village, and was found

-quietly reposing by his master, in the tuft of briars. But Cobus was

-ever exceedingly wroth at this suggestion, and being a sturdy little

-brusier, had knocked down one or two of these unbelieving sinners, for

-venturing to assert that the contents of the stone jug were at the

-bottom of the whole business. After that, everybody believed it, and

-it is now for ever incorporated with the marvellous legends of the

-renowned Buttermilk Hill.

-

-

-

-

-A STRANGE BIRD

-

-IN

-

-NIEUW-AMSTERDAM.

-

-

-In the year of the building of the city (which in Latin is called

-_Anno Urba Conditur_) fifty-five, to wit, the year of our Lord 1678,

-there appeared a phenomenon in the street of Nieuw-Amsterdam called

-Garden-street. This was a youthful stranger, dressed in the outlandish

-garb of the English beyond the Varsche river, towards the east, where

-those interlopers have grievously trespassed on the territories of

-their high mightinesses, the states general. Now, be it known that this

-was the first stranger from foreign parts that ever showed himself in

-the streets of Nieuw-Amsterdam, which had never been before invaded

-in like manner. Whereat the good people were strangely perplexed and

-confounded, seeing they could by no means divine his business. The good

-yffrouws did gaze at him as he passed along by their stoops, and the

-idle boys followed him wheresoever he went, shouting and hallooing, to

-the great disturbance of the peaceable and orderly citizens, of whom it

-was once said that the barking of a cur disturbed the whole city.

-

-But the stranger took not the least heed of the boys or their

-hallooings, but passed straight onward, looking neither to the right

-nor to the left, which circumstance seemed exceedingly perplexing to

-the good yffrouws, seeing it savoured of having no curiosity to see or

-be seen, which to them appeared altogether out of nature. The stranger

-proceeded in a sort of rigmarole way, seeming little to care whither he

-went, all along by the Stadt Huys, the East and West Docks, the Bendeel

-or Battery, the Rondeels, and I can't tell where else. All the while he

-seemed to take no notice of anything, which everybody thought strange,

-since he appeared as if he had no other business than to see the city.

-

-In the course of his marvellous peregrinations, he at length came to

-the great building, which, being the only house of public resort, was

-called, by way of eminence, the City Tavern. Here he stopped all of

-a sudden, so abruptly, that little Brom, son of Alderman Botherwick,

-who was close at his heels, did run right upon his hinder parts, and

-almost knocked him down, before he could stop himself. Whereupon the

-stranger turned round and gave him a look, whether of menace or good

-will, was long after disputed by divers people that saw him. Be this

-as it may, the stranger, on seeing the tavern, nodded his head, and

-went straight up the steps into the bar-room, where he courteously

-saluted the landlord, good Mynheer Swighauser, by pulling off his hat,

-saying, at the same time, nothing; which mynheer thought rather mighty

-particular. He asked the interloping stranger what he would please

-to have; for he was a polite man enough, except to losel beggars,

-and that sort of vermin. The stranger hereupon said nothing, but

-addressed Mynheer Swighauser in a figurative style, which all landlords

-comprehend. He pulled out a purse, and showed him the money, at the

-sight of which mynheer made him a reverend bow, and ushered him into

-the Half Moon, so called from being ornamented with a gallant picture

-of the vessel of that name, in which good Master Hendrick Hudson did

-first adventure to the discovery of the Manhadoes. It was the best room

-in the house, and always reserved by Mynheer Swighauser for guests that

-carried full purses.

-

-Having so done, mynheer courteously asked the stranger what he would

-please to have for dinner, it being now past eleven o'clock, and the

-dinner hour nigh. Whereat the stranger looked hard at him, and said not

-a word. Mynheer thereupon raised his voice so loud, that he frightened

-divers tame pigeons, sitting on their coop in the yard, who rose into

-the air out of sight, and, it is affirmed, never returned again. The

-stranger answered not a word, as before.

-

-“_Wat donder is dat?_” exclaimed mynheer; “a man with such a full purse

-might venture to call for his dinner, I think.”

-

-However, when Mynheer Swighauser and his family sat down to their

-dinner at twelve o'clock, the stranger, without any ceremony, sat

-down with them, taking the chair from time immemorial appropriated

-to mynheer's youngest child, who was thereat so mortally offended,

-that she set up a great cry, and refused to eat any dinner. Yffrouw

-Swighauser looked hard and angry at the stranger, who continued to eat

-as if it were his last, saying nothing all the while, and paying no

-more heed to the little child than he did to the hallooing of the boys

-or mynheer's courteous interrogatories.

-

-When he had finished, he took up his hat, and went forth on a

-peregrination, from which he did not return until it was nigh dusk.

-Mynheer was in tribulation lest he should lose the price of his

-dinner, but the Yffrouw said she did not care if she never saw such a

-dumb noddy again. The stranger ate a huge supper in silence, smoked

-his pipe, and went to bed at eight o'clock, at which hour mynheer

-always shut up the front of his house, leaving the back door open

-to the roistering younkers, who came there to carouse every night,

-and play at all-fours. Soon after the stranger retired, there was

-heard a great noise in his room, which so excited the curiosity of

-Yffrouw Swighauser, that she took a landlady's liberty, and went and

-listened at the door. It proved only the stranger playing a concert

-with Morpheus, on the nasal trumpet, whereupon the yffrouw went away,

-exclaiming,

-

-“The splutterkin! he makes noise enough in his sleep, if he can't when

-he is awake.”

-

-That night the good city of Nieuw-Amsterdam was impestered with divers

-strange noises, grievous mishaps, and unaccountable appearances. The

-noises were such as those who heard them could not describe, and, for

-that reason, I hope the courteous reader will excuse me, if I say

-nothing more about them; the mishaps were of certain mysterious broken

-heads, black eyes, and sore bruises received, as was affirmed, from

-unknown assailants; and the mysterious appearances consisted in lights

-moving about, at midnight, in the Ladies' Valley, since called Maiden

-Lane, which might have passed for lightning bugs, only people that saw

-them said they were as big as jack-a-lanterns. Besides these, there

-were seen divers stars shooting about in the sky, and an old yffrouw,

-being called out after midnight on a special occasion, did certify that

-she saw two stars fighting with each other, and making the sparks fly

-at every blow. Other strange things happened on that memorable night,

-which alarmed the good citizens, and excited the vigilance of the

-magistrates.

-

-The next night, matters were still worse. The lights in the Ladies'

-Valley were larger and more numerous; the noises waxed more alarming

-and unaccountable; and the stranger, while he continued to act and

-say nothing all day, snored louder than ever. At length, Yffrouw

-Swighauser, being thereunto, as I suspect, instigated by a stomachful

-feeling, on account of the stranger's having got possession of her

-favourite's seat, and set her a crying, did prevail, by divers means,

-of which, thank Heaven, I have little experience, being a bachelor,

-to have her husband go and make a complaint against the stranger, as

-having some diabolical agency in these matters.

-

-“_Wat donner meen je_, wife?” quoth mynheer; “what have I to say

-against the man? He is a very civil, good sort of a body, and never

-makes any disturbance except in his sleep.”

-

-“Ay, there it is,” replied the yffrouw. “I never heard such a snore in

-all my life. Why, it's no more like yours than the grunt of a pig is to

-the roar of a lion. It's unnatural.”

-

-Mynheer did not like this comparison, and answered and said, “By St.

-Johannes de Dooper, whoever says I snore like a pig is no better than a

-goose.”

-

-The yffrouw had a point to gain, or mynheer Swighauser would have

-repented this rejoinder.

-

-“My duck-a-deary,” said she, “whoever says you don't snore like a

-fiddle has no more ear for music than a mole—I mean a squeaking

-fiddle,” quoth she, aside.

-

-Without further prosecuting this dialogue, let it suffice to say that

-the yffrouw at length wrought upon mynheer to present the stranger unto

-Alderman Schlepevalcker as a mysterious person, who came from—nobody

-knew where, for—nobody knew what; and for aught he knew to the

-contrary, was at the bottom of all the disturbances that had beset the

-good people of Nieuw-Amsterdam for the last two nights. Accordingly,

-the honest man went on his way to the Stadt Huys, where the excellent

-magistrate was taking his turn in presiding over the peace of the city

-of Nieuw-Amsterdam, and told all he knew, together with much more

-besides.

-

-During this communication, the worthy alderman exclaimed, from time to

-time, “Indeedaad!” “Onbegrypelyk!” “Goeden Hemel!” “Is het mogelyk!”

-“Vuur envlammen!” and finally dismissed Mynheer Swighauser, desiring

-him to watch the stranger, and come next day with the result of his

-observations. After which he went home to consult his pillow, which he

-considered worth all the law books in the world.

-

-The honest publican returned to the City Tavern, where he found supper

-all ready; and the stranger, sitting down as usual in the old place,

-ate a hearty meal without uttering one word. The yffrouw was out of all

-patience with him, seeing she never before had a guest in the house

-four-and-twenty hours, without knowing all about him. The upshot of the

-interview with the worthy magistrate being disclosed to the yffrouw, it

-was agreed in secret to set old Quashee, the black hostler, to watch

-the stranger; though the yffrouw told her husband he might as well set

-a wooden image to do it, for Quashee was the most notorious sleepyhead

-in all Nieuw-Amsterdam, not excepting himself.

-

-“Well, well,” quoth mynheer, “_men weet niet hoe een koe een haas

-vangan kan_;” which means, “There is no saying that a cow won't catch

-a hare,” and so the matter was settled.

-

-When the stranger retired to his room after supper, the old negro was

-accordingly stationed outside the door, with strict injunctions to keep

-himself awake, on pain of losing his Newyear present, and being shut up

-in the stable all Newyear's day. But it is recorded of Quashee, that

-the flesh was too strong for the spirit, though he had a noggin of

-genuine Holland to comfort him, and that he fell into a profound nap,

-which lasted till after sunrise next day, when he was found sitting

-bolt upright on a three-legged stool, with his little black stump of

-a pipe declining from the dexter corner of his mouth. Mynheer was

-exceeding wroth, and did accommodate old Quashee with such a hearty

-cuff on the side of his head, that he fell from the stool, and did

-incontinently roll down the stairs and so into the kitchen, where he

-was arrested by the great Dutch andirons. “_Een vervlockte jonge_,”

-exclaimed Mynheer Swighauser, “_men weet niet, hoe een dubbeltje rollen

-kan_”—in English, “There is no saying which way a sixpence will roll.”

-

-At breakfast, the stranger was for the first time missing from his

-meals, and this excited no small wonder in the family, which was

-marvellously aggravated, when, after knocking some time and receiving

-no answer, the door was opened, and the stranger found wanting.

-

-“_Is het mogelyk!_” exclaimed the yffrouw, and “_Wat blixen!_” cried

-mynheer. But their exclamations were speedily arrested by the arrival

-of the reverend schout, Master Roelif, as he was commonly called, who

-summoned them both forthwith to the Stadt Huys, at the command of his

-worship Alderman Schlepevalker.

-

-“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried mynheer; “what can his worship want of my

-wife now?”

-

-“Never mind,” replied the good yffrouw, “_het is goed visschen in

-troebel water_,” and so they followed Master Roelif to the Stadt House,

-according to the behest of Alderman Schlepevalker, as aforesaid.

-When they arrived there, whom should they see, in the middle of a

-great crowd in the hall of justice, but that “_vervlocte hond_,” the

-stranger, as the yffrouw was wont to call him, when he would not answer

-her questions.

-

-The stranger was standing with his hands tied behind, and apparently

-unconscious, or indifferent to what was going forward around him. It

-appears he had been detected very early in the morning in a remote

-part of the King's Farm, as it was afterwards called, but which was

-then a great forest full of rabbits and other game, standing over the

-dead body of a man, whose name and person were equally unknown, no one

-recollecting ever to have seen him before. On being interrogated on

-the subject, he had not only declined answering, but affected to take

-not the least heed of what they said to him. Under these suspicious

-circumstances he was brought before the magistrate, charged with the

-murder of the unknown person, whose body was also produced in proof of

-the fact. No marks of violence were found on the body, but all agreed

-that the man was dead, and that there must have been some cause for his

-death. The vulgar are ever prone to suspicions, and albeit, are so fond

-of seeing a man hanged, that they care little to inquire whether he is

-guilty or not.

-

-The worthy alderman, after ordering Master Roelif to call the people to

-order, proceeded to interrogate the prisoner as followeth:—

-

-“What is thy name?”

-

-The stranger took not the least notice of him.

-

-“What is thy name, _ben je bedonnered_?” repeated the worthy

-magistrate, in a loud voice, and somewhat of a violent gesture of

-impatience.

-

-The stranger looked him in the face and nodded his head.

-

-“_Wat donner is dat?_” cried the magistrate.

-

-The stranger nodded as before.

-

-“_Wat donner meen je?_”

-

-Another nod. The worthy magistrate began, as it were, to wax wroth,

-and demanded of the prisoner whence he came; but he had relapsed into

-his usual indifference, and paid not the least attention, as before.

-Whereupon the angry alderman committed him for trial, on the day but

-one following, as the witnesses were all on the spot, and the prisoner

-contumacious. In the interim, the body of the dead man had been

-examined by the only two doctors of Nieuw-Amsterdam, Mynheer Van Dosum

-and Mynheer Vander Cureum, who being rival practitioners, of course

-differed entirely on the matter. Mynheer Van Dosum decided that the

-unknown died by the hand of man, and Mynheer Vander Cureum, by the hand

-of his Maker.

-

-When the cause came to be tried, the stranger, as before, replied to

-all questions, either by taking not the least notice, or nodding his

-head. The worthy magistrate hereupon was sorely puzzled, whether this

-ought to be construed into pleading guilty or not pleading at all. In

-the former case his course was quite clear; in the latter, he did not

-exactly know which way to steer his doubts. But fortunately having

-no lawyers to confound him, he finally decided, after consulting

-the ceiling of the courtroom, that as it was so easy for a man to

-say not guilty, the omission or refusal to say it was tantamount to

-a confession of guilt. Accordingly he condemned the prisoner to be

-hanged, in spite of the declaration of Doctor Vander Cureum, that the

-murdered man died of apoplexy.

-

-The prisoner received the sentence, and was conducted to prison without

-saying a word in his defence, and without discovering the least

-emotion on the occasion. He merely looked wistfully, first on the

-worthy magistrate, then on his bonds, and then at Master Roelif, who,

-according to the custom of such losel varlets in office, rudely pushed

-him out of the court and dragged him to prison.

-

-On the fourteenth day after his condemnation, it being considered that

-sufficient time had been allowed him to repent of his sins, the poor

-stranger was brought forth to execution. He was accompanied by the

-good dominie, who had prepared his last dying speech and confession,

-and certified that he died a repentant sinner. His face was pale and

-sad, and his whole appearance bespoke weakness and suffering. He still

-persisted in his obstinate silence, and seemed unconscious of what was

-going forward; whether from indifference or despair, it was impossible

-to decide. When placed on a coffin in the cart, and driven under the

-gallows, he seemed for a moment to be aware of his situation, and the

-bitter tears coursed one by one down his pallid cheeks. But he remained

-silent as before; and when the rope was tied round his neck, only

-looked wistfully with a sort of innocent wonder in the face of the

-executioner.

-

-All being now ready, and the gaping crowd on the tiptoe of expectation,

-the dominie sang a devout hymn, and shaking hands for the last time

-with the poor stranger, descended from the cart. The bell tolled the

-signal for launching him into the illimitable ocean of eternity, when,

-all at once, its dismal moanings were, as it were, hushed into silence

-by the piercing shrieks of a female which seemed approaching from a

-distance. Anon a voice was heard crying out, “Stop, stop, for the love

-of Heaven stop; he is innocent!”

-

-The crowd opened, and a woman of good appearance, seemingly about

-forty-five years old, rushed forward, and throwing herself at the feet

-of the worthy alderman, whose duty it was to preside at the execution

-and maintain due order among the crowd, cried out aloud,

-

-“Spare him, he is my son—he is innocent!“

-

-“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried the magistrate, “_he is een verdoemde

-schurk_, and has confessed his crime by not denying it.”

-

-“He cannot confess or deny it—he was born deaf and dumb!”

-

-“_Goeden Hemel!_” exclaimed Alderman Schlepevalcker; “that accounts for

-his not pleading guilty or not guilty. But art thou sure of it, good

-woman?”

-

-“Sure of it! Did not I give him birth, and did I not watch like one

-hanging over the deathbed of an only child, year after year, to catch

-some token that he could hear what I said? Did I not try and try, day

-after day, month after month, year after year, to teach him only to

-name the name of mother? and when at last I lost all hope that I should

-ever hear the sound of his voice, did I not still bless Heaven that I

-was not childless, though my son could not call me mother?”

-

-“_Het is jammer!_” exclaimed the worthy magistrate, wiping his eyes.

-“But still a dumb man may kill another, for all this. What have you to

-say against that?”

-

-At this moment the poor speechless youth recognised his mother,

-and uttering a strange inarticulate scream, burst away from the

-executioner, leaped from the cart, and throwing himself on her bosom,

-sobbed as if his heart was breaking. The mother pressed him to her

-heart in silent agony, and the absence of words only added to the deep

-pathos of the meeting.

-

-Alderman Schlepevalcker was sorely puzzled as well as affected on this

-occasion, and after wiping his eyes, addressed the weeping mother.

-

-“How came thy son hither?”

-

-“He is accustomed to ramble about the country, sometimes all day,

-alone; and one day having strayed farther than usual, lost his way,

-and being unable to ask any information, wandered we knew not whither,

-until a neighbour told us a rumour of a poor youth, who was about to be

-executed at Nieuw-Amsterdam for refusing to answer questions. I thought

-it might be my son, and came in time, I hope, to save him.”

-

-“Why did not thy husband come with thee?”

-

-“He is dead.”

-

-“And thy father?”

-

-“He died when I was a child.”

-

-“And thy other relatives?”

-

-“I have none but him,” pointing to the dumb youth.

-

-“_Het is jammer!_ but how will he get rid of the charge of this foul

-murder?”

-

-“I will question him,” said the mother, who now made various signs,

-which were replied to by the youth in the same way.

-

-“What does he say?” asked the worthy magistrate.

-

-“He says that he went forth early in the morning of the day; he was

-found standing over the dead body, as soon as the gate was opened to

-admit the country people, where he saw the dead man lying under a tree,

-and was seized while thus occupied. He knows nothing more.”

-

-“_Onbegrypelik!_ how can you understand all this?”

-

-“Oh, sir, I have been used to study every look and action of his life

-since he was a child, and can comprehend his inmost thoughts.”

-

-“_Goeden Hemel!_ is all this true? but he must go back to prison, while

-I wait on the governor to solicit his pardon. Wilt thou accompany him?”

-

-“Oh yes!—but no. I will go with thee to the governor. He will not deny

-the petition of a mother for the life of her only child.”

-

-Accordingly, the worthy magistrate calling on Doctor Vander Cureum on

-his way, proceeded to the governor's house, accompanied by the mother

-of the youth, who repeated what he had told her by signs. The doctor

-also again certified, in the most positive manner, that the supposed

-murdered man had died of apoplexy, brought on, as he supposed, by

-excessive drinking; and the good governor, moved by the benevolence of

-his heart, did thereupon grant the poor youth an unconditional pardon.

-He was rewarded by the tears, the thanks, and the blessings of the now

-happy mother.

-

-“Where dost thou abide?” asked the governor. “If it is at a distance,

-I will send some one to protect thee.”

-

-“My home is beyond the fresh water river.”

-

-“_Wat blikslager!_ thou belongest to the Splutterkins, who—but no

-matter, thou shalt have protection in thy journey home.“ The governor,

-being somewhat of a conscientious man, instead of swearing by the

-lightning, did piously asseverate by the tinman.

-

-The young man was forthwith released, to the unutterable joy of the

-mother, and the infinite content of the Yffrouw Swighauser, who, now

-that she knew the cause of his silence, forgave him with all her heart.

-The next day the mother and son departed towards home, accompanied by

-an escort provided by the good governor, the commander of which carried

-a stout defiance to the Yankees; and the last words of that upright and

-excellent magistrate, Alderman Schlepevalcker, as he looked kindly at

-the youth, were,

-

-”_Het is jammer_—it is a pity.”

-

-

-

-

-                      CLAAS SCHLASCHENSCHLINGER.

-

-

-Thrice blessed St. Nicholas! may thy memory and thine honours endure

-for ever and a day! It is true that certain arch calumniators, such as

-Romish priests, and the like, have claimed thee as a Catholic saint,

-affirming, with unparalleled insolence, that ever since the pestilent

-heresy of the illustrious John Calvin, there hath not been so much as

-a single saint in the Reformed Dutch Church. But beshrew these keepers

-of fasts, and other abominations, the truth is not, never was, nor ever

-will be in their mouths, or their hearts! Doth not everybody know that

-the blessed St. Nicholas was of the Reformed Dutch Church, and that the

-cunning Romanists did incontinently filch him from us to keep their

-own calendar in countenance? The splutterkins! But I will restrain the

-outpourings of my wrath, and contenting myself with having proved that

-the good saint was of the true faith, proceed with my story, which

-is of undoubted authority, since I had it from a descendant of Claas

-Schlaschenschlinger himself, who lives in great honour and glory at the

-Waalboght on Long Island, and is moreover a justice of the peace and

-deacon of the church.

-

-Nicholas, or, according to the true orthography, Claas

-Schlaschenschlinger, was of a respectable parentage, being born

-at Saardam, in our good faderland, where his ancestors had been

-proprietors of the greatest windmill in all the country round, ever

-since the period when that bloody tyrant, Philip of Spain, was driven

-from the Low Countries the invincible valour of the Dutch, under the

-good Prince of Orange. It is said in a certain credible tradition, that

-one of the family had done a good turn to the worshipful St. Nicholas,

-in secreting him from the persecutions of the Romanists, who now,

-forsooth, claim him to themselves! and that ever afterwards the saint

-took special interest and cognizance in their affairs.

-

-While at Saardam, little Claas, who was the youngest of a goodly family

-of seventeen children, was observed to be a great favourite of St.

-Nicholas, whose namesake he was, who always brought him a cake or two

-extra at his Christmas visits, and otherwise distinguished him above

-his brothers and sisters; whereat they were not a little jealous, and

-did sometimes slyly abstract some of the little rogue's benefactions,

-converting them to their own comfort and recreation.

-

-In the process of time, Claas grew to be a stout lad, and withal a

-little wild, as he did sometimes neglect the great windmill, the which

-he had charge of in turn with the rest of his brothers, whereby it

-more than once came to serious damage. Upon these occasions, the worthy

-father, who had a reverend care of the morals of his children, was

-accustomed to give him the bastinado; but as Claas wore a competent

-outfit of breeches, he did not much mind it, not he; only it made him a

-little angry, for he was a boy of great spirit. About the time, I say,

-that Claas had arrived at the years of two or three and twenty, and was

-considered a stout boy for his age, there was great talk of settling

-a colony at the Manhadoes, which the famous Heinrick Hudson had

-discovered long years before. Many people of good name and substance

-were preparing to emigrate there, seeing it was described as a land

-flowing with milk and honey—that is to say, abounding in shad and

-herrings—and affording mighty bargains of beaver and other skins.

-

-Now Claas began to cherish an earnest longing to visit these parts, for

-he was tired of tending the windmill, and besides he had a natural love

-for marshes and creeks, and being a shrewd lad, concluded that there

-must be plenty of these where beavers and such like abounded. But his

-father and the Vrouw Schlaschenschlinger did eschew and anathematize

-this notion of Claas's, and placed him apprentice to an eminent

-shoemaker, to learn that useful art and mystery. Claas considered it

-derogatory to the son of the proprietor of the greatest windmill in all

-Saardam to carry the lapstone, and wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, or

-some such thing. But his father told him in so many words, that there

-were more lawyers than clients in the town already, and that a good

-cobbler saved more people from being sick, than all the doctors cured.

-So Claas became apprentice to the shoemaking business, and served out

-his time, after which he got to be his own master, and determined to

-put in practice his design of visiting the Manhadoes, of which he had

-never lost sight.

-

-After much ado, Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger, and the good vrouw,

-consented unwillingly to let him follow the bent of his inclinations,

-and accordingly all things were got ready for his departure for the

-New World, in company with a party which was going out under that

-renowned Lord Michael Paauw, who was proceeding to settle his domain

-of Pavonia, which lieth directly opposite to New-Amsterdam. Mynheer

-Schlaschenschlinger fitted out his son nobly, and becoming the owner

-of the largest windmill in all Saardam, equipping him with awls, and

-knives, and wax, and thread, together with a bench, and a goodly

-lapstone, considering in his own mind that the great scarcity of stones

-in Holland might, peradventure, extend to the Manhadoes. Now all being

-prepared, it was settled that Claas should depart on the next day but

-one, the next being St. Nicholas his day, and a great festival among

-the people of Holland.

-

-According to custom, ever since the days of the blessed saint, they had

-a plentiful supper of waffles and chocolate—that pestilent beverage

-tea not having yet come into fashion—and sat up talking of Claas, his

-adventures, and what he would see and hear in the Manhadoes, till it

-was almost nine o'clock. Upon this, mynheer ordered them all to bed,

-being scandalized at such unseasonable hours. In the morning when Claas

-got up, and went to put on his stocking, he felt something hard at the

-toe, and turning it inside out, there fell on the floor the bowl of a

-pipe of the genuine _Meershaum_, which seemed to have been used beyond

-memory since its polish was a thousand times more soft and delightsome

-than ivory or tortoise shell, and its lustre past all price. Would that

-the blessed saint would bestow such a one on me!

-

-Claas was delighted; he kissed it as if he had been an idolatrous

-Romanist—which, by the blessing of Saint Nicholas, he was not—and

-bestowing it in the bottom of his strong oaken chest, resolved like

-unto a prudent Dutchman, never to use it for fear of accidents. In a

-few hours afterwards, he parted from his parents, his family, and his

-home; his father gave him a history of the bloody wars and persecutions

-of Philip of Spain; a small purse of guilders, and abundance of advice

-for the government of his future life; but his mother gave him what

-was more precious than all these—her tears, her blessing, and a little

-Dutch Bible with silver clasps. Bibles were not so plenty then as

-they are now, and were considered as the greatest treasures of the

-household. His brothers and sisters took an affectionate farewell of

-him, and asked his pardon for stealing his Newyear cookies. So Claas

-kissed his mother, promising, if it pleased Heaven, to send her stores

-of herrings and beaver skins, whereat she was marvellously comforted;

-and he went on his way, as it were sorrowfully rejoicing.

-

-I shall pass over the journey, and the voyage to the Manhadoes, saving

-the relation of a curious matter that occurred after the ship had

-been about ninety days at sea, and they were supposed to be well on

-their way to the port of New-Amsterdam. It came into the heads of

-the passengers to while away the time as they were lying to one day

-with the sails all furled, except one or two, which I name not, for

-a special reason, contrary to the practice of most writers—namely,

-because I am ignorant thereof—having the sails thus furled, I say, on

-account of certain suspicious-looking clouds, the which the captain,

-who kept a bright lookout day and night, had seen hovering overhead,

-with no good intentions, it came into the noddles of divers of the

-passengers to pass the time by opening their chests, and comparing

-their respective outfits, for they were an honest set of people, and

-not afraid of being robbed.

-

-When Claas showed his lapstone, most of the company, on being told the

-reasons for bringing it such a long distance, held up their hands,

-and admired the foresight of his father, considering him an exceeding

-prudent and wise man to think of such matters. Some of them wanted to

-buy it on speculation, but Claas was too well acquainted with its

-value to set a price on it. While they were thus chaffering, an old

-sailor, who had accompanied the renowned Heinrick Hudson as cabin boy,

-in his first voyage to the Manhadoes, happening to come by and hear

-them, swore a great Dutch oath, and called Claas a splutterkin for

-bringing stones all the way from Holland, saying that there were enough

-at the Manhadoes to furnish lapstones for the whole universe. Whereupon

-Claas thought to himself, “What a fine country it must be, where stones

-are so plenty.”

-

-In process of time, as all things, and especially voyagings by

-sea, have an end, the vessel came in sight of the highlands of

-Neversink—vulgarly called by would-be learned writers, Navesink—and

-Claas and the rest, who had never seen such vast mountains before, did

-think that it was a wall, built up from the earth to the sky, and that

-there was no world beyond.

-

-Favoured by a fine south wind, whose balmy freshness had awakened the

-young spring into early life and beauty, they shot like an arrow from

-a bow through the Narrows, and sailing along the heights of Staaten

-Island, came in sight of the illustrious city of New-Amsterdam, which,

-though at that period containing but a few hundred people, I shall

-venture to predict, in some future time, may actually number its tens

-of thousands.

-

-Truly it was a beautiful city, and a beautiful sight as might be

-seen of a spring morning. As they came through Buttermilk Channel,

-they beheld with delighted astonishment the fort, the church, the

-governor's house, the great dock jutting out into the salt river, the

-Stadt Huys, the rondeel, and a goodly assemblage of houses, with the

-gable ends to the street, as before the villanous introduction of new

-fashions, and at the extremity of the city, the gate and wall, from

-whence Wall-street deriveth its name. But what above all gloriously

-delighted Claas, was a great windmill, towering in the air, and

-spreading its vast wings on the rising ground along the Broadway,

-between Liberty and Courtlandt streets, the which reminded him of home

-and his parents. The prospect rejoiced them all mightily, for they

-thought to themselves, “We have come to a little Holland far over the

-sea.”

-

-So far as I know, it was somewhere about the year of our Lord one

-thousand six hundred and sixty, or thereabout, and in the month of

-May, that Claas landed in the New World; but of the precise day of

-the month I cannot be certain, seeing what confusion of dates hath

-been caused by that idolatrous device of Pope Gregory, called the New

-Style, whereby events that really happened in one year are falsely

-put down to another, by which means history becomes naught. The first

-thing he thought of, was to provide himself a home, for be it known

-it was not then the fashion to live in taverns and boarding houses,

-and the man who thus demeaned himself was considered no better than

-he should be; nobody would trust or employ him, and he might consider

-it a special bounty of the good St. Nicholas, if he escaped a ride

-on the wooden horse provided for the punishment of delinquents. So

-Claas looked out for a pleasant place whereon to pitch his tent. As he

-walked forth for this end, his bowels yearned exceedingly for a lot on

-the Broad-street, through which ran a delightful creek, crooked like

-unto a ram's horn, the sides of which were low, and, as it were, juicy

-with the salt water which did sometimes overflow them at spring tides,

-and the full of the moon. More especially the ferry house, with its

-never to be forgotten weathercock, did incite him sorely to come and

-set himself down thereabout. But he was deterred by the high price of

-lots in that favoured region, seeing they asked him as much as five

-guilders for the one at the corner of the Broad and Wall streets, a

-most unheard-of price, and not to be thought of by a prudent man like

-Claas Schlaschenschlinger.

-

-So he sought about elsewhere, though he often looked wistfully at the

-fair meads of the Broad-street, and nothing deterred him from ruining

-himself by gratifying his longings, but the truly excellent expedient

-of counting his money, which I recommend to all honest people, before

-they make a bargain. But though he could not settle in Broad-street,

-he resolved in his mind to get as nigh as possible, and finding a

-lot with a little puddle of brackish water in it large enough for a

-goose pond, nigh unto the wall and gate of the city, and just at the

-head of what hath lately been called Newstreet—then the region of

-unsettled lands—he procured a grant thereof from the schout, scheepens,

-and burgomasters, who then ruled the city, for five stivers, being

-the amount of fees for writing and recording the deed by the Geheim

-Schryver.

-

-Having built himself a comfortable house, with a little stoop to it,

-he purchased a pair of geese, or, to be correct and particular, as

-becometh a conscientious historian, a goose and gander, that he might

-recreate himself with their gambols in the salt puddle, and quietly sat

-himself down to the making and mending of shoes. In this he prospered

-at first indifferently well, and thereafter mightily, when the people

-found that he made shoes, some of which were reported never to wear

-out; but this was, as it were, but a sort of figure of speech to

-express their excellent qualities.

-

-Every Sunday, after church, in pleasant weather, Claas, instead of

-putting off his Sunday suit, as was the wont of the times, used to

-go and take a walk in the Ladies' Valley, since called Maiden Lane,

-for everything has changed under those arch intruders, the English,

-who, I believe, in their hearts, are half Papists. This valley was

-an exceeding cool, retired, and pleasant place, being bordered by a

-wood, in the which was plenty of pinkster blossoms in the season.

-Being a likely young fellow, and dressed in a goodly array of breeches

-and what not, he was much noticed, and many a little damsel cast a

-sheep's eye upon him as he sat smoking his pipe of a summer afternoon

-under the shade of the trees which grew plentifully in that quarter.

-I don't know how it was, but so it happened, that in process of time

-he made acquaintance with one of these, a buxom creature of rare and

-unmatchable lineaments and dimensions, insomuch that she was considered

-the beauty of New-Amsterdam, and had refused even the burgomaster,

-Barendt Roeloffsen, who was taxed three guilders, being the richest

-man of the city. But Aintjie was not to be bought with gold; she loved

-Claas because he was a solid young fellow, who plucked for her the most

-beautiful pinkster blossoms, and was the most pleasant companion in the

-world, for a ramble in the Ladies' Valley.

-

-Report says, but I believe there was no great truth in the story,

-that they sometimes QUEESTED[1] together, but of that I profess

-myself doubtful. Certain it is, however, that in good time they were

-married, to the great content of both, and the great discontent of the

-burgomaster, Barendt Roeloffsen.

-

-  [1] This word is untranslatable.

-

-In those days young people did not marry to set up a coach, live in

-fine houses filled with rich furniture, for which they had no use,

-and become bankrupt in a few years. They began in a small way, and

-increased their comforts with their means. It was thus with Claas and

-his wife, who were always employed in some useful business, and never

-ran into extravagance, except it may be on holydays. In particular

-Claas always feasted lustily on St. Nicholas his day, because, he was

-his patron saint, and he remembered his kindness in faderland.

-

-Thus they went on prospering as folks always do that are industrious

-and prudent, every year laying up money, and every year increasing

-their family; for be it known, those who are of the true Dutch blood,

-always apportion the number of children to the means of providing for

-them. They never are caught having children for other people to take

-care of. But be this as it may, about this time began the mischievous

-and oppressive practice of improving the city, draining the marshes,

-cutting down hills, and straightening streets, which hath since grown

-to great enormity in this city, insomuch that a man may be said to be

-actually impoverished by his property.

-

-Barendt Roeloffsen, who was at the head of the reformers, having a

-great estate in vacant lands, which he wanted to make productive at the

-expense of his neighbours—Barendt Roeloffsen, I say, bestirred himself

-lustily to bring about what he called, in outlandish English, the era

-of improvement, and forthwith looked around to see where he should

-begin. I have always believed, and so did the people at that time, that

-Barendt singled out Claas his goose pond for the first experiment,

-being thereunto impelled by an old grudge against Claas, on account of

-his having cut him out with the damsel he wished to marry, as before

-related.

-

-But, however, Barendt Roeloffsen, who bore a great sway among the

-burgomasters, on account of his riches, got a law passed, by hook or by

-crook, for draining Claas his pond, at his own expense, making him pay

-at the same time for the rise in the value of his property, of which

-they did not permit him to be the judge, but took upon themselves to

-say what it was. The ancestors of Claas had fought valiantly against

-Philip of Spain, in defence of their religion and liberty, and he had

-kept up his detestation of oppression by frequently reading the account

-of the cruelties committed in the Low Countries by the Spaniard, in

-the book which his father had given him on his departure from home.

-Besides, he had a great admiration, I might almost say affection, for

-his goose pond, as is becoming in every true Dutchman. In it he was

-accustomed to see, with singular delight, his geese, now increased to a

-goodly flock, sailing about majestically, flapping their wings, dipping

-their necks into the water, and making a noise exceedingly tuneful and

-melodious. Here, too, his little children were wont to paddle in the

-summer days, up to their knees in the water, to their great contentment

-as well as recreation, thereby strengthening themselves exceedingly.

-Such being the case, Claas resisted the behest of the burgomasters,

-declaring that he would appeal to the laws for redress if they

-persisted in trespassing on his premises. But what can a man get by the

-law at any time, much less when the defendant, as in this case, was

-judge as well as a party in the business? After losing a vast deal of

-time, which was as money to him, and spending a good portion of what he

-had saved for his children, Claas was at length cast in his suit, and

-the downfall of his goose pond irrevocably decreed.

-

-It was a long time before he recovered this blow, and when he

-did, Fortune, as if determined to persevere in her ill offices,

-sent a blacksmith from Holland, who brought over with him the new

-and diabolical invention of hobnails, the which he so strenuously

-recommended to the foolish people, who are prone to run after

-novelties, that they, one and all, had their shoes stuck full of

-nails, whereby they did clatter about the streets like unto a horse

-newly shod. As might be expected, the business of shoemaking decreased

-mightily upon this, insomuch that the shoes might be said to last for

-ever; and I myself have seen a pair that have descended through three

-generations, the nails of which shone like unto silver sixpences. Some

-people supposed this was a plot of Barendt Roeloffsen, to complete

-the ruin of poor Claas; but whether it was or not, it is certain that

-such was the falling off in his trade, on account of the pestilent

-introduction of hobnails, that, at the end of the year, Claas found

-that he had gone down hill at a great rate. The next year it was still

-worse, and thus, in the course of a few more, from bad to worse, he at

-last found himself without the means of support for himself, his wife,

-and his little children. But what shows the goodness of Providence, it

-is worthy of record, that from this time his family, miraculously as

-it were, ceased to increase.

-

-Neither begging nor running in debt without the prospect of paying

-was in fashion in those days, nor were there any societies to invite

-people to idleness and improvidence by the certainty of being relieved

-from their consequences without the trouble of asking. Claas tried

-what labouring day and night would do, but there was no use in making

-shoes when there was nobody to buy them. His good wife tried the

-magic of saving; but where there is nothing left to save, economy is

-to little purpose. He tried to get into some other business, but the

-wrath of Barendt Roeloffsen was upon him, and the whole influence of

-the burgomasters stood in his way on account of the opposition he had

-made to the march of improvement. He then offered his house and lot for

-sale; but here again his old enemy Barendt put a spoke in his wheel,

-going about among the people and insinuating that as Claas had paid

-nothing for his lot, the title was good for nothing. So one by one he

-tried all ways to keep want from his door; but it came at last, and one

-Newyear's eve, in the year of our Lord—I don't know what, the family

-was hovering round a miserable fire, not only without the customary

-means of enjoying the festivity of the season, but destitute of the

-very necessaries of life.

-

-The evening was cold and raw, and the heavy moanings of a keen

-northeast wind announced the approach of a snow storm. The little

-children cowered over the almost expiring embers, shivering with cold

-and hunger; the old cat lay half buried in the ashes to keep herself

-warm; and the poor father and mother now looked at the little flock of

-ragged—no, not ragged—the mother took care of that; and industry can

-always ward off rags and dirt. But though not ragged or dirty, they

-were miserably clad and worse fed; and as the parents looked first at

-them and then at each other, the tears gathered in their eyes until

-they ran over.

-

-“We must sell the silver clasps of the Bible my mother gave me, wife,”

-said Claas, at last.

-

-“The Goodness forbid,” said she; “we should never prosper after it.”

-

-“We can't prosper worse than we do now, Aintjie.”

-

-“You had better sell the little book about the murders of the

-Spaniards, that you sometimes read to me.”

-

-“It has no silver clasps, and will bring nothing,” replied Claas,

-despondingly, covering his face with his hand, and seeming to think for

-a few moments. All at once he withdrew his hand, and cried,

-

-“The pipe! the meershaum pipe! it is worth a hundred guilders!” and he

-ran to the place where he had kept it so carefully that he never used

-it once in the whole time he had it in his possession.

-

-He looked at it wistfully, and it brought to his mind the time he

-found it in his stocking. He thought of his parents, his brothers, his

-sisters, and old faderland, and wished he had never parted from them

-to visit the New World. His wife saw what was passing in his heart, and

-said,

-

-“Never mind, dear Claas, with these hundred guilders we shall get on

-again by the blessing of the good St. Nicholas, whose namesake you are.”

-

-Claas shook his head, and looked at the meershaum, which he could

-not bear to part with, because, somehow or other, he could not help

-thinking it was the gift of St. Nicholas. The wind now freshened, and

-moaned more loudly than ever, and the snow began to come in through

-the crevices of the door and windows. The cold increased apace, and

-the last spark of fire was expiring in the chimney. There was darkness

-without and within, for the candle, the last they had, was just going

-out.

-

-Claas, without knowing what he was doing, rubbed the pipe against his

-sleeve, as it were mechanically.

-

-He had scarcely commenced rubbing, when the door suddenly opened, and

-without more ado, a little man, with a right ruddy good-humoured face,

-as round as an apple, and a cocked beaver, white with snow, walked in,

-without so much as saying, “By your leave,” and sitting himself by the

-side of the yffrouw, began to blow at the fire, and make as if he was

-warming his fingers, though there was no fire there, for that matter.

-

-Now Claas was a good-natured fellow, and though he had nothing to give,

-except a welcome, which is always in the power of everybody, yet he

-wished to himself he had more fire to warm people's fingers. After

-a few moments, the little man rubbed his hands together, and looking

-around him, with a good-humoured smile, said,

-

-“Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger, methinks it might not be amiss to

-replenish this fire a little; 'tis a bitter cold night, and my fingers

-are almost frostbitten.”

-

-“Alack, mynheer,” quoth Claas, “I would, with all my heart, but I have

-nothing wherewith to warm myself and my children, unless I set fire to

-my own house. I am sorry I cannot entertain thee better.”

-

-Upon this the little man broke the cane with which he walked into two

-pieces, which he threw in the chimney, and thereupon the fire began to

-blaze so cheerfully that they could see their shadows on the wall, and

-the old cat jumped out of the ashes, with her coat well singed, which

-made the little jolly fellow laugh heartily.

-

-The sticks burnt and burnt, without going out, and they were soon all

-as warm and comfortable as could be. Then the little man said,

-

-“Friend Claas, methinks it would not be much amiss if the good vrouw

-here would bestir herself to get something to eat. I have had no dinner

-to-day, and come hither on purpose to make merry with thee. Knowest

-thou not that this is Newyear's eve?”

-

-“Alack!” replied Claas, “I know it full well; but we have not

-wherewithal to keep away hunger, much less to make merry with. Thou

-art welcome to all we have, and that is nothing.”

-

-“Come, come, Friend Claas, thou art a prudent man, I know, but I never

-thought thou wert stingy before. Bestir thyself, good Aintjie, and see

-what thou canst find in that cupboard. I warrant there is plenty of

-good fare in it.”

-

-The worthy yffrouw looked rather foolish at this proposal, for she knew

-she would find nothing there if she went; but the little man threatened

-her, in a good-humoured way, to break the long pipe he carried stuck in

-his cocked hat, over her nightcap, if she didn't do as he bid her. So

-she went to the cupboard, resolved to bring him out the empty pewter

-dishes, to show they had nothing to give him. But when she opened the

-cupboard, she started back, and cried out aloud, so that Claas ran to

-see what was the matter; and what was his astonishment to find the

-cupboard full of all sorts of good things for a notable jollification.

-

-“Aha!” cried the merry little man, “you're caught at last. I knew

-thou hadst plenty to entertain a stranger withal; but I suppose thou

-wantedst to keep it all to thyself. Come, come! bestir thyself,

-Aintjie, for I am as hungry as a schoolboy.”

-

-Aintjie did as she was bid, wondering all the time who this familiar

-little man could be; for the city was not so big, but that she knew by

-sight everybody that lived in it, and she was sure she had never seen

-him before.

-

-In a short time there was a glorious array of good things set out

-before them, and they proceeded to enjoy themselves right lustily in

-keeping of the merry Newyear's eve. The little man cracked his jokes,

-patted little Nicholas—Claas, his youngest son, who was called after

-his father—on the head; chucked Aintjie under the chin; said he was

-glad she did not wed the splutterkin Barendt Roeloffsen, and set them

-so good an example, that they all got as merry as crickets.

-

-By-and-by the little man inquired of Claas concerning his affairs,

-and he gave him an account of his early prosperity, and how he had

-declined, in spite of all he could do, into poverty and want; so that

-he had nothing left but his wife, his children, his Dutch Bible, his

-history of the Low Country wars, and his meershaum pipe.

-

-“Aha!” quoth the little man, “you've kept that, hey! Let me see it.”

-

-Claas gave it to him, while the tears came into is eyes, although he

-was so merry, to think that he must part with it on the morrow. It was

-the pride of his heart, and he set too great a value on it to make any

-use of it whatever.

-

-The little man took the pipe, and looking at it, said, as if to himself,

-

-“Yes; here it is! the very identical meershaum out of which the great

-Calvin used to smoke. Thou hast done well, Friend Claas, to preserve

-it; and thou must keep it as the apple of thine eye all thy life, and

-give it as an inheritance to thy children.”

-

-“Alack!” cried Aintjie, “he must sell it to-morrow, or we shall want

-wherewithal for a dinner.”

-

-“Yea,” said Claas, “of a truth it must go to-morrow!”

-

-“Be quiet, splutterkin!” cried the little man, merrily; “give me some

-more of that spiced beverage, for I am as thirsty as a dry sponge.

-Come, let us drink to the Newyear, for it will be here in a few

-minutes.”

-

-So they drank a cup to the jolly Newyear, and at that moment the little

-boys and negroes, who didn't mind the snow any more than a miller does

-flour, began to fire their cannon at a great rate; whereupon the little

-man jumped up, and cried out,

-

-“My time is come! I must be off, for I have a great many visits to pay

-before sunrise.”

-

-Then he kissed the yffrouw with a hearty smack, just as doth the

-illustrious Rip Van Dam, on the like occasions; patted little

-Nicholas on the head, and gave him his blessing; after which he did

-incontinently leap up the chimney and disappear. Then they knew it was

-the good St. Nicholas, and rejoiced mightily in the visit he had paid

-them, looking upon it as an earnest that their troubles were over.

-

-The next morning the prudent housewife, according to custom, got up

-before the dawn of day to put her house in order, and when she came

-to sweep the floor, was surprised to hear something jingle just like

-money. Then opening the embers, the sticks which the good saint had

-thrown upon the fire again blazed out, and she descried a large purse,

-which, on examination, was found filled with golden ducats. Whereupon

-she called out to Claas, and they examined the purse, and found

-fastened to it a paper bearing this legend:—

-

-  “THE GIFT OF SAINT NICHOLAS.”

-

-While they stood in joyful wonder, they heard a great knocking and

-confusion of tongues outside the door, and the people calling aloud

-upon Claas Schlaschenschlinger to come forth; whereupon he went forth,

-and, to his great astonishment, found that his little wooden house had

-disappeared in the night, and in its place was standing a gorgeous

-and magnificent mansion of Dutch bricks, two stories high, with three

-windows in front, all of a different size; and a door cut right out of

-the corner, just as it is seen at this blessed day.

-

-The neighbours wondered much, and it was whispered among them, that

-the fiend had helped Claas to this great domicil, which was one of the

-biggest in the city, and almost equal to that of Barendt Roeloffsen.

-But when Claas told them of the visit of St. Nicholas, and showed them

-the purse of golden ducats, with the legend upon it, they thought

-better of it, and contented themselves with envying him heartily his

-good fortune.

-

-I shall not relate how Claas prospered ever afterwards, in spite of his

-enemies the burgomasters, who, at last, were obliged to admit him as

-one of their number; or how little Aintjie held up her head among the

-highest; or how Claas ever after eschewed the lapstone, and, like a

-worshipful magistrate, took to bettering the condition of mankind, till

-at length he died, and was gathered to his forefathers, full of years

-and honours.

-

-All I shall say is, that the great house in New street continued in the

-family for several generations, until a degenerate descendant of Claas,

-being thereunto incited by the d—l, did sell it to another degenerate

-splutterkin, who essayed to pull it down. But mark what followed. No

-sooner had the workmen laid hands on it, than the brickbats began to

-fly about at such a rate, that they all came away faster than they

-went; some with broke heads, and others with broken bones, and not one

-could ever be persuaded to meddle with it afterwards.

-

-And let this be a warning to any one who shall attempt to lay their

-sacrilegious hands on the LAST OF THE DUTCH HOUSES, the gift of St.

-Nicholas, for whoever does so, may calculate, to a certainty on getting

-well peppered with brickbats, I can tell them.

-

-

-

-

-                    THE REVENGE OF SAINT NICHOLAS.

-

-                       A TALE FOR THE HOLYDAYS.

-

-

-Everybody knows that in the famous city of New-York, whose proper name

-is New-Amsterdam, the excellent St. Nicholas—who is worth a dozen St.

-Georges and dragons to boot, and who, if every tub stood on its right

-bottom, would be at the head of the Seven Champions of christendom—I

-say, everybody knows the excellent St. Nicholas, in holyday times,

-goes about among the people in the middle of the night, distributing

-all sorts of toothsome and becoming gifts to the good boys and girls

-in this his favourite city. Some say that he comes down the chimneys

-in a little Jersey wagon; others, that he wears a pair of Holland

-skates, with which he travels like the wind; and others, who pretend

-to have seen him, maintain that he has lately adopted a locomotive,

-and was once actually detected on the _Albany_ railroad. But this last

-assertion is looked upon to be entirely fabulous, because St. Nicholas

-has too much discretion to trust himself in such a newfangled jarvie;

-and so I leave this matter to be settled by whomsoever will take the

-trouble. My own opinion is, that his favourite mode of travelling

-is on a canal, the motion and speed of which aptly comport with the

-philosophic dignity of his character. But this is not material, and

-I will no longer detain my readers with extraneous and irrelevant

-matters, as is too much the fashion with our statesmen, orators,

-biographers, and story tellers.

-

-It was in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty, or sixty-one,

-for the most orthodox chronicles differ in this respect; but it was

-a very remarkable year, and it was called _annus mirabilis_ on that

-account. It was said that several people were detected in speaking the

-truth about that time; that nine staid, sober, and discreet widows,

-who had sworn on an anti-masonic almanac never to enter a second time

-into the holy state, were snapped up by young husbands before they knew

-what they were about; that six venerable bachelors wedded as many buxom

-young belles, and, it is reported, were afterwards sorry for what they

-had done; that many people actually went to church, from motives of

-piety; and that a great scholar, who had written a book in support of

-certain opinions, was not only convinced of his error, but acknowledged

-it publicly afterwards. No wonder the year one thousand seven hundred

-and sixty, if that was the year, was called _annus mirabilis_!

-

-What contributed to render this year still more remarkable, was

-the building of six new three-story brick houses in the city, and

-three persons setting up equipages, who, I cannot find, ever failed

-in business afterwards, or compounded with their creditors at a

-pistareen in the pound. It is, moreover, recorded in the annals of the

-horticultural society of that day, which were written on a cabbage

-leaf, as is said, that a member produced a forked radish, of such vast

-dimensions, that being dressed up in fashionable male attire at the

-exhibition, it was actually mistaken for a travelled beau by several

-inexperienced young ladies, who pined away for love of its beautiful

-complexion, and were changed into daffadowndillies. Some maintained

-it was a mandrake, but it was finally detected by an inquest of

-experienced matrons. No wonder the year seventeen hundred and sixty was

-called _annus mirabilis_!

-

-But the most extraordinary thing of all, was the confident assertion

-that there was but one _gray mare_ within the bills of mortality; and,

-incredible as it may appear, she was the wife of a responsible citizen,

-who, it was affirmed, had grown rich by weaving velvet purses out of

-sows' ears. But this we look upon as being somewhat of the character of

-the predictions of almanac makers. Certain it is, however, that Amos

-Shuttle possessed the treasure of a wife who was shrewdly suspected of

-having established within doors a system of government not laid down in

-Aristotle or the Abbe Sièyes, who made a constitution for every day in

-the year, and two for the first of April.

-

-Amos Shuttle, though a mighty pompous little man out of doors, was the

-meekest of human creatures within. He belonged to that class of people

-who pass for great among the little, and little among the great; and

-he would certainly have been master in his own house had it not been

-for a woman! We have read somewhere that no wise woman ever thinks her

-husband a demigod. If so, it is a blessing that there are so few wise

-women in the world.

-

-Amos had grown rich, Heaven knows how—he did net know himself; but,

-what was somewhat extraordinary, he considered his wealth a signal

-proof of his talents and sagacity, and valued himself according to the

-infallible standard of pounds, shillings, and pence. But though he

-lorded it without, he was, as we have just said, the most gentle of men

-within doors. The moment he stepped inside of his own house, his spirit

-cowered down, like that of a pious man entering a church; he felt as

-if he was in the presence of a superior being—to wit, Mrs. Abigail

-Shuttle. He was, indeed, the meekest of beings at home, except Moses;

-and Sir Andrew Aguecheek's song, which Sir Toby Belch declared “would

-draw nine souls out of one weaver,” would have failed in drawing half

-a one out of Amos. The truth is, his wife, who ought to have known,

-affirmed he had no more soul than a monkey; but he was the only man

-in the city thus circumstanced at the time we speak of. No wonder,

-therefore, the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty was called

-_annus mirabilis_!

-

-Such as he was, Mr. Amos Shuttle waxed richer and richer every day,

-insomuch that those who envied his prosperity were wont to say, “that

-he had certainly been born with a dozen silver spoons in his mouth, or

-such a great blockhead would never have got together such a heap of

-money.” When he had become worth ten thousand pounds, he launched his

-shuttle magnanimously out of the window, ordered his weaver's beam to

-be split up for oven wood, and Mrs. Amos turned his weaver's shop into

-a _boudoir_. Fortune followed him faster than he ran away from her.

-In a few years the ten thousand doubled, and in a few more trebled,

-quadrupled—in short, Amos could hardly count his money.

-

-“What shall we do now, my dear?” asked Mrs. Shuttle, who never sought

-his opinion, that I can learn, except for the pleasure of contradicting

-him.

-

-“Let us go and live in the country, and enjoy ourselves,” quoth Amos.

-

-“Go into the country! go to—” I could never satisfy myself what Mrs.

-Shuttle meant; but she stopped short, and concluded the sentence with a

-withering look of scorn, that would have cowed the spirits of nineteen

-weavers.

-

-Amos named all sorts of places, enumerated all sorts of modes of

-life he could think of, and every pleasure that might enter into the

-imagination of a man without a soul. His wife despised them all; she

-would not hear of them.

-

-“Well, my dear, suppose you suggest something; do now, Abby,” at length

-said Amos, in a coaxing whisper; “will you, my onydoney?”

-

-“Ony fiddlestick! I wonder you repeat such vulgarisms. But if I must

-say what I should like, I should like to travel.”

-

-“Well, let us go and make a tour as far as Jamaica, or Hackensack, or

-Spiking-devil. There is excellent fishing for striped bass there.”

-

-“Spiking-devil!” screamed Mrs. Shuttle; “an't you ashamed to swear so,

-you wicked mortal! I won't go to Jamaica, nor Hackensack among the

-Dutch Hottentots, nor to Spiking-devil to catch striped bass. I'll go

-to Europe!”

-

-If Amos had possessed a soul it would have jumped out of its skin at

-the idea of going beyond seas. He had once been on the sea-bass banks,

-and got a seasoning there; the very thought of which made him sick.

-But, as he had no soul, there was no great harm done.

-

-When Mrs. Shuttle said a thing, it was settled. They went to Europe,

-taking their only son with them; the lady ransacked all the milliners'

-shops in Paris, and the gentleman visited all the restaurateurs. He

-became such a desperate connoisseur and gourmand, that he could almost

-tell an _omelette au jambon_ from a gammon of bacon. After consummating

-the polish, they came home, the lady with the newest old fashions, and

-the weaver with a confirmed preference of _potage à la Turque_ over

-pepper-pot. It is said the city trembled, as with an earthquake, when

-they landed; but the notion was probably superstitious.

-

-They arrived near the close of the year, the memorable year, the _annus

-mirabilis_, one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Everybody that had

-ever known the Shuttles flocked to see them, or rather to see what

-they had brought with them; and such was the magic of a voyage to

-Europe, that Mr. and Mrs. Amos Shuttle, who had been nobodies when they

-departed, became somebodies when they returned, and mounted at once to

-the summit of _ton_.

-

-“You have come in good time to enjoy the festivities of the holydays,”

-said Mrs. Hubblebubble, an old friend of Amos the weaver and his wife.

-

-“We shall have a merry Christmas and a happy Newyear,” exclaimed Mrs.

-Doubletrouble, another old acquaintance of old times.

-

-“The holydays,” drawled Mrs. Shuttle; “the holydays? Christmas and

-Newyear? Pray what are they?”

-

-It is astonishing to see how people lose their memories abroad

-sometimes. They often forget their old friends, old customs, and

-occasionally themselves.

-

-“Why, la! now, who'd have thought it?” cried Mrs. Doubletrouble; “why,

-sure you haven't forgot the oily cooks and the mince pies, the merry

-meetings of friends, the sleigh-rides, the Kissing Bridge, and the

-family parties?”

-

-“Family parties!” shrieked Mrs. Shuttle, and held her salts to her

-nose; “family parties! I never heard of anything so Gothic in Paris

-or Rome; and oily cooks—oh shocking! and mince pies—detestable! and

-throwing open one's doors to all one's old friends, whom one wishes to

-forget as soon as possible. Oh! the idea is insupportable!” and again

-she held the salts to her nose.

-

-Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble found they had exposed

-themselves sadly, and were quite ashamed. A real, genteel, well-bred,

-enlightened lady of fashion ought to have no rule of conduct—no

-conscience, but Paris—whatever is fashionable there is genteel—whatever

-is not fashionable is vulgar. There is no other standard of right,

-and no other eternal fitness of things. At least so thought Mrs.

-Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble.

-

-“But is it possible that all these things are out of fashion abroad?”

-asked the latter, beseechingly.

-

-“They never were in,” said Mrs. Amos Shuttle. “For my part, I mean to

-close my doors and windows on Newyear's day—I'm determined.”

-

-“And so am I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble.

-

-“And so am I,” said Mrs. Doubletrouble.

-

-And it was settled that they should make a combination among themselves

-and their friends, to put down the ancient and good customs of the

-city, and abolish the sports and enjoyments of the jolly Newyear. The

-conspirators then separated, each to pursue her diabolical designs

-against oily cooks, mince pies, sleigh ridings, sociable visitings,

-and family parties.

-

-Now the excellent St. Nicholas, who knows well what is going on in

-every house in the city, though, like a good and honourable saint, he

-never betrays any family secrets, overheard these wicked women plotting

-against his favourite anniversary, and he said to himself,

-

-“_Vuur en Vlammen!_ but I'll be even with you, _mein vrouw_.” So he

-determined he would play these conceited and misled women a trick or

-two before he had done with them.

-

-It was now the first day of the new year, and Mrs. Amos Shuttle,

-and Mrs. Doubletrouble, and Mrs. Hubblebubble, and all their wicked

-abetters, had shut up their doors and windows, so that when their old

-friends called they could not get into their houses. Moreover, they

-had prepared neither mince pies, nor oily cooks, nor crullers, nor

-any of the good things consecrated to St. Nicholas by his pious and

-well-intentioned votaries, and they were mightily pleased at having

-been as dull and stupid as owls, while all the rest of the city were as

-merry as crickets, chirping and frisking in the warm chimney corner.

-Little did they think what horrible judgments were impending over them,

-prepared by the wrath of the excellent St. Nicholas, who was resolved

-to make an example of them for attempting to introduce their newfangled

-corruptions in place of the ancient customs of his favourite city.

-These wicked women never had another comfortable sleep in their lives!

-

-The night was still, clear, and frosty—the earth was everywhere one

-carpet of snow, and looked just like the ghost of a dead world, wrapped

-in a white winding sheet; the moon was full, round, and of a silvery

-brightness, and by her discreet silence afforded an example to the

-rising generation of young damsels, while the myriads of stars that

-multiplied as you gazed at them, seemed as though they were frozen

-into icicles, they looked so cold, and sparkled with such a glorious

-lustre. The streets and roads leading from the city were all alive

-with sleighs, filled with jovial souls, whose echoing laughter and

-cheerful songs, mingled with a thousand merry bells, that jingled in

-harmonious dissonance, giving spirit to the horses and animation to

-the scene. In the license of the season, hallowed by long custom, each

-of the sleighs saluted the others in passing with a “Happy Newyear,”

-a merry jest, or mischievous gibe, exchanged from one gay party to

-another. All was life, motion, and merriment; and as old frostbitten

-Winter, aroused from his trance by the rout and revelry around, raised

-his weatherbeaten head to see what was passing, he felt his icy blood

-warming and coursing through his veins, and wished he could only

-overtake the laughing buxom Spring, that he might dance a jig with her,

-and be as frisky as the best of them. But as the old rogue could not

-bring this desirable matter about, he contented himself with calling

-for a jolly bumper of cocktail, and drinking a swinging draught to the

-health of the blessed St. Nicholas, and those who honour the memory of

-the president of good fellows.

-

-All this time the wicked women and their abetters lay under the

-malediction of the good saint, who caused them to be bewitched by

-an old lady from Salem. Mrs. Amos Shuttle could not sleep, because

-something had whispered in her apprehensive ear, that her son, her

-only son, whom she had engaged to the daughter of Count Grenouille, in

-Paris, then about three years old, was actually at that moment crossing

-Kissing Bridge, in company with little Susan Varian, and some others

-besides. Now Susan was the fairest little lady of all the land; she

-had a face and an eye just like the Widow Wadman, in Leslie's charming

-picture; a face and an eye which no reasonable man under Heaven could

-resist, except my Uncle Toby—beshrew him and his fortifications, I

-say! She was, moreover, a good little girl, and an accomplished little

-girl—but, alas! she had not mounted to the step in Jacob's ladder of

-fashion, which qualifies a person for the heaven of high ton, and Mrs.

-Shuttle had not been to Europe for nothing. She would rather have seen

-her son wedded to dissipation and profligacy than to Susan Varian; and

-the thought of his being out sleigh-riding with her, was worse than

-the toothache. It kept her awake all the livelong night; and the only

-consolation she had was scolding poor Amos, because the sleigh bells

-made such a noise.

-

-As for Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, they neither of them

-got a wink of sleep during a whole week, for thinking of the beautiful

-French chairs and damask curtains Mrs. Shuttle had brought from Europe.

-They forthwith besieged their good men, leaving them no rest until they

-sent out orders to Paris for just such rich chairs and curtains as

-those of the thrice happy Mrs. Shuttle, from whom they kept the affair

-a profound secret, each meaning to treat her to an agreeable surprise.

-In the mean while they could not rest for fear the vessel which was

-to bring these treasures might be lost on her passage. Such was the

-dreadful judgment inflicted on them by the good St. Nicholas.

-

-The perplexities of Mrs. Shuttle increased daily. In the first place,

-do all she could, she could not make Amos a fine gentleman. This was

-a metamorphosis which Ovid would never have dreamed of. He would be

-telling the price of everything in his house, his furniture, his

-wines, and his dinners, insomuch that those who envied his prosperity,

-or, perhaps, only despised his pretensions, were wont to say, after

-eating his venison and drinking his old Madeira, “that he ought to

-have been a tavern keeper, he knew so well how to make out a bill.”

-Mrs. Shuttle once overheard a speech of this kind, and the good St.

-Nicholas himself, who had brought it about, almost felt sorry for the

-mortification she endured on the occasion.

-

-Scarcely had she got over this, when she was invited to a ball, by Mrs.

-Hubblebubble, and the first thing she saw on entering the drawing

-room, was a suit of damask curtains and chairs, as much like her own

-as two peas, only the curtains had far handsomer fringe. Mrs. Shuttle

-came very near fainting away, but escaped for that time, determining to

-mortify this impudent creature, by taking not the least notice of her

-finery. But St. Nicholas ordered it otherwise, so that she was at last

-obliged to acknowledge they were very elegant indeed. Nay, this was not

-the worst, for she overheard one lady whisper to another, that Mrs.

-Hubblebubble's curtains were much richer than Mrs. Shuttle's.

-

-“Oh, I dare say,” replied the other—”I dare say Mrs. Shuttle bought

-them second-hand, for her husband is as mean as pursley.

-

-This was too much. The unfortunate woman was taken suddenly ill—called

-her carriage, and went home, where it is supposed she would have died

-that evening had she not wrought upon Amos to promise her an entire

-new suit of French furniture for her drawing room and parlour to boot,

-besides a new carriage. But for all this she could not close her eyes

-that night for thinking of the “second-hand curtains.”

-

-Nor was the wicked Mrs. Doubletrouble a whit better off, when her

-friend Mrs. Hubblebubble treated her to the agreeable surprise of the

-French window curtains and chairs. “It is too bad—too bad, I declare,”

-said she to herself; “but I'll pay her off soon.” Accordingly she

-issued invitations for a grand ball and supper, at which both Mrs.

-Shuttle and Mrs. Hubblebubble were struck dumb at beholding a suit of

-curtains and a set of chairs exactly of the same pattern with theirs.

-The shock was terrible, and it is impossible to say what might have

-been the consequences, had not the two ladies all at once thought of

-uniting in abusing Mrs. Doubletrouble for her extravagance.

-

-“I pity poor Mr. Doubletrouble,” said Mrs. Shuttle, shrugging her

-shoulders significantly, and glancing at the room.

-

-“And so do I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble, doing the same.

-

-Mrs. Doubletrouble had her eye upon them, and enjoyed their

-mortification until her pride was brought to the ground by a dead shot

-from Mrs. Shuttle, who was heard to exclaim, in reply to a lady who

-observed the chairs and curtains were very handsome,

-

-“Why, yes; but they have been out of fashion in Paris a long time; and,

-besides, really they are getting so common, that I intend to have mine

-removed to the nursery.”

-

-Heavens! what a blow! Poor Mrs. Doubletrouble hardly survived it. Such

-a night of misery as the wicked woman endured almost made the good St.

-Nicholas regret the judgment he had passed upon these mischievous and

-conceited females. But he thought to himself he would persevere until

-he had made them a sad example to all innovators upon the ancient

-customs of our forefathers.

-

-Thus were these wicked and miserable women spurred on by witchcraft

-from one piece of extravagance to another, and a deadly rivalship

-grew up between them, which destroyed their own happiness and that of

-their husbands. Mrs. Shuttle's new carriage and drawing-room furniture

-in due time were followed by similar extravagances on the part of

-the two other wicked women, who had conspired against the hallowed

-institutions of St. Nicholas; and soon their rivalship came to such a

-height that neither of them had a moment's rest or comfort from that

-time forward. But they still shut their doors on the jolly anniversary

-of St. Nicholas, though the old respectable burghers and their wives,

-who had held up their heads time out of mind, continued the good

-custom, and laughed at the presumption of these upstart interlopers,

-who were followed only by a few people of silly pretensions, who had

-no more soul than Amos Shuttle himself. The three wicked women grew to

-be almost perfect skeletons, on account of the vehemence with which

-they strove to outdo each other, and the terrible exertions necessary

-to keep up the appearance of being the best friends in the world.

-In short, they became the laughingstock of the town; and sensible,

-well-bred folks cut their acquaintance, except when they sometimes

-accepted an invitation to a party, just to make merry with their folly

-and conceitedness.

-

-The excellent St. Nicholas, finding they still persisted in their

-opposition to his rites and ceremonies, determined to inflict on them

-the last and worst punishment that can befall the sex. He decreed that

-they should be deprived of all the delights springing from the domestic

-affections, and all taste for the innocent and virtuous enjoyments

-of a happy fireside. Accordingly, they lost all relish for home;

-were continually gadding about from one place to another in search

-of pleasure, and worried themselves to death to find happiness where

-it is never to be found. Their whole lives became one long series of

-disappointed hopes, galled pride, and gnawing envy. They lost their

-health, they lost their time, and their days became days of harassing

-impatience, their nights nights of sleepless, feverish excitement,

-ending in weariness and disappointment. The good saint sometimes

-felt sorry for them, but their continued obstinacy determined him to

-persevere in his plan to punish the upstart pride of these rebellious

-females.

-

-Young Shuttle, who had a soul, which I suppose he inherited from

-his mother, all this while continued his attentions to little Susan

-Varian, which added to the miseries inflicted on his wicked mother.

-Mrs. Shuttle insisted that Amos should threaten to disinherit his son,

-unless he gave up this attachment.

-

-“Lord bless your soul, Abby,” said Amos, “what's the use of my

-threatening, the boy knows as well as I do that I've no will of my own.

-Why, bless my soul, Abby—”

-

-“Bless your soul!” interrupted Mrs. Shuttle; “I wonder who'd take the

-trouble to bless it but yourself? However, if you don't I will.”

-

-Accordingly, she threatened the young man with being disinherited

-unless he turned his back on little Susan Varian, which no man ever did

-without getting a heartache.

-

-“If my father goes on as he has done lately,” sighed the youth, “he

-won't have anything left to disinherit me of but his affection, I fear.

-But if he had millions I would not abandon Susan.”

-

-Are you not ashamed of such a lowlived attachment? You, that have been

-to Europe! But, once for all, remember this, renounce this lowborn

-upstart, or quit your father's home for ever.”

-

-“Upstart!” thought young Shuttle; “one of the oldest families in the

-city.” He made his mother a respectful bow, bade Heaven bless her, and

-left the house. He was, however, met by his father at the door, who

-said to him,

-

-“Johnny, I give my consent; but mind, don't tell your mother a word of

-the matter. I'll let her know I've a soul as well as other people;” and

-he tossed his head like a war horse.

-

-The night after this Johnny was married to little Susan, and the

-blessing of affection and beauty lighted upon his pillow. Her old

-father, who was in a respectable business, took his son-in-law into

-partnership, and they prospered so well that in a few years Johnny was

-independent of all the world, with the prettiest wife and children in

-the land. But Mrs. Shuttle was inexorable, while the knowledge of his

-prosperity and happiness only worked her up to a higher pitch of anger,

-and added to the pangs of jealousy perpetually inflicted on her by the

-rivalry of Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, who suffered under

-the like infliction from the wrathful St. Nicholas, who was resolved to

-make them an example to all posterity.

-

-No fortune, be it ever so great, can stand the eternal sapping of

-wasteful extravagance, engendered and stimulated by the baleful passion

-of envy. In less than ten years from the hatching of the diabolical

-conspiracy of these three wicked women against the supremacy of the

-excellent St. Nicholas, their spendthrift rivalship had ruined the

-fortunes of their husbands, and entailed upon themselves misery and

-remorse. Rich Amos Shuttle became at last as poor as a church mouse,

-and, would have been obliged to take to the loom again in his old age,

-had not Johnny, now rich, and a worshipful magistrate of the city,

-afforded him and his better half a generous shelter under his own happy

-roof. Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble had scarcely time to

-condole with Mrs. Shuttle, and congratulate each other, when their

-husbands went the way of all flesh, that is to say, failed for a few

-tens of thousands, and called their creditors together to hear the good

-news. The two wicked women lived long enough after this to repent of

-their offence against St. Nicholas; but they never imported any more

-French curtains, and at last perished miserably in an attempt to set

-the fashions in Pennypot alley.

-

-Mrs. Abigail Shuttle might have lived happily the rest of her life

-with her children and grandchildren, who all treated her with

-reverent courtesy and affection, now that the wrath of the mighty St.

-Nicholas was appeased by her exemplary punishment. But she could not

-get over her bad habits and feelings, or forgive her lovely little

-daughter-in-law for treating her so kindly when she so little deserved

-it. She gradually pined away; and though she revived at hearing of the

-catastrophe of Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, it was only

-for a moment. The remainder of the life of this wicked woman was a

-series of disappointments and heartburnings, and when she died, Amos

-tried to shed a few tears, but he found it impossible, I suppose,

-because, as his wife always said, “he had no soul.”

-

-Such was the terrible revenge of St. Nicholas, which ought to be

-a warning to all who attempt to set themselves up against the

-venerable customs of their ancestors, and backslide from the hallowed

-institutions of the blessed saint, to whose good offices, without

-doubt, it is owing that this his favourite city has transcended all

-others of the universe in beautiful damsels, valorous young men, mince

-pies, and Newyear cookies. The catastrophe of these three wicked women

-had a wonderful influence in the city, insomuch that from this time

-forward, no _gray mares_ were ever known, no French furniture was ever

-used, and no woman was hardy enough to set herself up in opposition

-to the good customs of St. Nicholas. And so, wishing many happy

-Newyears to all my dear countrywomen and countrymen, saving those who

-shut their doors to old friends, high or low, rich or poor, on that

-blessed anniversary, which makes more glad hearts than all others put

-together—I say, wishing a thousand happy Newyears to all, with this

-single exception, I lay down my pen, with a caution to all wicked women

-to beware of the revenge of St. Nicholas.

-

-

-

-

-                              THE ORIGIN

-

-                                  OF

-

-                          THE BAKERS' DOZEN.

-

-

-Little Brom Boomptie, or Boss Boomptie, as he was commonly called by

-his apprentices and neighbours, was the first man that ever baked

-Newyear cakes in the good city of New-Amsterdam. It is generally

-supposed that he was the inventor of those excellent and respectable

-articles. However this may be, he lived and prospered in the little

-Dutch house in William-street, called, time out of mind, Knickerbocker

-Hall, just at the outskirts of the good town of New-Amsterdam.

-

-Boomptie was a fat comfortable creature, with a capital pair of

-oldfashioned legs; a full, round, good-natured face; a corporation

-like unto one of his plump loaves; and as much honesty as a Turkish

-baker, who lives in the fear of having his ears nailed to his own door

-for retailing bad bread. He wore a low-crowned, broad-brimmed beaver;

-a gray bearskin cloth coat, waistcoat, and breeches, and gray woollen

-stockings, summer and winter, all the year round. The only language

-he spoke, understood, or had the least respect for, was Dutch— and

-the only books he ever read or owned, were a Dutch Bible, with silver

-clasps and hinges, and a Dutch history of the Duke of Alva's bloody

-wars in the Low Countries. Boss Boomptie was a pious man, of simple

-habits and simple character; a believer in “demonology and witchcraft;”

-and as much afraid of _spooks_ as the mother that bore him. It ran in

-the family to be bewitched, and for three generations the Boompties had

-been very much pestered with supernatural visitations. But for all this

-they continued to prosper in the world, insomuch that Boss Boomptie

-daily added a piece of wampum or two to his strong box. He was blessed

-with a good wife, who saved the very parings of her nails, and three

-plump boys, after whom he modelled his gingerbread babies, and who were

-every Sunday zealously instructed never to pass a pin without picking

-it up and bringing it home to their mother.

-

-It was on Newyear's eve, in the year 1655, and the good city of

-New-Amsterdam, then under the special patronage of the blessed

-St. Nicholas, was as jovial and wanton as hot spiced rum and long

-abstinence from fun and frolic could make it. It is worth while to

-live soberly and mind our business all the rest of the year, if it be

-only to enjoy the holydays at the end with a true zest. St. Nicholas,

-thrice blessed soul! was riding up one chimney and down another like a

-locomotive engine in his little one-horse wagon, distributing cakes to

-the good boys, and whips to the bad ones; and the laugh of the good

-city, which had been pent up all the year, now burst forth with an

-explosion that echoed even unto Breuckelen and Communipaw.

-

-Boss Boomptie, who never forgot the main chance, and knew from

-experience that Newyear's eve was a shrewd time for selling cakes,

-joined profit and pleasure on this occasion. He was one minute in his

-shop, dealing out cakes to his customers, and the next laughing, and

-tippling, and jigging, and frisking it with his wife and children

-in the little back room, the door of which had a pane of glass that

-commanded a full view of the shop. Nobody, that is, no genuine

-disciple of jolly St. Nicholas, ever went to bed till twelve o'clock

-on Newyear's eve. The Dutch are eminently a sober, discreet folk; but

-somehow or other, no people frolic so like the very dickens, when they

-are once let loose, as your very sober and discreet bodies.

-

-By twelve o'clock the spicy beverage, sacred to holydays at that time,

-began to mount up into Boss Boomptie's head, and he was vociferating a

-Dutch ditty in praise of St. Nicholas with marvellous discordance, when

-just as the old clock in one corner of the room struck the hour that

-ushers in the new year, a loud knock was heard on the counter, which

-roused the dormant spirit of trade within his bosom. He went into the

-shop, where he found a little ugly old thing of a woman, with a sharp

-chin, resting on a crooked black stick, which had been burned in the

-fire and then polished; two high sharp cheek bones; two sharp black

-eyes; skinny lips, and a most diabolical pair of leather spectacles on

-a nose ten times sharper than her chin.

-

-“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed she, in a voice sharper than

-her nose.

-

-“Vel, den, you needn't sbeak so loud,” replied Boss Boomptie, whose ear

-being just then attuned to the melody of his own song, was somewhat

-outraged by this shrill salutation.

-

-“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed she again, ten times louder

-and shriller than ever.

-

-“Duyvel—I an't teaf den,” grumbled the worthy man, as he proceeded to

-count out the cakes, which the other very deliberately counted after

-him.

-

-“I want a dozen,” screamed the little woman; “here is only twelve.”

-

-“Vel, den, and what de duyvel is dwalf but a dozen?” said Boomptie.

-

-“I tell you I want one more,” screamed she, in a voice that roused Mrs.

-Boomptie in the back room, who came and peeped through the pane of

-glass, as she often did when she heard the boss talking to the ladies.

-

-Boss Boomptie waxed wroth, for he had a reasonable quantity of hot

-spiced rum in his noddle, which predisposes a man to valour.

-

-“Vel, den,” said he, “you may co to de duyvel and get anoder, for you

-won't get it here.”

-

-Boomptie was not a stingy man; on the contrary, he was very generous

-to the pretty young damsels who came to buy cakes, and often gave them

-two or three extra for a smack, which made Mrs. Boomptie peevish

-sometimes, and caused her to watch at the little pane of glass when she

-ought to have been minding her business like an honest woman.

-

-But this old hag was as ugly as sin, and the little baker never in his

-whole life could find in his heart to be generous to an ugly woman, old

-or young.

-

-“In my country they always give thirteen to the dozen,” screamed the

-ugly woman in the leather spectacles.

-

-“And where de duyvel is your gountry?” asked Boomptie.

-

-“It is nobody's business,” screeched the old woman. “But will you give

-me another cake, once for all?”

-

-“Not if it would save me and all my chineration from peing pewitched

-and pedemonologized dime out of mind,” cried he, in a great passion.

-

-What put it into his head to talk in this way I don't know, but he

-might better have held his tongue. The old woman gave him three stivers

-for his cakes, and went away, grumbling something about “living to

-repent it,” which Boss Boomptie didn't understand or care a fig about.

-He was chock full of Dutch courage, and defied all the ugly old women

-in Christendom. He put his three stivers in the till and shut up

-his shop, determined to enjoy the rest of the night without further

-molestation.

-

-While he was sitting smoking his pipe, and now and then sipping his

-beverage, all at once he heard a terrible jingling of money in his

-shop, whereupon he thought some losel caitiff was busy with his little

-till. Accordingly, priming himself with another reinforcement of Dutch

-courage, he took a pine knot, for he was too economical to burn candles

-at that late hour, and proceeded to investigate. His money was all

-safe, and the till appeared not to have been disturbed.

-

-“Duyvel,” quoth the little baker man, “I pelieve mine _vrouw_ and I

-have bote cot a zinging in our heads.”

-

-He had hardly turned his back when the same jingling began again, so

-much to the surprise of Boss Boomptie, that had it not been for his

-invincible Dutch courage, he would, as it were, have been a little

-frightened. But he was not in the least; and again went and unlocked

-the till, when what was his astonishment to see the three diabolical

-stivers, received from the old woman, dancing, and kicking up a dust

-among the coppers and wampum with wonderful agility.

-

-“_Wat donder is dat!_” exclaimed he, sorely perplexed; “de old duyvel

-has cot indo dat old sinner's stivers, I dink.” He had a great mind to

-throw them away, but he thought it a pity to waste so much money; so

-he kept them locked up all night, enjoining them to good behaviour,

-with a design to spend them the next day in another jollification.

-But the next day they were gone, and so was the broomstick with which

-it was the custom to sweep out the shop every morning. Some of the

-neighbours coming home late the night before, on being informed of the

-“abduction” of the broomstick, deposed and said, they had seen an old

-woman riding through the air upon just such another, right over the top

-of the little bakehouse; whereat Boss Boomptie, putting these odds and

-ends together, did tremble in his heart, and he wished to himself that

-he had given the ugly old woman thirteen to the dozen.

-

-Nothing particular came to pass the next day, except that now and then

-the little Boompties complained of having pins stuck in their backs,

-and that their cookies were snatched away by some one unknown. On

-examination it was found that no marks of the pins were to be seen; and

-as to the cookies, the old black woman of the kitchen declared she saw

-an invisible hand just as one of the children lost his commodity.

-

-“Den I am pewitched, zure enough!” cried Boomptie, in despair, for

-he had had too much of “demonology and witchcraft” in the family not

-to know when he saw them, just as well as he did his own face in the

-Collect.

-

-On the second day of the year, the 'prentice boys all returned to their

-business, and Boomptie once more solaced himself with the baking of the

-staff of life. The reader must know that it is the custom of bakers to

-knead a great batch at a time, in a mighty bread tray, into which they

-throw two or three little apprentice boys to paddle about, like ducks

-in a mill pond, whereby it is speedily amalgamated, and set to rising

-in due time. When the little caitiffs began their gambols in this

-matter they one and all stuck fast in the dough, as though it had been

-so much pitch, and, to the utter dismay of honest Boomptie, behold the

-whole batch rose up in a mighty mass, with the boys sticking fast on

-the top of it!

-

-“_Wat blikslager!_” exclaimed little Boomptie, as he witnessed this

-catastrophe; “de duyvel ish cot into de yeast dis dime, I dink.”

-

-The bread continued to rise till it lifted the roof off the bakehouse,

-with the little 'prentice boys on the top, and the bread tray following

-after. Boss Boomptie and his wife watched this wonderful rising of the

-bread in dismay, and in proof of the poor woman's being bewitched,

-it was afterwards recollected that she uttered not a single word on

-this extraordinary occasion. The bread rose and rose, until it finally

-disappeared, boys and all, behind the Jersey hills. If such things had

-been known of at that time, it would have been taken for a balloon; as

-it was, the people of Bergen and Communipaw thought that it was a water

-spout.

-

-Little Boss Boomptie was disconsolate at the loss of his bread and his

-'prentice boys, whom he never expected to see again. However, he was a

-stirring body, and set himself to work to prepare another batch, seeing

-his customers must be supplied in spite of “witchcraft or demonology.”

-To guard against such another rebellious rising, he determined to go

-through the process down in the cellar, and turn his bread tray upside

-down. The bread, instead of rising, began to sink into the earth so

-fast, that Boss Boomptie had just time to jump off before it entirely

-disappeared in the ground, which opened and shut just like a snuffbox.

-

-“Wat blikslager is dat!” exclaimed he, out of breath; “my pread rises

-downward dis dime, I dink. My customers must go widout to-day.”

-

-By-and-by his customers came for hot rolls and muffins, but some of

-them had gone up and some down, as little Boss Boomptie related after

-the manner just described. What is very remarkable, nobody believed

-him; and doubtless, if there had been any rival baker in New-Amsterdam,

-the boss would have lost all his customers. Among those that called on

-this occasion, was the ugly old woman with the sharp eyes, nose, chin,

-voice, and leather spectacles.

-

-“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed she, as before.

-

-“Vuur en vlammen!” muttered he, as he counted out the twelve cakes.

-

-“I want one more!” screamed she.

-

-“Den you may co to de duyvel and kit it, I say, for not anoder shall

-you haf here, I dell you.”

-

-So the old woman took her twelve cakes, and went out grumbling, as

-before. All the time she staid, Boomptie's old dog, who followed him

-wherever he went, growled and whined, as it were, to himself, and

-seemed mightily relieved when she went away. That very night, as

-the little baker was going to see one of his old neighbours at the

-_Maiden's Valley_, then a little way out of town walking, as he always

-did, with his hands behind him, every now and then he felt something as

-cold as death against them, which he could never account for, seeing

-there was not a soul with him but his old dog. Moreover, Mrs. Boomptie,

-having bought half a pound of tea at a grocery store, and put it into

-her pocket, did feel a twitching and jerking of the paper of tea in

-her pocket, every step she went. The faster she ran the quicker and

-stronger was the twitching and jerking, so that when the good woman got

-home she was nigh fainting away. On her recovery she took courage, and

-pulled the tea out of her pocket, and laid it on the table, when behold

-it began to move by fits and starts, jumped off the table, hopped out

-of doors, all alone by itself, and jigged away to the place from whence

-it came. The grocer brought it back again, but Madam Boomptie looked

-upon the whole as a judgment for her extravagance, in laying out so

-much money for tea, and refused to receive it again. The grocer assured

-her that the strange capers of the bundle were owing to his having

-forgot to cut the twine with which he had tied it; but the good woman

-looked upon this as an ingenious subterfuge, and would take nothing but

-her money. When the husband and wife came to compare notes, they both

-agreed they were certainly bewitched. Had there been any doubt of the

-matter, subsequent events would soon have put it to rest.

-

-That very night Mrs. Boomptie was taken after a strange way. Sometimes

-she would laugh about nothing, and then she would cry about nothing;

-then she would set to work and talk about nothing for a whole hour

-without stopping, in a language nobody could understand; and then, all

-at once, her tongue would cleave to the roof of her mouth, so that

-it was impossible to force it away. When this fit was over she would

-get up and dance double trouble, till she tired herself out, when she

-fell asleep, and waked up quite rational. It was particularly noticed

-that when she talked loudest and fastest, her lips remained perfectly

-closed, without motion, and her mouth wide open, so that the words

-seemed to come from down her throat. Her principal talk was railing

-against Dominie Laidlie, the good pastor of Garden-street Church,

-whence everybody concluded that she was possessed by a devil. Sometimes

-she got hold of a pen, and though she had never learned to write, would

-scratch and scrawl certain mysterious and diabolical figures, that

-nobody could understand, and everybody said must mean something.

-

-As for little Boss Boomptie, he was worse off than his wife. He was

-haunted by an invisible hand, which played him all sorts of scurvy

-tricks. Standing one morning at his counter, talking to one of the

-neighbours, he received a great box on the ear, whereat being exceeding

-wroth, he returned it with such interest on the cheek of his neighbour,

-that he laid him flat on the floor. His friend hereupon took the law of

-him, and proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that he had both

-hands in his breeches pockets at the time Boss Boomptie said he gave

-him the box on the ear. The magistrate not being able to come at the

-truth of the matter, fined them each twenty-five guilders for the use

-of the dominie.

-

-A dried codfish was one day thrown at his head, and the next minute his

-walking stick fell to beating him, though nobody seemed to have hold of

-it A chair danced about the room, and at last alighted on the dinner

-table, and began to eat with such a good appetite, that had not the

-children snatched some of the dinner away, there would have been none

-left. The old cow one night jumped over the moon, and a pewter dish

-ran fairly off with a horn spoon, which seized a cat by the tail, and

-away they all went together, as merry as crickets. Sometimes, when Boss

-Boomptie had money, or cakes, or perhaps a loaf of bread in his hand,

-instead of putting them in their proper places, he would throw them

-into the fire, in spite of his teeth, and then the invisible hand would

-beat him with a bag of flour, till he was as white as a miller. As for

-keeping his accounts, that was out of the question; whenever he sat

-himself down to write his ink horn was snatched away by the invisible

-hand, and by-and-by it would come tumbling down the chimney. Sometimes

-an old dishcloth would be pinned to the skirt of his coat, and then a

-great diabolical laugh heard under the floor. At night he had a pretty

-time of it. His nightcap was torn off his head, his hair pulled out by

-handfuls, his face scratched, and his ears pinched as if with a red-hot

-pincers. If he went out in the yard at night, he was pelted with

-brickbats, sticks, stones, and all sorts of filthy missives; and if he

-staid at home, the ashes were blown upon his supper; and old shoes,

-instead of plates, seen on the table. One of the frying pans rang

-every night of itself for a whole hour, and a three-pronged fork stuck

-itself voluntarily into Boss Boomptie's back, without hurting him in

-the least. But what astonished the neighbours more than all, the little

-man, all at once, took to speaking in a barbarous and unknown jargon,

-which was afterwards found out to be English.

-

-These matters frightened some of the neighbours and scandalized others,

-until at length poor Boomptie's shop was almost deserted. People were

-jealous of eating his bread, for fear of being bewitched. Nay, more

-than one little urchin complained grievously of horrible, out of the

-way pains in the stomach, after eating two or three dozen of his

-Newyear cookies.

-

-Things went on in this way until Newyear's eve came round again, when

-Boss Boomptie was sitting behind his counter, which was wont to be

-thronged with customers on this occasion, but was now quite deserted.

-While thinking on his present miserable state and future prospects, all

-of a sudden the little ugly old woman, with a sharp nose, sharp chin,

-sharp eyes, sharp voice, and leather spectacles, again stood before

-him, leaning on her crooked black cane.

-

-“Ben je bedondered?” exclaimed Boss Boomptie, “what to you want now?”

-

-“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed the old creature.

-

-The little man counted out twelve, as before.

-

-“I want one more!” screamed she, louder than ever.

-

-“Men weet hoe een koe een haas vangen kan!” cried the boss, in a rage;

-“den want will pe your masder.”

-

-She offered him six stivers, which he indignantly rejected, saying,

-

-“I want none of your duyvel's stuyvers—begone, duyvel's huysvrouw!”

-

-The old woman went her way, mumbling and grumbling as usual.

-

-“By Saint Johannes de Dooper,” quoth Boss Boomptie, “put she's a

-peaudy!”

-

-That night, and all the week after, the brickbats flew about

-Knickerbocker Hall like hail, insomuch that Boss Boomptie marvelled

-where they could all come from, until one morning, after a terrible

-shower of bricks, he found, to his great grief and dismay, that his

-oven had disappeared; next went the top of his chimney; and when that

-was gone, these diabolical sinners began at the extreme point of the

-gable end, and so went on picking at the two edges downward, until they

-looked just like the teeth of a saw, as may be still seen in some of

-our old Dutch houses.

-

-“Onbegrypelik!” cried Boss Boomptie, “put it's too pad to have my

-prains peat out wid my own prickpats.”

-

-About the same time a sober respectable cat, that for years had done

-nothing but sit purring in the chimney corner, all at once got the

-duyvel in her, and after scratching the poor man half to death, jumped

-out of the chimney and disappeared. A Whitehall boatman afterwards saw

-her in Buttermilk Channel, with nothing but the tail left, swimming

-against the tide as easy as kiss your hand. Poor Mrs. Boomptie had

-no peace of her life, what with pinchings, stickings of needles, and

-talking without opening her mouth. But the climax of the malice of the

-demon which beset her was in at last tying up her tongue, so that she

-could not speak at all, but did nothing but sit crying and wringing her

-hands in the chimney corner.

-

-These carryings on brought round Newyear's eve again, when Boss

-Boomptie thought he would have a frolic, “in spite of de duyvel,” as

-he said, which saying was, somehow or other, afterwards applied to

-the creek at Kingsbridge. So he commanded his wife to prepare him a

-swinging mug of hot spiced rum, to keep up his courage against the

-assaults of the brickbats. But what was the dismay of the little man

-when he found that every time he put the beverage to his lips he

-received a great box on the ear, the mug was snatched away by an

-invisible hand, and every single drop drank out of it before it came to

-Boss Boomptie's turn. Then as if it was an excellent joke, he heard a

-most diabolical laugh down in the cellar.

-

-“Goeden Hemel! Is het mogelyk!” exclaimed the little man in despair.

-This was attacking him in the very intrenchments of his heart. It was

-worse than the brickbats.

-

-“Saint Nicholas! Saint Nicholas! what will become of me—what sal ich

-doon, mynheer?”

-

-Scarcely had he uttered this pathetic appeal, when there was a sound

-of horses' hoofs in the chimney, and presently a light wagon, drawn by

-a little, fat, gray 'Sopus pony, came trundling into the room, loaded

-with all sorts of knickknacks. It was driven by a jolly, fat, little

-rogue of a fellow, with a round sparkling eye, and a mouth which would

-certainly have been laughing had it not been for a glorious Meershaum

-pipe, which would have chanced to fall out in that case. The little

-rascal had on a three-cornered cocked hat, decked with old gold lace;

-a blue Dutch sort of a short pea jacket, red waistcoat, breeks of the

-same colour, yellow stockings, and honest thick-soled shoes, ornamented

-with a pair of skates. Altogether he was a queer figure—but there was

-something so irresistibly jolly and good-natured in his face, that Boss

-Boomptie felt his heart incline towards the stranger as soon as he saw

-him.

-

-“Orange Boven!” cried the good saint, pulling off his cocked hat, and

-making a low bow to Mrs. Boomptie, who sat tonguetied in the chimney

-corner.

-

-“Wat donderdag is dat?” said Boss Boomptie, speaking for his wife,

-which made the good woman very angry, that he should take the words out

-of her mouth.

-

-“You called on Saint Nicholas. Here am I,” quoth the jolly little

-saint. “In one word—for I am a saint of few words, and have my hands

-full of business to-night—in one word, tell me what you want.”

-

-“I am pewitched,” quoth Boss Boomptie. “The duyvel is in me, my house,

-my wife, my Newyear cookies, and my children. What shall I do?”

-

-“When you count a dozen you must count thirteen,” answered the wagon

-driver, at the same time cracking his whip, and clattering up the

-chimney, more like a little duyvel than a little saint.

-

-“Wat blixum!” muttered Boss Boomptie, “when you count a dozen you must

-count dirdeen! je mag even wel met un stokje in de goot roeron! I never

-heard of such counting. By Saint Johannes de Dooper, put Saint Nicholas

-is a great plockhead!”

-

-Just as he uttered this blasphemy against the excellent Saint Nicholas,

-he saw through the pane of glass, in the door leading from the spare

-room to the shop, the little ugly old woman, with the sharp eyes, sharp

-nose, sharp chin, sharp voice, and leather spectacles, alighting from a

-broomstick, at the street door.

-

-“Dere is de duyvel's kint come again,” quoth he, in one of his cross

-humours, which was aggravated by his getting just then a great box on

-the ear from the invisible hand. However, he went grumbling into the

-shop, for it was part of his religion never to neglect a customer, let

-the occasion be what it might.

-

-“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed the old beauty, as usual,

-and as usual Boss Boomptie counted out twelve.

-

-“I want another one,” screamed she still louder.

-

-“Aha!” thought Boss Boomptie, doubtless inspired by the jolly little

-caitiff, Saint Nicholas—”Aha! Het is goed visschen in troebel

-water—when you count dwalf, you must count dirdeen. Ha—ha! ho—ho—ho!”

-And he counted out the thirteenth cooky like a brave fellow.

-

-The old woman made him a low courtesy, and laughed till she might have

-shown her teeth, if she had had any.

-

-“Friend Boomptie,” said she, in a voice exhibiting the perfection of a

-nicely modulated scream—“Friend Boomptie, I love such generous little

-fellows as you, in my heart. I salute you,” and she advanced to kiss

-him. Boss Boomptie did not at all like the proposition; but, doubtless

-inspired by Saint Nicholas, he submitted with indescribable grace.

-

-At that moment, an explosion was heard inside the little glass pane,

-and the voice of Mrs. Boomptie crying out,

-

-“You false-hearted villain, have I found out your tricks at last!”

-

-“De Philistyner Onweetende!” cried Boss Boomptie. “She's come to her

-speech now!”

-

-“The spell is broken!” screamed the old woman with the sharp eyes,

-nose, chin, and voice. “The spell is broken, and henceforward a dozen

-is thirteen, and thirteen is a dozen! There shall be thirteen Newyear

-cookies to the dozen, as a type of the thirteen mighty states that are

-to arise out of the ruins of the government of faderland!”

-

-Thereupon she took a Newyear cake bearing the effigy of the blessed

-St. Nicholas, and caused Boss Boomptie to swear upon it, that for ever

-afterwards twelve should be thirteen, and thirteen should be twelve.

-After which, she mounted her broomstick and disappeared, just as the

-little old Dutch clock struck twelve. From that time forward, the

-spell that hung over the fortunes of little Boss Boomptie was broken;

-and ever after he became illustrious for baking the most glorious

-Newyear cookies in our country. Everything became as before: the little

-'prentice boys returned, mounted on the batch of bread, and their

-adventures may, peradventure, be told some other time. Finally, from

-that day forward no baker of New-Amsterdam was ever bewitched, at least

-by an ugly old woman, and a bakers dozen has been always counted as

-thirteen.

-

-

-

-

-                              THE GHOST.

-

-

-Some time in the year 1800 or 1801, I am not certain which, a man of

-the name of William Morgan—I don't mean the person whose “abduction”

-has made so much noise in the world—enlisted on board the United States

-frigate —— for a three years' cruise in the Mediterranean. He was an

-awful-looking person, six feet four inches high; a long pale visage

-deeply furrowed with wrinkles; sunken eyes far up towards his forehead;

-black exuberant hair standing on end as if he was always frightened at

-something; a sharp chin of a length proportioned to his height; teeth

-white, but very irregular; and the colour of his eyes what the writers

-on supernatural affairs call very singular and mysterious. Besides

-this, his voice was hollow and sepulchral; on his right arm were

-engraved certain mysterious devices, surmounted with the letters E. M.;

-and his tobacco box was of iron. His everyday dress was a canvass hat

-with a black riband band, a blue jacket, white trousers, and leather

-shoes. On Sundays he wore a white beaver, which, among sailors, bespoke

-something extraordinary, and on rainy days a pea jacket too short by

-half a yard. It is worthy of remark that Morgan entered on Friday;

-that the frigate was launched on Friday; that the master carpenter who

-built her was born on Friday; and that the squadron went to sea on

-Friday. All these singular coincidences, combined with his mysterious

-appearance, caused the sailors to look upon Morgan with some little

-degree of wonder.

-

-During the voyage to Gibraltar, Morgan's conduct served to increase

-the impression his appearance had made on the crew. He sometimes went

-without eating for several days together, at least no one ever saw him

-eat; and, if he ever slept at all, it was without shutting his eyes or

-lying down, for his messmates, one and all, swore that, wake at what

-time of the night they would, Morgan was seen sitting upright in his

-hammock, with his eyes glaring wide open. When his turn came to take

-his watch upon deck, his conduct was equally strange. He would stand

-stock still in one place, gazing at the stars, or the ocean, apparently

-unconscious of his situation; and when roused by his companions, tumble

-on the deck in a swoon. When he revived, he would fall to preaching

-the most strange and incomprehensible rhapsodies that ever were heard.

-In their idle hours upon the forecastle, Morgan told such stories

-about himself, and his strange escapes by sea and land, as caused

-the sailors' hair to stand on end, and made the jolly fellows look

-upon him as a person gifted with the privilege of living for ever. He

-often indeed hinted that he had as many lives as a cat, and several

-times offered to let himself be hanged for the gratification of his

-messmates. On more than one occasion, he was found lying on his back

-in his hammock, apparently without life, his eyes fixed and glassy,

-his limbs stiff and rigid, his lower jaw sunk down, and his pulse

-motionless, at least so his messmates swore when they went to call the

-doctor; though when the latter came he always found Morgan as well as

-ever he was in his life, and apparently unconscious of all that had

-happened.

-

-As they proceeded on the voyage, which proved for the most part a

-succession of calms, the sailors having little else to do, either

-imagined or invented new wonders about Morgan. At one time a little

-Welsh foretopman swore that as he was going to sit down to dinner, his

-canteen was snatched from under him by an invisible hand, and he fell

-plump on the deck. A second had his allowance of grog “abducted” in a

-mysterious manner, although he was ready to make oath he never had his

-eyes off it for a moment. A third had his tobacco box rifled, though it

-had never been out of his pocket. A fourth had a crooked sixpence, with

-a hole by which it was suspended from his neck by a riband, taken away

-without his ever being the wiser for it.

-

-These things at length reached the ears of Captain R————, who, the

-next time Morgan got into one of his trances, had him confined for

-four-and-twenty hours; and otherwise punished him in various ways

-on the recurrence of any one of these wonderful reports. All this

-produced no effect whatever either on Morgan or the crew, which at

-length had its wonder stretched to the utmost bounds by a singular

-adventure of our hero.

-

-One day, the squadron being about halfway across the Atlantic, and

-the frigate several leagues ahead with a fine breeze, there was an

-alarm of the magazine being on fire. Morgan was just coming on deck

-with a spoon in his hand, for some purpose or other, when hearing the

-cry of “magazine on fire,” he made one spring overboard. The fire was

-extinguished by the daring gallantry of an officer, now living, and

-standing in the first rank of our naval heroes. In the confusion and

-alarm, it was impossible to make any efforts to save Morgan; and it was

-considered a matter of course that he had perished in the ocean. Two

-days after, one of the other vessels of the squadron came alongside

-the frigate, and sent a boat on board with Billy Morgan. Twelve hours

-from the time of his leaping overboard, he had been found swimming away

-gallantly, with the spoon in his hand. When asked why he did not let it

-go, he replied that he kept it to help himself to salt water when he

-was dry. This adventure fixed in the minds of the sailors an obstinate

-opinion, that Morgan was either a dead man come to life again, or one

-that was not very easy to be killed.

-

-After this, Morgan continued his mysterious pranks. The sailors talked

-and wondered, and Captain R———— punished him, until the squadron was

-within two or three days' sail of Gibraltar, admitting the wind

-continued fair as it then was. Morgan had been punished pretty severely

-that morning for stargazing and falling into a swoon on his watch the

-night before, and had solemnly assured his messmates, that he intended

-to jump overboard and drown himself the first opportunity. He made his

-will, dressed himself in his best, and settled all his affairs. He

-also replenished his tobacco box, put his allowance of biscuit in his

-pocket, and filled a small canteen with water, which he strung about

-his neck; saying that perhaps he might take it into his head to live a

-day or two in the water, before he finally went to the bottom.

-

-Between twelve and one, the vessel being becalmed, the night a clear

-starlight, and the sentinels pacing their rounds, Morgan was distinctly

-seen to come up through the hatchway, walk forward, climb the bulwark,

-and let himself drop into the sea. A midshipman and two seamen

-testified to the facts; and Morgan being missing the next morning,

-there was no doubt of his having committed suicide by drowning himself.

-This affair occasioned much talk, and various were the opinions of the

-ship's crew on the subject. Some swore it was one Davy Jones who had

-been playing his pranks; others that it was no man, but a ghost or a

-devil that had got among them; and others were in daily expectation of

-seeing him come on board again, as much alive as ever he was.

-

-In the mean time, the squadron proceeded but slowly, being detained

-several days by calms and head winds, most of which were in some way or

-other laid to Billy Morgan by the gallant tars, who fear nothing but

-Fridays and men without heads. His fate, however, gradually ceased to

-be a subject of discussion, and the wonder was quickly passing away,

-when one night, about a week after his jumping overboard, the figure of

-Morgan, all pale and ghastly, his clothes hanging wet about him—with

-eyes more sunken, hair more upright, and face more thin and cadaverous

-than ever, was seen by one of his messmates, who happened to be lying

-awake, to emerge slowly from the forepart of the ship, approach one of

-the tables where there was a can of water, from which it took a hearty

-draught, and disappear in the direction whence it came. The sailor told

-the story next morning, but as yet very few believed him.

-

-The next night the same figure appeared, and was seen by a different

-person from him by whom it was first observed. It came from the same

-quarter again, helped itself to a drink, and disappeared in the same

-direction it had done before. The story of Morgan's ghost, in the

-course of a day or two, came to the ears of Captain R————, who caused

-a search to be made in that part of the vessel whence the ghost had

-come; under the impression that the jumping overboard of Morgan had

-been a deception, and that he was now secreted on board the ship. The

-search ended, however, without any discovery. The calms and head winds

-still continued, and not a sailor on board but ascribed them to Billy

-Morgan's mysterious influence. The ghost made its appearance again

-the following night after the search, when it was seen, by another of

-Morgan's messmates, to empty his tobacco box, and seize some of the

-fragments of supper, which had been accidentally left on a table, with

-which it again vanished in the manner before described. The sailor

-swore that when the ghost made free with his tobacco box, he attempted

-to lay hold of him, but felt nothing in his hand, except something

-exactly like cold water.

-

-Captain R———— was excessively provoked at these stories, and caused

-another and still more thorough search to be made, but without any

-discovery. He then directed a young midshipman to keep watch between

-decks. That night the ghost again made its appearance, and the

-courageous young officer sallied out upon it; but the figure darted

-away with inconceivable velocity, and disappeared. The midshipman,

-as directed, immediately informed Captain R————, who instituted an

-immediate search, but with as little success as before. By this time

-there was not a sailor on board that was not afraid of his shadow, and

-even the officers began to be infected with a superstitious dread. At

-length the squadron arrived at Gibraltar, and came to in the bay of

-Algesiras, where the ships remained some days waiting the arrival of

-those they had come to relieve. About the usual hour that night, the

-ghost of Billy Morgan again appeared to one of his messmates, offered

-him its hand, and saying “Good-by, Tom,” disappeared as usual.

-

-It was a fortnight or more before the relief squadron sailed up the

-Mediterranean, during which time the crews of the ships were permitted

-to take their turn to go on shore. On one of these occasions, a

-messmate of Billy Morgan, named Tom Brown, was passing through a

-tolerably dark lane in the suburbs of Algesiras, when he heard a

-well-known voice call out, “Tom, Tom, d—n your eyes, don't you know

-your old messmate?” Tom knew the voice, and looking round, recognised

-his old messmate Morgan's ghost. But he had no inclination to renew the

-acquaintance; he took to his heels, and without looking behind him to

-see if the ghost followed, ran to the boat where his companions were

-waiting, and told the story as soon as he could find breath for the

-purpose. This reached the ear of Captain R————, who, being almost sure

-of the existence of Morgan, applied to the governor of the town, who

-caused search to be made everywhere without effect. No one had ever

-seen such a person. That very night the ghost made its appearance on

-board the frigate, and passed its cold wet hand over the face of Tom

-Brown, to whom Morgan had left his watch and chest of clothes. The poor

-fellow bawled out lustily; but before any pursuit could be made, the

-ghost had disappeared in the forward part of the ship as usual. After

-this Billy again appeared two or three times alternately to some one

-of his old messmates; sometimes in the town, at others on board the

-frigate, but always in the dead of night. He seemed desirous to say

-something particular, but could never succeed in getting any of the

-sailors to listen quietly to the communication. The last time he made

-his appearance at Algesiras, on board the frigate, he was heard by one

-of the sailors to utter, in a low hollow whisper, “You shall see me at

-Malta;” after which he vanished as before.

-

-Caption R—— was excessively perplexed at these strange and

-unaccountable visitations, and instituted every possible inquiry

-into the circumstances in the hope of finding some clew to explain

-the mystery. He again caused the ship to be examined with a view to

-the discovery either of the place where Morgan secreted himself, or

-the means by which he escaped from the vessel. He questioned every

-man on board, and threatened the severest punishment, should he ever

-discover that they deceived him in their story, or were accomplices

-in the escape of Morgan. He even removed everything in the forward

-part of the ship, and rendered it impossible for any human being to

-be there without being detected. The whole resulted in leaving the

-affair involved in complete mystery, and the squadron proceeded up the

-Mediterranean, to cruise along the African coast, and rendezvous at

-Malta.

-

-It was some weeks before the frigate came to the latter place, and in

-the mean time, as nothing had been seen of the ghost, it was concluded

-that the shade of Billy Morgan was appeased, or rather the whole affair

-had been gradually forgotten. Two nights after her arrival, a party

-of sailors, being ashore at La Vallette, accidentally entered a small

-tavern in a remote part of the suburbs, where they commenced a frolic,

-after the manner of those amphibious bipeds. Among them was the heir

-of Billy Morgan, who about three or four in the morning went to bed,

-not quite as clear headed as he might have been. He could not tell how

-long he had been asleep, when he was awakened by a voice whispering in

-his ear, “Tom, Tom, wake up!” On opening his eyes, he beheld, by the

-pale light of the morning, the ghastly figure of Billy Morgan leaning

-over his bed and glaring at him with eyes like saucers. Tom cried,

-“Murder! ghost! Billy Morgan!” as loud as he could bawl, until he

-roused the landlord, who came to know what was the matter. Tom related

-the whole affair, and inquired if he had seen anything of the figure

-he described. Mine host utterly denied having seen or ever heard of

-such a figure as Billy Morgan, and so did all his family. The report

-was again alive on board the frigate, that Billy Morgan's ghost had

-taken the field once more. “Heaven and earth!” cried Captain R————, “is

-Billy Morgan's ghost come again? Shall I never get rid of this infernal

-spectre, or whatever else it may be?”

-

-Captain R———— immediately ordered his barge, waited on the governor,

-explained the situation of his crew, and begged his assistance in

-apprehending the ghost of Billy Morgan, or Billy himself, as the case

-might be. That night the governor caused the strictest search to be

-made in every hole and corner of the little town of La Vallette; but in

-vain. No one had seen that remarkable being, corporeal or spiritual;

-and the landlord of the house where the spectre appeared, together with

-all his family, utterly denied any knowledge of such a person or thing.

-It is little to be wondered at, that the search proved ineffectual,

-for that very night Billy took a fancy to appear on board the frigate,

-where he again accosted his old friend Tom, to whom he had bequeathed

-all his goods and chattels. But Tom had no mind for a confidential

-communication with the ghost, and roared out so lustily, as usual, that

-it glided away and disappeared as before, without being intercepted in

-the confusion which followed.

-

-Captain R———— was in despair; never was man so persecuted by a ghost

-in this world before. The ship's crew were in a state of terror and

-dismay, insomuch that had an Algerine come across them they might

-peradventure have surrendered at discretion. They signed a round robin,

-drawn up by one of Billy Morgan's old messmates, representing to

-Captain R———— the propriety of running the ship ashore, and abandoning

-her entirely to the ghost, which now appeared almost every night,

-sometimes between decks, at others on the end of the bowsprit, and

-at others cutting capers on the yards and topgallant mast. The story

-spread into the town of La Vallette, and nothing was talked of but the

-ghost of Billy Morgan, which now began to appear occasionally to the

-sentinels of the fort, one of whom had the courage to fire at it, by

-which he alarmed the whole island and made matters ten times worse than

-ever.

-

-From Malta the squadron, after making a cruise of a few weeks,

-proceeded to Syracuse, with the intention of remaining some time. They

-were obliged to perform a long quarantine; the ships were strictly

-examined by the health officers, and fumigated with brimstone, to

-the great satisfaction of the crew of the frigate, who were in great

-hopes this would drive away Billy Morgan's ghost. These hopes were

-strengthened by their seeing no more of that troublesome visiter during

-the whole time the quarantine continued. The very next night after the

-expiration of the quarantine, Billy again visited his old messmate

-and heir Tom Brown, lank, lean, and dripping wet, as usual, and after

-giving him a rousing shake, whispered, “Hush, Tom; I want to speak to

-you about my watch and chest of clothes.” But Tom had no inclination

-to converse with his old friend, and cried out “Murder” with all his

-might; when the ghost vanished as before, muttering, as Tom swore, “You

-bloody infernal lubber.”

-

-The reappearance of the ghost occasioned greater consternation than

-ever among the crew of the good ship, and it required all the

-influence of severe punishments to keep them from deserting on every

-occasion. Poor Tom Brown, to whom the devoirs of the spectre seemed

-most especially directed, left off swearing and chewing tobacco, and

-dwindled to a perfect shadow. He became very serious, and spent almost

-all his leisure time in reading chapters in the Bible or singing

-psalms. Captain R———— now ordered a constant watch all night between

-decks, in hopes of detecting the intruder; but all in vain, although

-there was hardly a night passed without Tom's waking and crying out

-that the ghost had just paid him a visit. It was, however, thought very

-singular, and to afford additional proof of its being a ghost, that on

-all these occasions, except two, it was invisible to everybody but Tom

-Brown.

-

-In addition to the vexation arising from this persevering and

-diabolical persecution of Billy's ghost, various other strange and

-unaccountable things happened almost every day on board the frigate.

-Tobacco boxes were emptied in the most mysterious manner, and in the

-dead of the night; sailors would sometimes be missing a whole day, and

-return again without being able to give any account of themselves;

-and not a few of them were overtaken with liquor, without their being

-ever the wiser for it, for they all swore they had not drunk a drop

-beyond their allowance. Sometimes, on going ashore on leave for a

-limited time, the sailors would be decoyed, as they solemnly assured

-the captain, by some unaccountable influence into strange, out of the

-way places, where they could not find their road back, and where they

-were found by their officers in a state of mysterious stupefaction,

-though not one had tasted a drop of liquor. On these occasions, they

-always saw the ghost of Billy Morgan, either flying through the air, or

-dancing on the tops of the steeples, with a fiery tail like a comet.

-Wonder grew upon wonder every day, until the wonder transcended the

-bounds of human credulity.

-

-At length, Tom Brown, the night after receiving a visit from Billy

-Morgan's ghost, disappeared, and was never heard of afterwards. As

-the chest of clothes inherited from his deceased messmate was found

-entirely empty, it might have been surmised that Tom had deserted,

-had not a sailor, who was on the watch, solemnly declared that he saw

-the ghost of Billy Morgan jump overboard with him in a flame of fire,

-and that he hissed like a red-hot ploughshare in the water. After

-this bold feat, the spectre appeared no more. The squadron remained

-some time at Syracuse, and various adventures befell the officers

-and crews, which those remaining alive tell of to this day. How

-Macdonough, then a madcap midshipman, “licked” the high constable of

-the town; how Burroughs quizzed the governor; what rows they kicked

-up at masquerades; what a dust they raised among the antiquities; and

-what wonders they whispered in the ear of Dionysius. From thence, they

-again sailed on a cruise, and after teaching the Bey of Tripoli a new

-way of paying tribute, and laying the foundation of that structure

-of imperishable glory which shall one day reach the highest heaven,

-returned home, after an absence of between two and three years. The

-crew of the frigate were paid off and discharged, and it is on record,

-as a wonder, that their three years' pay lasted some of them nearly

-three days. But though we believe in the ghost of Billy Morgan, we

-can scarcely credit this incredible wonder. Certain it is, that not a

-man of them ever doubted for a moment the reality of the spectre, or

-would have hesitated to make oath of having seen it more than once.

-Even Captain R———— spoke of it on his return, as one of those strange,

-inscrutable things, which baffle the efforts of human ingenuity, and

-seem to justify the most extraordinary relations of past and present

-times. His understanding revolted at the absurdity of a great part of

-the wonders ascribed to Billy Morgan's ghost; but some of the facts

-were so well attested, that a painful doubt would often pass over his

-mind, and dispose it to the reception of superstitious impressions.

-

-He remained in this state of mixed skepticism and credulity, when, some

-years after his return from the Mediterranean, being on a journey to

-the westward, he had occasion to halt at a log house, on the borders

-of the Tennessee, for refreshment. A man came forth to receive him,

-whom he at once recognised as his old acquaintance, Billy Morgan.

-“Heavens!” thought Captain R————, “here's Monsieur Tonson come again!”

-Billy, who had also found out who his guest was, when too late to

-retreat, looked rather sheepish, and invited him in with little of the

-frank hospitality characteristic of a genuine backwoodsman. Captain

-R—— followed him into the house, where he found a comely good-natured

-dame, and two or three yellow-haired boys and girls, all in a fluster

-at the stranger. The house had an air of comfort, and the mistress, by

-her stirring activity, accompanied with smiling looks withal, seemed

-pleased at the rare incident of a stranger's entering their door.

-

-Bill Morgan was at first rather shy and awkward. But finding Captain

-R—— treated him with good-humoured frankness, he, in the course of

-the evening, when the children were gone to bed, and the wife busy in

-milking the cows, took occasion to accost his old commander.

-

-“Captain, I hope you don't mean to shoot me for a deserter?”

-

-“By no means,” said the captain, smiling; “there would be little use in

-shooting a ghost, or a man with as many lives as a cat.”

-

-Billy Morgan smiled rather a melancholy smile. “Ah! captain, you have

-not forgot the ghost, I see. But it is a long time to remember an old

-score, and I hope you'll forgive me.”

-

-“On one condition I will,” replied Captain R————; “that you tell me

-honestly how you managed to make all my sailors believe they saw you,

-night after night, on board the ship as well as on shore.”

-

-“They did see me,” replied Billy, in his usual sepulchral voice.

-

-The captain began to be in some doubt whether he was talking to Billy

-Morgan or his ghost.

-

-“You don't pretend to say you were really on board my vessel all the

-time?”

-

-“No, not all the time, only at such times as the sailors saw me—except

-previous to our arrival at Gibraltar.”

-

-“Then their seeing you jump overboard was all a deception.”

-

-“By no means, sir; I did jump overboard—but then I climbed back again,

-directly after.”

-

-“The deuse you did—explain.”

-

-“I will, sir, as well as I am able. I was many years among the Sandwich

-Islanders, where the vessel in which I was a cabin boy was wrecked,

-a long time ago, and I can pass whole hours, I believe days, in the

-water, without being fatigued, except for want of sleep. I have also

-got some of their other habits, such as a great dislike to hard work,

-and a liking for going where I will, and doing just what I please. The

-discipline of a man-of-war did not suit me at all, and I grew tired

-after a few days. To pass the time, and to make fun for myself with the

-sailors, I told them stories of my adventures, and pretended that I

-could live in the water, and had as many lives as a cat. Besides this,

-as you know, I played them many other pranks, partly for amusement, and

-partly from a kind of pride I felt in making them believe I was half

-a wizard. The punishment you gave me, though I own I deserved it, put

-me out of all patience, and I made up my mind to desert the very first

-opportunity. I had an old shipmate with me, whom I could trust, and we

-planned the whole thing together. I knew if I deserted at Gibraltar,

-or any of the ports of the Mediterranean, I should almost certainly be

-caught, and shot as an example; and for this reason we settled that

-I should jump overboard, return again, and hide myself in a coil of

-cable which was stowed away between decks, close to the bows, where

-it was dark even in the daytime. My messmate procured a piece of old

-canvass, with which I might cover myself if necessary. To make my

-jumping overboard have a greater effect on the crew, and to provide

-against accidents until the ship arrived at Gibraltar, I took care to

-fill my tobacco box with tobacco, my pockets with biscuits, and to

-sling a canteen of water round my neck, as I told them perhaps I might

-take it into my head not to go to the bottom for two or three days. I

-got Tom Brown to write my will, intending to leave my watch and chest

-to my messmate, who was to return them to me at Gibraltar, the first

-chance he could get. But Tom played us a trick, and put his own name in

-place of my friend's. Neither he nor I were any great scholars, and the

-trick was not found out till afterwards, when my friend was afraid of

-discovery, if he made any rout about the matter.”

-

-“Who was your friend?” asked Captain R————.

-

-“He is still alive, and in service. I had rather not mention his name.”

-

-“Very well,” replied Captain R————, “go on.”

-

-“That night I jumped overboard.”

-

-“How did you get back into the ship?” asked the captain, hastily.

-

-“Why, sir, the forward porthole, on the starboard side, was left open,

-with a bit of rope fastened to the gun, and hanging down so that I

-could catch it.”

-

-The captain struck his forehead with the palm of his hand, and said to

-himself,

-

-“What a set of blockheads we were!”

-

-“Not so great as might have been expected,” said honest Billy Morgan,

-intending to compliment the captain; but it sounded directly the

-contrary.

-

-“As soon as I had jumped overboard I swam to the rope, which I held

-fast, waiting the signal from my friend to climb up and hide myself in

-the coil of cable. In the bustle which followed it was easy enough to

-do this, and nobody saw me but my friend. Here I remained in my wet

-clothes, rather uncomfortably, as you may suppose, until my provision

-and water were expended, and my tobacco box empty. I calculated they

-would last till we arrived at Gibraltar, when nothing would have

-been easier for me than to jump out of the porthole and swim ashore.

-But the plaguy head winds and calms, which I dare say you remember,

-delayed the squadron several days longer than I expected, and left me

-without supply. I could have gone without biscuit and water, but it

-was impossible to live without tobacco. My friend had promised to come

-near enough to hear signals of distress sometimes, but, as he told me

-afterwards, he was confined several days for picking a quarrel with Tom

-Brown, whom he longed to flog for forging the will.

-

-“I remained in this state until I was nearly starved, when, not being

-able to stand it any longer, I one night, when everybody between decks

-seemed fast asleep, crept out from my hiding place, where I was coiled

-up in the shape of a cable, and finding a pitcher of water, took a

-hearty drink out of it. This was as far as I dared go at that time,

-so I went back again as quietly as possible. But I was too hungry to

-remain quiet, though among the Sandwich Islanders I had been used to go

-without eating for days at a time. The next night I crept out again,

-and was lucky enough to get a pretty good supply of provisions, which

-happened to be left by some accident in the way. Two or three times I

-heard search making for me, and was very much frightened lest I should

-be found out in my hole.”

-

-“How was it possible for the blockheads to miss you?” asked Captain

-R————.

-

-“Why, sir, they did come to the cable tier where I was, but I believe

-they were too much frightened to look into it, or could not see me in

-the dark hole. They did not lift the canvass that covered me either

-of the times they came. The night I found the officer on the watch,

-I gave myself up for gone; but as luck would have it, my friend was

-now out of limbo, and always took care to examine the coil of cable so

-carefully, that nobody thought of looking into it after him. When we

-arrived at the bay of Algesiras, I took an opportunity to frighten Tom

-Brown a little, by visiting him in the night and bidding him good-by,

-after which I slipped quietly out of the porthole, and swam ashore,

-while my friend pulled up the rope and shut the port after me as usual.”

-

-“But how did you manage to escape from the search made by the police at

-Algesiras?”

-

-“Oh, sir! I was on board the frigate all the time in my old hiding

-place.”

-

-“And when the ship was searched directly after?”

-

-“I was ashore at that time.”

-

-“And how did you manage at Malta?”

-

-“The landlord was my sworn brother, and wouldn't have blabbed for a

-thousand pounds.”

-

-“And the capers on the yardarm and topgallant, the visits paid to Tom

-Brown at Syracuse, and the wonderful stories told by the sailors of

-being robbed of their tobacco, getting tipsy upon nothing, and being

-led astray by nobody? What do you say to all this, Mr. Ghost?” said the

-captain, smiling.

-

-“I never paid but two visits to the ship, so far is I remember, sir,

-after she left Malta. One was the night I wanted to talk with Tom

-Brown, the other when he disappeared the night afterwards. The rest of

-the stories were all owing to the jokes of some of the sailors, and the

-fears of the others.”

-

-“But you are sure you did not jump into the sea with Tom Brown, in a

-flame of fire?”

-

-“Yes, sir, as I am an honest man. Tom got away without any help of

-mine, and without my ever knowing how, until a long time afterwards,

-when I accidentally met him at Liverpool.”

-

-“Well?”

-

-“He was not to be convinced I was living, but ran away as hard as he

-could, and to this day believes in ghosts as much as he does in his

-being alive himself.”

-

-“So far all is clear enough,” said Captain R————; “but what could

-possibly induce you to put yourself in the way of being caught after

-escaping, by visiting the ship and letting yourself be seen?”

-

-“I wanted to see Tom Brown, sir.”

-

-“Why so?”

-

-“I wanted to get back my watch and clothes from him.”

-

-“Oh! I see it now. But had you no other object?”

-

-“Why, I'll tell you, sir; besides that, I had a sort of foolish pride,

-all my life, in frightening people, and making them wonder at me, by

-telling tough stories, or doing strange things. I haven't got over it

-to this day, and have been well beaten two or three times, besides

-being put in jail, for playing the ghost hereabout, with the country

-people, at court time. I confess too, sir, that I have once or twice

-frightened my wife almost into fits, by way of a frolic; and for all

-the trouble it has brought upon me, I believe in my soul I shall play

-the ghost till I give up the ghost at last. Besides this, the truth is,

-sir, I had a little spite at you for having put me in the bilboes for

-some of these pranks, as I deserved, and had no objection to pay you

-off, by breeding trouble in the ship.”

-

-“Truly, you succeeded wonderfully; but what became of you afterwards?”

-

-“Why, sir, after Tom Brown deserted, and, to quiet his conscience, left

-my watch and clothes to my friend, I had no motive for playing the

-ghost any more. I shipped in an American merchantman for Smyrna—from

-thence I went to Gibraltar—and after voyaging a year or two, and saving

-a few hundred dollars, came to Boston at last. I did not dare to stay

-along shore, for fear of being known by some of the officers of the

-squadron, so I took my money and my bundle and went into the back

-country. I am a little of everything, a jack of all trades, and turned

-farmer, as sea captains often do when they are tired of ploughing the

-ocean. I get on pretty well now, and hope you won't have me shot by a

-court martial.”

-

-“No,” replied Captain R————, “I am out of the navy now. I have turned

-farmer too, and you are quite safe.”

-

-“I hope you prosper well, sir?”

-

-“Not quite as well as you, Billy—I have come into the backwoods to see

-if I can do better.”

-

-“Only serve under me,” said Billy,“ and I will repay all your good

-offices.”

-

-“What, the floggings, _et cetera_?”

-

-“By God's help, sir, I may,” said Billy. “Try me, sir.”

-

-“No—I am going on a little farther.”

-

-“You may go farther, and fare worse, sir.”

-

-“Perhaps so—but I believe it is bedtime, and so good-night, Mr. Ghost.”

-

-Captain R———— retired very quietly to his room, went to bed, and slept

-like a top, till the broad sun shone over the summits of the trees into

-his face, as he lay under the window. He breakfasted sumptuously, and

-set out gallantly for the prairies of St. Louis.

-

-“Good-by, captain,” said Billy, leering, and lengthening his face to a

-supernatural degree. “I hope you won't meet any ghosts on your way.”

-

-“Good-by, Billy,” replied Captain R————, a little nettled at this joke.

-“I hope you will not get into the state prison for playing the ghost.”

-

-“I'll take care of that, sir; I've been in the state prison already,

-and you won't catch me there again, I warrant you.”

-

-“What do you mean, Billy?”

-

-“I mean, that there is little or no odds between a state ship and a

-state prison,” said Billy, with a face longer than ever, and a most

-expressive shrug.

-

-Captain R———— proceeded on his way, reflecting on the singular story

-of Billy Morgan, whose pranks on board the frigate had convinced some

-hundreds of men of the existence of ghosts, and thrown the gloom of

-superstitious horror over the remainder of their existence. “Not a

-sailor,” thought he, “out of more than five hundred, with the exception

-of a single one, but will go to his grave in the full belief of the

-appearance of Billy Morgan's ghost. What an unlucky rencounter this of

-mine; it has spoiled one of the best-authenticated ghost stories of the

-age.”

-

-

-

-

-THE

-

-NYMPH OF THE MOUNTAIN.

-

-

-In a certain corner of the Bay State there once stood, and we hope will

-continue to nourish long and happily, a snug town, now promoted to be

-a city, the name of which is not material to our purpose. Here in a

-great shingle palace, which would have been a very comfortable edifice

-had it only been finished, lived a reputable widow, well to do in the

-world, and the happy mother of a promising lad, a wonderful clever boy,

-as might be expected. In fact, Shearjashub (that was his name) was no

-bad specimen of the country lad. He was hardy, abstemious, independent,

-and _cute_ withal; and before he was a man grown, made a great bargain

-once out of a travelling merchant, a Scotchman, who chanced that way.

-Besides this, he was a mechanical genius; and, though far from being

-lazy, delighted in the invention of labour-saving machines, some of

-which were odd enough. He peeled all his mother's pumpkins by water,

-and spun her flax with a windmill. Nay, it was reported of him, that he

-once invented a machine for digging graves upon speculation, by which

-he calculated he should certainly have made his fortune, had not the

-people of the village all with one accord taken it into their heads to

-live for ever. The name of the family was Yankee, they having been the

-first that had intercourse with the Indians, who called them Yankee,

-because they could not say English.

-

-The Widow Yankee was a right pious, meeting-going woman, who held it

-to be a great want of faith not to believe in everything; especially

-everything out of the way and impossible. She was a great amateur of

-demonology and witchcraft. Moreover, she was gifted with a reasonable

-share of curiosity, though it is recorded that once she came very near

-missing to get at the bottom of a secret. The story ran as follows:—

-

-One day, as she was sitting at her window, which had a happy aspect for

-overlooking the affairs of the village, she saw a mysterious-looking

-man, with a stick in his hand and a pipe in his mouth, walking exactly

-three feet behind a white cow. The same thing happened precisely at the

-same hour in the same manner the next day, and so continued for some

-time. The first week the widow began to think it rather odd; the second

-she began to think it quite strange; the third it became altogether

-mysterious; and the fourth the poor woman took to her bed, of the

-disease of the man and the cow.

-

-Doctor Calomel undertook the cure in a new and original manner, to wit,

-without the use of medicine. He wrought upon the mysterious cowdriver

-to come to the widow's house, and tell her the whole secret of the

-business. When he came into the room the sick woman raised herself up,

-and in a faint voice addressed him as follows:—

-

-“Mysterious man! I conjure thee to tell me what under the sun makes

-thee always follow that cow about every day at the same hour, and at

-the same distance from her tail?”

-

-“Because the cow always goes before me!” replied the mysterious man.

-

-Upon which the widow jumped out of her sick bed, seized an old shoe,

-fired it at the mysterious man's head, and was miraculously cured from

-that moment. Doctor Calomel got into great practice thereupon.

-

-Shearjashub inherited a considerable share of his mother's inquiring

-disposition, and was very inquisitive about the affairs of other

-people; but, to do him justice, he took pretty good care to keep

-his own to himself, like a discreet lad as he was. Having invented

-so many labour-saving machines, Jashub, as he was usually called by

-the neighbours, thought it was great nonsense to work himself; so he

-set his machines going, and took to the amusement of killing time,

-which, in a country village, is no such easy matter. It required a

-considerable share of ingenuity. His favourite mode of doing this was

-taking his gun on his shoulder, and sallying forth into the fields and

-woods, followed by a cur, whose genealogy was perfectly mysterious.

-Nobody could tell to what family he belonged; certain it was, that

-he was neither “mongrel, puppy, whelp, nor hound,” but a cur of low

-degree, whose delight was to bask in the sun when he was not out with

-his young master.

-

-In this way Jashub would pass day after day, in what he called

-sporting; that is to say, toiling through tangled woods and rough bog

-meadows and swamps, that quivered like a jelly at every step, and

-returning home at night hungry as well as tired. Report said that he

-never was known to shoot anything; and thus far his time was spent

-innocently, if not improvingly.

-

-One fast-day, early in the spring of 1776, Jashub went forth as usual,

-with his gun on his shoulder, and little Snap (such was the name of the

-dog) at his heels. The early May had put on all her charms; a thousand

-little patches of wild violets were peeping forth with deep blue eyes;

-a thousand, yea, tens of thousands of little buds were expanding into

-leaves apace; and crowds of chirping birds were singing a hymn to the

-jolly laughing spring. Jashub could not find it in his heart to fire

-at them; but if he had, there would have been no danger, except of

-frightening the little warblers, and arresting their song.

-

-Beguiled by the beauties of Nature and her charming music, Jashub

-almost unconsciously wandered on until he came to the opening of a deep

-glen in the mountain, which rose at some miles distance, west of the

-village. It was formed by the passage of a pure crystal stream, which,

-in the course of ages, or perhaps by a single effort, had divided the

-mountain about the space of twenty yards, ten of which were occupied

-by the brook, which silently wound its way along the edge of steep and

-rocky precipices several hundred feet high, that formed the barriers of

-the glen on either side. These towering perpendicular masses of gray

-eternity were here and there green with the adventurous laurel, which,

-fastening its roots in the crevices, nodded over the mighty steep in

-fearful dizziness. Here and there a little spring gushed forth high up

-among the graybeard rocks, and trickled down their sides in silvery

-brightness. In other places patches of isinglass appeared, sparkling

-against the sober masses, and communicating a singularly lustrous

-character to the scene, which had otherwise been all gloomy solitude.

-

-Jashub gazed a while in apprehensive wonder, as he stood at the

-entrance of these everlasting gates. Curiosity prompted him to enter,

-and explore the recesses within, while a certain vague unwillingness

-deterred him. At length curiosity, or perhaps fate, which had decreed

-that he should become the instrument of her great designs, prevailed

-against all opposition, and he entered the gates of this majestic

-palace of nature. He slowly advanced, sometimes arrested by a certain

-feeling of mysterious awe; at others driven on by the power which had

-assumed the direction of his conduct, until he arrived at the centre

-of the hallowed solitude. Not a living thing breathed around him,

-except his little dog, and his gun trembled in his hand. All was

-gloom, silence, solitude, deep and profound. The brook poured forth

-no murmurs, the birds and insects seemed to have shunned the unsunned

-region, where everlasting twilight reigned; and the scream of the

-hawks, pursuing their way across the deep chasm, was hushed as they

-passed.

-

-Jashub was arrested by the melancholy grandeur of the scene, and his

-dog looked wistfully in his face, as if he wanted to go home. As he

-stood thus lingering, leaning on his gun, a merry strain broke forth

-upon the terrible silence, and echoed through the glen. The sound made

-him suddenly start, in doing which his foot somehow or other caught

-in the lock of his gun, which he had forgot to uncock, as was usual

-with him, and caused it to go off. The explosion rang through the

-recesses of the glen in a hundred repetitions, which were answered by

-the howlings of the little dog. As the echoes gradually subsided, and

-the smoke cleared away, the music again commenced. It was a careless,

-lively air, such as suited the taste of the young man, and he forgot

-his fears in his love of music.

-

-As he stood thus entranced he heard a voice, sweet, yet animating as

-the clear sound of the trumpet, exclaim,

-

-“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”

-

-Jashub's heart bounded into his throat, and prevented his answering. He

-loaded his gun, and stood on the defensive.

-

-In a moment after the same trumpet voice repeated the same words,

-

-“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”

-

-“What d'ye want, you tarnal kritter?” at length the young man answered,

-with a degree of courage that afterwards astonished him.

-

-“Listen—and look!”

-

-He listened and looked, but saw nothing, until a little flourish of the

-same sprightly tune directed his attention to the spot whence it came.

-

-High on the summit of the highest perpendicular cliff, which shone

-gorgeously with sparkling isinglass, seated under the shade of a tuft

-of laurels, he beheld a female figure, holding a little flageolet,

-and playing the sprightly air which he had just heard. Her height,

-notwithstanding the distance, appeared majestic; the flash of her

-bright beaming eye illumined the depths of the gloom, and her air

-seemed that of a goddess. She was dressed in simple robes of virgin

-white, and on her head she wore a cap, such as has since been

-consecrated to Liberty by my gallant countrymen.

-

-Shearjashub looked, trembled, and was silent. In a few minutes,

-however, his recollection returned.

-

-“Shearjashub!” exclaimed the lady of the rock, “listen!”

-

-But Shearjashub had given leg bail. Both he and his faithful squire,

-little Snap, had left the haunted glen as fast as their feet would

-carry them.

-

-He told the story when he got home, with some little exaggeration.

-Nobody believed him except the widow, his honoured mother, who had

-faith to swallow a camel. All the rest laughed at him, and the wicked

-damsels of the village were always joking about his mountain sweetheart.

-

-At last he got out of patience, and one day demanded of those who were

-bantering him what proof they would have of the truth of his story.

-

-“Why,” said old Deacon Mayhew, “I guess I should be considerably

-particular satisfied if you would bring us hum that same fife you heard

-the gal play on so finely.”

-

-“And I,” said another, “will believe the young squire if he'll play the

-same tune on it he heard yonder in the mountain.”

-

-Shearjashub was so pestered and provoked at last, that he determined to

-put his courage to the proof, and see whether it would bear him out in

-another visit to the chasm in the mountain. He thought he might as well

-be dead as have no comfort of his life.

-

-“I'll be darned if I don't go,” said he, and away he went, with no

-other company than his little dog. It was on the fourth day of July,

-1776, that Shearjashub wrought himself up to a second visit.

-

-“I'm just come of age this very day,” said he, “and I'll show the

-kritters I'm not made a man for nothing.”

-

-He certainly felt, as he afterwards confessed, a little skittish on

-this occasion, and his dog seemed not much to relish the excursion.

-Shearjashub had his gun, but had not the heart to fire at any of the

-birds that flitted about, and seemed as if they were not afraid of

-coming nigh him. His mind ran upon other matters entirely. He was a

-long while getting to the chasm in the mountain. Sometimes he would

-stop to rest, as he said to himself, though he was not in the least

-tired; sometimes he found himself standing still, admiring nothing;

-and once or twice actually detected his feet moving on their way home,

-instead of towards the mountain.

-

-On arriving at the vast gates that, as it were, guarded the entrance to

-the glen, he halted to consider the matter. All was silence, repose,

-gloom, and sublimity. His spirit at first sunk under the majesty of

-nature, but at length became gradually inspired by the scene before

-him with something of a kindred dignity. He marched forward with a

-vigorous step and firm heart, rendered the more firm by hearing and

-seeing nothing of the white nymph of the rock or her sprightly music.

-He hardly knew whether he wished to see her or not, if she appeared he

-might be inspired to run away again; and if she did not, the deacon and

-the girls would laugh at him worse than ever.

-

-With these conflicting thoughts he arrived at the very centre of the

-gloomy solitude, where he stood a few moments, expecting to hear the

-music. All was loneliness; Repose lay sleeping on his bed of rocks, and

-Silence reigned alone in her chosen retreat.

-

-“Is it possible that I was dreaming the other day, when I was here, as

-these tarnal kritters twit me I was?” asked the young man of himself.

-

-He was answered by the voice of the white girl of the mountain,

-exclaiming, in the same sweet yet clear, animating, trumpet tones,

-

-“Shearjashub! Shearjashub! listen.”

-

-Jashub's legs felt some little inclination to run away; but this time

-he kept his ground like a brave fellow.

-

-Again the same sprightly air echoed through the silence of the deep

-profound, in strains of animating yet simple, careless vivacity.

-Shearjashub began to feel himself inspired. He bobbed his head from

-side to side to suit the air, and was once or twice on the point of

-cutting a caper.

-

-He felt his bosom thrill with unwonted energies, and a new vigour

-animated his frame as he contemplated the glorious figure of the

-mountain nymph, and listened to her sprightly flageolet.

-

-“Shearjashub!” cried the nymph, after finishing her strain of music,

-“listen!”

-

-“Speak—I hear,” said the young man.

-

-“My name is Liberty; dost thou know me?”

-

-“I have heard my father and grandfather speak of thee, and say they

-came to the New World to seek thee.”

-

-“Well, I am found at last. Listen to me.”

-

-“Speak on.”

-

-“Your country has just devoted herself forever to me and my glory. Your

-countrymen have this day pronounced themselves freemen, and they shall

-be what they have willed, in spite of fate or fortune. But my blessings

-are never thrown away on cowards; they are to be gained by toil,

-suffering, hunger, wounds, and death; by courage and perseverance;

-by virtue and patriotism. The wrath and the mighty energies of the

-oppressor are now directed against your people; hunger assails them;

-force overmatches them, and their spirits begin to fail. Take this

-pipe,” and she flung him the little flageolet, which he caught in his

-hand. “Canst thou play on it? Try.”

-

-He put it to his lips, and to his surprise, produced the same animating

-strain he had heard from the nymph of the mountain.

-

-“Now go forth among the people and their armies, and inspire them for

-battle. Wherever thou goest with thy pipe, and whenever thou playest

-that air, I will be with thee and thy countrymen. Go, fear not; those

-who deserve me shall always win me. Farewell—we shall meet again.” So

-saying, she vanished behind the tuft of laurels.

-

-Shearjashub marched straight home with his pipe, and somehow or other

-felt he did not quite know how; he felt as if he could eat gunpowder,

-and snap his fingers at the deacon.

-

-“What the dickens has got in the kritter?” said the deacon, when he saw

-him strutting along like a captain of militia.

-

-“I declare, Jashub looks like a continental,” exclaimed the girls.

-

-Just then Shearjashub put his pipe to his mouth, and played the tune

-he had learned, as if by magic, from the mountain nymph; whereat

-Deacon Mayhew made for the little white meeting house, whither all

-the villagers followed him, and preached a sermon, calling on the

-people to rise and fight for liberty, in such stirring strains that

-forthwith all the men, young and old, took their muskets and went out

-in defence of their country, under the command of Shearjashub. Wherever

-he came he played the magic tune on his pipe, and the men, like those

-of his native village, took to their arms, and went forth to meet the

-oppressor, like little David against Goliath, armed with a sling and a

-stone.

-

-They joined the army of Liberty, which they found dispirited with

-defeat, and weak with suffering and want. They scarcely dared hope for

-success to their cause, and a general gloom depressed the hearts of all

-the true friends of freedom. In this state the enemy attacked them, and

-threw them into confusion, when Shearjashub came on at the head of his

-troops, playing his inspiring music with might and main. Wherever he

-went the sounds seemed to awaken the spirit of heroism in every breast.

-Those who were retreating rallied; and those who stood their ground

-maintained it more stoutly than ever. The victory remained with the

-sons of Liberty, and Shearjashub celebrated it with a tune on his pipe,

-which echoed through the whole land, and wakened it to new triumphs.

-

-After a hard and bloody struggle, in which the pipe of Shearjashub

-animated the very clods of the valley wherever he went, the promise of

-the nymph of the mountain was fulfilled. The countrymen of Shearjashub

-were free and independent. They were about to repose under the laurels

-they had reaped, and to wear what they had so dearly won.

-

-Shearjashub also departed for his native village with his pipe,

-which had so materially assisted in the attainment of the blessings

-of freedom. His way lay through the chasm in the mountain, where he

-first encountered the nymph with the cap and snow-white robe. He was

-anticipating the happiness of seeing his aged mother, who had lived

-through the long war, principally on the excitement of news, and the

-still more near and dear happiness of taking to his bosom the girl of

-his heart, Miss Prudence Worthy, as fair a maid as ever raised a sigh

-in the bosom of lusty youth.

-

-He had got to the centre of the glen when he was roused from his

-sweet anticipations by the well-remembered voice of the nymph of the

-mountain, who sat on the same inaccessible rock, under the same tuft of

-laurel, where he had first seen her, with an eagle at her side.

-

-“Shearjashub!” cried she, in a voice which made the echoes of the rocks

-mad with ecstasy—“Shearjashub! thou hast done well, and deserved nobly

-of thy country. The thought of that is, in itself, a glorious reward

-for toil, danger, and suffering. But thou shalt have one as dear, if

-not dearer than even this. Look where it comes.”

-

-Shearjashub looked, and beheld afar off a figure all in white coming

-towards him, at the entrance of the glen. It approached nearer, and it

-was a woman; nearer yet, and it was a young woman; still nearer, and

-Shearjashub rushed towards it, and kissed its blushing cheek. It was

-the girl of his heart, Miss Prudence Worthy.

-

-“This is thy other blessing,” exclaimed the mountain nymph, the

-sight of whom made Miss Prudence a little jealous; “a richer reward

-for noble exertions than a virtuous woman I know not of. Live free,

-live virtuous, and then thou wilt be happy. I shall be with thee an

-invisible witness, an invisible protector; but, in the mean while,

-should the spirit of the people ever flag, and their hearts fail them

-in time of peril, go forth among them as thou didst before, and rouse

-them with thy pipe and thy music. Farewell, and be happy!”

-

-The nymph disappeared, and the little jealous pang felt by Miss

-Prudence melted away in measureless confidence and love. The tune of

-the mountain nymph was played over and over again at Shearjashub's

-wedding, and ever afterwards became known by the name of YANKEE DOODLE.

-

-

-

-

-                                  THE

-                        RIDE OF SAINT NICHOLAS

-                                  ON

-                            NEWYEAR'S EVE.

-

-

-Of all the cities in this New World, that which once bore the name of

-Fort Orange, but now bears it no more, is the favourite of the good St.

-Nicholas. It is there that he hears the sound of his native language,

-and sees the honest Dutch pipe in the mouths of a few portly burghers,

-who, disdaining the pestilent innovations of modern times, still cling

-with honest obstinacy to the dress, the manners, and customs of old

-faderland. It is there, too that they have instituted a society in

-honour of the excellent saint, whose birthday they celebrate in a

-manner worthy of all commendation.

-

-True it is, that the city of his affections has from time to time

-committed divers great offences which sorely wounded the feelings of

-St. Nicholas, and almost caused him to withdraw his patronage from

-its backsliding citizens. First, by adopting the newfangled style of

-beginning the year at the bidding of the old lady of Babylon, whereby

-the jolly Newyear was so jostled out of place that the good saint

-scarcely knew where to look for it. Next, they essayed themselves to

-learn outlandish tongues, whereby they gradually sophisticated their

-own, insomuch that he could hardly understand them. Thirdly, they did,

-from time to time, admit into their churches preachings and singings

-in the upstart English language, until by degrees the ancient worship

-became adulterated in such a manner that the indignant St. Nicholas,

-when he first witnessed it, did, for the only time in his life, come

-near to uttering a great oath, by exclaiming, “Wat donderdag is dat?”

-Now be it known that had he said, “Wat donder is dat,” it would have

-been downright swearing; so you see what a narrow escape he had.

-

-Not content with these backslidings, the burghers of Fort Orange—a

-pestilence on all new names!—suffered themselves by degrees to be

-corrupted by various modern innovations, under the mischievous disguise

-of improvements. Forgetting the reverence due to their ancestors, who

-eschewed all internal improvement, except that of the mind and heart,

-they departed from the venerable customs of the faderland, and pulling

-down the old houses that, scorning all appearance of ostentation,

-modestly presented the little end to the street, began to erect in

-their places certain indescribable buildings, with the broadsides as

-it were turned frontwise, by which strange contortion the comeliness

-of Fort Orange was utterly destroyed. It is on record that a heavy

-judgment fell upon the head of the first man who adventured on this

-daring innovation. His money gave out before this monstrous novelty

-was completed, and he invented the pernicious system of borrowing and

-mortgaging, before happily unknown among these worthy citizens, who

-were utterly confounded, not long afterwards, at seeing the house

-change its owner—a thing that had never happened before in that goodly

-community, save when the son entered on the inheritance of his father.

-

-Becoming gradually more incorrigible in their backslidings, they were

-seduced into opening, widening, and regulating the streets; making the

-crooked straight and the narrow wide, thereby causing sad inroads into

-the strong boxes of divers of the honest burghers, who became all at

-once very rich, saving that they had no money to go to market. To cap

-the climax of their enormities, they at last committed the egregious

-sacrilege of pulling down the ancient and honourable Dutch church,

-which stood right in the middle of State-street, or Staats-street,

-being so called after the family of that name, from which I am lineally

-descended.

-

-At this the good St. Nicholas was exceedingly grieved; and when, by

-degrees, his favourite burghers left off eating sturgeon, being thereto

-instigated by divers scurvy jests of certain silly strangers, that knew

-not the excellence of that savoury fish, he cried out in the bitterness

-of his soul, “Onbegrypelyk!”—“Incredible!” meaning thereby that he

-could scarcely believe his eyes. In the bitterness of his soul he

-had resolved to return to faderland, and leave his beloved city to be

-swallowed up in the vortex of improvement. He was making his progress

-through the streets, to take his last farewell, in melancholy mood,

-when he came to the outlet of the Grand Canal, just then completed.

-“Is het mogelyk?”—which means, is it possible—exclaimed St. Nicholas;

-and thereupon he was so delighted with this proof that his beloved

-people had not altogether degenerated from their ancestors, that he

-determined not to leave them to strange saints, outlandish tongues, and

-modern innovations. He took a sail on the canal, and returned in such

-measureless content, that he blessed the good city of Fort Orange, as

-he evermore called it, and resolved to distribute a more than usual

-store of his Newyear cookies, at the Christmas holydays. That jovial

-season was now fast approaching. The autumn frosts had already invested

-the forests with a mantle of glory; the farmers were in their fields

-and orchards, gathering in the corn and apples, or making cider, the

-wholesome beverage of virtuous simplicity; the robins, blackbirds, and

-all the annual emigrants to southern climes, had passed away in flocks,

-like the adventurers to the far West; the bluebird alone lingered last

-of all to sing his parting song; and sometimes of a morning, the river

-showed a little fretted border of ice, looking like a fringe of lace on

-the garment of some decayed dowager. At length the liquid glass of the

-river cooled into a wide, immoveable mirror, glistening in the sun;

-the trees, all save the evergreens, stood bare to the keen cold winds;

-the fields were covered with snow, affording no lures to tempt to rural

-wanderings; the enjoyments of life gradually centred themselves at the

-cheerful fireside—it was winter, and Newyear's eve was come again!

-

-The night was clear, calm, and cold, and the bright stars glittered in

-the heavens in such multitudes, that every man might have had a star to

-himself. The worthy patriarchs of Fort Orange, having gathered around

-them their children, and children's children, even unto the third and

-fourth generation, were enjoying themselves in innocent revelry at the

-cheerful fireside. All the enjoyments of life had contracted themselves

-into the domestic circle; the streets were as quiet as a churchyard,

-and not even the stroke of the watchman was heard on the curbstone.

-Gradually it waxed late, and the city clocks rang, in the silence

-of night, the hour which not one of the orderly citizens had heard,

-except at midday, since the last anniversary of the happy Newyear,

-save peradventure troubled with a toothache, or some such unseemly

-irritation.

-

-The doleful warning, which broke upon the frosty air like the tolling

-of a funeral bell, roused the sober devotees of St. Nicholas to a sense

-of their trespasses on the waning night, and after one good, smoking

-draught of spiced Jamaica to the patron saint, they, one and all, young

-and old, hied them to bed, that he might have a fair opportunity to

-bestow his favours without being seen by mortal eye. For be it known,

-that St. Nicholas, like all really heart-whole generous fellows, loves

-to do good in secret, and eschews those pompous benefactions which are

-duly recorded in the newspapers, being of opinion they only prove that

-the vanity of man is sometimes an overmatch for his avarice.

-

-Having allowed them fifteen minutes, which is as much as a sober

-burgher of good morals and habits requires, to get as fast asleep as a

-church, St. Nicholas, having harnessed his pony, and loaded his little

-wagon with a store of good things for well-behaved, diligent children,

-together with whips and other mementoes for undutiful varlets, did set

-forth gayly on his errand of benevolence.

-

-_Vuur en vlammen!_ how the good saint did hurry through the streets,

-up one chimney and down another; for be it known, they are not such

-miserable narrow things as those of other cities, where the claims

-of ostentation are so voracious that people can't afford to keep up

-good fires, and the chimneys are so narrow that the little sweeps

-of seven years old often get themselves stuck fast, to the imminent

-peril of their lives. You may think he had a good deal of business

-on hand, being obliged to visit every house in Fort Orange, between

-twelve o'clock and daylight, with the exception of some few would-be

-fashionable upstarts, who had mortally offended him, by turning up

-their noses at the simple jollifications and friendly greetings of the

-merry Newyear. Accordingly, he rides like the wind, scarcely touching

-the ground; and this is the reason that he is never seen, except by

-a rare chance, which is the cause why certain unbelieving sinners,

-who scoff at old customs and notions, either really do, or pretend

-to doubt, whether the good things found on Christmas and Newyear

-mornings in the stockings of the little varlets of Fort Orange and

-New-Amsterdam, are put there by the jolly St. Nicholas or not. Beshrew

-them, say I—and may they never taste the blessing of his bounty! Goeden

-Hemel! as if I myself, being a kinsman of the saint, don't know him

-as well as a debtor does his creditor! But people are grown so wise

-nowadays, that they believe in nothing but the increased value of

-property.

-

-Be this as it may, St. Nicholas went forth blithely on his goodly

-errand, without minding the intense cold, for he was kept right warm by

-the benevolence of his heart, and when that failed, he ever and anon

-addressed himself to a snug little pottle, the contents of which did

-smoke lustily when he pulled out the stopper, a piece of snow-white

-corn cob.

-

-It is impossible for me to specify one by one the visits paid

-that night by the good saint, or the various adventures which he

-encountered. I therefore content myself, and I trust my worthy and

-excellent readers, with dwelling briefly on those which appear to me

-most worthy of descending to posterity, and withal convey excellent

-moral lessons, without which history is naught, whether it be true or

-false.

-

-After visiting various honest little Dutch houses, with notched

-roofs, and the gable ends to the street, leaving his benedictions,

-St. Nicholas at length came to a goodly mansion bearing strong marks

-of being sophisticated by modern fantastic innovations. He would have

-passed it by in scorn, had he not remembered that it belonged to a

-descendant of one of his favoured votaries, who had passed away to

-his long home without being once backslided from the customs of his

-ancestors. Respect for the memory of this worthy man wrought upon his

-feelings, and he forthwith dashed down the chimney, where he stuck

-fast in the middle, and came nigh being suffocated with the fumes of

-anthracite coal, which this degenerate descendant of a pious ancestor,

-who spent thousands in useless and unseemly ostentation, burned by way

-of economy.

-

-If the excellent saint had not been enveloped, as it were, in the odour

-of sanctity, which in some measure protected him from the poison of

-this pestilent vapour, it might have gone hard with him; as it was, he

-was sadly bewildered, when his little pony, which liked the predicament

-no better than his master, made a violent plunge, drew the wagon

-through the narrow passage, and down they came plump into a magnificent

-bedchamber, filled with all sorts of finery, such as wardrobes,

-bedizened with tawdry ornaments; satin chairs too good to be looked

-at or sat upon, and therefore covered with brown linen; a bedstead of

-varnished mahogany, with a canopy over it somewhat like a cocked hat,

-with a plume of ostrich feathers instead of orthodox valances and the

-like; and a looking-glass large enough to reflect a Dutch city.

-

-St. Nicholas contemplated the pair who slept in this newfangled

-abomination with a mingled feeling of pity and indignation, though I

-must say the wife looked very pretty in her lace nightcap, with one arm

-as white as snow partly uncovered. But he soon turned away, being a

-devout and self-denying saint, to seek for the stockings of the little

-children, who were innocent of these unseemly innovations. But what was

-his horror at finding that, instead of being hung up in the chimney

-corner, they were thrown carelessly on the floor, and that the little

-souls, who lay asleep in each other's arms in another room, lest they

-should disturb their parents, were thus deprived of all the pleasant

-anticipations accompanying the approaching jolly Newyear.

-

-“Een vervlocte jonge,” said he to himself, for he never uttered his

-maledictions aloud, “to rob their little ones of such wholesome and

-innocent delights! But they shall not be disappointed.” So he sought

-the cold and distant chamber of the children, who were virtuous and

-dutiful, who, when they waked in the morning, found the bed covered

-with good things, and were as happy as the day is long. When St,

-Nicholas returned to the splendid chamber, which, be it known, was

-furnished with the spoils of industrious unfortunate people, to whom

-the owner lent money, charging them so much the more in proportion

-to their necessities. It is true that he gave some of the wealth he

-thus got over the duyvel's back, as it were, to public charities, and

-sometimes churches, when he knew it would get into the newspapers, by

-which he obtained the credit of being very pious and charitable. But

-St. Nicholas was too sensible and judicious not to know that the only

-charitable and pious donations agreeable to the Giver of good, are

-those which are honestly come by. The alms which are got by ill means

-can never come to good, and it is better to give back to those from

-whom we have taken it dishonestly even one fourth, yea, one tenth, than

-to bestow ten times as much on those who have no such claim. The true

-atonement for injuries is that made to the injured alone. All other is

-a cheat in the eye of Heaven. You cannot settle the account by giving

-to Peter what you have filched from Paul.

-

-So thought the good St. Nicholas, as he revolved in his mind a plan

-for punishing this degenerate caitiff, who despised his ordinances

-and customs, and was moreover one who, in dealing with borrowers,

-not only shaved but skinned them. Remembering not the perils of the

-chimney, he was about departing the same way he came, but the little

-pony obstinately refused; and the good saint, having first taken off

-the lace nightcap, and put a foolscap in its place, and given the

-money lender a tweak of the nose that made him roar, whipped instantly

-through the keyhole to pursue his benevolent tour through the ancient

-city of Fort Orange.

-

-Gliding through the streets unheard and unseen, he at length came

-to a little winding lane, from which his quick ear caught the sound

-of obstreperous revelry. Stopping his pony, and listening more

-attentively,— he distinguished the words, “Ich ben Liederich,” roared

-out in a chorus of mingled voices seemingly issuing from a little low

-house of the true orthodox construction, standing on the right-hand

-side, at a distance of a hundred yards, or thereabout.

-

-“Wat donderdag!” exclaimed St. Nicholas, “is mine old friend, Baltus

-Van Loon, keeping it up at this time of the morning? The old rogue! but

-I'll punish him for this breach of the good customs of Fort Orange.”

-So he halted on the top of Baltus's chimney, to consider the best way

-of bringing it about, and was, all at once, saluted in the nostrils by

-such a delectable perfume, arising from a certain spiced beverage, with

-which the substantial burghers were wont to recreate themselves at this

-season of the year, that he was sorely tempted to join a little in the

-revelry below, and punish the merry caitiffs afterwards. Presently he

-heard honest Baltus propose—“The jolly St. Nicholas,” as a toast, which

-was drunk in a full bumper, with great rejoicing and acclamation.

-

-St. Nicholas could stand it no longer, but descended forthwith into

-the little parlour of old Baltus, thinking, by-the-way, that, just

-to preserve appearances, he would lecture the roistering rogues a

-little for keeping such late hours, and, provided Baltus could give

-a good reason, or indeed any reason at all, for such an unseemly

-transgression, he would then sit down with them, and take some of the

-savoury beverage that had regaled his nostrils while waiting at the top

-of the chimney.

-

-The roistering rogues were so busy roaring out, “Ich ben Liederich,”

-that they did not take note of the presence of the saint, until he

-cried out with a loud and angry voice, “Wat blikslager is dat?”—he

-did not say blixem, because that would have been little better than

-swearing. “Ben je be dondered, to be carousing here at this time of

-night, ye ancient, and not venerable sinners?”

-

-Old Baltus was not a little startled at the intrusion of the

-strangers—for, if the truth must out, he was a little in for it, and

-saw double, as is usual at such times. This caused such a confusion in

-his head that he forgot to rise from his seat, and pay due honour to

-his visiter, as did the rest of the company.

-

-“Are you not ashamed of yourselves,” continued the saint, “to set

-such a bad example to the neighbourhood, by carousing at this time of

-the morning, contrary to good old customs, known and accepted by all,

-except such noisy splutterkins as yourselves?”

-

-“This time of the morning,” replied old Baltus, who had his full

-portion of Dutch courage—”this time of the morning, did you say? Look

-yonder, and see with your own eyes whether it is morning or not.

-

-The cunning rogue, in order to have a good excuse for transgressing

-the canons of St. Nicholas, had so managed it, that the old clock in

-the corner had run down, and now pointed to the hour of eleven, where

-it remained stationary, like a rusty weathercock. St. Nicholas knew

-this as well as old Baltus himself, and could not help being mightily

-tickled at this device. He told Baltus that this being the case, with

-permission of his host he would sit down by the fire and warm himself,

-till it was time to set forth again, seeing he had mistaken the hour.

-

-Baltus, who by this time began to perceive that there was but one

-visiter instead of two, now rose from the table with much ado, and

-approaching the stranger, besought him to take a seat among the jolly

-revellers, seeing they were there assembled in honour of St. Nicholas,

-and not out of any regard to the lusts of the flesh. In this he was

-joined by the rest of the company, so that St. Nicholas, being a

-good-natured fellow, at length suffered himself to be persuaded,

-whereto he was mightily incited by the savoury fumes issuing from a

-huge pitcher standing smoking in the chimney corner. So he sat down

-with old Baltus, and being called on for a toast, gave them “Old

-Faderland” in a bumper.

-

-Then they had a high time of it you may be sure. Old Baltus sang a

-famous song celebrating the valour of our Dutch ancestors, and their

-triumph over the mighty power of Spain after a struggle of more than a

-generation, in which the meads of Holland smoked, and her canals were

-red with blood. Goeden Hemel! but I should like to have been there,

-for I hope it would have been nothing unseemly for one of my cloth to

-have joined in chorus with the excellent St. Nicholas. Then they talked

-about the good old times when the son who departed from the customs of

-his ancestors was considered little better than misbegotten; lamented

-over the interloping of such multitudes of idle flaunting men and

-women in their way to and from the springs; the increase of taverns,

-the high price of everything, and the manifold backslidings of the

-rising generation. Ever and anon, old Baltus would observe that sorrow

-was as dry as a corn cob, and pour out a full bumper of the smoking

-beverage, until at last it came to pass that honest Baltus and his

-worthy companions, being not used to such late hours, fell fast a sleep

-in their goodly armchairs, and snored lustily in concert. Whereupon St.

-Nicholas, feeling a little waggish, after putting their wigs the hinder

-part before, and placing a great China bowl upside down on the head of

-old Baltus, who sat nodding like a mandarin, departed laughing ready to

-split his sides. In the morning, when Baltus and his companions awoke,

-and saw what a figure they cut, they laid all the trick to the door of

-the stranger, and never knew to the last day of their lives who it was

-that caroused with them so lustily on Newyear's morning.

-

-Pursuing his way in high good humour, being somewhat exhilarated by

-the stout carousal with old Baltus and his roistering companions, St.

-Nicholas in good time came into the ancient _Colonie_, which being,

-as it were, at the outskirts of Fort Orange, was inhabited by many

-people not well to do in the world. He descended the chimney of an old

-weatherworn house that bore evident marks of poverty, for he is not one

-of those saints that hanker after palaces and turn their backs on their

-friends. It is his pleasure to seek out and administer to the innocent

-gratifications of those who are obliged to labour all the year round,

-and can only spare time to be merry at Christmas and Newyear. He is

-indeed the poor man's saint.

-

-On entering the room, he was struck with the appearance of poverty

-and desolation that reigned all around. A number of little children

-of different ages, but none more than ten years old, lay huddled

-close together on a straw bed, which was on the floor, their limbs

-intertwined to keep themselves warm, for their covering was scant and

-miserable. Yet they slept in peace, for they had quiet countenances,

-and hunger seeks refuge in the oblivion of repose. In a corner of the

-room stood a miserable bed, on which lay a female, whose face, as the

-moonbeams fell upon it through a window without shutters, many panes

-of which were stuffed with old rags to keep out the nipping air of the

-winter night, bore evidence of long and painful suffering. It looked

-like death rather than sleep. A little pine table, a few broken

-chairs, and a dresser, whose shelves were ill supplied, constituted the

-remainder of the furniture of this mansion of poverty.

-

-As he stood contemplating the scene, his honest old heart swelled with

-sorrowful compassion, saying to himself, “God bewaar ous, but this is

-pitiful.” At that moment, a little child on the straw bed cried out in

-a weak voice that went to the heart of the saint, “Mother, mother, give

-me to eat—I am hungry.” St. Nicholas went to the child, but she was

-fast asleep, and hunger had infected her very dreams. The mother did

-not hear, for long-continued sorrow and suffering sleep sounder than

-happiness, as the waters lie stillest when the tempest is past.

-

-Again the little child cried out, “Mother, mother, I am freezing—give

-me some more covering.” “Be quiet, Blandina,” answered a voice deep and

-hoarse, yet not unkind; and St. Nicholas, looking around to see whence

-it came, beheld a man sitting close in the chimney corner, though there

-was no fire burning, his arms folded close around him, and his head

-drooping on his bosom. He was clad like one of the children of poverty,

-and his teeth chattered with cold. St. Nicholas wiped his eyes, for he

-was a good-hearted saint, and coming close up to the miserable man,

-said to him kindly, “How do ye, my good friend?”

-

-“Friend,” said the other, “I have no friend but God, and he seems to

-have deserted me.” As he said this, he raised his saddened eyes to the

-good saint, and after looking at him a little while, as if he was not

-conscious of his presence, dropped them again, even without asking who

-he was, or whence he came, or what he wanted. Despair had deadened his

-faculties, and nothing remained in his mind but the consciousness of

-suffering.

-

-“_Het is jammer, het is jammer_—it is a pity, it is a pity!” quoth

-the kind-hearted saint, as he passed his sleeve across his eyes. “But

-something must be done, and that quickly too.” So he shook the poor man

-somewhat roughly by the shoulder, and cried out, “Ho! ho! what aileth

-thee, son of my good old friend, honest Johannes Garrebrantze?”

-

-This salutation seemed to rouse the poor man, who arose upon his seat,

-and essaying to stand upright, fell into the arms of St. Nicholas,

-who almost believed it was a lump of ice, so cold and stiff did it

-seem. Now, be it known that Providence, as a reward for his benevolent

-disposition, has bestowed on St. Nicholas the privilege of doing good

-without measure to all who are deserving of his bounty, and that by

-such means as he thinks proper to the purpose. It is a power he seldom

-exerts to the uttermost, except on pressing occasions, and this he

-believed one of them.

-

-Perceiving that the poor man was wellnigh frozen to death, he called

-into action the supernatural faculties which had been committed to him,

-and lo! in an instant a rousing fire blazed on the hearth, towards

-which the poor man, instinctively as it were, edged his chair, and

-stretched out one of his bony hands, that was as stiff as an icicle.

-The light flashed so brightly in the face of the little ones and their

-mother, that they awoke, and seeing the cheerful blaze, arose in their

-miserable clothing, which they had worn to aid in keeping them warm,

-and hied as fast as they could to bask in its blessed warmth. So eager

-were they, that for a while they were unconscious of the presence of a

-stranger, although St. Nicholas had now assumed his proper person, that

-he might not be taken for some one of those diabolical wizards who,

-being always in mischief, are ashamed to show their faces among honest

-people.

-

-At length the poor man, who was called after his father Johannes

-Garrebrantze, being somewhat revived by the genial warmth of the fire,

-looked around, and became aware of the presence of the stranger,

-which inspired him with a secret awe, for which he could not account,

-insomuch that his voice trembled, though now he was not cold, when,

-after some hesitation, he said,

-

-“Stranger, thou art welcome to this poor house. I would I were better

-able to offer thee the hospitalities of the season, but I will wish

-thee a happy Newyear, and that is all I can bestow.” The good yffrouw,

-his wife, repeated the wish, and straightway began to apologize for the

-untidy state of her apartment.

-

-“Make no apologies,” replied the excellent saint; “I come to give, not

-to receive. To-night I treat, to-morrow you may return the kindness to

-others.”

-

-“I?” said Johannes Garrebrantze; “I have nothing to bestow but good

-wishes, and nothing to receive but the scorn and neglect of the world.

-If I had anything to give thee to eat or drink, thou shouldst have it

-with all my heart. But the newyear, which brings jollity to the hearts

-of others, brings nothing but hunger and despair to me and mine.”

-

-“Thou hast seen better days, I warrant thee,” answered the saint; “for

-thou speakest like a scholar of Leyden. Tell me thy story, Johannes, my

-son, and we shall see whether in good time thou wilt not hold up thy

-head as high as a church steeple.”

-

-“Alas! to what purpose, since man assuredly has, and Heaven seems to

-have forsaken me.”

-

-“Hush!” cried St. Nicholas, “Heaven never forsakes the broken spirit,

-or turns a deaf ear to the cries of innocent children. It is for the

-wicked never to hope, the virtuous never to despair. I predict thou

-shalt live to see better days.”

-

-“I must see them soon then, for neither I, my wife, nor my children

-have tasted food since twenty-four hours past.”

-

-“What! God be with us! is there such lack of charity in the burghers of

-the Colonie, that they will suffer a neighbour to starve under their

-very noses? Onbegrypelik—I'll not believe it.”

-

-“They know not my necessities.”

-

-“No? What! hast thou no tongue to speak them?”

-

-“I am too proud to beg.”

-

-“And too lazy to work,” cried St. Nicholas, in a severe tone.

-

-“Look you,” answered the other, holding up his right arm with his left,

-and showing that the sinews were stiffened by rheumatism.

-

-“Is it so, my friend? Well, but thou mightst still have bent thy spirit

-to ask charity for thy starving wife and children, though, in truth,

-begging is the last thing an honest man ought to stoop to. But Goeden

-Hemel! here am I talking while thou and thine are perishing with

-hunger.”

-

-Saying which, St. Nicholas straightway bade the good yffrouw to bring

-forth the little pine table, which she did, making divers apologies for

-the want of a tablecloth; and when she had done so, he incontinently

-spread out upon it such store of good things from his little cart, as

-made the hungry childrens' mouths to water, and smote the hearts of

-their parents with joyful thanksgivings. “Eat, drink, and be merry,”

-said St. Nicholas, “for to-morrow thou shalt not die, but live.”

-

-The heart of the good saint expanded, like as the morning-glory does

-to the first rays of the sun, while he sat rubbing his hands at seeing

-them eat with such a zest, as made him almost think it was worth while

-to be hungry in order to enjoy such triumphant satisfaction. When they

-had done, and returned their pious thanks to Heaven and the good

-stranger, St. Nicholas willed the honest man to expound the causes

-which had brought him to his present deplorable condition. “My own

-folly,” said he; and the other sagely replied, “I thought as much.

-Beshrew me, friend, if in all my experience, and I have lived long,

-and seen much, I ever encountered distress and poverty that could not

-be traced to its source in folly or vice. Heaven is too bountiful to

-entail misery on its creatures, save through their own transgressions.

-But I pray thee, go on with thy story.”

-

-The good man then went on to relate that his father, old Johannes

-Garrebrantze—

-

-“Ah!” quoth St. Nicholas, “I knew him well. He was an honest man, and

-that, in these times of all sorts of improvements, except in mind

-and morals, is little less than miraculous. But I interrupt thee,

-friend—proceed with thy story, once more.”

-

-The son of Johannes again resumed his story, and related how his father

-had left him a competent estate in the _Colonie_, on which he lived

-in good credit, and in the enjoyment of a reasonable competency, with

-his wife and children, until within a few years past, when seeing

-a vast number of three-story houses, with folding doors and marble

-mantelpieces rising up all around him, he began to be ashamed of his

-little one-story house with the gable end to the street, and—

-

-“Ah! Johannes,” interrupted the pale wife, “do not spare me. It was I

-that in the vanity of my heart put such notions in thy head. It was I

-that tempted thee.”

-

-“It was the duyvel,” muttered St.Nicholas, “in the shape of a pretty

-wife.”

-

-Johannes gave his helpmate a look of affectionate forgiveness, and

-went on to tell St. Nicholas how, finally egged on by the evil example

-of his neighbours, he had at last committed sacrilege against his

-household gods, and pulled down the home of his fathers, commencing a

-new one on its ruins.

-

-“Donderdag!” quoth the saint to himself; “and the bricks came from

-faderland too!”

-

-When Johannes had about half finished his new house, he discovered one

-day, to his great astonishment and dismay, that all his money, which he

-had been saving for his children, was gone. His strong box was empty,

-and his house but half finished, although, after estimating the cost,

-he had allowed one third more in order to be sure in the business.

-

-Johannes was now at a dead stand. The idea of borrowing money and

-running in debt never entered his head before, and probably would

-not now, had it not been suggested to him by a neighbour, a great

-speculator, who had lately built a whole street of houses, not a single

-brick of which belonged to him in reality. He had borrowed the money,

-mortgaged the property, and expected to grow rich by a sudden rise.

-Poor Johannes may be excused for listening to the seductions of this

-losel varlet, seeing he had a house half finished on his hands; but

-whether so or not, he did listen and was betrayed into borrowing money

-of a bank just then established in the _Colonie_ on a capital paid in

-according to law—that is, not paid at all—the directors of which were

-very anxious to exchange their rags for lands and houses.

-

-Johannes finished his house in glorious style, and having opened

-this new mine of wealth, furnished it still more gloriously; and as

-it would have been sheer nonsense not to live gloriously in such a

-glorious establishment, spent thrice his income in order to keep up

-his respectability. He was going on swimmingly, when what is called a

-reaction took place; which means, as far as I can understand, that the

-bank directors, having been pleased to make money plenty to increase

-their dividends, are pleased thereafter to make it scarce for the

-same purpose. Instead of lending it in the name of the bank, it is

-credibly reported they do it through certain brokers, who charge lawful

-interest and unlawful commission, and thus cheat the law with a clear

-conscience. But I thank Heaven devoutly that I know nothing of their

-wicked mysteries, and therefore will say no more about them.

-

-Be this as it may, Johannes was called upon all of a sudden to pay his

-notes to the bank, for the reaction had commenced, and there was no

-more renewals. The directors wanted all the money to lend out at three

-per cent. a month. It became necessary to raise the wind, as they say

-in Wall-street, and Johannes, by the advice of his good friend the

-speculative genius, went with him to a certain money lender of his

-acquaintance, who was reckoned a good Christian, because he always

-charged most usury where there was the greatest necessity for a loan.

-To a rich man he would lend at something like a reasonable interest,

-but to a man in great distress for money he showed about as much mercy

-as a weazel does to a chicken. He sucked their blood till there was not

-a drop left in their bodies. This he did six days in the week, and on

-the seventh went three times to church, to enable him to begin the next

-week with a clear conscience. Beshrew such varlets, I say; they bring

-religion itself into disrepute, and add the sin of hypocrisy to men to

-that of insult to Heaven.

-

-Suffice it to say, that poor Johannes Garrebrantze the younger went

-down hill faster than he ever went up in his life; and inasmuch as

-I scorn these details of petty roguery as unworthy of my cloth and

-calling, I shall content myself with merely premising, that by a

-process very common nowadays, the poor man was speedily bereft of all

-the patrimony left him by his worthy father in paying commission to

-the money lender. He finally became bankrupt; and inasmuch as he was

-unacquainted with the mystery of getting rich by such a manœuvre, was

-left without a shilling in the world. He retired from his fine house,

-which was forthwith occupied by his good friend the money lender, whose

-nose had been tweaked by St. Nicholas, as heretofore recorded, and took

-refuge in the wretched building where he was found by that benevolent

-worthy. Destitute of resources, and entirely unacquainted with the art

-of living by his wits or his labours, though he tried hard both ways,

-poor Johannes became gradually steeped in poverty to the very lips, and

-being totally disabled by rheumatism, might, peradventure, with all his

-family, have perished that very night, had not Providence mercifully

-sent the good St. Nicholas to their relief.

-

-“_Wat donderdag!_” exclaimed the saint, when he had done—”_wat

-donderdag!_—was that your house down yonder, with the fine bedroom, the

-wardrobes, the looking-glass as big as the moon, and the bedstead with

-a cocked hat and feathers?”

-

-“Even so,” replied the other, hanging down his head.

-

-“_Is het mogelyk!_” And after considering a little while, the good

-saint slapped his hand on the table, broke forth again—“By donderdag,

-but I'll soon settle this business.”

-

-He then began to hum an old Dutch hymn, which by its soothing and

-wholesome monotony so operated upon Johannes and his family, that one

-and all fell fast asleep in their chairs.

-

-The good St. Nicholas then lighted his pipe, and seating himself by

-the fire, revolved in his mind the best mode of proceeding on this

-occasion. At first he determined to divest the rich money lender of all

-his ill-gotten gains, and bestow them on poor Johannes and his family.

-But when he considered that the losel caitiff was already sufficiently

-punished in being condemned to the sordid toils of money making, and

-in the privation of all those social and benevolent feelings which,

-while they contribute to our own happiness, administer to that of

-others; that he was for ever beset with the consuming cares of avarice,

-the hope of gain, and the fear of losses; and that, rich as he was, he

-suffered all the gnawing pangs of an insatiable desire for more—when he

-considered all this, St. Nicholas decided to leave him to the certain

-punishment of ill-gotten wealth, and the chances of losing it by an

-over craving appetite for its increase, which sooner or later produces

-all the consequences of reckless imprudence.

-

-“Let the splutterkin alone,” thought St. Nicholas, “and he will become

-the instrument of his own punishment.”

-

-Then he went on to think what he should do for poor Johannes and his

-little children. Though he had been severely punished for his folly,

-yet did the good saint, who in his nightly holyday peregrinations had

-seen more of human life and human passions than the sun ever shone

-upon, very well know that sudden wealth, or sudden poverty, is a sore

-trial of the heart of man, in like manner as the sudden transition

-from light to darkness, or darkness to light, produces a temporary

-blindness. It was true that Johannes had received a severe lesson,

-but the great mass of mankind are prone to forget the chastening rod

-of experience, as they do the pangs of sickness when they are past.

-He therefore settled in his mind, that the return of Johannes to

-competence and prosperity should be by the salutary process of his own

-exertions, and that he should learn their value by the pains it cost to

-attain them. “_Het is goed visschen in troebel water_,” quoth he, “for

-then a man knows the value of what he catches.”

-

-It was broad daylight before he had finished his pipe and his

-cogitations, and placing his old polished delft pipe carefully in

-his buttonhole, the good saint sallied forth, leaving Johannes and

-his family still fast asleep in their chairs. Directly opposite the

-miserable abode of Johannes there dwelt a little fat Dutchman, of

-a reasonable competency, who had all his life manfully stemmed the

-torrent of modern innovation. He eschewed all sorts of paper money as

-an invention of people without property to get hold of those that had

-it; abhorred the practice of widening streets; and despised in his

-heart all public improvements except canals, a sneaking notion for

-which he inherited from old faderland. He was honest as the light of

-the blessed sun; and though he opened his best parlour but twice a year

-to have it cleaned and put to rights, yet this I will say of him, that

-the poor man who wanted a dinner was never turned away from his table.

-The worthy burgher was standing at the street door, which opened in the

-middle, and leaning over the lower half, so that the smoke of his pipe

-ascended in the clear frosty morning in a little white column far into

-the sky before it was dissipated.

-

-St. Nicholas stopped his wagon right before his door, and cried out in

-a clear hearty voice,

-

-“Good-morning, good-morning, mynheer; and a happy Newyear to you.”

-

-“Good-morning,” cried the hale old burgher, “and many happy Newyears

-to _you_. Hast got any good fat hen turkies to sell?” for he took him

-for a countryman coming in to market. St. Nicholas answered and said

-that he had been on a different errand that morning; and the other

-cordially invited him to alight, come in, and take a glass of hot

-spiced rum, with the which it was his custom to regale all comers at

-the jolly Newyear. The invitation was frankly accepted, for the worthy

-St. Nicholas, though no toper, was never a member of the temperance

-society. He chose to be keeper of his own conscience, and was of

-opinion that a man who is obliged to sign an obligation not to drink,

-will be very likely to break it the first convenient opportunity.

-

-As they sat cozily together, by a rousing fire of wholesome and

-enlivening hickory, the little plump Dutchman occasionally inveighing

-stoutly against paper money, railroads, improving streets, and the

-like, the compassionate saint took occasion to utter a wish that the

-poor man over the way and his starving family had some of the good

-things that were so rife on Newyear's day, for he had occasion to know

-that they were suffering all the evils of the most abject poverty.

-

-“The splutterkin,” exclaimed the little fat burgher—”he is as proud as

-Lucifer himself. I had a suspicion of this, and sought divers occasions

-to get acquainted with him, that I might have some excuse for prying

-into his necessities, and take the privilege of an old neighbour to

-relieve them. But _vuur en vlammen_! would you believe it—he avoided me

-just as if he owed me money, and couldn't pay.”

-

-St. Nicholas observed that if it was ever excusable for a man to be

-proud, it was when he fell into a state where every one, high and low,

-worthless and honourable, looked down upon him with contempt. Then he

-related to him the story of poor Johannes, and taking from his pocket

-a heavy purse, he offered it to the worthy old burgher, who swore he

-would be dondered if he wanted any of his money.

-

-“But hearken to me,” said the saint; “yon foolish lad is the son of an

-old friend of mine, who did me many a kindness in his day, for which

-I am willing to requite his posterity. Thou shalt take this purse and

-bestow a small portion of it, as from thyself, as a loan from time to

-time, as thou seest he deserves it by his exertions. It may happen, as

-I hope it will, that in good time he will acquire again the competency

-he hath lost by his own folly and inexperience; and as he began the

-world a worthy, respectable citizen, I beseech thee to do this—to be

-his friend, and to watch over him and his little ones, in the name of

-St. Nicholas.”

-

-The portly Burgher promised that he would, and they parted with

-marvellous civility, St. Nicholas having promised to visit him again

-should his life be spared. He then mounted his little wagon, and

-the little Dutchman having turned his head for an instant, when he

-looked again could see nothing of the saint or his equipage. “_Is

-het mogelyk!_” exclaimed he, and his mind misgave him that there was

-something unaccountable in the matter.

-

-My story is already too long, peradventure, else would I describe the

-astonishment of Johannes and his wife when they awoke and found the

-benevolent stranger had departed without bidding them farewell. They

-would have thought all that had passed was but a dream, had not the

-fragments of the good things on which they regaled during the night

-bore testimony to its reality. Neither will I detail how, step by step,

-aided by the advice and countenance of the worthy little Dutchman, and

-the judicious manner of his dispensing the bounty of St. Nicholas,

-Johannes Garrebrantze, by a course of industry, economy, and integrity,

-at length attained once again the station he had lost by his follies

-and extravagance. Suffice it to say, that though he practised a

-rational self-denial in all his outlayings, he neither became a miser,

-nor did he value money except as the means of obtaining the comforts of

-life, and administering to the happiness of others.

-

-In the mean time, the money lender, not being content with the

-wealth he had obtained by taking undue advantage of the distresses of

-others, and becoming every day more greedy, launched out into mighty

-speculations. He founded a score of towns without any houses in them;

-dealt by hundreds of thousands in fancy stocks; and finally became the

-victim of one of his own speculations, by in time coming to believe in

-the very deceptions he had practised upon others. It is an old saying,

-that the greatest rogue in the world, sooner or latter, meets with

-his match, and so it happened with the money lender. He was seduced

-into the purchase of a town without any houses in it, at an expense of

-millions; was met by one of those reactions that play the mischief with

-honest labourers, and thus finally perished in a bottomless pit of his

-own digging. Finding himself sinking, he resorted to forgeries, and had

-by this means raised money to such an amount, that his villany almost

-approached to sublimity. His property, as the phrase is, came under the

-hammer, and Johannes purchased his own house at half the price it cost

-him in building.

-

-The good St. Nicholas trembled at the new ordeal to which Johannes

-had subjected himself; but finding, when he visited him, as he did

-regularly every Newyear's eve, that he was cured of his foolish

-vanities, and that his wife was one of the best housekeepers in all

-Fort Orange, he discarded his apprehensions, and rejoiced in the

-prosperity that was borne so meekly and wisely. The little fat Dutchman

-lived a long time in expectation that the stranger in the one-horse

-wagon would come for the payment of his purse of money; but finding

-that year after year rolled away without his appearing, often said to

-himself, as he sat on his stoop with a pipe in his mouth,

-

-“I'll be dondered if I don't believe it was the good St. Nicholas.”

-

-

-                               THE END.

-

-

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-                         By P. F. TYTLER, Esq.

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-With Descriptive Sketches of the Natural History of the North American

-                               Regions.

-

-                         By Professor WILSON.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,

-

-                     THE TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES OF

-

-                        ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT;

-

-          being a condensed Narrative of his Journeys in the

-            Equinoctial Regions of America, and in Asiatic

-                 Russia: together with Analyses of his

-                    more important Investigations.

-

-                       By W. MACGILLIVRAY, A. M.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-              In 2 vols. 18mo., with numerous Engravings,

-

-                           LETTERS OF EULER

-

-             ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

-

-                    Addressed to a German Princess.

-

-                         Translated by HUNTER.

-

- With Notes, and a Life of Euler, by Sir DAVID BREWSTER and Additional

-                     Notes, by JOHN GRISCOM, LL.D.

-

-                 With a Glossary of Scientific Terms.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,

-

-                          A POPULAR GUIDE TO

-

-                      THE OBSERVATION OF NATURE;

-

-    or, Hints of Inducement to the Study of Natural Productions and

-            Appearances, in their Connexions and Relations.

-

-                           By ROBERT MUDIE.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                          In one vol. 18mo.,

-

-                 THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.

-

-                   By JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M.D., F.R.S.

-

-                            With Questions.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,

-

-     ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY BY THE DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.

-

-                         By THOMAS DICK, LL.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                        HISTORY OF CHARLEMAGNE.

-

-To which is prefixed an Introduction, comprising the History of France

-         from the Earliest Period to the Birth of Charlemagne.

-

-                        By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-             In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,

-

-                         NUBIA AND ABYSSINIA.

-

-    Comprehending their Civil History, Antiquities, Arts, Religion,

-                   Literature, and Natural History.

-

-                     By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                       LIFE OF OLIVER CROMWELL.

-

-                     By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                          In one vol. 18mo.,

-

-              LECTURES ON GENERAL LITERATURE, POETRY, &c.

-

-          Delivered at the Royal Institute in 1830 and 1831.

-

-                         By JAMES MONTGOMERY.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                               MEMOIR OF

-

-                     THE LIFE OF PETER THE GREAT.

-

-                         By JOHN BARROW, Esq.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-             In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,

-

-                 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF

-

-                                PERSIA.

-

-             From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.

-

-          With a Detailed View of its Resources, Government,

-            Population, Natural History, and the Character

-                of its Inhabitants, particularly of the

-                      Wandering Tribes: including

-                     a Description of Afghanistan.

-

-                       By JAMES B. FRASER, Esq.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-             In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,

-

-                        THE HISTORY OF ARABIA.

-

-                          Ancient and Modern.

-

-          Containing a Description of the Country—An Account

-         of its Inhabitants, Antiquities, Political Condition,

-              and Early Commerce—The Life and Religion of

-             Mohammed—The Conquests, Arts, and Literature

-               of the Saracens—The Caliphs of Damascus,

-                  Bagdad, Africa, and Spain—The Civil

-                Government and Religious Ceremonies of

-                the Modern Arabs—Origin and Suppression

-                   of the Wahabees—The Institutions,

-                        Character, Manners, and

-                     Customs of the Bedouins; and

-                        a Comprehensive View of

-                         its Natural History.

-

-                          By ANDREW CRICHTON.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                          In one vol. 18mo.,

-

-                     THE PRINCIPLES OF PHYSIOLOGY,

-

-   APPLIED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH, AND TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF

-                    PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EDUCATION.

-

-                         By ANDREW COMBE, M.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,

-

-                   HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF

-

-                          THE BARBARY STATES.

-

- Comprehending a View of their Civil Institutions, Antiquities, Arts,

- Religion, Literature, Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Productions.

-

-                     By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-             In 2 vols. 18mo., with beautiful Engravings,

-

-                         A LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

-

-                        By J. K. PAULDING, Esq.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,

-

-                       The Philosophy of Living;

-

-              OR, THE WAY TO ENJOY LIFE AND ITS COMFORTS.

-

-                     By CALEB TICKNOR, A.M., M.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-       In one vol. 18mo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,

-

-                              THE EARTH.

-

-        ITS PHYSICAL CONDITION, AND MOST REMARKABLE PHENOMENA.

-

-                       By W. MULLINGER HIGGINS.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                               XENOPHON.

-

- (Anabasis, translated by EDWARD SPELMAN, Esq., Cyropædia, by the Hon.

-                            M. A. COOPER.)

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                     THE ORATIONS OF DEMOSTHENES.

-

-                   Translated by THOMAS LELAND, D.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                          In one vol. 18mo.,

-

-                               SALLUST.

-

-                   Translated by WILLIAM ROSE, M.A.

-

-                     With Improvements and Notes.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                CAESAR.

-

-                     Translated by WILLIAM DUNCAN.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                CICERO.

-

-The Orations translated by DUNCAN, the Offices by COCKMAN, and the Cato

-                        and Lælius by MELMOTH.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                VIRGIL.

-

- The Eclogues translated by WRANGHAM, the Georgics by SOTHEBY, and the

-                           Æneid by DRYDEN.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                          In one vol. 18mo.,

-

-                               ÆSCHYLUS.

-

-                Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                              SOPHOCLES.

-

-                 Translated by THOMAS FRANCKLIN, D.D.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                              EURIPIDES.

-

-                Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                HORACE.

-

-                  Translated by PHILIP FRANCIS, D.D.

-

-    With an Appendix, containing translations of various Odes, &c.

-

- By BEN JONSON, COWLEY, MILTON, DRYDEN, POPE, ADDISON, SWIFT, BENTLEY,

-             CHATTERTON, G. WAKEFIELD, PORSON, BYRON, &c.

-

-       And by some of the most eminent Poets of the present day.

-

-                               PHÆDRUS.

-

-                     With the Appendix of Gudius.

-

-                 Translated by CHRISTOPHER SMART, A.M.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                 OVID.

-

-      Translated by DRYDEN, POPE, CONGREVE, ADDISON, and others.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                              HERODOTUS.

-

-                 Translated by the Rev. WILLIAM BELOE.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                HOMER.

-

-                  Translated by ALEXANDER POPE, Esq.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 5 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                                 LIVY.

-

-                   Translated by GEORGE BAKER, A.M.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                              THUCYDIDES.

-

-                   Translated by WILLIAM SMITH, A.M.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                    In one vol. 8vo., with Plates,

-

-                           PLUTARCH'S LIVES.

-

-     Translated from the original Greek, with Notes, Critical and

-                  Historical, and a Life of Plutarch.

-

-           By JOHN LANGHORNE, D.D., and WM. LANGHORNE, A.M.

-

-            A New Edition, carefully revised and corrected.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                  In one vol. 12mo., with a Portrait,

-

-                     A LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.

-

-                            In Latin Prose.

-

-                   By FRANCIS GLASS, A.M., of Ohio.

-

-                       Edited by J. N. Reynolds.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                           In one vol. 8vo.,

-

-                        A TREATISE ON LANGUAGE,

-

-              or the Relation which Words bear to Things.

-

-                           By A. B. JOHNSON.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-       In one vol. 8vo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,

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-                 THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SURVEYING;

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- containing all the Instructions requisite for the skilful practice of

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-            With a new set of accurate Mathematical Tables.

-

-                           By ROBERT GIBSON.

-

-  Newly arranged, improved, and enlarged, with useful selections, by

-                              JAMES RYAN.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                           In one vol. 8vo.,

-

-                 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON MECHANICS.

-

-             Translated from the French of M. Boucharlat.

-

-With additions and emendations, designed to adapt it to the use of the

-                 Cadets of the U. S. Military Academy.

-

-                        By EDWARD H. COURTENAY.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                          In one vol. 48mo.,

-

-                  The Reticule and Pocket Companion;

-

-                                  OR,

-

-               MINIATURE LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

-

-                            By LYMAN COBB.

-

-                           ─────────────────

-

-                           In one vol. 8vo.,

-

-                          ENGLISH SYNONYMES.

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+
+The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of Saint Nicholas
+
+This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and 
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions 
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms 
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online 
+at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, 
+you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located 
+before using this eBook.
+
+
+Title: The Book of Saint Nicholas
+
+Author: Dominie Nicholas Ægedius Oudenarde
+
+Release Date: August 14, 2023 [eBook #71404]
+
+Language: English
+
+Credits: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+         at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images
+         generously made available by The Internet Archive/American
+         Libraries.)
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF SAINT NICHOLAS ***
+
+                          Transcriber's Notes
+
+Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.
+
+
+
+
+                               THE  BOOK
+                                  OF
+                            SAINT NICHOLAS.
+
+
+                  TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL DUTCH
+                                  OF
+                  DOMINIE NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.
+
+
+                               NEW-YORK:
+                    HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.
+                                 1836.
+
+
+     [Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by
+                          JAMES K. PAULDING,
+     in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.]
+
+
+
+
+                               CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                                    PAGE
+
+  Dedication                                                           5
+
+  Author's Advertisement                                               7
+
+  The Legend of Saint Nicholas                                        13
+
+  The Little Dutch Sentinel of the Manhadoes                          33
+
+  Cobus Yerks                                                         73
+
+  A Strange Bird in Nieuw-Amsterdam                                   89
+
+  Claas Schlaschenschlinger                                          105
+
+  The Revenge of Saint Nicholas                                      128
+
+  The Origin of the Bakers' Dozen                                    148
+
+  The Ghost                                                          167
+
+  The Nymph of the Mountain                                          192
+
+  The Ride of Saint Nicholas on Newyear's Eve                        206
+
+
+
+
+                                  TO
+
+                    THE SOCIETIES OF SAINT NICHOLAS
+
+                                IN THE
+
+                           NEW NETHERLANDS,
+
+                            COMMONLY CALLED
+
+                               NEW-YORK.
+
+
+                   MOST DEAR AND WORTHY ASSOCIATES,
+
+In obedience to the command of the good saint who is equally an object
+of affectionate reverence to us all, as well as in due deference to the
+feelings of brotherhood which attach us irrevocably to those who honour
+his name, his virtues, and his country, I dedicate this work to you
+all without discrimination or exception. As descendants, in whole or
+in part, from that illustrious people who, after conquering nature by
+their industry and perseverance, achieved liberty by their determined
+valour, and learning and science by their intellectual vigour, I
+rejoice to see you instituting bonds of union, for the purpose of
+preserving the remembrance of such an honourable lineage, and the ties
+of a common origin. While we recollect with honest pride the industry,
+the integrity, the enterprise, the love of liberty, and the heroism
+of old “_faderland_,” let us not forget that the truest way to honour
+worthy ancestors is to emulate their example.
+
+That you may long live to cherish the memory of so excellent a saint,
+and such venerable forefathers is the earnest wish of
+
+                      Your associate and friend,
+                                  NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.
+
+ Nieuw-Amsterdam, July, 1827.
+
+
+
+
+                                  THE
+
+                        AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT,
+
+    WHICH IS EARNESTLY RECOMMENDED TO THE ATTENTIVE PERUSAL OF THE
+                           JUDICIOUS READER.
+
+
+You will please to understand, gentle reader, that being a true
+descendant of the adventurous Hollanders who first discovered the
+renowned island of Manhattan—which is every day becoming more and more
+worth its weight in paper money—I have all my life been a sincere and
+fervent follower of the right reverend and jolly St. Nicholas, the only
+tutelary of this mighty state. I have never, on any proper occasion,
+omitted doing honour to his memory by keeping his birthday with all
+due observances, and paying him my respectful devoirs on Christmas and
+Newyear's eve.
+
+From my youth upward I have been always careful to hang up my stocking
+in the chimney corner, on both these memorable anniversaries; and this
+I hope I may say without any unbecoming ebullition of vanity, that on
+no occasion did I ever fail to receive glorious remembrances of his
+favour and countenance, always saving two exceptions. Once when the
+good saint signified his displeasure at my tearing up a Dutch almanac,
+and again on occasion of my going to a Presbyterian meeting house with
+a certain little Dutch damsel, by filling my stockings with snow balls,
+instead savoury oily cookies.
+
+Saving these manifestations of his displeasure, I can safely boast
+of having been always a special favourite of the good St. Nicholas,
+who hath ever shown a singular kindness and suavity towards me in all
+seasons of my life, wherein he hath at divers times and seasons of
+sore perplexity, more than once vouchsafed to appear to me in dreams
+and visions, always giving me sage advice and goodly admonition. The
+which never failed of being of great service to me in my progress
+through life, seeing I was not only his namesake, but always reverently
+honoured his name to the best of my poor abilities.
+
+From my youth upward I have, moreover, been accustomed to call upon
+him in time of need; and this I will say for him, that he always
+came promptly whenever he was within hearing. I will not detain the
+expectant reader with the relation of these special instances, touching
+the years of my juvenility, but straightway proceed to that which is
+material to my present purpose.
+
+The reader will please to comprehend that after I had, with the labour
+and research of many years, completed the tales which I now, with an
+humble deference, offer to his acceptance, I was all at once struck
+dumb, with the unparalleled difficulty of finding a name for my work,
+seeing that every title appertinent to such divertisements hath been
+applied over and over again, long and merry agone. Now, as before
+intimated to the judicious reader, whenever I am in sore perplexity
+of mind, as not unfrequently happens to such as (as it were) cudgel
+their brains for the benefit of their fellow-creatures—I say, when thus
+beleaguered, I always shut my eyes, lean back in my chair, which is
+furnished with a goodly stuffed back and arms, and grope for that which
+I require in the profound depths of abstraction.
+
+It was thus I comported myself on this trying occasion, when, lo! and
+behold! I incontinently fell asleep, as it were, in the midst of my
+cogitations, and while I was fervently praying to the good-hearted St.
+Nicholas to inspire me with a proper and significant name for this my
+mental offspring. I cannot with certainty say how long I had remained
+in the bonds of abstraction, before I was favoured with the appearance
+of a vision, which, at first sight, I knew to be that of the excellent
+St. Nicholas, who scorns to follow the pestilent fashions of modern
+times, but ever appears in the ancient dress of the old patriarchs of
+Holland. And here I will describe the good saint, that peradventure all
+those to whom he may, in time to come, vouchsafe his presence, may know
+him at first sight, even as they know the father that begot them.
+
+He is a right fat, jolly, roistering little fellow— if I may make
+bold to call him so familiarly—and had I not known him of old for a
+veritable saint, I might, of a truth, have taken him, on this occasion,
+for little better than a sinner. He was dressed in a snuff-coloured
+coat of goodly conceited dimensions, having broad skirts, cuffs mighty
+to behold, and buttons about the size of a moderate Newyear cooky.
+His waistcoat and breeches, of which he had a proper number, were
+of the same cloth and colour; his hose of gray worsted; his shoes
+high-quartered, even up to the instep, ornamented with a pair of silver
+buckles, exceedingly bright; his hat was of a low crown and right broad
+brim, cocked up on one side; and in the buttonholes of his coat was
+ensconced a long delft pipe, almost as black as ebony. His visage was
+the picture of good-humoured benevolence; and by these marks I knew him
+as well as I know the nose on my own face.
+
+The good saint, being always in a hurry on errands of good fellowship,
+and especially about the time of the holydays of Paas and Pinxster;
+and being withal a person of little ceremony, addressed me without
+delay, and with much frankness, which was all exceedingly proper, as we
+were such old friends. He spoke to me in Dutch, which is now a learned
+language, understood only by erudite scholars.
+
+“What aileth thee, my Godson Nicholas?” quoth he.
+
+I was about to say I was in sore perplexity concerning the matter
+aforesaid, when he courteously interrupted me, saying,
+
+“Be quiet, I know it, and therefore there is no special occasion for
+thee to tell me. Thou shalt call thy work ‘THE BOOK OF ST. NICHOLAS,’
+in honour of thy _patroon_; and here are the materials of my biography,
+which I charge thee, on pain of empty pockets from this time forward,
+to dilate and adorn in such a manner, as that, foreseeing, as I do,
+thy work will go down to the latest posterity, it may do honour to my
+name, and rescue it from that obscurity in which it hath been enveloped
+through the crying ignorance of past generations, who have been seduced
+into a veneration for St. George, St. Dennis, St. David, and other
+doughty dragon-slaying saints, who were little better than roistering
+bullies. Moreover, I charge thee, as thou valuest my blessing and
+protection, to dedicate thy work unto the worthy and respectable
+societies of St. Nicholas in this my stronghold in the New World. Thou
+mightst, perhaps, as well have left out that prank of mine at the
+carousing of old Baltus, but verily it matters not. Let the truth be
+told.”
+
+Saying this, he handed me a roll of ancient vellum, containing, as
+I afterwards found, the particulars which, in conformity with his
+solemn command, I have dilated into the only veritable biography of my
+patron saint which hath ever been given to the world. The one hitherto
+received as orthodox is, according to the declaration of the saint
+himself, little better than a collection of legends, written under the
+express inspection of the old lady of Babylon.
+
+I reverently received the precious deposite, and faithfully promised
+obedience to his commands; whereupon the good St. Nicholas, puffing
+in my face a whiff of tobacco smoke more fragrant than all the spices
+of the East, blessed me, and departed in haste, to be present at a
+wedding in Communipaw. Hereupon I awoke, and should have thought all
+that had passed but a dream, arising out of the distempered state
+of my mind, had I not held in my hand the identical roll of vellum,
+presented in the manner just related. On examination, it proved to
+contain the matter which is incorporated in the first story of this
+collection, under the title of “The Legend of St. Nicholas,” not only
+in due obedience to his command, but in order that henceforward no one
+may pretend ignorance concerning this illustrious and benevolent saint,
+seeing they have now a biography under his own hand.
+
+Thus much have I deemed it proper to preface to the reader, as some
+excuse for the freedom of having honoured my poor fictions with the
+title of The Book of St. Nicholas, which might otherwise have been
+deemed a piece of unchristian presumption.
+
+
+
+
+                            THE STORY BOOK
+
+                                  OF
+
+                            SAINT NICHOLAS.
+
+
+
+
+                      THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS.
+
+
+Everybody has heard of St. Nicholas, that honest Dutch saint, whom I
+look upon as having been one of the most liberal, good-natured little
+fat fellows in the world. But, strange as it may seem, though everybody
+has heard, nobody seems to know anything about him. The place of his
+birth, the history of his life, and the manner in which he came to
+be the dispenser of Newyear cakes, and the patron of good boys, are
+matters that have hitherto not been investigated, as they ought to have
+been long and long ago. I am about to supply this deficiency, and pay
+a debt of honour which is due to this illustrious and obscure tutelary
+genius of the jolly Newyear.
+
+It hath often been justly remarked that the birth, parentage, and
+education of the most illustrious personages of antiquity, are usually
+enveloped in the depths of obscurity. And this obscurity, so far
+from being injurious to their dignity and fame, has proved highly
+beneficial; for as no one could tell who were their fathers and mothers
+on earth, they could the more easily claim kindred with the skies, and
+trace their descent from the immortals. Such was the case with Saturn,
+Hercules, Bacchus, and others among the heathens; and of St. George,
+St. Dennis, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and the rest of the tutelaries,
+of whom—I speak it with great respect and reverence—it may justly be
+said, that nobody would ever have heard of their progenitors but for
+the renown of their descendants. It is, therefore, no reflection on
+the respectable St. Nicholas, that his history has hitherto remained a
+secret, and his origin unknown.
+
+In prosecuting this biography, and thus striving to repay my
+obligations for divers, and I must say unmerited favours received from
+this good saint, after whom I was christened, I shall refrain from all
+invention or hyperbole, seeking the truth industriously, and telling it
+simply and without reserve or embellishment. I scorn to impose on my
+readers with cock and bull stories of his killing dragons, slaughtering
+giants, or defeating whole armies of pagans with his single arm. St.
+Nicholas was a peaceful, quiet, orderly saint, who, so far as I have
+been able to learn, never shed a drop of blood in his whole life,
+except, peradventure, it may be possible he sometimes cut his finger,
+of which I profess to know nothing, and, therefore, contrary to the
+custom of biographers, shall say nothing.
+
+St. Nicholas was born—and that is all I can tell of the matter—on the
+first of January; but in what year or at what place, are facts which I
+have not been able to ascertain, although I have investigated them with
+the most scrupulous accuracy. His obscurity would enable me to give him
+a king and queen for his parents, whereby he might be able to hold up
+his head with the best of them all; but, as I before observed, I scorn
+to impose such doubtful, to say no worse, legends upon my readers.
+
+Nothing is known of his early youth, except that it hath come down
+to us that his mother dreamed, the night before his birth, that the
+sun was changed into a vast Newyear cake and the stars into _oily
+cooks_—which she concluded was the reason they burned so bright. It
+hath been shrewdly intimated by certain would-be antiquaries, who
+doubtless wanted to appear wiser than they really were, that because
+our worthy saint was called Nicholas, that must of course have been
+the name of his father. But I set such conjectures at naught, seeing
+that if all the sons were called after their fathers, the distinction
+of senior and junior would no longer be sufficient, and they would be
+obliged to number them as they do in the famous island of Nantucket,
+where I hear there are thirty-six Isaac Coffins and sixteen Pelegs.
+
+Now, of the first years of the life of good St. Nicholas, in like
+manner, we have been able to learn nothing until he was apprenticed to
+a baker in the famous city of Amsterdam, after which this metropolis
+was once called, but which my readers doubtless know was christened
+over again when the English usurped possession, in the teeth of the
+great right of discovery derived from the illustrious navigator,
+Henricus Hudson, who was no more an Englishman than I am.
+
+“Whether the youth Nicholas was thus apprenticed to a baker on account
+of his mother's dream, or from his great devotion to Newyear cakes,
+which may be inferred from the bias of his after life, it is impossible
+to tell at this distant period. It is certain, however, that he was so
+apprenticed, and that is sufficient to satisfy all reasonable readers.
+As for those pestilent, curious, prying people, who want to know the
+why and wherefore of everything we refer them to the lives of certain
+famous persons, which are so intermingled and confounded with the
+lives of their contemporaries, and the events, great and small, which
+happened in all parts of the world during their sojourn on the earth,
+that it is utterly impossible to say whose life it is we are reading.
+Many people of little experience take the title page for a guide, not
+knowing, peradventure, they might almost as safely rely upon history
+for a knowledge of the events of past ages.
+
+Little Nicholas, our hero, was a merry, sweet-tempered caitiff,
+which was, doubtless, somewhat owing to his living almost altogether
+upon sweet things. He was marvellously devoted to cakes, and ate up
+numberless gingerbread alphabets before he knew a single letter.
+
+Passing over the intermediate years, of which, indeed, I know no more
+than the man in the moon, I come to the period when, being twenty-four,
+and the term of his apprenticeship almost out, he fell desperately in
+love with the daughter of his worthy master, who was a burgomaster of
+forty years standing. In those unprecocious times, the boys did not
+grow to be men and the girls women, so soon as they do now. It would
+have been considered highly indecent for the former to think of falling
+in love before they were out of their time, or the latter to set up
+for young women before they knew how to be anything else. But as soon
+as the worthy Nicholas arrived at the age of twenty-four, being, as
+I said, within a year of the expiration of his time, he thought to
+himself that Katrinchee, or Catharine, as the English call it, was a
+clever, notable little soul, and eminently calculated to make him a
+good wife. This was the main point in the times of which I am speaking,
+when people actually married without first running mad either for love
+or money.
+
+Katrinchee was the toast of all the young bakers of Amsterdam, and
+honest Nicholas had as many rivals as there were loaves of bread in
+that renowned city. But he was as gallant a little Dutchman as ever
+smoked his way through the world pipe foremost, and did not despair
+of getting the better of his rivals, especially as he was a great
+favourite with the burgomaster, as, indeed, his conduct merited.
+Instead of going the vulgar way to work, and sighing and whining
+out romance in her ear, he cunningly, being doubtless inspired by
+Cupid himself, proceeded to insinuate his passion, and make it known
+by degrees, to the pretty little Katrinchee, who was as plump as a
+partridge, and had eyes of the colour of a clear sky.
+
+First did he bake a cake in the shape of a heart pierced half through
+by a toasting fork, the which he presented her smoking hot, which
+she received with a blush and did eat, to the great encouragement of
+the worthy Nicholas. A month after, for he did not wish to alarm the
+delicacy of the pretty Katrinchee, he did bake another cake in the
+shape of two hearts, entwined prettily with a true lover's knot. This,
+too, she received with a blush, and did eat with marvellous content.
+After the expiration of a like period, he did contrive another cake
+in the shape of a letter, on which he had ingeniously engraven the
+following couplet:—
+
+    “Wer diesen glauben wöhlt hat die vernanft verschworen,
+    Dem denken abgesaght sein eigentham verlohren.”
+
+The meaning of which, if the reader doth not comprehend, I do hereby
+earnestly advise him to set about studying the Dutch language
+forthwith, that he may properly appreciate its hidden beauties.
+
+Little Katrinchee read this poesy with a sigh, and rewarded the good
+Nicholas with a look which, as he afterward affirmed, would have heated
+an oven.
+
+Thus did the sly youth gradually advance himself in the good graces of
+the little damsel, until at length he ventured a downright declaration,
+in the shape of a cake made in the exact likeness of a little Dutch
+Cupid. The acceptance of this was conclusive, and was followed by
+permission to address the matter to the decision of the worthy
+burgomaster, whose name I regret hath not come down to the present time.
+
+The good man consulted his pipe, and after six months' hard smoking,
+came to the conclusion that the thing was feasible. Nicholas was a
+well-behaved, industrious lad, and the burgomaster justly concluded
+that the possession of virtuous and industrious habits without houses
+and lands, was better than houses and lands without them. So he gave
+his consent like an honest and ever to be respected magistrate.
+
+The news of the intended marriage spoiled all the bread baked in
+Amsterdam that day. The young bakers were so put out that they
+forgot to put yeast in their bread, and it was all heavy. But the
+hearts of the good Nicholas and his bride were as light as a feather
+notwithstanding, and when they were married it was truly said there was
+not a handsomer couple in all Amsterdam.
+
+They lived together happily many years, and nothing was wanting to
+their felicity but a family of little chubby boys and girls. But it was
+ordained that he never should be blessed with any offspring, seeing
+that he was predestined to be the patron and benefactor of the children
+of others, not of his own. In good time, and in the fullness of years,
+the burgomaster died, leaving his fortune and his business to Nicholas,
+who had ever been a kind husband to his daughter, and a dutiful son to
+himself. Rich and liberal, it was one of the chief pleasures of the
+good Nicholas to distribute his cakes, of which he baked the best in
+all Amsterdam, to the children of the neighbourhood, who came every
+morning, and sometimes in the evening; and Nicholas felt his heart warm
+within his bosom when he saw how they ate and laughed, and were as
+happy, ay, and happier, too, than so many little kings. The children
+all loved him, and so did their fathers and mothers, so that in process
+of time he was made a burgomaster, like his father-in-law before him.
+
+Not only did he entertain the jolly little folk of the city in the
+manner heretofore described, but his home was open to all travellers
+and sojourners who had no other home, as well as those who came
+recommended from afar off. In particular the good pilgrims of the
+church, who went about preaching and propagating the true faith, by the
+which I mean the doctrines of the illustrious reformers in all time
+past.
+
+The good Nicholas had, in the latter part of his life, embraced these
+doctrines with great peril to himself, for sore were the persecutions
+they underwent in those days who departed from the crying abominations
+of the ancient church; and had it not been for the good name he had
+established in the city of Amsterdam, among all classes, high and low,
+rich and poor, he might, peradventure, have suffered at the stake.
+But he escaped, as it were, by a miracle, and lived to see the truth
+triumph at last even throughout all the land.
+
+But before this came to pass his faithful and affectionate helpmate
+had been taken from him by death, sorely to his grief; and he would
+have stood alone in the world had it not been for the little children,
+now grown up to be men and women, who remembered his former kindness,
+and did all they could to console him—for such is ever the reward of
+kindness to our fellow-creatures.
+
+One night as he was sitting disconsolate at home, thinking of poor
+Katrinchee, and wishing that either she was with him or he with her, he
+heard a distant uproar in the street, which seemed approaching nearer
+and nearer. He was about to rise and go to the door to see what was
+the occasion, when suddenly it was pushed open with some violence, and
+a man rushed past him with very little ceremony. He seemed in a great
+hurry, for he panted for breath, and it was some time before he could
+say,
+
+“I beseech thee to shut the door and hide me, for my life is in danger.”
+
+Nicholas, who never refused to do a good-natured act, did as he was
+desired, so far as shutting and barring the door. He then asked,
+
+“What hath endangered thy life, and who art thou, friend, that thou art
+thus afraid?”
+
+“Ask me not now, I beseech thee, Nicholas—”
+
+“Thou knowest my name then?” said the other, interrupting him.
+
+“I do—everybody knows thee, and thy kindness of heart. But ask me
+nothing now—only hide me for the present, and when the danger is past I
+will tell thee all.”
+
+“Thou art no murderer or fugitive from justice?”
+
+“No, on my faith. I am sinned against, but I never injured but one man,
+and I was sorry for that. But hark, I hear them coming—wilt thou or
+wilt thou not protect me?”
+
+“I will,” said the good Nicholas, who saw in the dignified air and open
+countenance of the stranger something that inspired both confidence and
+awe. Accordingly he hastily led him into a remote apartment, where he
+secreted him in a closet, the door of which could not be distinguished,
+and in which he kept his money and valuables, for he said to himself,
+I will trust this man, he does not look as if he would abuse my
+confidence.
+
+“Take this key and lock thyself in, that thou mayst be able to get out
+in case they take me away.”
+
+Presently there was heard a great hallooing and banging at the outward
+door, with a cry of “Open! open!” and Nicholas went to the door and
+opened it. A flood of people rushed in helter-skelter, demanding the
+body of an arch heretic, who, they said, had been seen to take refuge
+in the house. But with all their rage and eagerness, they begged his
+excuse for this unceremonious proceeding, for Nicholas was beloved and
+respected by all, though he was a heretic himself.
+
+“He's here—we saw him enter!” they cried.
+
+“If he is here, find him,” quoth Nicholas, quietly. “I will not say he
+is not here, neither would I betray him if he were.”
+
+The interlopers then proceeded to search all parts of the house, except
+the secret closet, which escaped their attention. When they had done
+this, one of them said.
+
+“We have heard of thy having a secret place in thy house where thy
+money and papers are secured. Open it to us—we swear not to molest or
+take away aught that is thine.”
+
+The good Nicholas was confounded at this demand, and stood for a moment
+not knowing what to say or what to do. The stranger in the closet heard
+it too; but he was a stout-hearted man, and trusted in the Lord.
+
+“Where is thy strong closet?” cried one of the fiercest and most
+forward of the intruders. “We must and will find it.”
+
+“Well, then, find it,” quoth Nicholas, quietly.
+
+They inspected the room narrowly, and knocked against the walls in
+hopes the hollow sound would betray the secret of the place. But they
+were disappointed, for the door was so thick that it returned no hollow
+sound.
+
+They now began to be impatient, and savage withal, and the ferocious
+leader exclaimed,
+
+“Let us take this fellow then. One heretic is as good as another—as bad
+I mean.”
+
+“Seize him!” cried one.
+
+“Away with him!” cried another.
+
+“To the stake!” cried a third.
+
+They forgot the ancient kindness of the good man; for bigotry and
+over-heated zeal remember not benefits, and pay no respect to the
+obligations of gratitude. The good Nicholas was violently seized, his
+hands tied behind him, and he was about to be carried away a sacrifice
+to the demon of religious discord, when the door of the closet flew
+open, and the stranger came forth with a step so firm, a look so lofty
+and inspired, that the rabble quailed, and were silent before him.
+
+“Unbind this man,” said he, in a voice of authority, “and bind me in
+his stead.”
+
+Not a man stirred. They seemed spell bound, and stood looking at each
+other in silent embarrassment.
+
+“Unbind this man, I say!”
+
+Still they remained, as it were, petrified with awe and astonishment.
+
+“Well, then, I shall do it myself,” and he proceeded to release the
+good Nicholas from his bonds, while the interlopers remained silent and
+motionless.
+
+“Mistaken men!” then said he, looking at them with pity, mingled with
+indignation, “you believe yourselves fulfilling the duties of your
+faith when you chase those who differ from you about the world, as if
+they were wild beasts, and drag them to the stake, like malefactors who
+have committed the worst crimes against society. You think that the
+blood of human victims is the most acceptable offering to your Maker,
+and worse than the ignorant pagans, who made martyrs of the blessed
+saints, sacrifice them on the altar of a religion which is all charity,
+meekness, and forgiveness. But I see you are ashamed of yourselves. Go,
+and do so no more.”
+
+The spirit of intolerance quailed before the majesty of truth and
+genius. The poor deluded men, whose passions had been stimulated by
+mistaken notions of religious duty, bowed their heads and departed,
+rebuked and ashamed.
+
+“Who art thou?” asked Nicholas, when they were gone.
+
+“Thou shalt soon know,” replied the stranger. “In the mean time listen
+to me. I must be gone before the fiend, which I have, perhaps, only
+laid for a few moments, again awakens in the bosoms of these deluded
+men, or some others like them get on the scent of their prey, and
+track their victim hither. Listen to me, Nicholas, kind and good
+Nicholas. Thou wouldst have endangered thy own life for the safety of
+a stranger—one who had no claim on thee save that of hospitality—nay,
+not even that, for I was not thy guest by invitation, but intrusion.
+Blessed be thee and thine, thy house, thy memory when thou art dead,
+and thy lot hereafter. Thou art worthy to know who I am.”
+
+He then disclosed to him a name with which the world hath since rung,
+from clime to clime, from country to country. A name incorporated
+inseparably with the interests of truth and the progress of learning.
+
+“Tell it not in Gath—proclaim it not in the streets of Askalon,”
+continued he, “for it is a name which carries with it the sentence
+of death in this yet benighted city. Interests of the deepest
+nature—interests vitally connected with the progress of truth—the
+temporal and eternal happiness of millions living, of millions yet
+unborn, brought me hither. The business I came upon is in part
+performed; but it is now known to some that I am, or have been in the
+city, who will never rest till they run me down and tear me in pieces.
+Farewell, and look for thy reward, if not here, hereafter—for, sure as
+thou livest and breathest, a good action, done with a pure and honest
+motive, is twice blessed—once to the doer and once to him to whom it is
+done.
+
+The good Nicholas would have knelt to the mighty genius that stood
+before him, but he prevented him.
+
+“I am no graven image, nor art thou an idolater that thou shouldst
+kneel to me. Farewell! Let me have thy prayers, for the prayers of a
+good man are indeed blessings.”
+
+Saying this, the illustrious stranger departed in haste, and Nicholas
+never saw him more for a long time. But he said to himself,
+
+“Blessed is my house, for it hath sheltered the bright light of the
+universe.”
+
+From that time forward, he devoted himself to the good cause of the
+reformation with heart and soul. His house was ever the refuge of the
+persecuted; his purse the never-failing resource of the distressed; and
+many were the victims of bigotry and intolerance whom his influence and
+entreaties saved from the stake and the torture. He lived a blessing to
+all within the sphere of his influence, and was blessed in living to
+see the faith which he loved and cherished at length triumph over the
+efforts of power, the arts of intrigue, and the fire of bigotry.
+
+Neither did he forget or neglect the customary offices of kindness
+and good will to the little children of the city, who continued still
+to come and share his goodly cakes, which he gave with the smile and
+the open hand of kind and unaffected benignity. It must have been
+delightful to see the aged patriarch sitting at his door, while the
+little boys and girls gathered together from all parts to share his
+smiles, to be patted on the head, and kissed, and laden with his
+bounties.
+
+Every Newyear's day especially, being his birthday, as it came round,
+was a festival, not only to all the children, but to all that chose to
+come and see him. It seemed that he grew younger instead of older on
+each return of the season; for he received every one with smiles, and
+even his enemies were welcome to his good cheer. He had not the heart
+to hate anybody on the day which he had consecrated to innocent gayety,
+liberal hospitality, and universal benevolence. In process of time,
+his example spread among the whole city, and from thence through the
+country, until every village and town, nay, every house, adopted the
+good custom of setting apart the first day of the year to be gay and
+happy, to exchange visits, and shake hands with friends and to forgive
+enemies.
+
+Thus the good Nicholas lived, blessing all and blessed by all, until
+he arrived at a happy old age. When he had reached fourscore years, he
+was sitting by himself late in the evening of the first of January, old
+style, which is the only true and genuine era after all—the new style
+being a pestilent popish innovation—he was sitting, I say, alone, the
+visiters having all departed, laden with gifts and good wishes. A knock
+was heard at the door, which always opened of itself, like the heart of
+its owner, not only on Newyear's day, but every day in the year.
+
+A stately figure entered and sat down by him, after shaking his hand
+right heartily. The good Nicholas was now old, and his eyesight had
+somewhat failed him, particularly at night.
+
+“Thou art welcome,” quoth the old man.
+
+“I know it,” replied the other, “every one is welcome to the house of
+the good Nicholas, not only on this, but every other day. I have heard
+of thee in my travels.”
+
+“Thou knowest my name—may I not know thine?”
+
+The stranger whispered a name in his ear, which made the heart of the
+good Nicholas leap in his bosom.
+
+“Dost thou remember the adventure of the closet?” said the stranger.
+
+“Yea—blessed be the day and the hour,” said the old man.
+
+And now they had a long conversation, which pertained to high matters,
+not according with the nature of my story, and therefore I pass them
+by, more especially as I do not exactly know what they were.
+
+“I almost fear to ask thee,” at length said Nicholas; “but thou wilt
+partake of my cheer, on this the day of my birth. I shall not live to
+see another.”
+
+Old people are often prophetic on the duration of their lives.
+
+“Assuredly,” replied the other, “for it is neither beneath my character
+nor calling to share the good man's feast, and to be happy when I can.”
+
+So they sat down together and talked of old times, and how much better
+the new times were than the old, inasmuch as the truth had triumphed,
+and they could now enjoy their consciences in peace.
+
+The illustrious visiter staid all night; and the next morning, as he
+was about to depart, the aged Nicholas said to him,
+
+“Farewell—I shall never see thee again. Thou art going a long journey,
+thou sayst, but I am about venturing on one yet longer.”
+
+“Well, be it so,” said the other. “But those who remain behind will
+bless thy name and thy memory. The little children will love thee, and
+so long as thy countrymen cherish their ancient customs, thou wilt not
+be forgotten.”
+
+They parted, and the prediction of the good Nicholas was fulfilled.
+He fell asleep in the arms of death, who called him so softly, and
+received him so gently in his embrace, that though his family knew he
+slept, they little thought it was for ever.
+
+When this news went abroad into the city, you might see the worthy
+burgomasters and citizens knocking the ashes out of their pipes, and
+putting them quietly by in their buttonholes; and the good housewives,
+ever and anon lifting their clean white aprons to their eyes, that they
+might see to thread their needles or find the stitches, as they sat
+knitting their stockings. The shops and schools were all shut the day
+he was buried; and it was remarked that the men neglected their usual
+amusements, and the little children had no heart to play.
+
+When the whole city had gathered together at the side of his grave,
+there suddenly appeared among them a remarkable and goodly-looking
+man, of most reverent demeanour. Every one bowed their bodies, in
+respectful devotion, for they knew the man, and what they owed him. All
+was silent as the grave, just about to receive the body of Nicholas,
+when he I have just spoken of lifted his head, and said as follows:—
+
+“The good man just about to enter the narrow house never defrauded his
+neighbour, never shut his door on the stranger, never did an unkind
+action, nor ever refused a kind one either to friend or foe. His heart
+was all goodness, his faith all purity, his morals all blameless, yea,
+all praiseworthy. Such a man deserves the highest title that can be
+bestowed on man. Join me then, my friends, old and young—men, women,
+and children, in blessing his memory as _the good Saint Nicholas_;
+for I know no better title to such a distinction than pure faith,
+inflexible integrity, and active benevolence.” Thus spake the great
+reformer, John Calvin.
+
+The whole assembled multitude, with one voice and one heart, cried
+out, “Long live the blessed memory of the good St. Nicholas!” as they
+piously consigned him to the bosom of his mother earth.
+
+Thus did he come to be called St. Nicholas; and the people, not content
+with this, as it were by a mutual sympathy, and without coming to any
+understanding on the subject, have ever since set apart the birthday
+of the good man, for the exercise of hospitality to men, and gifts to
+little children. From the Old World they carried the custom to the
+New, where their posterity still hold it in reverence, and where I
+hope it will long continue to flourish, in spite of the cold heartless
+forms, unmeaning ceremonies, and upstart pretensions of certain vulgar
+people, who don't know any better, and therefore ought to be pitied for
+their ignorance, rather than contemned for their presumption.
+
+
+
+
+                                  THE
+
+                         LITTLE DUTCH SENTINEL
+
+                                OF THE
+
+                              MANHADOES.
+
+
+“How times change in this world, and especially in this New World!”
+exclaimed old Aurie Doremus, as he sat at the door of his domicil—the
+last of the little Dutch houses, built of little Dutch bricks, with
+gable end turned to the street—on a sultry summer evening, in the year
+so many honest people found out that paper money was not silver or
+gold. Half a dozen of his grown-up grandchildren were gathered about
+him, on the seats of the little porch, the top of which was shaped
+something like an old revolutionary cocked hat, as the good patriarch
+made this sage observation. He was in fine talking humour, and after a
+little while, went on amid frequent pauses, as if taxing his memory to
+make up his chronicle.
+
+“It was the twenty-fourth—no, the twenty-fifth of March, 1609, that
+Hendrick Hudson sailed from Amsterdam. On the fourth of September,
+after coasting along Newfoundland to Cape Cod, from Cape Cod to
+Chesapeake Bay, and thence back again along the Jersey coast, he came
+in sight of the Highlands of Neversink, and anchored in the evening
+inside of Sandy Hook. This was in 1609—how long ago is that, Egbert?”
+said the good man, turning to me.
+
+“Two hundred and sixteen years,” replied I, after sore tribulation, for
+I never was good at ciphering.
+
+“Two hundred and sixteen years—well, at that time there was not a
+single white man, or white man's habitation, in sight of where we are
+now sitting, in the midst of thousands, ten of thousands—I might almost
+say hundreds of thousands. Ah! boys, 'tis a rapid growth, and Heaven
+grant it may not afford another proof, that the quick of growth are
+quick of decay.” After musing a little he proceeded, as if speaking to
+himself rather than to us.
+
+“If it were possible that an Indian, who had lived on this spot at
+the time of Hudson's first visit, could rise from the dead, with
+all his recollections of the past about him, what would he think at
+beholding the changes that have taken place. Nothing that he had
+ever seen, nothing that he had ever known, would he recognise; for
+even the face of the earth has passed away, and the course of the
+mighty rivers intruded upon by the labours of the white strangers. No
+vestiges, not even the roots of the woods where he hunted his game—no
+landmarks familiar to his early recollections—no ruins of his ancient
+habitations—no traces to guide him to the spot where once reposed the
+remains of his fathers—nothing to tell him that his eyes had opened on
+the very spot where they closed two hundred years ago.” Again he paused
+a few moments, and then resumed his cogitations.
+
+“And this is not all, its name and destinies, as well as its nature,
+are changed. From the Manhadoes of the ancient proprietors, it passed
+into the New-Amsterdam of the Dutch, and the New-York of the English;
+and now,” continued he, his eyes sparkling with exultation—” now it is
+the possession of a free and sovereign people. The sandy barren which
+formed the projecting point of our isle, and where a few Indian canoes
+were hauled up, is now the resort of thousands of stately ships, coming
+from the farthest parts of the earth, and bearing the rich products
+of the New World into every corner of the Old. Their masts bristle
+around the city, like the leafless trees of a wintry forest. The rugged
+island, to which nature had granted nothing but its noble situation,
+and which seemed condemned to perpetual sterility, is now become a
+region of rich gardens and white groups of houses—the very rocks are
+turned to beds of flowers, and the tangled swamps of ivy clinging about
+the stinted shrubbery, into smooth lawns, embellishing and embellished
+by the sprightly forms of playful lads and lasses, escaped from the
+city to enjoy a summer afternoon of rural happiness. All, all is
+changed—and man the most of all. Simplicity has given place to the
+ostentatious, vulgar pride of purse-proud ignorance—the wild Indian
+to the idle and effeminate beau—politeness to ceremony—comfort to
+splendour—honest mechanics to knavish brokers—morals to manners—wampum
+to paper money—and the fear of ghosts to the horror of poverty.” Here
+again the old man paused, and seemed to retire within himself for a
+minute or two; after which I observed him begin to chuckle and rub his
+hands, while his mischievous old eye assumed a new vivacity.
+
+“I wonder what figure our Dutch belles or beaux of 1700, or thereabout,
+would make at a rout, or the Italian opera? I'faith I believe they
+would be more out of their element than the Indian I spoke of just now.
+They would certainly make rare sport in a cotillon, and I doubt would
+never arrive at that acme of modern refinement, which enables people
+to prefer sounds without sense, to sense without sound—and to expire
+with ecstasy at sentiments expressed in a language of which they don't
+comprehend a word.”
+
+“But did they believe in ghosts, grandfather?” asked the youngest
+little granddaughter, who was just beginning to dip in the modern
+wonders of romance, and had been caught by the word ghost in the old
+gentleman's harangue.
+
+“Ay, that they did, and in everything else. Now people believe in
+nothing except what they see in the newspapers—and the only exercise
+of their faith appears, not indeed in believing a crust of bread is a
+shoulder of mutton, but that a greasy rag of paper is a guinea. I have
+heard my grandfather tell fifty stories of ghosts and witches; but
+they have all passed from my memory, except one about a little Dutch
+sentinel, which he used to repeat so often, that I have never forgotten
+it to this day.”
+
+“Oh, tell us the story,” cried the little romance reader, who was
+the old gentleman's prime favourite, and to whom he never thought of
+denying anything, either in or out of reason. “I'll give you two kisses
+if you will.”
+
+“A bargain,” cried the good Aurie; “come hither, baggage.” The little
+girl presented first one rosy cheek and then the other, which he kissed
+affectionately, and began as follows, while we all gathered about him,
+and listened like so many Schahriars.
+
+       ─────────────────
+
+“Once upon a time, then, to use the words of a pleasant and instructive
+historian, the governors of New-Amsterdam were little kings, and the
+burgomasters such great men, that whoever spoke ill of one of them,
+had a bridle put into his mouth, rods under his arms, and a label on
+his breast recording his crime. In this trim he was led by the sheriff
+and tied to a post, where he remained a spectacle to the public, and
+an example to all evil doers—or rather evil sayers. I wonder how such
+a custom would go down nowadays, with the great champions of the
+liberty of the press? Then, too, instead of street inspectors, whose
+duty it is to take care of one side of a street and let the other take
+care of itself, there were roy meesters to look to the fences, and
+keep the cows from trespassing on their neighbour's pastures—then the
+houses were covered with reeds and straw, and the chimneys were made
+of wood—then all matrimonial disputes were settled by ‘a commissary
+of marriage affairs,’ and no man could eat a loaf of bread, except
+the flour had been inspected by the ‘comptroller general of the
+company's windmill,’ who could be no other than the sage Don Quixote
+himself—then, the distinction of ranks, instead of being designated by
+great and little barons, was signified by great and little burghers,
+who danced hipsey-saw and reels—plucked the goose—rambled on the
+commons, now the park, for nuts and strawberries—made parties of
+pleasure to enjoy the retired shades of the Ladies' Valley, since
+metamorphosed into Maiden Lane—shot bears in the impenetrable forests
+of Harlem Heights—hunted the deer along the Bloomingdale road—and
+erected Maypoles on the first of May, in the great meadow where the
+college now stands.”
+
+“In what year of our Lord was that?” asked the little pet lady.
+
+“Why, in the year 1670, or thereabout, you baggage.”
+
+“I declare I thought it must have been somewhere about the year one,”
+said she, laughing. The old man patted her cheek, and went on.
+
+“About this time the good citizens of New-Amsterdam were most
+especially afraid of three things—Indians, ghosts, and witches. For the
+first, they had good reason, for the Indians inhabited the country
+around them in all directions, and though the honest Amsterdamers could
+beat them at a bargain, there was another game at which they had rather
+the advantage. In regard to ghosts and witches, I cannot say as much
+in justification of their fears. But that is neither here nor there.
+Some people that will run like a deer from real danger, defy ghosts
+and witches, and all their works; while the fearless soldier who faces
+death without shrinking in a hundred battles, trembles and flees from
+a white cow in a churchyard, or a white sheet on a clothes line, of
+a moonlight night. It was thus with honest JAN SOL, the little Dutch
+sentinel of the Manhadoes.
+
+“Jan was a short, square-built, bandy-legged, broad-faced, snub-nosed
+little fellow, who valued himself upon being an old soldier; a species
+of men that, with the exception of travellers, are the most given to
+telling what are called tough stories, of any people in the world.
+According to his own account, he had been in more pitched battles than
+Henry the Lion, or Julius Cæsar; and made more lucky escapes than any
+knight-errant on record. The most miraculous one of all, was at some
+battle—I forget the name—where he would certainly have been killed, if
+he had not very opportunely arrived just after it was over. But though
+one of the most communicative persons in the world, he never gave any
+tolerable reason for visiting New-Amsterdam. He hinted, indeed, that
+he had been invited over to discipline the raw provincials; but there
+was a counter story abroad, that he was drummed out of the regiment
+for walking in his sleep, and emptying the canteens of the whole mess.
+Indeed, he did not positively deny that he was apt to be a rogue in his
+sleep; but then he made it up by being as honest as the day when he was
+awake.
+
+“However this may be, at the time I speak of, Jan Sol figured as
+corporal in the trusty city guard, whose business it was to watch
+during the night, to guard against the inroads of the savages, and
+to enforce, in the daytime, the military code established for the
+good order and well being of the metropolis. This code consisted of
+nineteen articles, every one of which was a perfect blue law. Bread
+and water, boring tongues with a red-hot iron, hanging, and such like
+trifles, were the least a man had to expect in those days. The mildest
+infliction of the whole code, was that of riding a wooden horse, for
+not appearing on parade at the ringing of a bell. This town was always
+famous for bellringing. Jan had many a ride in this way for nothing.
+Among the most rigid of these regulations, was one which denounced
+death for going in and out of the fort, except through the gate; and
+another, ordaining a similar punishment for entering or leaving the
+city by any other way but the land poort, after the mayor had gone his
+rounds in the evening, and received the keys from the guard.
+
+“The state of society, and the neighbourhood of the Indians, I suppose,
+made these severe restrictions necessary; and we are not, while
+sitting quietly at our firesides, out of their reach, to set ourselves
+in judgment upon our ancestors, who planted the seeds of this empire in
+the midst of dangers. In the little sketch of New-Amsterdam to which
+I have before referred, and which is well worth your reading, it is
+stated that the gate was shut in the evening before dark, and opened at
+daylight. At nine o'clock the tattoo was beat, as the signal for the
+honest folks to go to sleep as quick as possible, and it is recorded
+they all obeyed the summons in the most exemplary manner. The sentinels
+were placed at different points considered the most accessible, and
+changed every half hour, that being the limit of a quiet, orderly
+Dutchman's capacity for keeping awake after nine o'clock.
+
+“One bright moonlight night, in the month of August, it fell to the lot
+of Jan Sol to mount guard, not a hundred yards from the great gate, or
+land poort, which was situated in Broadway, near where Trinity Church
+now stands. Beyond this, between Liberty and Courtlandt streets, stood
+the company's windmill, where nearly all the flour was made for the
+consumption of the little metropolis. The place where he took his
+rounds was a sand bank, elevated above the surrounding objects, and
+whence he could see the river, the opposite shore of New-Jersey, then
+called Pavonia, the capacious bay, and the distant hills of Staten
+Island. The night was calm, and the cloudless sky showed thousands of
+wandering glories overhead, whose bright twinklings danced on the slow
+undulating surface of the glassy mirror. All round there was perfect
+silence and repose, nothing moved upon the land or the waters, neither
+lights were burning nor dogs barking; these sagacious animals having
+been taught, by a most infallible way of appealing to their instincts,
+that it was unlawful to disturb the somniferous indulgences of their
+masters. It was a scene for poetic inspiration, but Jan Sol was no
+poet, although he often availed himself of the poetic license in his
+stories. He was thinking of something else, besides the beauty of the
+night and the scene. The truth is, his nerves were very much out of
+order at that moment.
+
+“It was about the time that witches made their first appearance in
+the New World, whither they came, I suppose, to escape the pleasant
+alternative of being either drowned or hanged, proffered to them in
+those days by the good people of England. But they got out of the
+frying pan into the fire, as history records, particularly to the
+eastward of the Manhadoes, where some of them underwent the ordeal of
+Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Others fled to New-Amsterdam, greatly
+to the discomfort of the good citizens, who took such umbrage at
+broomsticks, that the industrious and cleanly housewife's vocation of
+sweeping the parlour twelve times a day was considered as naught. It is
+affirmed, that instead of a broom, they used the broad-brimmed Sunday
+hats of their husbands in blowing away the dust, for fear of being
+taken for witches. There was a universal panic, and a universal dust
+throughout all the city.
+
+“But this was not the worst of it either. Just about this time Dominie
+Egidius Luyck prophesied the world was coming speedily to an end, as
+plainly appeared from the great quantity of toad stools, which made
+their appearance in the Ladies' Valley and Windmill Meadow after a
+heavy rain. This prophecy was followed up by the appearance of the
+northern lights, falling stars, and mysterious rattlings of invisible
+carriages through the streets at midnight. To crown all, an inspired
+fanatic had passed through the Broadway, crying out 'Wo, wo to the
+crown of pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim. Two woes past, and the
+third coming, except ye repent—repent—repent.' All these horrors now
+encompassed the imagination of Jan Sol, as he paced the little sand
+hillock with slow steps, and from time to time started at his shadow.
+The half hour seemed an age, and never did anybody long so much for the
+appearance of a corporal's guard to relieve him.
+
+“He had not been on his watch more than ten minutes, or so, when,
+happening to look towards the opposite shore of Pavonia, he saw
+something moving on the waters like a canoe shooting across the river.
+Five hundred Indians with tomahawks and scalping knives all at once
+stood before the little sentinel, whose imagination was ready cocked
+and primed for the reception of all sorts of horrors. He had a great
+mind to fire his gun, and alarm the garrison, but a little of the fear
+of his companions' jokes restrained him for that time. However, he
+drew a pistol, and refreshed his courage with a little of the genuine
+Schiedam, after which he ventured to look that way again. But the canoe
+had disappeared in a most miraculous manner, and Jan was satisfied in
+his own mind, that it was neither more nor less than the ghost of a
+canoe. There was not much consolation in this; but it was better than
+the five hundred Indians, with their tomahawks and scalping knives.
+
+“The night breeze now sprung up with its chilling dews, and cooled
+Jan's courage till it nearly fell down to the freezing point. The wind,
+or some other cause, produced a sort of creaking and moaning in the
+old crazy windmill, which drew the eyes of the little sentinel in that
+direction. At that moment, Jan saw a head slowly rising and peeping
+over the wall, directly in a line with the windmill. His eyes became
+riveted to the spot, with the irresistible fascination of overwhelming
+terror. Gradually the head was followed by shoulders, body and legs,
+which Jan swore belonged to a giant at least sixteen ells high. After
+sitting a moment upon the wall, the figure, according to Jan's relation
+before the governor next morning, put forth a pair of enormous wings,
+and whirling itself round and round in a circle—while its eyes flashed
+fire, and its teeth appeared like live coals—actually flew down from
+the wall towards the governor's garden, where it disappeared, or rather
+sank into the ground, close by the garden gate. Jan fired his gun,
+and one might have supposed he killed himself, for he fell flat on his
+face, apparently as dead as a door nail.
+
+“Here he was found by the relief guard, about five minutes afterwards,
+with his face buried in the sand hill. The moment they touched him,
+he began to roar out with awful vociferation, ‘Wo, wo to the crown of
+pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim.’ They could make nothing of Jan
+or his story, and forthwith carried him to the ‘big house,’ as it was
+called, where the governor resided, and who, together with the whole
+corporation and city, had been waked by the discharge of the gun. Such
+a thing had not happened within the memory of man. Jan told his story,
+and swore to it afterwards; but all he got by it, was a ride on the
+wooden horse the next morning. The story, however, took wind, and there
+was more liquor sold that day at the Stadt Herberg, or city tavern,
+than for a whole week before. Coming upon the back of the dominie's
+toad stools, the northern lights, the rumbling of the invisible wheels,
+and the mysterious denunciation of the drunkards of Ephraim, it made
+a great impression; and many, not to say all, believed there must be
+something in it. Several people went to church the next day, who had
+not been there since they were christened.
+
+“Measures were taken the following night, and for several nights
+afterwards, to detect this gigantic spectre, but in vain. Nothing
+appeared to disturb the quiet repose of the guard and the city, till
+the next Saturday night, when it came to Jan Sol's turn to take his
+watch upon the sand hill, about the same hour as before. They say Jan
+fortified himself with a double allowance of Schiedam, and put a little
+Dutch Bible in the pocket of one of his breeches. But all would not do,
+for many people were ready to swear afterwards, that his hair stood on
+end so sturdily that he could hardly keep his tin cap upon it. Ghosts,
+hobgoblins, and all that sort of thing, have not only a propensity to
+visit some one particular person, but are likewise extremely regular in
+their habits, as well as in their hours of appearing. Exactly at the
+same hour the little canoe shot from Pavonia—the night breeze sprang up
+as before—the old windmill began to creak and moan—the gigantic spectre
+peered over the wall at the same spot as before, and cautiously glaring
+round with his fiery eyes, unfurled his mighty wings, and after turning
+a few somersets, flew towards the gate of the governor's garden, where
+he disappeared as before. This time Jan was too far gone to fire his
+matchlock, but a few minutes after he was found almost insensible with
+fright, by the relief guard, who carried him before the governor next
+morning, where he swore to the same story, and was complimented with
+another ride on the wooden horse.
+
+“But the repetition of a miracle is sure to make it less miraculous;
+and a wonder twice told is almost half proved. People began to believe,
+and from believing, to be sure there was something out of the way, at
+least, in this affair. Miracles, like misfortunes, never come single;
+and almost every one had a wonder of his own to reinforce that of the
+little Dutch sentinel. At least fifty of them happened within less than
+a week, each more alarming than the other. Doors opened at midnight, by
+invisible hands—strange black cats with green eyes, and sparks of fire
+flying out of their backs, appeared at different times—the old mahogany
+chests of drawers made divers strange noises, and sometimes went off
+with a report almost as loud as a pistol—and an old woman coming into
+market with cabbages before daylight in the morning, met a black
+figure, she could almost swear had a tail and a cloven foot. A horseman
+was heard in the middle of the night galloping furiously towards the
+land poort, crying ‘Whoa! whoa!’ with a hollow voice; and what was very
+singular, though several persons got up to look out of the windows,
+not one could see the least sign of horse or horseman. In short, the
+whole city of New-Amsterdam was in a panic, and he was a bold man that
+did not run away from his own shadow. Even the ‘big house’ where the
+governor dwelt, was infected, insomuch that his excellency doubled his
+guards, and slept with loaded pistols at his bedside. One of these made
+a voluntary discharge one night, and the bullet passed right through
+the picture of Admiral Van Tromp, which hung up in the chamber. If it
+had been the admiral himself he would have been killed as sure as a
+gun. This accident was considered as very remarkable, as there were no
+hair triggers in those days, to go off of themselves.
+
+“There was at that time a public-spirited little magistrate in office,
+by the name of DIRCK SMET, a pipemaker by trade, who was the father
+of more laws than all the lawyers before or after him, from Moses
+down to the present time. He had the itch of legislation to a most
+alarming degree, and like Titus, considered he had lost a day when he
+had not begotten at least one law. A single circumstance or event, no
+matter how insignificant, was enough for him. If a little boy happened
+to frighten a sober Dutch horse, which, by-the-way, was no such easy
+matter, by flying his kite, the worshipful Dirck Smet would forthwith
+call a meeting of the common council, and, after declaiming a full hour
+upon the dangers of kiteflying, get a law passed, denouncing a penalty
+upon all wicked parents who allowed their children to indulge in that
+pestilent amusement. If there happened a rumour of a man, a horse, a
+cow, or any other animal being bitten by a mad dog, in some remote part
+of New-England, or elsewhere, Dirck Smet would spout a speech enough
+to make one's hair stand on end, about the horrors of hydrophobia, and
+get a law passed against all the honest mastiffs of New-Amsterdam, who
+had no more idea of running mad than I have at this moment. Owing to
+the number of little creeks intersecting the city, and the quantity of
+grass growing in the streets at that time, there was never a finer city
+for raising flocks of geese than New-Amsterdam—in fact, there were as
+many geese as inhabitants. Dirck declared war against these in a speech
+of three hours, which so overpowered the council, that they all fell
+asleep, and passed a law banishing the geese from the city; although
+one of the members, who had the finest goose pond in the place, talked
+very learnedly about the famous goose that saved the capitol. It is
+said that Dirck's antipathy to these honest birds arose from having
+been attacked and sorely buffeted by a valiant old gander, whose
+premises he had chanced to invade on some occasion. He was, indeed, the
+most arrant meddler and busybody of his day, always poking his nose
+into holes and corners, ferreting out nuisances, and seeking pretexts
+for new laws; so that if the people had paid any attention to them they
+would have been under a worse tyranny than that of the Turk or the
+Spaniard. But they were saved from this by a lucky circumstance—the
+council thinking they did enough by making the laws, let them take care
+of themselves afterwards; and honest Dirck Smet was too busy begetting
+new laws, to mind what became of the old ones. Nevertheless, he got
+the reputation of a most vigilant magistrate, which means a pestilent
+intermeddler with people's domestic sports and occupations, and a most
+industrious busybody in attempting impossibilities.
+
+“As soon as Dirck Smet heard the story of the inroads of the winged
+monster, he fell into a fever of anxiety to do something for the good
+of the community. He was on the point of proposing a severe law against
+winged monsters, but from this he was dissuaded by a judicious friend,
+who represented the difficulty of catching this sort of delinquents,
+and that this was absolutely necessary, before he could punish them.
+Baffled in this point, he fumed about from one place to another,
+insisting that something must be done for the quiet and security of the
+city, and that a law of some kind or other was absolutely necessary
+on the occasion, if it were only to show their zeal for the public
+good. It was his opinion that a bad law was better than no law at all,
+and that it would be an inexcusable piece of negligence to let these
+interloping monsters fly over the wall with impunity.
+
+“All this while his excellency the governor of New-Amsterdam said
+nothing, but thought a great deal. He was a little jealous of the
+popularity of Dirck Smet, who had got the title of Father of the City,
+on account of having saved it from the horrors of flying kites, mad
+dogs, and hissing ganders. In fact, they were two such great men, that
+the city was not half large enough for them both, and the consequence
+was, that instead of assisting, they only stood in each other's way,
+like two carts in a narrow lane. We can have too much of a good
+thing, even as regards laws and rulers. The governor was determined
+to do nothing, for no other reason that could ever be discovered
+than because his rival was so busy. The fears of the good citizens,
+however, and their increasing clamours against the negligence of their
+rulers, at length roused the activity of the governor, who forthwith
+convened his council, to deliberate upon the best means of saving the
+city of New-Amsterdam.
+
+“Dirck Smet, who was ex-officio a member, was in his glory on this
+occasion, and talked so much that there was no time for acting. At
+length, however, the inward man gave out, and he had not breath to say
+anything more. It was then, tradition says, that a silent old member,
+who never made a set speech in his life, proposed, in as few words as
+possible, and in a quiet colloquial manner, that measures should be
+first taken to ascertain the truth of the story, after which means
+might be found to detect the miracle or the impostor, whatever it might
+be. It is affirmed the whole council was astonished that a man should
+be able to say so much in so few words, and that henceforth the silent
+member was considered the wisest of them all. Even Dirck Smet held his
+tongue for the rest of the sitting, thus furnishing another striking
+proof, my children, that good sense is an overmatch for the most
+confirmed garrulity. The same old gentleman suggested, that as Saturday
+night seemed to be the period chosen for his two visits by the winged
+monster, it would be advisable to place some of the most trusty of the
+city guard in ambush in the vicinity of the spot where, according to
+the testimony of Jan Sol, he had flown over the wall, to intercept
+him there, or at least overtake him in his progress to the governor's
+garden. Everybody wondered at the wisdom of this proposal, which
+was adopted with only one dissenting voice. Dirck Smet moved, as an
+amendment, that the word ‘progress’ should be changed to ‘flight,’ but
+it was negatived, greatly to his mortification, and therefore he voted
+against the whole proposition, declaring it went against his conscience.
+
+“Accordingly, the next Saturday night a party was got in readiness,
+of six picked men of the city guard, under the command of Captain
+Balthaser Knyff, of immortal memory, who had faced more ghosts in his
+generation than any man living. The whole band was equipped with an
+extraordinary number of nether garments for defence, and fortified
+with double allowance of Schiedam, to keep up their courage in this
+arduous service. The captain was considered a person of the greatest
+weight in all the city; and in addition to this, he added to his
+specific gravity, by stuffing into his pocket all the leaden weights
+he could borrow of a neighbouring grocer, for he did not know but
+the monster might fly away with him. His comrades remonstrated that
+this additional weight would impede his pursuit of the foe; but the
+captain nobly replied, ‘it was beneath a soldier to run, either from or
+after an enemy.’ The most perfect secrecy was preserved in all these
+arrangements.
+
+“Thus equipped, they took their station, about eleven o'clock on the
+Saturday night following the last appearance of the winged monster,
+under cover of one of the neighbouring houses, and there waited the
+coming of the mysterious visiter. Twelve o'clock, the favourite hour
+of spectres of all sorts, came and passed, yet no spectre appeared
+peeping over the wall. By this time they began to be wearied with
+long watching, and it was proposed that they should take turns, one
+at a time, while the others slept off the fatigue of such unheard-of
+service. The lot fell upon Jan Sol, who being, as it were, a sort
+of old acquaintance of the spectre, was supposed to be particularly
+qualified for this honour. Jan forthwith posted himself at the corner
+of the house, upon one leg, to make sure of keeping awake, as he
+had whilome seen the New-Amsterdam geese do, ere they were banished
+from the city, by the inflexible patriotism of Dirck Smet, the great
+lawgiver.
+
+“The little Dutch sentinel stood for about half an hour, sometimes on
+one leg, sometimes on the other, with his head full of hobgoblins and
+his heart full of fears. All was silent as the grave, save the sonorous
+music of the captain's vocal nose, or, as it might be poetically
+expressed, ‘living lyre,’ which ever and anon snorted a low requiem to
+the waning night. The moon was on the swift decrease, and now exhibited
+an arch not unlike a bright Indian bow, suspended in the west, a
+little above the distant horizon. Gradually it sank behind the hills,
+leaving the world to the guardianship of the watchmen of the night, the
+twinkling stars. Scarcely a minute after, the heart of honest Jan was
+sent bumping against his trusty ribs, by the appearance of something
+slowly rising above the indistinct line of the city wall, which I ought
+to observe was made of wood. The spectre gradually mounted higher
+and higher, and rested on the very spot where he had seen it twice
+before. The teeth of Jan Sol chattered, and his knees knocked against
+each other—but he stood his ground manfully, and either would not or
+could not run away. This time the spectre, though he appeared with two
+enormous wings projecting from his shoulders, did not whirl them round,
+or expand them in the manner he had done before. After sitting perched
+for a few moments on the wall, he flew down to the ground, and crept
+cautiously along, under cover of the wall, in a direction towards the
+big house. At this moment, the trusty Jan with some difficulty roused
+his companions, and silently pointed to the spectre gliding along as
+before related. Whether it was that it saw or heard something to alarm
+it, I cannot say; but scarcely had the redoubtable Captain Knyff risen,
+and shaken from his valiant spirit the fumes of sleep and Schiedam,
+when the spirit took as it were to itself wings, and sped rapidly
+towards the gate of the governor's garden. The party pursued, with
+the exception of the captain, who carried too much weight for a race,
+and arrived within sight of the gate just in time to see the spectre
+vanish, either under, over, or inside of it, they could not tell
+which. When they got to the gate, they found it fast locked, a proof,
+if any had been wanting, that it must have been something supernatural.
+
+“In pursuance of their instructions, the guard roused the governor,
+his household, and his troops, with the intention of searching the
+garden, and, if necessary, every part of his house, for the purpose
+of detecting this mysterious intruder. The garden was surrounded by a
+high brick wall, the top of which bristled with iron spikes and pieces
+of bottles set in mortar. It was worth a man's life to get over it.
+There was no getting in or out except by the gate, on the outside of
+which the governor stationed two trusty fellows, with orders to stand
+a little apart, and perfectly quiet. Now all the governor's household
+was wide awake, and in a rustle of anxiety and trepidation, except
+one alone, who did not make her appearance. This was the governor's
+only daughter, as pretty a little Dutch damsel as ever crossed Kissing
+Bridge, or rambled over the green fields of the Manhadoes. Compared
+to the queer little bodies that figure nowadays in the Broadway,
+seemingly composed of nothing but hats, feathers, and flounces, she was
+a composition of real flesh and blood, which is better than all the
+gauze, silk, tulle, and gros de Naples in the world. “A man marries a
+milliner's shop instead of a woman nowadays,” said the old gentleman,
+glancing a little archly at the fashionable paraphernalia of his pretty
+pet granddaughter. “Her face and form was all unsophisticated native
+beauty, and her dress all simplicity and grace.”
+
+“Is that her picture hanging in the back parlour?” asked the little
+girl, in a sly way.”
+
+“Yes; but the picture does not do justice either to the beauty or the
+dress of the original.”
+
+“I hope not,” said the other; “for if it does, I am sure I would not be
+like her for the world.”
+
+“Pshaw, you baggage,” replied the old gentleman, “you'll never be fit
+to hold a candle to her.”
+
+“The search now commenced with great vigour in the garden, although Jan
+Sol openly declared it as his opinion, that they might look themselves
+blind before they found the spectre, who could fly over a wall as easy
+as a grasshopper. He accordingly kept aloof from the retired part of
+the garden, and stuck close to his noble commander, Captain Knyff, who
+by this time had come up with the pursuers. All search, however, proved
+vain; for after a close investigation of more than an hour, it was
+unanimously agreed that the intruder, whether man, monster, or ghost,
+could not possibly be hid in the garden. The governor then determined
+to have the house searched, and accordingly the whole party entered for
+that purpose, with the exception of the two sentinels without the gate.
+Here, while rummaging in closets, peering under beds, and looking up
+chimneys in vain, they were alarmed by a sudden shout from the garden,
+which made their hearts quake with exceeding apprehension. The shout
+was succeeded by loud talking and apparent tugging and struggling,
+as if between persons engaged in hot contention. At the same moment
+the governor's daughter rushed into her chamber, and throwing herself
+on the bed with a loud shriek, remained insensible for some time.
+Everybody was sure she had seen the spectre.
+
+“It appears that while the search was going on in the big house, and
+the attention of everybody employed in that direction, the sentinels
+outside the gate heard the key cautiously turned inside, then, after
+a little pause, slowly open. A face then peeped out as if to take an
+observation, and the owner, apparently satisfied that the coast was
+clear, darted forward. The first step, he unluckily tripped over a
+rope which these trusty fellows had drawn across the gate, and fell
+full length on the ground. Before he could recover his feet the two
+sentinels were upon him, and in spite of his exertions kept him down,
+until their shouts drew the rest of the guard to their assistance. The
+spectre was then secured with ropes, and safely lodged in the cellar
+under a strong escort, to await his examination the next morning. Jan
+Sol was one of the band, though he insisted it was all nonsense to
+mount guard over a spectre.
+
+“The council met betimes at the sound of a bell, rung by a worthy
+citizen, who, in addition to his vocation of bellringer, was crier of
+the court, messenger to the governor, sexton, clerk, and gravedigger
+to the whole city of New-Amsterdam. It was something to be a man in
+those days, before the invention of steam engines, spinning jennies,
+and chessplaying automatons caused such a superfluity of human beings,
+that it is much if they can now earn salt to their porridge. At that
+time, men were so scarce, that there were at least half a dozen offices
+to one man; now there are half a dozen men to one office; all which is
+owing to machinery. This accumulation of honours in the person of the
+bellringer, made him a man of considerable consequence, insomuch, that
+the little boys about Flattenbarrack Hill chalked his name upon their
+sleighs, and it is even asserted that he had an Albany sloop called
+after him. I could, therefore, do no less than make honourable mention
+of a person of his dignity.
+
+“After the council met, and everything was ready, the door of the
+cellar was cautiously opened, and Jan Sol, at the head, that is to
+say, in the rear of a file of soldiers, descended for the purpose of
+bringing forth this daring interloper, who had thus, from time to
+time, disturbed the sleep of the sober citizens of New-Amsterdam. Jan
+offered to bet a canteen of Schiedam, that they would find nobody in
+the cellar; but, contrary to all expectation, they presently came
+forth with the body of a comely youth, apparently about the age of
+five-and-twenty, which was considered very young in those days. Nothing
+was more customary there, than for a sturdy mother to bastinado her
+boys, as she called them, after they had grown to be six feet high.
+They were all the better for it, and made excellent husbands.
+
+“When the young man came into the presence of the puissant governor
+of the New Netherlands, he appeared a comely person, tall, fair
+complexioned, and pleasant of feature. He was asked whence he came,
+and not having a lawyer at his elbow to teach him the noble art of
+prevarication, replied without hesitation,
+
+“‘From Pavonia.’
+
+“‘How did you get into the city?’
+
+“‘I climbed the wall, near the company's windmill.’
+
+“‘And how did you get into the governor's garden?’
+
+“‘The same way I got out.’
+
+“‘How was that?’
+
+“‘Through the gate.’
+
+“‘How did you get through the gate?’
+
+“‘By unlocking it.’
+
+“‘With what?’
+
+“‘With a key.’
+
+“‘Whence came that key?’
+
+“No answer.
+
+“‘Whence came that key?’
+
+“‘I shall not tell.’
+
+“‘What induced you to scale the wall and intrude into the garden?’
+
+“‘I shall not tell.’
+
+“‘Not if you are hanged for not telling?’
+
+“‘Not if I am hanged for not telling.’
+
+“‘What have you done with the wings with which, according to the
+testimony of Jan Sol, you flew from the wall, and through the street to
+the governor's garden?’
+
+“‘I never had any wings, and never flew in the whole course of my life.’
+
+“Here Jan Sol was called up, and testified positively to the wings and
+the flying. There was now great perplexity in the council, when the
+keeper of the windmill demanded to be heard. He stated he remembered
+perfectly well, that on the two nights referred to, he had set his
+windmill going about the hour in which Jan Sol saw the spectre whirl
+round and fly from the wall. There had been a calm for several days
+previous, and the citizens began to be in want of flour. He had
+therefore taken advantage of the rising of the wind at the time, to
+set his mill going. A little further inquiry led to the fact, that the
+place where the spectre scaled the wall was exactly in a line with the
+windmill and the spot where Jan held his watch. It was thus that the
+spectre became identified with the wings of the mill. This exposition
+marvellously quieted the fears of the good people; but there were
+a number of stern believers who stuck by the little sentinel, and
+continued to believe in the winged monster. As for poor Jan, he looked
+ten times more foolish than when he used to be caught emptying the
+canteens of his comrades in his sleep. This elucidation being over, the
+examination proceeded.
+
+“‘Did you know of the law making it death for any one to enter or
+depart from the city between sunset and sunrise, except through the
+gate?’
+
+“‘I did.’
+
+“‘What induced you to violate it?’
+
+“‘I shall not tell.’
+
+“‘Was it plunder?’
+
+“‘I am no thief.’
+
+“‘Was it treason against the state?’
+
+“‘I am no traitor.’
+
+“‘Was it mischief?’
+
+“‘I am not a child.’
+
+“‘Was it to frighten people?’
+
+“‘I am no fool.’
+
+“‘What is your name?’
+
+“'My name is of no consequence—a man can be hanged without a name.'
+
+“And this was all they could get out of him. Various cross-questions
+were put to entrap him. He replied to them all with perfect freedom
+and promptitude, until they came to his name, and his motives for
+intruding into the city in violation of a law so severe, that none as
+yet had ever been known to transgress it. Then, as before, he declined
+answering.
+
+“In those early days, under the Dutch dynasty, trial by jury was not
+in fashion. People were too busy to serve as jurymen, if they had
+been wanted; and the decision of most cases was left either to the
+burgomasters, or if of great consequence, to the governor and council.
+Justice was severe and prompt, in proportion to the dangers which
+surrounded the early colonists, and the spirit of the times in which
+they flourished. They lived in perpetual apprehension; and fear is
+the father of cruelty. The law denouncing death to any person who
+should enter the city between sunset and sunrise, except by the gate,
+was considered as too essential to the security of the citizens to
+be relaxed in favour of any one, especially of a person who refused
+to tell either his name or the motive for his intrusion. By his own
+admission, he was guilty of the offence, and but one course remained
+for the council. The young man was sentenced to be hanged that day
+week, and sent to the fort for safe keeping till the period arrived.
+
+“That day the daughter of the governor did not appear to grace the
+table of his excellency, nor in the management of those little
+household affairs, that are not beneath the dignity of the daughters of
+kings. She was ill with a headache, and kept her bed. The governor had
+no child but her, and though without any great portion of sensibility,
+was capable of all the warmth of parental affection. Indeed, all his
+affections were centred in this little blooming offspring, who was
+the only being in all the New World that carried a drop of his blood
+coursing in her blue veins. He was also proud of her—so proud, that his
+pride often got the better of his affection. She had many admirers—for
+she was fair, wealthy, and the daughter of the greatest governor in
+the New World, not excepting him of Virginia. It followed, as a matter
+of course, that she was admired, but it was at an awful distance. The
+honest Dutch swains, who had not pursued the female sprite through
+all the mazes of romance, and learned how ofttimes highborn ladies
+stooped to lads of low degree, gaped at her at church, as if she had
+been a sea serpent. They would as soon have thought of aspiring to the
+governor's dignity, as to the governor's daughter. Besides, he was one
+of those absurd old blockheads, who consider nobody good enough for
+their daughters at home, and hawk them about Europe, in search of some
+needy sprig of nobility, who will exchange his mighty honours for bags
+of gold, and a fair, blooming, virtuous virgin into the bargain. He had
+sworn a thousand times, that his Blandina should never marry anything
+below a Dutch baron.”
+
+“Was her name Blandina—was she my namesake?” interrupted the little
+granddaughter.
+
+“Yes, girl, she was your great great grandmother, and you were
+christened after her,” said the old man, and proceeded.
+
+“This fear on the part of the young fellows of New-Amsterdam, and this
+well-known determination of the governor, kept all admirers at an awful
+distance from the young lady, who grew up to the age of eighteen,
+loving no one save her father, now that her mother was no more; and an
+old black woman, who had taken care of her ever since she was a child.
+The throne of her innocent bosom had remained till then quite vacant,
+nor did she know for certain what it was that made her sometimes so
+weary of the world, and so tired of the length of the livelong sultry
+summer hours. She walked into the garden to pluck the flowers, until
+she became tired of that. She strolled with her old nurse into the
+rural retirement of Ladies' Valley, and the shady paths which coursed
+the wood where the Park is now, until she became tired of these. In
+short, she became tired of everything, and so spiritless, that her
+father was not a little alarmed for her health.
+
+“About this time the governor was called by important political
+business to the eastern frontier, and the journey was expected to
+take up several days. During his absence, a party was formed to cross
+the river, and spend the day in rambling about the romantic solitudes
+of Weehawk, then a sort of frontier between the white man and the
+Indian. Blandina was pressed to accompany them, and at last consented,
+although against the will, not only of the governor's deputy, but of
+the governor himself, who would certainly have forbidden it, had he
+been present; but he was a hundred miles off, and in the absence of
+the governor there was nobody equal to the governor's daughter. The
+morning was fine, and the party set out as happy as youthful spirits
+and youthful anticipations could make them. Here they rambled at will
+and at random, in groups, in pairs, and alone, just as it suited them;
+gathering together to take their refreshments, and again separating, as
+chance or will directed them.
+
+“Blandina had separated from the others, and wandered, almost
+unconsciously, half a mile from the landing place by herself. Perhaps
+when she set out, she expected some of the beaux to follow, but they
+stood in such awe of her, that not one had the temerity to offer his
+attendance. Each being occupied with his own pursuits and reflections,
+no one missed the young madam for some time, until their attention was
+roused by a shriek at a distance in the wood. After a momentary pause,
+the shrieks were repeated in quick succession, and almost immediately
+succeeded by the report of a gun. The little group of young people was
+struck with dismay, and the first impulse was to run to the boats,
+and escape into the stream. But to do them justice, this was but an
+involuntary selfishness, for the moment they missed Blandina, the young
+men prepared to pursue in the direction of the shrieks and the gun. At
+this crisis, a figure darted swiftly from the wood, bearing the young
+lady insensible in his arms, and approaching the group, placed her with
+her head in the lap of one of the girls, while he ran to the river, and
+returned with some water in his hat.
+
+“Blandina soon came to herself, and related that she had been seized
+by an Indian, and rescued by the young man, who, all the young damsels
+presently discovered, was very handsome. He wore the dress of a
+gentleman of that day, which, sooth to say, would not cut much of a
+figure just now. He was accoutred as a sportsman, and had in his bag
+sufficient evidence of his skill. It was decided on all hands that the
+stranger, having saved the life of Blandina, or at least rescued her
+from captivity, was destined to be her future husband, and that her
+time was now come. Such prophecies are very apt to be fulfilled. The
+stranger announced himself as the son of the ancient and honourable
+Lord of Pavonia, and was blushingly invited by Blandina to come and
+receive the thanks of her father, when he should return from the
+eastern frontier. But he only shook his head, and replied with a
+dubious smile, ‘Are you sure I shall be welcome?’
+
+“From this time Blandina became more languid and thoughtful than
+ever. When the father returned, and heard the story of her straying
+into the woods, and of her deliverance, he swore he would reward the
+gallant young man, like a most liberal and puissant governor. But when
+afterwards, on inquiring his name, he found that he was the son of
+the Lord of Pavonia, he retracted his promise, and swore that the son
+was no better than the father, who was an arrant splutterkin. They
+had quarrelled about boundaries; his excellency claiming the whole
+of the river on the west side, up to the high-water mark, while the
+Lord of Pavonia, whose territories lay exactly opposite the city of
+New-Amsterdam, had the temerity to set nets, and catch shad in the very
+middle of the stream. The feud was bitter in proportion to the dignity
+of the parties and the importance of the point at issue. The governor
+commanded his daughter never to mention the name of the splutterkin, on
+pain of his displeasure.
+
+“Rumour, however, says that the young man found means to renew his
+acquaintance with Blandina, and that though she might never mention
+his name to her father, she thought of him all day, and dreamed about
+him all night. After a while the rumour died away, and the people
+began to think and talk of something else. Some of the young men,
+however, who happened to see the culprit that had dared to leap over
+the wall against the statute, thought he had a strong resemblance to
+the youth who had rescued Blandina from the Indian. The young lady,
+as I said before, continued ill all day, and for several days after
+the condemnation of the spectre youth, who persevered in obstinately
+refusing any disclosure of his name, or his motives for scaling the
+walls of New-Amsterdam. In the mean time the period of his execution
+approached; only two days of life now remained to him, when Blandina,
+with an effort, determined to bring her fate to a crisis at once. She
+rose from her bed, pale and drooping like a lily, and tottering to her
+father's study, sank at his feet.
+
+“‘Father,’ said she, ‘will you forgive him and me?’
+
+“‘Forgive thee, my daughter; I have nothing to forgive, so that is
+settled. But who is the other?’
+
+“‘My husband.’
+
+“‘Thy husband!’ exclaimed the puissant governor, starting up in dismay;
+‘and who is he?’
+
+“‘The youth who is sentenced to die the day after the morrow.’
+
+“'And who is he—in the d—l's name, I had almost said,' exclaimed his
+excellency, in wrathful amazement.
+
+“‘He is the son of the Lord of Pavonia,’ replied she, hiding her face
+with her hands.
+
+“‘And thou art married to that splutterkin?’
+
+“‘Yes, father.’
+
+“'Then I shall take care to unmarry thee—the knot the parson tied the
+hangman shall untie the day after the morrow, or I'm no governor. But
+who dared to marry thee against my will?'
+
+“‘Dominie Curtenius.’
+
+“'He did—then the dominie shall hang by the side of the splutterkin. Go
+to thy chamber, to thy bed, to thy grave, thou art no daughter of mine.'
+
+“Poor Blandina crawled to her bed, and wept herself into a temporary
+forgetfulness. The next day she was so much worse, that the old nurse
+declared she would die before her husband. The governor kept up a good
+countenance, but his heart was sorely beset by pity and forgiveness,
+which both clung weeping about him. He went so far as to sound some of
+the council about pardoning the young man; but one of them, who was
+suspected of looking up to the fair Blandina, talked so eloquently
+about the safety of the city and the public good, that he was fain to
+hold his tongue, and shut himself up, for he could not bear to see his
+daughter.
+
+“At length the day arrived, big with the fate of poor Blandina and
+her unhappy husband. She sent to her father for permission to see him
+before he died, but the governor, after a sore struggle, denied her
+request.
+
+“‘Then, indeed, he is no longer my father,’ cried Blandina, and sinking
+upon her bed, covered her head, as if to shut out the world. Presently
+the bell tolled the hour of the sacrifice, and its hollow vibrations
+penetrated the ears of the mourning wife. In spite of her weakness, and
+the endeavours of the old nurse, she started up, and rushing towards
+the door of her chamber, exclaimed, wildly, 'I will see him—I will go
+and see him die.' But her strength failed her, and she sank on the
+floor. In the mean time a scene, peculiarly interesting to the fortunes
+of Blandina, was passing below. The proud, obdurate, rich old Lord of
+Pavonia, had heard of the capture, the condemnation of his only son.
+For a while his pride and hatred of the Governor of New-Amsterdam
+almost choked the thought of entreaty or concession to his ancient
+enemy. But as the time approached, and he heard of the situation of his
+son, and of his unfortunate wife, who had never offended him, his heart
+gradually relented. When the morning arrived, and he looked across the
+smooth river, from the long porch fronting his stately mansion, towards
+the spot where his son was about suffering an ignominious death, he
+could restrain his feelings no longer.
+
+“Calling for his boatmen and his barge, and hastily putting on his
+cocked hat and sword, he embarked, crossed swiftly over the river, and
+landing, proceeded directly to the big house. He demanded an audience
+of the governor.
+
+“'The splutterkin is here too—but let him come in, that I may be
+satisfied the old dog is as miserable as myself,' said the governor,
+with tears in his eyes.
+
+“The Lord of Pavonia entered with a stately bow, which was returned in
+as stately a manner by the governor.
+
+“‘I come,’ said Pavonia, ‘I come,’ and his voice became choked, ‘to ask
+the life of my son at your hands.’
+
+“‘Thy son has broken the laws, and the laws have condemned him to
+death, justly.’
+
+“‘I know it,’ said the other; ‘but what if I pay the price of his
+ransom?’
+
+“‘I am no money higgler.’
+
+“‘But if I surrender the right of the river to high-water mark?’
+
+“‘What!’ said his excellency, pricking up his ears, ‘wilt thou? And the
+shad fishery, and the diabolical gill nets?’
+
+“'Yea—all—all,‘ said the other, 'to save the life of my only son.’
+
+“‘Wilt thou sign, seal, and deliver?’
+
+“'This instant—so I receive back my boy alive.'
+
+“‘Stay, then, a moment.’
+
+“The governor then hastily directed his bellringer to call the council
+together, and laid the proposition before them. The concession was
+irresistible, and the council decided to pardon the son, on condition
+that the father executed the deed of relinquishment. He did so, and the
+young man was forthwith set at liberty. It is time for me to retire,”
+said our good grandfather, “so I must cut short my story. The meeting
+of the husband and his faithful wife took place without witnesses, and
+none was ever able to describe it. Blandina speedily recovered, and
+lived to see her children's children play about the room by dozens.
+The Lord of Pavonia and the Governor of New-Amsterdam continued a sort
+of grumbling acquaintance, and dined together once a year, when they
+always quarrelled about the fishery and high-water mark. In process
+of time, their respective fortunes became united in the person of the
+winged monster, and formed a noble patrimony, some of which I inherited
+with your grandmother.
+
+“Jan Sol underwent many a joke, good, bad, and indifferent, about
+the winged monster. But he continued to his dying day to assert his
+solemn belief, that the young Lord of Pavonia and the spectre were
+two different persons. Many a time and oft did he frighten his wife
+and children with the story, which he improved every time he told
+it, till he was at length gathered to his fathers, as his fathers
+had been gathered before him. He had enough people to keep him in
+countenance, for there were hundreds of discreet citizens, who treated
+all doubts concerning the appearance of the winged monster with as
+little toleration as do the good folks of the town of Salem the wicked
+unbelievers in the existence of the great sea serpent.”
+
+
+
+
+                             COBUS YERKS.
+
+
+Little Cobus Yerks—his name was Jacob, but being a Dutchman, if not a
+double Dutchman, it was rendered in English Cobus—little Cobus, I say,
+lived on the banks of Sawmill River, where it winds close under the
+brow of the Raven Rock, an enormous precipice jutting out of the side
+of the famous Buttermilk Hill, of which the reader has doubtless often
+heard. It was a rude, romantic spot, distant from the high road, which,
+however, could be seen winding up the hill about three miles off. His
+nearest neighbours were at the same distance, and he seldom saw company
+except at night, when the fox and the weasel sometimes beat up his
+quarters, and caused a horrible cackling among the poultry.
+
+One Tuesday, in the month of November, 1793, Cobus had gone in his
+wagon to the little market town on the river, from whence the boats
+plied weekly to New-York, with the produce of the neighbouring farmers.
+It was then a pestilent little place for running races, pitching
+quoits, and wrestling for gin slings; but I must do it the credit to
+say, that it is now a very orderly town, sober and quiet, save when
+Parson Mathias, who calls himself a son of thunder, is praying in
+secret, so as to be heard across the river. It so happened, that of
+all the days in the year, this was the very day a rumour had got into
+town, that I myself—the veritable writer of this true story—had been
+poisoned by a dish of Souchong tea, which was bought a great bargain
+of a pedler. There was not a stroke of work done in the village that
+day. The shoemaker abandoned his awl; the tailor his goose; the hatter
+his bowstring; and the forge of the blacksmith was cool from dawn till
+nightfall. Silent was the sonorous harmony of the big spinning wheel;
+silent the village song, and silent the fiddle of Master Timothy Canty,
+who passed his livelong time in playing tuneful measures, and catching
+bugs and butterflies. I must say something of Tim before I go on with
+my tale.
+
+Master Timothy was first seen in the village, one foggy morning, after
+a drizzling, warm, showery night, when he was detected in a garret, at
+the extremity of the suburbs; and it was the general supposition that
+he had rained down in company with a store of little toads that were
+seen hopping about, as is usual after a shower. Around his garret were
+disposed a number of unframed pictures, painted on glass, as in the
+olden time, representing the Four Seasons, the old King of Prussia, and
+Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in their sharp-pointed cocked hats; the
+fat, bald-pated Marquis of Granby, the beautiful Constantia Phillips,
+and divers others, not forgetting the renowned Kitty Fisher, who, I
+honestly confess, was my favourite among them all. The whole village
+poured into the garret to gaze at these chef d'œuvres; and it is my
+confirmed opinion, which I shall carry to the grave, that neither the
+gallery of Florence, Dresden, nor the Louvre, was ever visited by so
+many real amateurs. Besides the pictures, there were a great many other
+curiosities, at least curiosities to the simple villagers, who were
+always sure of being welcomed by Master Tim with a jest and a tune.
+
+Master Tim, as they came to call him when they got to be a little
+acquainted, was a rare fellow, such as seldom rains down anywhere, much
+less on a country village. He was of “merry England,” as they call
+it—lucus a non lucendo—at least so he said and I believe, although he
+belied his nativity, by being the merriest rogue in the world, even
+when the fog was at the thickest. In truth, he was ever in a good
+humour, unless it might be when a rare bug or gorgeous butterfly,
+that he had followed through thick and thin, escaped his net at last.
+Then, to be sure, he was apt to call the recreant all the “vagabonds”
+he could think of. He was a middle-sized man, whose person decreased
+regularly, from the crown of his head to the—I was going to say, sole
+of his foot—but it was only to the commencement of the foot, to speak
+by the card. The top of his head was broad and flat, and so was his
+forehead, which took up at least two thirds of his face, that tapered
+off suddenly to a chin, as sharp as the point of a triangle. His
+forehead was indeed a large field, diversified like the country into
+which he had rained down, with singular varieties of hill and dale,
+meadow and plough land, hedge and ditch, ravine and watercourse. It had
+as many points as a periwinkle. The brow projected exuberantly, though
+not heavily, over a pair of rascally little cross-firing, twinkling
+eyes, that, as the country people said, looked at least nine ways from
+Sunday. His teeth were white enough, but no two of them were fellows.
+But his head would have turned the brains of a phrenologist, in
+exploring the mysteries of its development; it was shaped somewhat like
+Stony Point—which everybody knows as the scene of a gallant exploit of
+Pennsylvanian Wayne—and had quite as many abruptnesses and quizzical
+protuberances to brag about. At the upper extremity of his forehead, as
+he assured us, he carried his money, in the shape of a piece of silver,
+three inches long and two wide, inserted there in consequence of a
+fracture he got by falling down a precipice in hot chase of a “vagabond
+of a beetle,” as he was pleased to call him. Descending towards terra
+firma, to wit, his feet, we find his body gradually diminishing to his
+legs, which were so thin, everybody wondered how they could carry the
+great head. But, like Captain Wattle, each had a foot at the end of
+it, full as large as the Black Dwarf. It is so long ago that I almost
+forget his costume. All I recollect is, that he never wore boots or
+pantaloons, but exhibited his spindles in all weathers in worsted
+stockings, and his feet in shoes, gorgeously caparisoned in a pair of
+square silver buckles, the only pieces of finery he ever displayed.
+
+In the merry months of spring and summer, and early in autumn, Master
+Timothy was most of his time chasing bugs and butterflies about the
+fields, to the utter confusion of the people, who wondered what
+he could want with such trumpery. Being a genius and an idler by
+profession, I used to accompany him frequently in these excursions, for
+he was fond of me, and called me vagabond oftener than he did anybody
+else. He had a little net of green gauze, so constructed as to open and
+shut as occasion required, to entrap the small fry, and a box with a
+cork bottom, upon which he impaled his prisoners with true scientific
+barbarity, by sticking a pin in them. Thus equipped, this Don Quixote
+of butterfly catchers, with myself his faithful esquire, would sally
+out of a morning into the clovered meadows and flower-dotted fields,
+over brook, through tangled copse and briery dell, in chase of these
+gentlemen commoners of nature. Ever and anon, as he came upon some
+little retired nook, where nature, like a modest virgin, shrouded her
+beauties from the common view—a rocky glen, romantic cottage, rustic
+bridge, or brawling stream, he would take out his little portfolio,
+and pointing me to some conspicuous station to animate his little
+landscape, sketch it and me together, with a mingled taste and skill
+I have never since seen surpassed. I figure in all his landscapes,
+although he often called me a vagabond, because he could not drill me
+into picturesque attitudes. But the finest sport for me, was to watch
+him creeping slily after a humming bird, the object of his most intense
+desires, half buried in the bliss of the dewy honeysuckle, and just
+as he was on the point of covering it with his net, to see the little
+vagrant flit away with a swiftness that made it invisible. It was an
+invaluable sight to behold Master Timothy stand wiping his continent of
+a forehead, and blessing the bird for a “little vagabond.” These were
+happy times, and at this moment I recall them, I hardly know why, with
+a melancholy yet pleasing delight.
+
+During the winter season, Master Timothy was usually employed in the
+daytime painting pleasure sleighs, which, at that period, it was the
+fashion among the farmers to have as fine as fiddles. Timothy was
+a desperate hand at a true lover's knot, a cipher, or a wreath of
+flowers; and as for a blazing sun! he painted one for the squire,
+that was seriously suspected of melting all the snow in ten leagues
+round. He would go ten or a dozen miles to paint a sleigh, and always
+carried his materials on a board upon the top of his head—it was before
+the invention of high-crowned hats. Destiny had decreed he should
+follow this trade, and nature had provided him a head on purpose.
+It was as flat as a pancake. In the long winter evenings it was his
+pleasure to sit by the fireside, and tell enormous stories to groups
+of horrorstruck listeners. I never knew a man that had been so often
+robbed on Hounslow Heath, or had seen so many ghosts in his day, as
+Master Tim Canty. Peace to his ashes! he is dead, and, if report is to
+be credited, is sometimes seen on moonlight nights in the churchyard,
+with his little green gauze net, chasing the ghosts of moths and
+beetles, as he was wont in past times.
+
+But it is high time to return to my story; for I candidly confess I
+never think of honest Tim that I don't grow as garrulous as an old
+lady, talking about the revolution and the Yagers. In all country
+villages I ever saw or heard of, whenever anything strange, new,
+horrible, or delightful happens, or is supposed to have happened, all
+the male inhabitants, not to say female, make for the tavern as fast
+as possible, to hear the news, or tell the news, and get at the bottom
+of the affair. I don't deny that truth is sometimes to be found at the
+bottom of a well; but in these cases she is generally found at the
+bottom of the glass. Be this as it may—when Cobus Yerks looked into
+the village inn, just to say How d'ye do to the landlady, he beheld a
+party of some ten or a dozen people, discussing the affair of my being
+poisoned with Souchong tea, which by this time had been extended to the
+whole family, not one of whom had been left alive by the bloody-minded
+damsel, Rumour.
+
+Cobus could not resist the fascination of these horrors. He edged
+himself in among them, and after a little while they were joined
+by Master Timothy, who, on hearing of the catastrophe of his old
+fellow-labourer in butterfly catching, had strode over a distance of
+two miles to our house to ascertain the truth of the story. He of
+course found it was a mistake, and had now returned with a nefarious
+design of frightening them all out of their wits by a story of more
+than modern horrors. By this time it was the dusk of the evening, and
+Cobus had a long way to travel before he could reach home. He had been
+so fascinated with the story, and the additions every moment furnished
+by various new comers, that he forgot the time till it began to grow
+quite dark; and then he was so horrorstruck at what he had heard,
+that he grew fast to his chair in the chimney corner, where he had
+intrenched himself. It was at this moment Master Timothy came in with
+the design aforesaid.
+
+The whole party gathered round him to know if the story of the
+poisoning was true. Tim shook his head, and the shaking of such a head
+was awful. “What! all the family?” cried they, with one voice. “Every
+soul of them,” cried Tim, in a hollow tone—“every soul of them, poor
+creatures; and not only they, but all the cattle, horses, pigs, ducks,
+chickens, cats, dogs, and guinea hens, are poisoned.” “What! with
+Souchong tea?” “No—with coloquintida.” Coloquintida! the very name was
+enough to poison a whole generation of Christian people. “But the black
+bulldog!” cried Timothy, in a sepulchral voice, that curdled the very
+marrow of their innermost bones. “What of the black bulldog?” quoth
+little Cobus. “Why, they do say that he came to life again after laying
+six hours stone dead, and ran away howling like a d—l incarnate.” “A
+d—l incarnate!” quoth Cobus, who knew no more about the meaning of that
+fell word than if it had been Greek. He only knew it was something
+very terrible. “Yes,” replied Timothy; “and what's more, I saw where
+he jumped over the barnyard gate, and there was the print of a cloven
+foot, as plain as the daylight this blessed minute.” It was as dark
+as pitch, but the comparison was considered proof positive. “A cloven
+foot!” quoth Cobus, who squeezed himself almost into the oven, while
+the thought of going home all alone in the dark, past the churchyard,
+the old grave at the cross roads, and, above all, the spot where John
+Ryer was hanged for shooting the sheriff, smote upon his heart, and
+beat it into a jelly—at least it shook like one. What if he should
+meet the big black dog, with his cloven foot, who howled like a d—l
+incarnate! The thought was enough to wither the heart of a stone.
+
+Cobus was a little, knock-kneed, broad-faced, and broad-shouldered
+Dutchman, who believed all things, past, present, and to come,
+concerning spooks, goblins, and fiends of all sorts and sizes, from a
+fairy to a giant. Tim Canty knew him of old, for he had once painted a
+sleigh for him, and frightened Cobus out of six nights' sleep, by the
+story of a man that he once saw murdered by a highwayman on Hounslow
+Heath. Tim followed up the story of the black dog with several others,
+each more appalling than the first, till he fairly lifted Cobus's
+wits off the hinges, aided as he was by certain huge draughts upon a
+pewter mug, with which the little man reinforced his courage at short
+intervals. He was a true disciple of the doctrine that spirit and
+courage, that is to say, whiskey and valour were synonymous.
+
+It now began to wax late in the evening, and the company departed, not
+one by one, but in pairs, to their respective homes. The landlady, a
+bitter root of a woman, and more than a match for half the men in the
+village, began to grow sleepy, as it was now no longer worth her while
+to keep awake. Gradually all became quiet within and without the house,
+except now and then the howling of a wandering cur, and the still more
+doleful moaning of the winds, accompanied by the hollow thumpings of
+the waves, as they dashed on the rocky shores of the river that ran
+hard by. Once, and once only, the cat mewed in the garret, and almost
+caused Cobus to jump out of his skin. The landlady began to complain
+that it grew late, and she was very sleepy; but Cobus would take no
+hints, manfully keeping his post in the chimney corner, till at last
+the good woman threatened to call up her two negroes, and have him
+turned neck and heels out of doors. For a moment the fear of the big
+black dog with the cloven foot was mastered by the fear of the two
+stout black men, and the spirit moved Cobus towards the door, lovingly
+hugging the stone jug, which he had taken care to have plentifully
+replenished with the creature. He sallied forth in those graceful
+curves, which are affirmed to constitute the true lines of beauty; and
+report says that he made a copious libation of the contents of the
+stone jug outside the door, ere the landlady, after assisting to untie
+his patient team, had tumbled him into his wagon. This was the last
+that was seen of Cobus Yerks.
+
+That night his faithful, though not very obedient little wife, whom
+he had wedded at Tappan, on the famous sea of that name, and who wore
+a cap trimmed with pink ribands when she went to church on Sundays,
+fell asleep in her chair, as she sat anxiously watching his return.
+About midnight she waked, but she saw not her beloved Cobus, nor heard
+his voice calling her to open the door. But she heard the raven, or
+something very like it, screaming from the Raven Rock, the foxes
+barking about the house, the wind whistling and moaning among the
+rocks and trees of the mountain side, and a terrible commotion among
+the poultry, Cobus having taken the great house-dog with him that
+day. Again she fell asleep, and waked not until the day was dawning.
+She opened the window, and looked forth upon as beautiful an autumnal
+morning as ever blessed this blessed country. The yellow sun threw a
+golden lustre over the many-tinted woods, painted by the cunning hand
+of Nature with a thousand varied dies; the smoke of the neighbouring
+farmhouses rose straight upward to heaven in the pure atmosphere, and
+the breath of the cattle mingled its warm vapour with the invisible
+clearness of the morning air. But what were all these beauties of
+delicious nature to the eye and the heart of the anxious wife, who saw
+that Cobus was not there?
+
+She went forth to the neighbours to know if they had seen him, and
+they good-naturedly sallied out to seek him on the road that led from
+the village to his home. But no traces of him could be found, and they
+were returning with bad news for his anxious wife, when they bethought
+themselves of turning into a byroad that led to a tavern, that used
+whilome to attract the affections of honest Cobus, and where he was
+sometimes wont to stop and wet his whistle.
+
+They had not gone far, when they began to perceive traces of the
+lost traveller. First his broad-brimmed hat, which he had inherited
+through divers generations, and which he always wore when he went to
+the village, lay grovelling in the dirt, crushed out of all goodly
+shape by the wheel of his wagon, which had passed over it. Next, they
+encountered the backboard of the wagon, ornamented with C. Y. in a true
+lover's knot, painted by Tim Canty, in his best style—and anon a little
+farther, a shoe, that was identified as having belonged to our hero,
+by having upward of three hundred hobnails in the sole, for he was a
+saving little fellow, though he would wet his whistle sometimes, in
+spite of all his wife and the minister could say. Proceeding about a
+hundred rods farther, to a sudden turn of the road, they encountered
+the wagon, or rather the fragments of it, scattered about and along
+in the highway, and the horses standing quietly against a fence, into
+which they had run the pole of the wagon.
+
+But what was become of the unfortunate driver, no one could discover.
+At length, after searching some time, they found him lying in a tuft
+of blackberry briars, amid the fragments of the stone jug, lifeless
+and motionless. His face was turned upward, and streaked with seams
+of blood; his clothes torn, bloody, and disfigured with dirt; and his
+pipe, that he carried in the buttonholes of his waistcoat, shivered all
+to naught. They made their way to the body, full of sad forebodings,
+and shook it, to see if any life remained. But it was all in vain—there
+seemed neither sense nor motion there. “Maybe, after all,” said one,
+“he is only in a swound—here is a little drop of the spirits left in
+the bottom of the jug—let us hold it to his nose, it may bring him to
+life.”
+
+The experiment was tried, and wonderful to tell, in a moment or
+two, Cobus, opening his eyes, and smacking his lips with peculiar
+satisfaction, exclaimed, “Some o' that, boys!” A little shaking brought
+him to himself, when being asked to give an account of the disaster of
+his wagon and his stone jug, he at first shook his head mysteriously,
+and demurred. Being, however taken to the neighbouring tavern, and
+comforted a little with divers refreshments, he was again pressed for
+his story, when, assuming a face of awful mystification, he began as
+follows:—
+
+“You must know,” said Cobus, “I started rather late from town, for I
+had been kept there by—by business; and because, you see, I was waiting
+for the moon to rise, that I might find my way home in the dark night.
+But it grew darker and darker, until you could not see your hand
+before your face, and at last I concluded to set out, considering I
+was as sober as a deacon, and my horses could see their way blindfold.
+I had not gone quite round the corner, where John Ryer was hung for
+shooting Sheriff Smith, when I heard somebody coming, pat, pat, pat,
+close behind my wagon. I looked back, but I could see nothing, it was
+so dark. By-and-by, I heard it again, louder and louder, and then
+I confess I began to be a little afeard. So I whipped up my horses
+a quarter of a mile or so, and then let them walk on. I listened,
+and pat, pat, pat, went the noise again. I began to be a good deal
+frightened, but considering it could be nothing at all, I thought I
+might as well take a small dram, as the night was rather chilly, and I
+began to tremble a little with the cold. I took but a drop, as I am a
+living sinner, and then went on quite gayly; but pat, pat, pat, went
+the footsteps ten times louder and faster than ever. And then! then
+I looked back, and saw a pair of saucer eyes just at the tail of my
+wagon, as big and as bright as the mouths of a fiery furnace, dancing
+up and down in the air like two stage lamps in a rough road.
+
+“By gosh, boys, but you may depend I was scared now! I took another
+little dram, and then made the whip fly about the ears of old Pepper
+and Billy, who cantered away at a wonderful rate, considering.
+Presently, bang! something heavy jumped into the wagon, as if heaven
+and earth were coming together. I looked over my shoulder, and the
+great burning eyes were within half a yard of my back. The creature
+was so close that I felt its breath blowing upon me, and it smelled
+for all one exactly like brimstone. I should have jumped out of the
+wagon, but, somehow or other, I could not stir, for I was bewitched
+as sure as you live. All I could do was to bang away upon Pepper and
+Billy, who rattled along at a great rate up hill and down, over the
+rough roads, so that if I had not been bewitched, I must have tumbled
+out to a certainty. When I came to the bridge, at old Mangham's, the
+black dog, for I could see something black and shaggy under the goggle
+eyes, all at once jumped up, and seated himself close by me on the
+bench, snatched the whip and reins out of my hands like lightning. Then
+looking me in the face, and nodding, he whispered something in my ear,
+and lashed away upon Pepper and Billy, till they seemed to fly through
+the air. From that time I began to lose my wits by degrees, till at
+last the smell of brimstone overpowered me, and I remember nothing
+till you found me this morning in the briars.”
+
+Here little Cobus concluded his story, which he repeated with several
+variations and additions to his wife, when he got home. That good
+woman, who, on most occasions, took the liberty of lecturing her
+good man, whenever he used to be belated in his excursions to the
+village, was so struck with this adventure, that she omitted her
+usual exhortation, and ever afterwards viewed him as one ennobled by
+supernatural communication, submitting to him as her veritable lord
+and master. Some people, who pretend to be so wise that they won't
+believe the evidence of their senses when it contradicts their reason,
+affected to be incredulous, and hinted that the goggle eyes, and the
+brimstone breath, appertained to Cobus Yerks's great house-dog, which
+had certainly followed him that day to the village, and was found
+quietly reposing by his master, in the tuft of briars. But Cobus was
+ever exceedingly wroth at this suggestion, and being a sturdy little
+brusier, had knocked down one or two of these unbelieving sinners, for
+venturing to assert that the contents of the stone jug were at the
+bottom of the whole business. After that, everybody believed it, and
+it is now for ever incorporated with the marvellous legends of the
+renowned Buttermilk Hill.
+
+
+
+
+A STRANGE BIRD
+
+IN
+
+NIEUW-AMSTERDAM.
+
+
+In the year of the building of the city (which in Latin is called
+_Anno Urba Conditur_) fifty-five, to wit, the year of our Lord 1678,
+there appeared a phenomenon in the street of Nieuw-Amsterdam called
+Garden-street. This was a youthful stranger, dressed in the outlandish
+garb of the English beyond the Varsche river, towards the east, where
+those interlopers have grievously trespassed on the territories of
+their high mightinesses, the states general. Now, be it known that this
+was the first stranger from foreign parts that ever showed himself in
+the streets of Nieuw-Amsterdam, which had never been before invaded
+in like manner. Whereat the good people were strangely perplexed and
+confounded, seeing they could by no means divine his business. The good
+yffrouws did gaze at him as he passed along by their stoops, and the
+idle boys followed him wheresoever he went, shouting and hallooing, to
+the great disturbance of the peaceable and orderly citizens, of whom it
+was once said that the barking of a cur disturbed the whole city.
+
+But the stranger took not the least heed of the boys or their
+hallooings, but passed straight onward, looking neither to the right
+nor to the left, which circumstance seemed exceedingly perplexing to
+the good yffrouws, seeing it savoured of having no curiosity to see or
+be seen, which to them appeared altogether out of nature. The stranger
+proceeded in a sort of rigmarole way, seeming little to care whither he
+went, all along by the Stadt Huys, the East and West Docks, the Bendeel
+or Battery, the Rondeels, and I can't tell where else. All the while he
+seemed to take no notice of anything, which everybody thought strange,
+since he appeared as if he had no other business than to see the city.
+
+In the course of his marvellous peregrinations, he at length came to
+the great building, which, being the only house of public resort, was
+called, by way of eminence, the City Tavern. Here he stopped all of
+a sudden, so abruptly, that little Brom, son of Alderman Botherwick,
+who was close at his heels, did run right upon his hinder parts, and
+almost knocked him down, before he could stop himself. Whereupon the
+stranger turned round and gave him a look, whether of menace or good
+will, was long after disputed by divers people that saw him. Be this
+as it may, the stranger, on seeing the tavern, nodded his head, and
+went straight up the steps into the bar-room, where he courteously
+saluted the landlord, good Mynheer Swighauser, by pulling off his hat,
+saying, at the same time, nothing; which mynheer thought rather mighty
+particular. He asked the interloping stranger what he would please
+to have; for he was a polite man enough, except to losel beggars,
+and that sort of vermin. The stranger hereupon said nothing, but
+addressed Mynheer Swighauser in a figurative style, which all landlords
+comprehend. He pulled out a purse, and showed him the money, at the
+sight of which mynheer made him a reverend bow, and ushered him into
+the Half Moon, so called from being ornamented with a gallant picture
+of the vessel of that name, in which good Master Hendrick Hudson did
+first adventure to the discovery of the Manhadoes. It was the best room
+in the house, and always reserved by Mynheer Swighauser for guests that
+carried full purses.
+
+Having so done, mynheer courteously asked the stranger what he would
+please to have for dinner, it being now past eleven o'clock, and the
+dinner hour nigh. Whereat the stranger looked hard at him, and said not
+a word. Mynheer thereupon raised his voice so loud, that he frightened
+divers tame pigeons, sitting on their coop in the yard, who rose into
+the air out of sight, and, it is affirmed, never returned again. The
+stranger answered not a word, as before.
+
+“_Wat donder is dat?_” exclaimed mynheer; “a man with such a full purse
+might venture to call for his dinner, I think.”
+
+However, when Mynheer Swighauser and his family sat down to their
+dinner at twelve o'clock, the stranger, without any ceremony, sat
+down with them, taking the chair from time immemorial appropriated
+to mynheer's youngest child, who was thereat so mortally offended,
+that she set up a great cry, and refused to eat any dinner. Yffrouw
+Swighauser looked hard and angry at the stranger, who continued to eat
+as if it were his last, saying nothing all the while, and paying no
+more heed to the little child than he did to the hallooing of the boys
+or mynheer's courteous interrogatories.
+
+When he had finished, he took up his hat, and went forth on a
+peregrination, from which he did not return until it was nigh dusk.
+Mynheer was in tribulation lest he should lose the price of his
+dinner, but the Yffrouw said she did not care if she never saw such a
+dumb noddy again. The stranger ate a huge supper in silence, smoked
+his pipe, and went to bed at eight o'clock, at which hour mynheer
+always shut up the front of his house, leaving the back door open
+to the roistering younkers, who came there to carouse every night,
+and play at all-fours. Soon after the stranger retired, there was
+heard a great noise in his room, which so excited the curiosity of
+Yffrouw Swighauser, that she took a landlady's liberty, and went and
+listened at the door. It proved only the stranger playing a concert
+with Morpheus, on the nasal trumpet, whereupon the yffrouw went away,
+exclaiming,
+
+“The splutterkin! he makes noise enough in his sleep, if he can't when
+he is awake.”
+
+That night the good city of Nieuw-Amsterdam was impestered with divers
+strange noises, grievous mishaps, and unaccountable appearances. The
+noises were such as those who heard them could not describe, and, for
+that reason, I hope the courteous reader will excuse me, if I say
+nothing more about them; the mishaps were of certain mysterious broken
+heads, black eyes, and sore bruises received, as was affirmed, from
+unknown assailants; and the mysterious appearances consisted in lights
+moving about, at midnight, in the Ladies' Valley, since called Maiden
+Lane, which might have passed for lightning bugs, only people that saw
+them said they were as big as jack-a-lanterns. Besides these, there
+were seen divers stars shooting about in the sky, and an old yffrouw,
+being called out after midnight on a special occasion, did certify that
+she saw two stars fighting with each other, and making the sparks fly
+at every blow. Other strange things happened on that memorable night,
+which alarmed the good citizens, and excited the vigilance of the
+magistrates.
+
+The next night, matters were still worse. The lights in the Ladies'
+Valley were larger and more numerous; the noises waxed more alarming
+and unaccountable; and the stranger, while he continued to act and
+say nothing all day, snored louder than ever. At length, Yffrouw
+Swighauser, being thereunto, as I suspect, instigated by a stomachful
+feeling, on account of the stranger's having got possession of her
+favourite's seat, and set her a crying, did prevail, by divers means,
+of which, thank Heaven, I have little experience, being a bachelor,
+to have her husband go and make a complaint against the stranger, as
+having some diabolical agency in these matters.
+
+“_Wat donner meen je_, wife?” quoth mynheer; “what have I to say
+against the man? He is a very civil, good sort of a body, and never
+makes any disturbance except in his sleep.”
+
+“Ay, there it is,” replied the yffrouw. “I never heard such a snore in
+all my life. Why, it's no more like yours than the grunt of a pig is to
+the roar of a lion. It's unnatural.”
+
+Mynheer did not like this comparison, and answered and said, “By St.
+Johannes de Dooper, whoever says I snore like a pig is no better than a
+goose.”
+
+The yffrouw had a point to gain, or mynheer Swighauser would have
+repented this rejoinder.
+
+“My duck-a-deary,” said she, “whoever says you don't snore like a
+fiddle has no more ear for music than a mole—I mean a squeaking
+fiddle,” quoth she, aside.
+
+Without further prosecuting this dialogue, let it suffice to say that
+the yffrouw at length wrought upon mynheer to present the stranger unto
+Alderman Schlepevalcker as a mysterious person, who came from—nobody
+knew where, for—nobody knew what; and for aught he knew to the
+contrary, was at the bottom of all the disturbances that had beset the
+good people of Nieuw-Amsterdam for the last two nights. Accordingly,
+the honest man went on his way to the Stadt Huys, where the excellent
+magistrate was taking his turn in presiding over the peace of the city
+of Nieuw-Amsterdam, and told all he knew, together with much more
+besides.
+
+During this communication, the worthy alderman exclaimed, from time to
+time, “Indeedaad!” “Onbegrypelyk!” “Goeden Hemel!” “Is het mogelyk!”
+“Vuur envlammen!” and finally dismissed Mynheer Swighauser, desiring
+him to watch the stranger, and come next day with the result of his
+observations. After which he went home to consult his pillow, which he
+considered worth all the law books in the world.
+
+The honest publican returned to the City Tavern, where he found supper
+all ready; and the stranger, sitting down as usual in the old place,
+ate a hearty meal without uttering one word. The yffrouw was out of all
+patience with him, seeing she never before had a guest in the house
+four-and-twenty hours, without knowing all about him. The upshot of the
+interview with the worthy magistrate being disclosed to the yffrouw, it
+was agreed in secret to set old Quashee, the black hostler, to watch
+the stranger; though the yffrouw told her husband he might as well set
+a wooden image to do it, for Quashee was the most notorious sleepyhead
+in all Nieuw-Amsterdam, not excepting himself.
+
+“Well, well,” quoth mynheer, “_men weet niet hoe een koe een haas
+vangan kan_;” which means, “There is no saying that a cow won't catch
+a hare,” and so the matter was settled.
+
+When the stranger retired to his room after supper, the old negro was
+accordingly stationed outside the door, with strict injunctions to keep
+himself awake, on pain of losing his Newyear present, and being shut up
+in the stable all Newyear's day. But it is recorded of Quashee, that
+the flesh was too strong for the spirit, though he had a noggin of
+genuine Holland to comfort him, and that he fell into a profound nap,
+which lasted till after sunrise next day, when he was found sitting
+bolt upright on a three-legged stool, with his little black stump of
+a pipe declining from the dexter corner of his mouth. Mynheer was
+exceeding wroth, and did accommodate old Quashee with such a hearty
+cuff on the side of his head, that he fell from the stool, and did
+incontinently roll down the stairs and so into the kitchen, where he
+was arrested by the great Dutch andirons. “_Een vervlockte jonge_,”
+exclaimed Mynheer Swighauser, “_men weet niet, hoe een dubbeltje rollen
+kan_”—in English, “There is no saying which way a sixpence will roll.”
+
+At breakfast, the stranger was for the first time missing from his
+meals, and this excited no small wonder in the family, which was
+marvellously aggravated, when, after knocking some time and receiving
+no answer, the door was opened, and the stranger found wanting.
+
+“_Is het mogelyk!_” exclaimed the yffrouw, and “_Wat blixen!_” cried
+mynheer. But their exclamations were speedily arrested by the arrival
+of the reverend schout, Master Roelif, as he was commonly called, who
+summoned them both forthwith to the Stadt Huys, at the command of his
+worship Alderman Schlepevalker.
+
+“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried mynheer; “what can his worship want of my
+wife now?”
+
+“Never mind,” replied the good yffrouw, “_het is goed visschen in
+troebel water_,” and so they followed Master Roelif to the Stadt House,
+according to the behest of Alderman Schlepevalker, as aforesaid.
+When they arrived there, whom should they see, in the middle of a
+great crowd in the hall of justice, but that “_vervlocte hond_,” the
+stranger, as the yffrouw was wont to call him, when he would not answer
+her questions.
+
+The stranger was standing with his hands tied behind, and apparently
+unconscious, or indifferent to what was going forward around him. It
+appears he had been detected very early in the morning in a remote
+part of the King's Farm, as it was afterwards called, but which was
+then a great forest full of rabbits and other game, standing over the
+dead body of a man, whose name and person were equally unknown, no one
+recollecting ever to have seen him before. On being interrogated on
+the subject, he had not only declined answering, but affected to take
+not the least heed of what they said to him. Under these suspicious
+circumstances he was brought before the magistrate, charged with the
+murder of the unknown person, whose body was also produced in proof of
+the fact. No marks of violence were found on the body, but all agreed
+that the man was dead, and that there must have been some cause for his
+death. The vulgar are ever prone to suspicions, and albeit, are so fond
+of seeing a man hanged, that they care little to inquire whether he is
+guilty or not.
+
+The worthy alderman, after ordering Master Roelif to call the people to
+order, proceeded to interrogate the prisoner as followeth:—
+
+“What is thy name?”
+
+The stranger took not the least notice of him.
+
+“What is thy name, _ben je bedonnered_?” repeated the worthy
+magistrate, in a loud voice, and somewhat of a violent gesture of
+impatience.
+
+The stranger looked him in the face and nodded his head.
+
+“_Wat donner is dat?_” cried the magistrate.
+
+The stranger nodded as before.
+
+“_Wat donner meen je?_”
+
+Another nod. The worthy magistrate began, as it were, to wax wroth,
+and demanded of the prisoner whence he came; but he had relapsed into
+his usual indifference, and paid not the least attention, as before.
+Whereupon the angry alderman committed him for trial, on the day but
+one following, as the witnesses were all on the spot, and the prisoner
+contumacious. In the interim, the body of the dead man had been
+examined by the only two doctors of Nieuw-Amsterdam, Mynheer Van Dosum
+and Mynheer Vander Cureum, who being rival practitioners, of course
+differed entirely on the matter. Mynheer Van Dosum decided that the
+unknown died by the hand of man, and Mynheer Vander Cureum, by the hand
+of his Maker.
+
+When the cause came to be tried, the stranger, as before, replied to
+all questions, either by taking not the least notice, or nodding his
+head. The worthy magistrate hereupon was sorely puzzled, whether this
+ought to be construed into pleading guilty or not pleading at all. In
+the former case his course was quite clear; in the latter, he did not
+exactly know which way to steer his doubts. But fortunately having
+no lawyers to confound him, he finally decided, after consulting
+the ceiling of the courtroom, that as it was so easy for a man to
+say not guilty, the omission or refusal to say it was tantamount to
+a confession of guilt. Accordingly he condemned the prisoner to be
+hanged, in spite of the declaration of Doctor Vander Cureum, that the
+murdered man died of apoplexy.
+
+The prisoner received the sentence, and was conducted to prison without
+saying a word in his defence, and without discovering the least
+emotion on the occasion. He merely looked wistfully, first on the
+worthy magistrate, then on his bonds, and then at Master Roelif, who,
+according to the custom of such losel varlets in office, rudely pushed
+him out of the court and dragged him to prison.
+
+On the fourteenth day after his condemnation, it being considered that
+sufficient time had been allowed him to repent of his sins, the poor
+stranger was brought forth to execution. He was accompanied by the
+good dominie, who had prepared his last dying speech and confession,
+and certified that he died a repentant sinner. His face was pale and
+sad, and his whole appearance bespoke weakness and suffering. He still
+persisted in his obstinate silence, and seemed unconscious of what was
+going forward; whether from indifference or despair, it was impossible
+to decide. When placed on a coffin in the cart, and driven under the
+gallows, he seemed for a moment to be aware of his situation, and the
+bitter tears coursed one by one down his pallid cheeks. But he remained
+silent as before; and when the rope was tied round his neck, only
+looked wistfully with a sort of innocent wonder in the face of the
+executioner.
+
+All being now ready, and the gaping crowd on the tiptoe of expectation,
+the dominie sang a devout hymn, and shaking hands for the last time
+with the poor stranger, descended from the cart. The bell tolled the
+signal for launching him into the illimitable ocean of eternity, when,
+all at once, its dismal moanings were, as it were, hushed into silence
+by the piercing shrieks of a female which seemed approaching from a
+distance. Anon a voice was heard crying out, “Stop, stop, for the love
+of Heaven stop; he is innocent!”
+
+The crowd opened, and a woman of good appearance, seemingly about
+forty-five years old, rushed forward, and throwing herself at the feet
+of the worthy alderman, whose duty it was to preside at the execution
+and maintain due order among the crowd, cried out aloud,
+
+“Spare him, he is my son—he is innocent!“
+
+“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried the magistrate, “_he is een verdoemde
+schurk_, and has confessed his crime by not denying it.”
+
+“He cannot confess or deny it—he was born deaf and dumb!”
+
+“_Goeden Hemel!_” exclaimed Alderman Schlepevalcker; “that accounts for
+his not pleading guilty or not guilty. But art thou sure of it, good
+woman?”
+
+“Sure of it! Did not I give him birth, and did I not watch like one
+hanging over the deathbed of an only child, year after year, to catch
+some token that he could hear what I said? Did I not try and try, day
+after day, month after month, year after year, to teach him only to
+name the name of mother? and when at last I lost all hope that I should
+ever hear the sound of his voice, did I not still bless Heaven that I
+was not childless, though my son could not call me mother?”
+
+“_Het is jammer!_” exclaimed the worthy magistrate, wiping his eyes.
+“But still a dumb man may kill another, for all this. What have you to
+say against that?”
+
+At this moment the poor speechless youth recognised his mother,
+and uttering a strange inarticulate scream, burst away from the
+executioner, leaped from the cart, and throwing himself on her bosom,
+sobbed as if his heart was breaking. The mother pressed him to her
+heart in silent agony, and the absence of words only added to the deep
+pathos of the meeting.
+
+Alderman Schlepevalcker was sorely puzzled as well as affected on this
+occasion, and after wiping his eyes, addressed the weeping mother.
+
+“How came thy son hither?”
+
+“He is accustomed to ramble about the country, sometimes all day,
+alone; and one day having strayed farther than usual, lost his way,
+and being unable to ask any information, wandered we knew not whither,
+until a neighbour told us a rumour of a poor youth, who was about to be
+executed at Nieuw-Amsterdam for refusing to answer questions. I thought
+it might be my son, and came in time, I hope, to save him.”
+
+“Why did not thy husband come with thee?”
+
+“He is dead.”
+
+“And thy father?”
+
+“He died when I was a child.”
+
+“And thy other relatives?”
+
+“I have none but him,” pointing to the dumb youth.
+
+“_Het is jammer!_ but how will he get rid of the charge of this foul
+murder?”
+
+“I will question him,” said the mother, who now made various signs,
+which were replied to by the youth in the same way.
+
+“What does he say?” asked the worthy magistrate.
+
+“He says that he went forth early in the morning of the day; he was
+found standing over the dead body, as soon as the gate was opened to
+admit the country people, where he saw the dead man lying under a tree,
+and was seized while thus occupied. He knows nothing more.”
+
+“_Onbegrypelik!_ how can you understand all this?”
+
+“Oh, sir, I have been used to study every look and action of his life
+since he was a child, and can comprehend his inmost thoughts.”
+
+“_Goeden Hemel!_ is all this true? but he must go back to prison, while
+I wait on the governor to solicit his pardon. Wilt thou accompany him?”
+
+“Oh yes!—but no. I will go with thee to the governor. He will not deny
+the petition of a mother for the life of her only child.”
+
+Accordingly, the worthy magistrate calling on Doctor Vander Cureum on
+his way, proceeded to the governor's house, accompanied by the mother
+of the youth, who repeated what he had told her by signs. The doctor
+also again certified, in the most positive manner, that the supposed
+murdered man had died of apoplexy, brought on, as he supposed, by
+excessive drinking; and the good governor, moved by the benevolence of
+his heart, did thereupon grant the poor youth an unconditional pardon.
+He was rewarded by the tears, the thanks, and the blessings of the now
+happy mother.
+
+“Where dost thou abide?” asked the governor. “If it is at a distance,
+I will send some one to protect thee.”
+
+“My home is beyond the fresh water river.”
+
+“_Wat blikslager!_ thou belongest to the Splutterkins, who—but no
+matter, thou shalt have protection in thy journey home.“ The governor,
+being somewhat of a conscientious man, instead of swearing by the
+lightning, did piously asseverate by the tinman.
+
+The young man was forthwith released, to the unutterable joy of the
+mother, and the infinite content of the Yffrouw Swighauser, who, now
+that she knew the cause of his silence, forgave him with all her heart.
+The next day the mother and son departed towards home, accompanied by
+an escort provided by the good governor, the commander of which carried
+a stout defiance to the Yankees; and the last words of that upright and
+excellent magistrate, Alderman Schlepevalcker, as he looked kindly at
+the youth, were,
+
+”_Het is jammer_—it is a pity.”
+
+
+
+
+                      CLAAS SCHLASCHENSCHLINGER.
+
+
+Thrice blessed St. Nicholas! may thy memory and thine honours endure
+for ever and a day! It is true that certain arch calumniators, such as
+Romish priests, and the like, have claimed thee as a Catholic saint,
+affirming, with unparalleled insolence, that ever since the pestilent
+heresy of the illustrious John Calvin, there hath not been so much as
+a single saint in the Reformed Dutch Church. But beshrew these keepers
+of fasts, and other abominations, the truth is not, never was, nor ever
+will be in their mouths, or their hearts! Doth not everybody know that
+the blessed St. Nicholas was of the Reformed Dutch Church, and that the
+cunning Romanists did incontinently filch him from us to keep their
+own calendar in countenance? The splutterkins! But I will restrain the
+outpourings of my wrath, and contenting myself with having proved that
+the good saint was of the true faith, proceed with my story, which
+is of undoubted authority, since I had it from a descendant of Claas
+Schlaschenschlinger himself, who lives in great honour and glory at the
+Waalboght on Long Island, and is moreover a justice of the peace and
+deacon of the church.
+
+Nicholas, or, according to the true orthography, Claas
+Schlaschenschlinger, was of a respectable parentage, being born
+at Saardam, in our good faderland, where his ancestors had been
+proprietors of the greatest windmill in all the country round, ever
+since the period when that bloody tyrant, Philip of Spain, was driven
+from the Low Countries the invincible valour of the Dutch, under the
+good Prince of Orange. It is said in a certain credible tradition, that
+one of the family had done a good turn to the worshipful St. Nicholas,
+in secreting him from the persecutions of the Romanists, who now,
+forsooth, claim him to themselves! and that ever afterwards the saint
+took special interest and cognizance in their affairs.
+
+While at Saardam, little Claas, who was the youngest of a goodly family
+of seventeen children, was observed to be a great favourite of St.
+Nicholas, whose namesake he was, who always brought him a cake or two
+extra at his Christmas visits, and otherwise distinguished him above
+his brothers and sisters; whereat they were not a little jealous, and
+did sometimes slyly abstract some of the little rogue's benefactions,
+converting them to their own comfort and recreation.
+
+In the process of time, Claas grew to be a stout lad, and withal a
+little wild, as he did sometimes neglect the great windmill, the which
+he had charge of in turn with the rest of his brothers, whereby it
+more than once came to serious damage. Upon these occasions, the worthy
+father, who had a reverend care of the morals of his children, was
+accustomed to give him the bastinado; but as Claas wore a competent
+outfit of breeches, he did not much mind it, not he; only it made him a
+little angry, for he was a boy of great spirit. About the time, I say,
+that Claas had arrived at the years of two or three and twenty, and was
+considered a stout boy for his age, there was great talk of settling
+a colony at the Manhadoes, which the famous Heinrick Hudson had
+discovered long years before. Many people of good name and substance
+were preparing to emigrate there, seeing it was described as a land
+flowing with milk and honey—that is to say, abounding in shad and
+herrings—and affording mighty bargains of beaver and other skins.
+
+Now Claas began to cherish an earnest longing to visit these parts, for
+he was tired of tending the windmill, and besides he had a natural love
+for marshes and creeks, and being a shrewd lad, concluded that there
+must be plenty of these where beavers and such like abounded. But his
+father and the Vrouw Schlaschenschlinger did eschew and anathematize
+this notion of Claas's, and placed him apprentice to an eminent
+shoemaker, to learn that useful art and mystery. Claas considered it
+derogatory to the son of the proprietor of the greatest windmill in all
+Saardam to carry the lapstone, and wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, or
+some such thing. But his father told him in so many words, that there
+were more lawyers than clients in the town already, and that a good
+cobbler saved more people from being sick, than all the doctors cured.
+So Claas became apprentice to the shoemaking business, and served out
+his time, after which he got to be his own master, and determined to
+put in practice his design of visiting the Manhadoes, of which he had
+never lost sight.
+
+After much ado, Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger, and the good vrouw,
+consented unwillingly to let him follow the bent of his inclinations,
+and accordingly all things were got ready for his departure for the
+New World, in company with a party which was going out under that
+renowned Lord Michael Paauw, who was proceeding to settle his domain
+of Pavonia, which lieth directly opposite to New-Amsterdam. Mynheer
+Schlaschenschlinger fitted out his son nobly, and becoming the owner
+of the largest windmill in all Saardam, equipping him with awls, and
+knives, and wax, and thread, together with a bench, and a goodly
+lapstone, considering in his own mind that the great scarcity of stones
+in Holland might, peradventure, extend to the Manhadoes. Now all being
+prepared, it was settled that Claas should depart on the next day but
+one, the next being St. Nicholas his day, and a great festival among
+the people of Holland.
+
+According to custom, ever since the days of the blessed saint, they had
+a plentiful supper of waffles and chocolate—that pestilent beverage
+tea not having yet come into fashion—and sat up talking of Claas, his
+adventures, and what he would see and hear in the Manhadoes, till it
+was almost nine o'clock. Upon this, mynheer ordered them all to bed,
+being scandalized at such unseasonable hours. In the morning when Claas
+got up, and went to put on his stocking, he felt something hard at the
+toe, and turning it inside out, there fell on the floor the bowl of a
+pipe of the genuine _Meershaum_, which seemed to have been used beyond
+memory since its polish was a thousand times more soft and delightsome
+than ivory or tortoise shell, and its lustre past all price. Would that
+the blessed saint would bestow such a one on me!
+
+Claas was delighted; he kissed it as if he had been an idolatrous
+Romanist—which, by the blessing of Saint Nicholas, he was not—and
+bestowing it in the bottom of his strong oaken chest, resolved like
+unto a prudent Dutchman, never to use it for fear of accidents. In a
+few hours afterwards, he parted from his parents, his family, and his
+home; his father gave him a history of the bloody wars and persecutions
+of Philip of Spain; a small purse of guilders, and abundance of advice
+for the government of his future life; but his mother gave him what
+was more precious than all these—her tears, her blessing, and a little
+Dutch Bible with silver clasps. Bibles were not so plenty then as
+they are now, and were considered as the greatest treasures of the
+household. His brothers and sisters took an affectionate farewell of
+him, and asked his pardon for stealing his Newyear cookies. So Claas
+kissed his mother, promising, if it pleased Heaven, to send her stores
+of herrings and beaver skins, whereat she was marvellously comforted;
+and he went on his way, as it were sorrowfully rejoicing.
+
+I shall pass over the journey, and the voyage to the Manhadoes, saving
+the relation of a curious matter that occurred after the ship had
+been about ninety days at sea, and they were supposed to be well on
+their way to the port of New-Amsterdam. It came into the heads of
+the passengers to while away the time as they were lying to one day
+with the sails all furled, except one or two, which I name not, for
+a special reason, contrary to the practice of most writers—namely,
+because I am ignorant thereof—having the sails thus furled, I say, on
+account of certain suspicious-looking clouds, the which the captain,
+who kept a bright lookout day and night, had seen hovering overhead,
+with no good intentions, it came into the noddles of divers of the
+passengers to pass the time by opening their chests, and comparing
+their respective outfits, for they were an honest set of people, and
+not afraid of being robbed.
+
+When Claas showed his lapstone, most of the company, on being told the
+reasons for bringing it such a long distance, held up their hands,
+and admired the foresight of his father, considering him an exceeding
+prudent and wise man to think of such matters. Some of them wanted to
+buy it on speculation, but Claas was too well acquainted with its
+value to set a price on it. While they were thus chaffering, an old
+sailor, who had accompanied the renowned Heinrick Hudson as cabin boy,
+in his first voyage to the Manhadoes, happening to come by and hear
+them, swore a great Dutch oath, and called Claas a splutterkin for
+bringing stones all the way from Holland, saying that there were enough
+at the Manhadoes to furnish lapstones for the whole universe. Whereupon
+Claas thought to himself, “What a fine country it must be, where stones
+are so plenty.”
+
+In process of time, as all things, and especially voyagings by
+sea, have an end, the vessel came in sight of the highlands of
+Neversink—vulgarly called by would-be learned writers, Navesink—and
+Claas and the rest, who had never seen such vast mountains before, did
+think that it was a wall, built up from the earth to the sky, and that
+there was no world beyond.
+
+Favoured by a fine south wind, whose balmy freshness had awakened the
+young spring into early life and beauty, they shot like an arrow from
+a bow through the Narrows, and sailing along the heights of Staaten
+Island, came in sight of the illustrious city of New-Amsterdam, which,
+though at that period containing but a few hundred people, I shall
+venture to predict, in some future time, may actually number its tens
+of thousands.
+
+Truly it was a beautiful city, and a beautiful sight as might be
+seen of a spring morning. As they came through Buttermilk Channel,
+they beheld with delighted astonishment the fort, the church, the
+governor's house, the great dock jutting out into the salt river, the
+Stadt Huys, the rondeel, and a goodly assemblage of houses, with the
+gable ends to the street, as before the villanous introduction of new
+fashions, and at the extremity of the city, the gate and wall, from
+whence Wall-street deriveth its name. But what above all gloriously
+delighted Claas, was a great windmill, towering in the air, and
+spreading its vast wings on the rising ground along the Broadway,
+between Liberty and Courtlandt streets, the which reminded him of home
+and his parents. The prospect rejoiced them all mightily, for they
+thought to themselves, “We have come to a little Holland far over the
+sea.”
+
+So far as I know, it was somewhere about the year of our Lord one
+thousand six hundred and sixty, or thereabout, and in the month of
+May, that Claas landed in the New World; but of the precise day of
+the month I cannot be certain, seeing what confusion of dates hath
+been caused by that idolatrous device of Pope Gregory, called the New
+Style, whereby events that really happened in one year are falsely
+put down to another, by which means history becomes naught. The first
+thing he thought of, was to provide himself a home, for be it known
+it was not then the fashion to live in taverns and boarding houses,
+and the man who thus demeaned himself was considered no better than
+he should be; nobody would trust or employ him, and he might consider
+it a special bounty of the good St. Nicholas, if he escaped a ride
+on the wooden horse provided for the punishment of delinquents. So
+Claas looked out for a pleasant place whereon to pitch his tent. As he
+walked forth for this end, his bowels yearned exceedingly for a lot on
+the Broad-street, through which ran a delightful creek, crooked like
+unto a ram's horn, the sides of which were low, and, as it were, juicy
+with the salt water which did sometimes overflow them at spring tides,
+and the full of the moon. More especially the ferry house, with its
+never to be forgotten weathercock, did incite him sorely to come and
+set himself down thereabout. But he was deterred by the high price of
+lots in that favoured region, seeing they asked him as much as five
+guilders for the one at the corner of the Broad and Wall streets, a
+most unheard-of price, and not to be thought of by a prudent man like
+Claas Schlaschenschlinger.
+
+So he sought about elsewhere, though he often looked wistfully at the
+fair meads of the Broad-street, and nothing deterred him from ruining
+himself by gratifying his longings, but the truly excellent expedient
+of counting his money, which I recommend to all honest people, before
+they make a bargain. But though he could not settle in Broad-street,
+he resolved in his mind to get as nigh as possible, and finding a
+lot with a little puddle of brackish water in it large enough for a
+goose pond, nigh unto the wall and gate of the city, and just at the
+head of what hath lately been called Newstreet—then the region of
+unsettled lands—he procured a grant thereof from the schout, scheepens,
+and burgomasters, who then ruled the city, for five stivers, being
+the amount of fees for writing and recording the deed by the Geheim
+Schryver.
+
+Having built himself a comfortable house, with a little stoop to it,
+he purchased a pair of geese, or, to be correct and particular, as
+becometh a conscientious historian, a goose and gander, that he might
+recreate himself with their gambols in the salt puddle, and quietly sat
+himself down to the making and mending of shoes. In this he prospered
+at first indifferently well, and thereafter mightily, when the people
+found that he made shoes, some of which were reported never to wear
+out; but this was, as it were, but a sort of figure of speech to
+express their excellent qualities.
+
+Every Sunday, after church, in pleasant weather, Claas, instead of
+putting off his Sunday suit, as was the wont of the times, used to
+go and take a walk in the Ladies' Valley, since called Maiden Lane,
+for everything has changed under those arch intruders, the English,
+who, I believe, in their hearts, are half Papists. This valley was
+an exceeding cool, retired, and pleasant place, being bordered by a
+wood, in the which was plenty of pinkster blossoms in the season.
+Being a likely young fellow, and dressed in a goodly array of breeches
+and what not, he was much noticed, and many a little damsel cast a
+sheep's eye upon him as he sat smoking his pipe of a summer afternoon
+under the shade of the trees which grew plentifully in that quarter.
+I don't know how it was, but so it happened, that in process of time
+he made acquaintance with one of these, a buxom creature of rare and
+unmatchable lineaments and dimensions, insomuch that she was considered
+the beauty of New-Amsterdam, and had refused even the burgomaster,
+Barendt Roeloffsen, who was taxed three guilders, being the richest
+man of the city. But Aintjie was not to be bought with gold; she loved
+Claas because he was a solid young fellow, who plucked for her the most
+beautiful pinkster blossoms, and was the most pleasant companion in the
+world, for a ramble in the Ladies' Valley.
+
+Report says, but I believe there was no great truth in the story,
+that they sometimes QUEESTED[1] together, but of that I profess
+myself doubtful. Certain it is, however, that in good time they were
+married, to the great content of both, and the great discontent of the
+burgomaster, Barendt Roeloffsen.
+
+  [1] This word is untranslatable.
+
+In those days young people did not marry to set up a coach, live in
+fine houses filled with rich furniture, for which they had no use,
+and become bankrupt in a few years. They began in a small way, and
+increased their comforts with their means. It was thus with Claas and
+his wife, who were always employed in some useful business, and never
+ran into extravagance, except it may be on holydays. In particular
+Claas always feasted lustily on St. Nicholas his day, because, he was
+his patron saint, and he remembered his kindness in faderland.
+
+Thus they went on prospering as folks always do that are industrious
+and prudent, every year laying up money, and every year increasing
+their family; for be it known, those who are of the true Dutch blood,
+always apportion the number of children to the means of providing for
+them. They never are caught having children for other people to take
+care of. But be this as it may, about this time began the mischievous
+and oppressive practice of improving the city, draining the marshes,
+cutting down hills, and straightening streets, which hath since grown
+to great enormity in this city, insomuch that a man may be said to be
+actually impoverished by his property.
+
+Barendt Roeloffsen, who was at the head of the reformers, having a
+great estate in vacant lands, which he wanted to make productive at the
+expense of his neighbours—Barendt Roeloffsen, I say, bestirred himself
+lustily to bring about what he called, in outlandish English, the era
+of improvement, and forthwith looked around to see where he should
+begin. I have always believed, and so did the people at that time, that
+Barendt singled out Claas his goose pond for the first experiment,
+being thereunto impelled by an old grudge against Claas, on account of
+his having cut him out with the damsel he wished to marry, as before
+related.
+
+But, however, Barendt Roeloffsen, who bore a great sway among the
+burgomasters, on account of his riches, got a law passed, by hook or by
+crook, for draining Claas his pond, at his own expense, making him pay
+at the same time for the rise in the value of his property, of which
+they did not permit him to be the judge, but took upon themselves to
+say what it was. The ancestors of Claas had fought valiantly against
+Philip of Spain, in defence of their religion and liberty, and he had
+kept up his detestation of oppression by frequently reading the account
+of the cruelties committed in the Low Countries by the Spaniard, in
+the book which his father had given him on his departure from home.
+Besides, he had a great admiration, I might almost say affection, for
+his goose pond, as is becoming in every true Dutchman. In it he was
+accustomed to see, with singular delight, his geese, now increased to a
+goodly flock, sailing about majestically, flapping their wings, dipping
+their necks into the water, and making a noise exceedingly tuneful and
+melodious. Here, too, his little children were wont to paddle in the
+summer days, up to their knees in the water, to their great contentment
+as well as recreation, thereby strengthening themselves exceedingly.
+Such being the case, Claas resisted the behest of the burgomasters,
+declaring that he would appeal to the laws for redress if they
+persisted in trespassing on his premises. But what can a man get by the
+law at any time, much less when the defendant, as in this case, was
+judge as well as a party in the business? After losing a vast deal of
+time, which was as money to him, and spending a good portion of what he
+had saved for his children, Claas was at length cast in his suit, and
+the downfall of his goose pond irrevocably decreed.
+
+It was a long time before he recovered this blow, and when he
+did, Fortune, as if determined to persevere in her ill offices,
+sent a blacksmith from Holland, who brought over with him the new
+and diabolical invention of hobnails, the which he so strenuously
+recommended to the foolish people, who are prone to run after
+novelties, that they, one and all, had their shoes stuck full of
+nails, whereby they did clatter about the streets like unto a horse
+newly shod. As might be expected, the business of shoemaking decreased
+mightily upon this, insomuch that the shoes might be said to last for
+ever; and I myself have seen a pair that have descended through three
+generations, the nails of which shone like unto silver sixpences. Some
+people supposed this was a plot of Barendt Roeloffsen, to complete
+the ruin of poor Claas; but whether it was or not, it is certain that
+such was the falling off in his trade, on account of the pestilent
+introduction of hobnails, that, at the end of the year, Claas found
+that he had gone down hill at a great rate. The next year it was still
+worse, and thus, in the course of a few more, from bad to worse, he at
+last found himself without the means of support for himself, his wife,
+and his little children. But what shows the goodness of Providence, it
+is worthy of record, that from this time his family, miraculously as
+it were, ceased to increase.
+
+Neither begging nor running in debt without the prospect of paying
+was in fashion in those days, nor were there any societies to invite
+people to idleness and improvidence by the certainty of being relieved
+from their consequences without the trouble of asking. Claas tried
+what labouring day and night would do, but there was no use in making
+shoes when there was nobody to buy them. His good wife tried the
+magic of saving; but where there is nothing left to save, economy is
+to little purpose. He tried to get into some other business, but the
+wrath of Barendt Roeloffsen was upon him, and the whole influence of
+the burgomasters stood in his way on account of the opposition he had
+made to the march of improvement. He then offered his house and lot for
+sale; but here again his old enemy Barendt put a spoke in his wheel,
+going about among the people and insinuating that as Claas had paid
+nothing for his lot, the title was good for nothing. So one by one he
+tried all ways to keep want from his door; but it came at last, and one
+Newyear's eve, in the year of our Lord—I don't know what, the family
+was hovering round a miserable fire, not only without the customary
+means of enjoying the festivity of the season, but destitute of the
+very necessaries of life.
+
+The evening was cold and raw, and the heavy moanings of a keen
+northeast wind announced the approach of a snow storm. The little
+children cowered over the almost expiring embers, shivering with cold
+and hunger; the old cat lay half buried in the ashes to keep herself
+warm; and the poor father and mother now looked at the little flock of
+ragged—no, not ragged—the mother took care of that; and industry can
+always ward off rags and dirt. But though not ragged or dirty, they
+were miserably clad and worse fed; and as the parents looked first at
+them and then at each other, the tears gathered in their eyes until
+they ran over.
+
+“We must sell the silver clasps of the Bible my mother gave me, wife,”
+said Claas, at last.
+
+“The Goodness forbid,” said she; “we should never prosper after it.”
+
+“We can't prosper worse than we do now, Aintjie.”
+
+“You had better sell the little book about the murders of the
+Spaniards, that you sometimes read to me.”
+
+“It has no silver clasps, and will bring nothing,” replied Claas,
+despondingly, covering his face with his hand, and seeming to think for
+a few moments. All at once he withdrew his hand, and cried,
+
+“The pipe! the meershaum pipe! it is worth a hundred guilders!” and he
+ran to the place where he had kept it so carefully that he never used
+it once in the whole time he had it in his possession.
+
+He looked at it wistfully, and it brought to his mind the time he
+found it in his stocking. He thought of his parents, his brothers, his
+sisters, and old faderland, and wished he had never parted from them
+to visit the New World. His wife saw what was passing in his heart, and
+said,
+
+“Never mind, dear Claas, with these hundred guilders we shall get on
+again by the blessing of the good St. Nicholas, whose namesake you are.”
+
+Claas shook his head, and looked at the meershaum, which he could
+not bear to part with, because, somehow or other, he could not help
+thinking it was the gift of St. Nicholas. The wind now freshened, and
+moaned more loudly than ever, and the snow began to come in through
+the crevices of the door and windows. The cold increased apace, and
+the last spark of fire was expiring in the chimney. There was darkness
+without and within, for the candle, the last they had, was just going
+out.
+
+Claas, without knowing what he was doing, rubbed the pipe against his
+sleeve, as it were mechanically.
+
+He had scarcely commenced rubbing, when the door suddenly opened, and
+without more ado, a little man, with a right ruddy good-humoured face,
+as round as an apple, and a cocked beaver, white with snow, walked in,
+without so much as saying, “By your leave,” and sitting himself by the
+side of the yffrouw, began to blow at the fire, and make as if he was
+warming his fingers, though there was no fire there, for that matter.
+
+Now Claas was a good-natured fellow, and though he had nothing to give,
+except a welcome, which is always in the power of everybody, yet he
+wished to himself he had more fire to warm people's fingers. After
+a few moments, the little man rubbed his hands together, and looking
+around him, with a good-humoured smile, said,
+
+“Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger, methinks it might not be amiss to
+replenish this fire a little; 'tis a bitter cold night, and my fingers
+are almost frostbitten.”
+
+“Alack, mynheer,” quoth Claas, “I would, with all my heart, but I have
+nothing wherewith to warm myself and my children, unless I set fire to
+my own house. I am sorry I cannot entertain thee better.”
+
+Upon this the little man broke the cane with which he walked into two
+pieces, which he threw in the chimney, and thereupon the fire began to
+blaze so cheerfully that they could see their shadows on the wall, and
+the old cat jumped out of the ashes, with her coat well singed, which
+made the little jolly fellow laugh heartily.
+
+The sticks burnt and burnt, without going out, and they were soon all
+as warm and comfortable as could be. Then the little man said,
+
+“Friend Claas, methinks it would not be much amiss if the good vrouw
+here would bestir herself to get something to eat. I have had no dinner
+to-day, and come hither on purpose to make merry with thee. Knowest
+thou not that this is Newyear's eve?”
+
+“Alack!” replied Claas, “I know it full well; but we have not
+wherewithal to keep away hunger, much less to make merry with. Thou
+art welcome to all we have, and that is nothing.”
+
+“Come, come, Friend Claas, thou art a prudent man, I know, but I never
+thought thou wert stingy before. Bestir thyself, good Aintjie, and see
+what thou canst find in that cupboard. I warrant there is plenty of
+good fare in it.”
+
+The worthy yffrouw looked rather foolish at this proposal, for she knew
+she would find nothing there if she went; but the little man threatened
+her, in a good-humoured way, to break the long pipe he carried stuck in
+his cocked hat, over her nightcap, if she didn't do as he bid her. So
+she went to the cupboard, resolved to bring him out the empty pewter
+dishes, to show they had nothing to give him. But when she opened the
+cupboard, she started back, and cried out aloud, so that Claas ran to
+see what was the matter; and what was his astonishment to find the
+cupboard full of all sorts of good things for a notable jollification.
+
+“Aha!” cried the merry little man, “you're caught at last. I knew
+thou hadst plenty to entertain a stranger withal; but I suppose thou
+wantedst to keep it all to thyself. Come, come! bestir thyself,
+Aintjie, for I am as hungry as a schoolboy.”
+
+Aintjie did as she was bid, wondering all the time who this familiar
+little man could be; for the city was not so big, but that she knew by
+sight everybody that lived in it, and she was sure she had never seen
+him before.
+
+In a short time there was a glorious array of good things set out
+before them, and they proceeded to enjoy themselves right lustily in
+keeping of the merry Newyear's eve. The little man cracked his jokes,
+patted little Nicholas—Claas, his youngest son, who was called after
+his father—on the head; chucked Aintjie under the chin; said he was
+glad she did not wed the splutterkin Barendt Roeloffsen, and set them
+so good an example, that they all got as merry as crickets.
+
+By-and-by the little man inquired of Claas concerning his affairs,
+and he gave him an account of his early prosperity, and how he had
+declined, in spite of all he could do, into poverty and want; so that
+he had nothing left but his wife, his children, his Dutch Bible, his
+history of the Low Country wars, and his meershaum pipe.
+
+“Aha!” quoth the little man, “you've kept that, hey! Let me see it.”
+
+Claas gave it to him, while the tears came into is eyes, although he
+was so merry, to think that he must part with it on the morrow. It was
+the pride of his heart, and he set too great a value on it to make any
+use of it whatever.
+
+The little man took the pipe, and looking at it, said, as if to himself,
+
+“Yes; here it is! the very identical meershaum out of which the great
+Calvin used to smoke. Thou hast done well, Friend Claas, to preserve
+it; and thou must keep it as the apple of thine eye all thy life, and
+give it as an inheritance to thy children.”
+
+“Alack!” cried Aintjie, “he must sell it to-morrow, or we shall want
+wherewithal for a dinner.”
+
+“Yea,” said Claas, “of a truth it must go to-morrow!”
+
+“Be quiet, splutterkin!” cried the little man, merrily; “give me some
+more of that spiced beverage, for I am as thirsty as a dry sponge.
+Come, let us drink to the Newyear, for it will be here in a few
+minutes.”
+
+So they drank a cup to the jolly Newyear, and at that moment the little
+boys and negroes, who didn't mind the snow any more than a miller does
+flour, began to fire their cannon at a great rate; whereupon the little
+man jumped up, and cried out,
+
+“My time is come! I must be off, for I have a great many visits to pay
+before sunrise.”
+
+Then he kissed the yffrouw with a hearty smack, just as doth the
+illustrious Rip Van Dam, on the like occasions; patted little
+Nicholas on the head, and gave him his blessing; after which he did
+incontinently leap up the chimney and disappear. Then they knew it was
+the good St. Nicholas, and rejoiced mightily in the visit he had paid
+them, looking upon it as an earnest that their troubles were over.
+
+The next morning the prudent housewife, according to custom, got up
+before the dawn of day to put her house in order, and when she came
+to sweep the floor, was surprised to hear something jingle just like
+money. Then opening the embers, the sticks which the good saint had
+thrown upon the fire again blazed out, and she descried a large purse,
+which, on examination, was found filled with golden ducats. Whereupon
+she called out to Claas, and they examined the purse, and found
+fastened to it a paper bearing this legend:—
+
+  “THE GIFT OF SAINT NICHOLAS.”
+
+While they stood in joyful wonder, they heard a great knocking and
+confusion of tongues outside the door, and the people calling aloud
+upon Claas Schlaschenschlinger to come forth; whereupon he went forth,
+and, to his great astonishment, found that his little wooden house had
+disappeared in the night, and in its place was standing a gorgeous
+and magnificent mansion of Dutch bricks, two stories high, with three
+windows in front, all of a different size; and a door cut right out of
+the corner, just as it is seen at this blessed day.
+
+The neighbours wondered much, and it was whispered among them, that
+the fiend had helped Claas to this great domicil, which was one of the
+biggest in the city, and almost equal to that of Barendt Roeloffsen.
+But when Claas told them of the visit of St. Nicholas, and showed them
+the purse of golden ducats, with the legend upon it, they thought
+better of it, and contented themselves with envying him heartily his
+good fortune.
+
+I shall not relate how Claas prospered ever afterwards, in spite of his
+enemies the burgomasters, who, at last, were obliged to admit him as
+one of their number; or how little Aintjie held up her head among the
+highest; or how Claas ever after eschewed the lapstone, and, like a
+worshipful magistrate, took to bettering the condition of mankind, till
+at length he died, and was gathered to his forefathers, full of years
+and honours.
+
+All I shall say is, that the great house in New street continued in the
+family for several generations, until a degenerate descendant of Claas,
+being thereunto incited by the d—l, did sell it to another degenerate
+splutterkin, who essayed to pull it down. But mark what followed. No
+sooner had the workmen laid hands on it, than the brickbats began to
+fly about at such a rate, that they all came away faster than they
+went; some with broke heads, and others with broken bones, and not one
+could ever be persuaded to meddle with it afterwards.
+
+And let this be a warning to any one who shall attempt to lay their
+sacrilegious hands on the LAST OF THE DUTCH HOUSES, the gift of St.
+Nicholas, for whoever does so, may calculate, to a certainty on getting
+well peppered with brickbats, I can tell them.
+
+
+
+
+                    THE REVENGE OF SAINT NICHOLAS.
+
+                       A TALE FOR THE HOLYDAYS.
+
+
+Everybody knows that in the famous city of New-York, whose proper name
+is New-Amsterdam, the excellent St. Nicholas—who is worth a dozen St.
+Georges and dragons to boot, and who, if every tub stood on its right
+bottom, would be at the head of the Seven Champions of christendom—I
+say, everybody knows the excellent St. Nicholas, in holyday times,
+goes about among the people in the middle of the night, distributing
+all sorts of toothsome and becoming gifts to the good boys and girls
+in this his favourite city. Some say that he comes down the chimneys
+in a little Jersey wagon; others, that he wears a pair of Holland
+skates, with which he travels like the wind; and others, who pretend
+to have seen him, maintain that he has lately adopted a locomotive,
+and was once actually detected on the _Albany_ railroad. But this last
+assertion is looked upon to be entirely fabulous, because St. Nicholas
+has too much discretion to trust himself in such a newfangled jarvie;
+and so I leave this matter to be settled by whomsoever will take the
+trouble. My own opinion is, that his favourite mode of travelling
+is on a canal, the motion and speed of which aptly comport with the
+philosophic dignity of his character. But this is not material, and
+I will no longer detain my readers with extraneous and irrelevant
+matters, as is too much the fashion with our statesmen, orators,
+biographers, and story tellers.
+
+It was in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty, or sixty-one,
+for the most orthodox chronicles differ in this respect; but it was
+a very remarkable year, and it was called _annus mirabilis_ on that
+account. It was said that several people were detected in speaking the
+truth about that time; that nine staid, sober, and discreet widows,
+who had sworn on an anti-masonic almanac never to enter a second time
+into the holy state, were snapped up by young husbands before they knew
+what they were about; that six venerable bachelors wedded as many buxom
+young belles, and, it is reported, were afterwards sorry for what they
+had done; that many people actually went to church, from motives of
+piety; and that a great scholar, who had written a book in support of
+certain opinions, was not only convinced of his error, but acknowledged
+it publicly afterwards. No wonder the year one thousand seven hundred
+and sixty, if that was the year, was called _annus mirabilis_!
+
+What contributed to render this year still more remarkable, was
+the building of six new three-story brick houses in the city, and
+three persons setting up equipages, who, I cannot find, ever failed
+in business afterwards, or compounded with their creditors at a
+pistareen in the pound. It is, moreover, recorded in the annals of the
+horticultural society of that day, which were written on a cabbage
+leaf, as is said, that a member produced a forked radish, of such vast
+dimensions, that being dressed up in fashionable male attire at the
+exhibition, it was actually mistaken for a travelled beau by several
+inexperienced young ladies, who pined away for love of its beautiful
+complexion, and were changed into daffadowndillies. Some maintained
+it was a mandrake, but it was finally detected by an inquest of
+experienced matrons. No wonder the year seventeen hundred and sixty was
+called _annus mirabilis_!
+
+But the most extraordinary thing of all, was the confident assertion
+that there was but one _gray mare_ within the bills of mortality; and,
+incredible as it may appear, she was the wife of a responsible citizen,
+who, it was affirmed, had grown rich by weaving velvet purses out of
+sows' ears. But this we look upon as being somewhat of the character of
+the predictions of almanac makers. Certain it is, however, that Amos
+Shuttle possessed the treasure of a wife who was shrewdly suspected of
+having established within doors a system of government not laid down in
+Aristotle or the Abbe Sièyes, who made a constitution for every day in
+the year, and two for the first of April.
+
+Amos Shuttle, though a mighty pompous little man out of doors, was the
+meekest of human creatures within. He belonged to that class of people
+who pass for great among the little, and little among the great; and
+he would certainly have been master in his own house had it not been
+for a woman! We have read somewhere that no wise woman ever thinks her
+husband a demigod. If so, it is a blessing that there are so few wise
+women in the world.
+
+Amos had grown rich, Heaven knows how—he did net know himself; but,
+what was somewhat extraordinary, he considered his wealth a signal
+proof of his talents and sagacity, and valued himself according to the
+infallible standard of pounds, shillings, and pence. But though he
+lorded it without, he was, as we have just said, the most gentle of men
+within doors. The moment he stepped inside of his own house, his spirit
+cowered down, like that of a pious man entering a church; he felt as
+if he was in the presence of a superior being—to wit, Mrs. Abigail
+Shuttle. He was, indeed, the meekest of beings at home, except Moses;
+and Sir Andrew Aguecheek's song, which Sir Toby Belch declared “would
+draw nine souls out of one weaver,” would have failed in drawing half
+a one out of Amos. The truth is, his wife, who ought to have known,
+affirmed he had no more soul than a monkey; but he was the only man
+in the city thus circumstanced at the time we speak of. No wonder,
+therefore, the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty was called
+_annus mirabilis_!
+
+Such as he was, Mr. Amos Shuttle waxed richer and richer every day,
+insomuch that those who envied his prosperity were wont to say, “that
+he had certainly been born with a dozen silver spoons in his mouth, or
+such a great blockhead would never have got together such a heap of
+money.” When he had become worth ten thousand pounds, he launched his
+shuttle magnanimously out of the window, ordered his weaver's beam to
+be split up for oven wood, and Mrs. Amos turned his weaver's shop into
+a _boudoir_. Fortune followed him faster than he ran away from her.
+In a few years the ten thousand doubled, and in a few more trebled,
+quadrupled—in short, Amos could hardly count his money.
+
+“What shall we do now, my dear?” asked Mrs. Shuttle, who never sought
+his opinion, that I can learn, except for the pleasure of contradicting
+him.
+
+“Let us go and live in the country, and enjoy ourselves,” quoth Amos.
+
+“Go into the country! go to—” I could never satisfy myself what Mrs.
+Shuttle meant; but she stopped short, and concluded the sentence with a
+withering look of scorn, that would have cowed the spirits of nineteen
+weavers.
+
+Amos named all sorts of places, enumerated all sorts of modes of
+life he could think of, and every pleasure that might enter into the
+imagination of a man without a soul. His wife despised them all; she
+would not hear of them.
+
+“Well, my dear, suppose you suggest something; do now, Abby,” at length
+said Amos, in a coaxing whisper; “will you, my onydoney?”
+
+“Ony fiddlestick! I wonder you repeat such vulgarisms. But if I must
+say what I should like, I should like to travel.”
+
+“Well, let us go and make a tour as far as Jamaica, or Hackensack, or
+Spiking-devil. There is excellent fishing for striped bass there.”
+
+“Spiking-devil!” screamed Mrs. Shuttle; “an't you ashamed to swear so,
+you wicked mortal! I won't go to Jamaica, nor Hackensack among the
+Dutch Hottentots, nor to Spiking-devil to catch striped bass. I'll go
+to Europe!”
+
+If Amos had possessed a soul it would have jumped out of its skin at
+the idea of going beyond seas. He had once been on the sea-bass banks,
+and got a seasoning there; the very thought of which made him sick.
+But, as he had no soul, there was no great harm done.
+
+When Mrs. Shuttle said a thing, it was settled. They went to Europe,
+taking their only son with them; the lady ransacked all the milliners'
+shops in Paris, and the gentleman visited all the restaurateurs. He
+became such a desperate connoisseur and gourmand, that he could almost
+tell an _omelette au jambon_ from a gammon of bacon. After consummating
+the polish, they came home, the lady with the newest old fashions, and
+the weaver with a confirmed preference of _potage à la Turque_ over
+pepper-pot. It is said the city trembled, as with an earthquake, when
+they landed; but the notion was probably superstitious.
+
+They arrived near the close of the year, the memorable year, the _annus
+mirabilis_, one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Everybody that had
+ever known the Shuttles flocked to see them, or rather to see what
+they had brought with them; and such was the magic of a voyage to
+Europe, that Mr. and Mrs. Amos Shuttle, who had been nobodies when they
+departed, became somebodies when they returned, and mounted at once to
+the summit of _ton_.
+
+“You have come in good time to enjoy the festivities of the holydays,”
+said Mrs. Hubblebubble, an old friend of Amos the weaver and his wife.
+
+“We shall have a merry Christmas and a happy Newyear,” exclaimed Mrs.
+Doubletrouble, another old acquaintance of old times.
+
+“The holydays,” drawled Mrs. Shuttle; “the holydays? Christmas and
+Newyear? Pray what are they?”
+
+It is astonishing to see how people lose their memories abroad
+sometimes. They often forget their old friends, old customs, and
+occasionally themselves.
+
+“Why, la! now, who'd have thought it?” cried Mrs. Doubletrouble; “why,
+sure you haven't forgot the oily cooks and the mince pies, the merry
+meetings of friends, the sleigh-rides, the Kissing Bridge, and the
+family parties?”
+
+“Family parties!” shrieked Mrs. Shuttle, and held her salts to her
+nose; “family parties! I never heard of anything so Gothic in Paris
+or Rome; and oily cooks—oh shocking! and mince pies—detestable! and
+throwing open one's doors to all one's old friends, whom one wishes to
+forget as soon as possible. Oh! the idea is insupportable!” and again
+she held the salts to her nose.
+
+Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble found they had exposed
+themselves sadly, and were quite ashamed. A real, genteel, well-bred,
+enlightened lady of fashion ought to have no rule of conduct—no
+conscience, but Paris—whatever is fashionable there is genteel—whatever
+is not fashionable is vulgar. There is no other standard of right,
+and no other eternal fitness of things. At least so thought Mrs.
+Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble.
+
+“But is it possible that all these things are out of fashion abroad?”
+asked the latter, beseechingly.
+
+“They never were in,” said Mrs. Amos Shuttle. “For my part, I mean to
+close my doors and windows on Newyear's day—I'm determined.”
+
+“And so am I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble.
+
+“And so am I,” said Mrs. Doubletrouble.
+
+And it was settled that they should make a combination among themselves
+and their friends, to put down the ancient and good customs of the
+city, and abolish the sports and enjoyments of the jolly Newyear. The
+conspirators then separated, each to pursue her diabolical designs
+against oily cooks, mince pies, sleigh ridings, sociable visitings,
+and family parties.
+
+Now the excellent St. Nicholas, who knows well what is going on in
+every house in the city, though, like a good and honourable saint, he
+never betrays any family secrets, overheard these wicked women plotting
+against his favourite anniversary, and he said to himself,
+
+“_Vuur en Vlammen!_ but I'll be even with you, _mein vrouw_.” So he
+determined he would play these conceited and misled women a trick or
+two before he had done with them.
+
+It was now the first day of the new year, and Mrs. Amos Shuttle,
+and Mrs. Doubletrouble, and Mrs. Hubblebubble, and all their wicked
+abetters, had shut up their doors and windows, so that when their old
+friends called they could not get into their houses. Moreover, they
+had prepared neither mince pies, nor oily cooks, nor crullers, nor
+any of the good things consecrated to St. Nicholas by his pious and
+well-intentioned votaries, and they were mightily pleased at having
+been as dull and stupid as owls, while all the rest of the city were as
+merry as crickets, chirping and frisking in the warm chimney corner.
+Little did they think what horrible judgments were impending over them,
+prepared by the wrath of the excellent St. Nicholas, who was resolved
+to make an example of them for attempting to introduce their newfangled
+corruptions in place of the ancient customs of his favourite city.
+These wicked women never had another comfortable sleep in their lives!
+
+The night was still, clear, and frosty—the earth was everywhere one
+carpet of snow, and looked just like the ghost of a dead world, wrapped
+in a white winding sheet; the moon was full, round, and of a silvery
+brightness, and by her discreet silence afforded an example to the
+rising generation of young damsels, while the myriads of stars that
+multiplied as you gazed at them, seemed as though they were frozen
+into icicles, they looked so cold, and sparkled with such a glorious
+lustre. The streets and roads leading from the city were all alive
+with sleighs, filled with jovial souls, whose echoing laughter and
+cheerful songs, mingled with a thousand merry bells, that jingled in
+harmonious dissonance, giving spirit to the horses and animation to
+the scene. In the license of the season, hallowed by long custom, each
+of the sleighs saluted the others in passing with a “Happy Newyear,”
+a merry jest, or mischievous gibe, exchanged from one gay party to
+another. All was life, motion, and merriment; and as old frostbitten
+Winter, aroused from his trance by the rout and revelry around, raised
+his weatherbeaten head to see what was passing, he felt his icy blood
+warming and coursing through his veins, and wished he could only
+overtake the laughing buxom Spring, that he might dance a jig with her,
+and be as frisky as the best of them. But as the old rogue could not
+bring this desirable matter about, he contented himself with calling
+for a jolly bumper of cocktail, and drinking a swinging draught to the
+health of the blessed St. Nicholas, and those who honour the memory of
+the president of good fellows.
+
+All this time the wicked women and their abetters lay under the
+malediction of the good saint, who caused them to be bewitched by
+an old lady from Salem. Mrs. Amos Shuttle could not sleep, because
+something had whispered in her apprehensive ear, that her son, her
+only son, whom she had engaged to the daughter of Count Grenouille, in
+Paris, then about three years old, was actually at that moment crossing
+Kissing Bridge, in company with little Susan Varian, and some others
+besides. Now Susan was the fairest little lady of all the land; she
+had a face and an eye just like the Widow Wadman, in Leslie's charming
+picture; a face and an eye which no reasonable man under Heaven could
+resist, except my Uncle Toby—beshrew him and his fortifications, I
+say! She was, moreover, a good little girl, and an accomplished little
+girl—but, alas! she had not mounted to the step in Jacob's ladder of
+fashion, which qualifies a person for the heaven of high ton, and Mrs.
+Shuttle had not been to Europe for nothing. She would rather have seen
+her son wedded to dissipation and profligacy than to Susan Varian; and
+the thought of his being out sleigh-riding with her, was worse than
+the toothache. It kept her awake all the livelong night; and the only
+consolation she had was scolding poor Amos, because the sleigh bells
+made such a noise.
+
+As for Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, they neither of them
+got a wink of sleep during a whole week, for thinking of the beautiful
+French chairs and damask curtains Mrs. Shuttle had brought from Europe.
+They forthwith besieged their good men, leaving them no rest until they
+sent out orders to Paris for just such rich chairs and curtains as
+those of the thrice happy Mrs. Shuttle, from whom they kept the affair
+a profound secret, each meaning to treat her to an agreeable surprise.
+In the mean while they could not rest for fear the vessel which was
+to bring these treasures might be lost on her passage. Such was the
+dreadful judgment inflicted on them by the good St. Nicholas.
+
+The perplexities of Mrs. Shuttle increased daily. In the first place,
+do all she could, she could not make Amos a fine gentleman. This was
+a metamorphosis which Ovid would never have dreamed of. He would be
+telling the price of everything in his house, his furniture, his
+wines, and his dinners, insomuch that those who envied his prosperity,
+or, perhaps, only despised his pretensions, were wont to say, after
+eating his venison and drinking his old Madeira, “that he ought to
+have been a tavern keeper, he knew so well how to make out a bill.”
+Mrs. Shuttle once overheard a speech of this kind, and the good St.
+Nicholas himself, who had brought it about, almost felt sorry for the
+mortification she endured on the occasion.
+
+Scarcely had she got over this, when she was invited to a ball, by Mrs.
+Hubblebubble, and the first thing she saw on entering the drawing
+room, was a suit of damask curtains and chairs, as much like her own
+as two peas, only the curtains had far handsomer fringe. Mrs. Shuttle
+came very near fainting away, but escaped for that time, determining to
+mortify this impudent creature, by taking not the least notice of her
+finery. But St. Nicholas ordered it otherwise, so that she was at last
+obliged to acknowledge they were very elegant indeed. Nay, this was not
+the worst, for she overheard one lady whisper to another, that Mrs.
+Hubblebubble's curtains were much richer than Mrs. Shuttle's.
+
+“Oh, I dare say,” replied the other—”I dare say Mrs. Shuttle bought
+them second-hand, for her husband is as mean as pursley.
+
+This was too much. The unfortunate woman was taken suddenly ill—called
+her carriage, and went home, where it is supposed she would have died
+that evening had she not wrought upon Amos to promise her an entire
+new suit of French furniture for her drawing room and parlour to boot,
+besides a new carriage. But for all this she could not close her eyes
+that night for thinking of the “second-hand curtains.”
+
+Nor was the wicked Mrs. Doubletrouble a whit better off, when her
+friend Mrs. Hubblebubble treated her to the agreeable surprise of the
+French window curtains and chairs. “It is too bad—too bad, I declare,”
+said she to herself; “but I'll pay her off soon.” Accordingly she
+issued invitations for a grand ball and supper, at which both Mrs.
+Shuttle and Mrs. Hubblebubble were struck dumb at beholding a suit of
+curtains and a set of chairs exactly of the same pattern with theirs.
+The shock was terrible, and it is impossible to say what might have
+been the consequences, had not the two ladies all at once thought of
+uniting in abusing Mrs. Doubletrouble for her extravagance.
+
+“I pity poor Mr. Doubletrouble,” said Mrs. Shuttle, shrugging her
+shoulders significantly, and glancing at the room.
+
+“And so do I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble, doing the same.
+
+Mrs. Doubletrouble had her eye upon them, and enjoyed their
+mortification until her pride was brought to the ground by a dead shot
+from Mrs. Shuttle, who was heard to exclaim, in reply to a lady who
+observed the chairs and curtains were very handsome,
+
+“Why, yes; but they have been out of fashion in Paris a long time; and,
+besides, really they are getting so common, that I intend to have mine
+removed to the nursery.”
+
+Heavens! what a blow! Poor Mrs. Doubletrouble hardly survived it. Such
+a night of misery as the wicked woman endured almost made the good St.
+Nicholas regret the judgment he had passed upon these mischievous and
+conceited females. But he thought to himself he would persevere until
+he had made them a sad example to all innovators upon the ancient
+customs of our forefathers.
+
+Thus were these wicked and miserable women spurred on by witchcraft
+from one piece of extravagance to another, and a deadly rivalship
+grew up between them, which destroyed their own happiness and that of
+their husbands. Mrs. Shuttle's new carriage and drawing-room furniture
+in due time were followed by similar extravagances on the part of
+the two other wicked women, who had conspired against the hallowed
+institutions of St. Nicholas; and soon their rivalship came to such a
+height that neither of them had a moment's rest or comfort from that
+time forward. But they still shut their doors on the jolly anniversary
+of St. Nicholas, though the old respectable burghers and their wives,
+who had held up their heads time out of mind, continued the good
+custom, and laughed at the presumption of these upstart interlopers,
+who were followed only by a few people of silly pretensions, who had
+no more soul than Amos Shuttle himself. The three wicked women grew to
+be almost perfect skeletons, on account of the vehemence with which
+they strove to outdo each other, and the terrible exertions necessary
+to keep up the appearance of being the best friends in the world.
+In short, they became the laughingstock of the town; and sensible,
+well-bred folks cut their acquaintance, except when they sometimes
+accepted an invitation to a party, just to make merry with their folly
+and conceitedness.
+
+The excellent St. Nicholas, finding they still persisted in their
+opposition to his rites and ceremonies, determined to inflict on them
+the last and worst punishment that can befall the sex. He decreed that
+they should be deprived of all the delights springing from the domestic
+affections, and all taste for the innocent and virtuous enjoyments
+of a happy fireside. Accordingly, they lost all relish for home;
+were continually gadding about from one place to another in search
+of pleasure, and worried themselves to death to find happiness where
+it is never to be found. Their whole lives became one long series of
+disappointed hopes, galled pride, and gnawing envy. They lost their
+health, they lost their time, and their days became days of harassing
+impatience, their nights nights of sleepless, feverish excitement,
+ending in weariness and disappointment. The good saint sometimes
+felt sorry for them, but their continued obstinacy determined him to
+persevere in his plan to punish the upstart pride of these rebellious
+females.
+
+Young Shuttle, who had a soul, which I suppose he inherited from
+his mother, all this while continued his attentions to little Susan
+Varian, which added to the miseries inflicted on his wicked mother.
+Mrs. Shuttle insisted that Amos should threaten to disinherit his son,
+unless he gave up this attachment.
+
+“Lord bless your soul, Abby,” said Amos, “what's the use of my
+threatening, the boy knows as well as I do that I've no will of my own.
+Why, bless my soul, Abby—”
+
+“Bless your soul!” interrupted Mrs. Shuttle; “I wonder who'd take the
+trouble to bless it but yourself? However, if you don't I will.”
+
+Accordingly, she threatened the young man with being disinherited
+unless he turned his back on little Susan Varian, which no man ever did
+without getting a heartache.
+
+“If my father goes on as he has done lately,” sighed the youth, “he
+won't have anything left to disinherit me of but his affection, I fear.
+But if he had millions I would not abandon Susan.”
+
+Are you not ashamed of such a lowlived attachment? You, that have been
+to Europe! But, once for all, remember this, renounce this lowborn
+upstart, or quit your father's home for ever.”
+
+“Upstart!” thought young Shuttle; “one of the oldest families in the
+city.” He made his mother a respectful bow, bade Heaven bless her, and
+left the house. He was, however, met by his father at the door, who
+said to him,
+
+“Johnny, I give my consent; but mind, don't tell your mother a word of
+the matter. I'll let her know I've a soul as well as other people;” and
+he tossed his head like a war horse.
+
+The night after this Johnny was married to little Susan, and the
+blessing of affection and beauty lighted upon his pillow. Her old
+father, who was in a respectable business, took his son-in-law into
+partnership, and they prospered so well that in a few years Johnny was
+independent of all the world, with the prettiest wife and children in
+the land. But Mrs. Shuttle was inexorable, while the knowledge of his
+prosperity and happiness only worked her up to a higher pitch of anger,
+and added to the pangs of jealousy perpetually inflicted on her by the
+rivalry of Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, who suffered under
+the like infliction from the wrathful St. Nicholas, who was resolved to
+make them an example to all posterity.
+
+No fortune, be it ever so great, can stand the eternal sapping of
+wasteful extravagance, engendered and stimulated by the baleful passion
+of envy. In less than ten years from the hatching of the diabolical
+conspiracy of these three wicked women against the supremacy of the
+excellent St. Nicholas, their spendthrift rivalship had ruined the
+fortunes of their husbands, and entailed upon themselves misery and
+remorse. Rich Amos Shuttle became at last as poor as a church mouse,
+and, would have been obliged to take to the loom again in his old age,
+had not Johnny, now rich, and a worshipful magistrate of the city,
+afforded him and his better half a generous shelter under his own happy
+roof. Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble had scarcely time to
+condole with Mrs. Shuttle, and congratulate each other, when their
+husbands went the way of all flesh, that is to say, failed for a few
+tens of thousands, and called their creditors together to hear the good
+news. The two wicked women lived long enough after this to repent of
+their offence against St. Nicholas; but they never imported any more
+French curtains, and at last perished miserably in an attempt to set
+the fashions in Pennypot alley.
+
+Mrs. Abigail Shuttle might have lived happily the rest of her life
+with her children and grandchildren, who all treated her with
+reverent courtesy and affection, now that the wrath of the mighty St.
+Nicholas was appeased by her exemplary punishment. But she could not
+get over her bad habits and feelings, or forgive her lovely little
+daughter-in-law for treating her so kindly when she so little deserved
+it. She gradually pined away; and though she revived at hearing of the
+catastrophe of Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, it was only
+for a moment. The remainder of the life of this wicked woman was a
+series of disappointments and heartburnings, and when she died, Amos
+tried to shed a few tears, but he found it impossible, I suppose,
+because, as his wife always said, “he had no soul.”
+
+Such was the terrible revenge of St. Nicholas, which ought to be
+a warning to all who attempt to set themselves up against the
+venerable customs of their ancestors, and backslide from the hallowed
+institutions of the blessed saint, to whose good offices, without
+doubt, it is owing that this his favourite city has transcended all
+others of the universe in beautiful damsels, valorous young men, mince
+pies, and Newyear cookies. The catastrophe of these three wicked women
+had a wonderful influence in the city, insomuch that from this time
+forward, no _gray mares_ were ever known, no French furniture was ever
+used, and no woman was hardy enough to set herself up in opposition
+to the good customs of St. Nicholas. And so, wishing many happy
+Newyears to all my dear countrywomen and countrymen, saving those who
+shut their doors to old friends, high or low, rich or poor, on that
+blessed anniversary, which makes more glad hearts than all others put
+together—I say, wishing a thousand happy Newyears to all, with this
+single exception, I lay down my pen, with a caution to all wicked women
+to beware of the revenge of St. Nicholas.
+
+
+
+
+                              THE ORIGIN
+
+                                  OF
+
+                          THE BAKERS' DOZEN.
+
+
+Little Brom Boomptie, or Boss Boomptie, as he was commonly called by
+his apprentices and neighbours, was the first man that ever baked
+Newyear cakes in the good city of New-Amsterdam. It is generally
+supposed that he was the inventor of those excellent and respectable
+articles. However this may be, he lived and prospered in the little
+Dutch house in William-street, called, time out of mind, Knickerbocker
+Hall, just at the outskirts of the good town of New-Amsterdam.
+
+Boomptie was a fat comfortable creature, with a capital pair of
+oldfashioned legs; a full, round, good-natured face; a corporation
+like unto one of his plump loaves; and as much honesty as a Turkish
+baker, who lives in the fear of having his ears nailed to his own door
+for retailing bad bread. He wore a low-crowned, broad-brimmed beaver;
+a gray bearskin cloth coat, waistcoat, and breeches, and gray woollen
+stockings, summer and winter, all the year round. The only language
+he spoke, understood, or had the least respect for, was Dutch— and
+the only books he ever read or owned, were a Dutch Bible, with silver
+clasps and hinges, and a Dutch history of the Duke of Alva's bloody
+wars in the Low Countries. Boss Boomptie was a pious man, of simple
+habits and simple character; a believer in “demonology and witchcraft;”
+and as much afraid of _spooks_ as the mother that bore him. It ran in
+the family to be bewitched, and for three generations the Boompties had
+been very much pestered with supernatural visitations. But for all this
+they continued to prosper in the world, insomuch that Boss Boomptie
+daily added a piece of wampum or two to his strong box. He was blessed
+with a good wife, who saved the very parings of her nails, and three
+plump boys, after whom he modelled his gingerbread babies, and who were
+every Sunday zealously instructed never to pass a pin without picking
+it up and bringing it home to their mother.
+
+It was on Newyear's eve, in the year 1655, and the good city of
+New-Amsterdam, then under the special patronage of the blessed
+St. Nicholas, was as jovial and wanton as hot spiced rum and long
+abstinence from fun and frolic could make it. It is worth while to
+live soberly and mind our business all the rest of the year, if it be
+only to enjoy the holydays at the end with a true zest. St. Nicholas,
+thrice blessed soul! was riding up one chimney and down another like a
+locomotive engine in his little one-horse wagon, distributing cakes to
+the good boys, and whips to the bad ones; and the laugh of the good
+city, which had been pent up all the year, now burst forth with an
+explosion that echoed even unto Breuckelen and Communipaw.
+
+Boss Boomptie, who never forgot the main chance, and knew from
+experience that Newyear's eve was a shrewd time for selling cakes,
+joined profit and pleasure on this occasion. He was one minute in his
+shop, dealing out cakes to his customers, and the next laughing, and
+tippling, and jigging, and frisking it with his wife and children
+in the little back room, the door of which had a pane of glass that
+commanded a full view of the shop. Nobody, that is, no genuine
+disciple of jolly St. Nicholas, ever went to bed till twelve o'clock
+on Newyear's eve. The Dutch are eminently a sober, discreet folk; but
+somehow or other, no people frolic so like the very dickens, when they
+are once let loose, as your very sober and discreet bodies.
+
+By twelve o'clock the spicy beverage, sacred to holydays at that time,
+began to mount up into Boss Boomptie's head, and he was vociferating a
+Dutch ditty in praise of St. Nicholas with marvellous discordance, when
+just as the old clock in one corner of the room struck the hour that
+ushers in the new year, a loud knock was heard on the counter, which
+roused the dormant spirit of trade within his bosom. He went into the
+shop, where he found a little ugly old thing of a woman, with a sharp
+chin, resting on a crooked black stick, which had been burned in the
+fire and then polished; two high sharp cheek bones; two sharp black
+eyes; skinny lips, and a most diabolical pair of leather spectacles on
+a nose ten times sharper than her chin.
+
+“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed she, in a voice sharper than
+her nose.
+
+“Vel, den, you needn't sbeak so loud,” replied Boss Boomptie, whose ear
+being just then attuned to the melody of his own song, was somewhat
+outraged by this shrill salutation.
+
+“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed she again, ten times louder
+and shriller than ever.
+
+“Duyvel—I an't teaf den,” grumbled the worthy man, as he proceeded to
+count out the cakes, which the other very deliberately counted after
+him.
+
+“I want a dozen,” screamed the little woman; “here is only twelve.”
+
+“Vel, den, and what de duyvel is dwalf but a dozen?” said Boomptie.
+
+“I tell you I want one more,” screamed she, in a voice that roused Mrs.
+Boomptie in the back room, who came and peeped through the pane of
+glass, as she often did when she heard the boss talking to the ladies.
+
+Boss Boomptie waxed wroth, for he had a reasonable quantity of hot
+spiced rum in his noddle, which predisposes a man to valour.
+
+“Vel, den,” said he, “you may co to de duyvel and get anoder, for you
+won't get it here.”
+
+Boomptie was not a stingy man; on the contrary, he was very generous
+to the pretty young damsels who came to buy cakes, and often gave them
+two or three extra for a smack, which made Mrs. Boomptie peevish
+sometimes, and caused her to watch at the little pane of glass when she
+ought to have been minding her business like an honest woman.
+
+But this old hag was as ugly as sin, and the little baker never in his
+whole life could find in his heart to be generous to an ugly woman, old
+or young.
+
+“In my country they always give thirteen to the dozen,” screamed the
+ugly woman in the leather spectacles.
+
+“And where de duyvel is your gountry?” asked Boomptie.
+
+“It is nobody's business,” screeched the old woman. “But will you give
+me another cake, once for all?”
+
+“Not if it would save me and all my chineration from peing pewitched
+and pedemonologized dime out of mind,” cried he, in a great passion.
+
+What put it into his head to talk in this way I don't know, but he
+might better have held his tongue. The old woman gave him three stivers
+for his cakes, and went away, grumbling something about “living to
+repent it,” which Boss Boomptie didn't understand or care a fig about.
+He was chock full of Dutch courage, and defied all the ugly old women
+in Christendom. He put his three stivers in the till and shut up
+his shop, determined to enjoy the rest of the night without further
+molestation.
+
+While he was sitting smoking his pipe, and now and then sipping his
+beverage, all at once he heard a terrible jingling of money in his
+shop, whereupon he thought some losel caitiff was busy with his little
+till. Accordingly, priming himself with another reinforcement of Dutch
+courage, he took a pine knot, for he was too economical to burn candles
+at that late hour, and proceeded to investigate. His money was all
+safe, and the till appeared not to have been disturbed.
+
+“Duyvel,” quoth the little baker man, “I pelieve mine _vrouw_ and I
+have bote cot a zinging in our heads.”
+
+He had hardly turned his back when the same jingling began again, so
+much to the surprise of Boss Boomptie, that had it not been for his
+invincible Dutch courage, he would, as it were, have been a little
+frightened. But he was not in the least; and again went and unlocked
+the till, when what was his astonishment to see the three diabolical
+stivers, received from the old woman, dancing, and kicking up a dust
+among the coppers and wampum with wonderful agility.
+
+“_Wat donder is dat!_” exclaimed he, sorely perplexed; “de old duyvel
+has cot indo dat old sinner's stivers, I dink.” He had a great mind to
+throw them away, but he thought it a pity to waste so much money; so
+he kept them locked up all night, enjoining them to good behaviour,
+with a design to spend them the next day in another jollification.
+But the next day they were gone, and so was the broomstick with which
+it was the custom to sweep out the shop every morning. Some of the
+neighbours coming home late the night before, on being informed of the
+“abduction” of the broomstick, deposed and said, they had seen an old
+woman riding through the air upon just such another, right over the top
+of the little bakehouse; whereat Boss Boomptie, putting these odds and
+ends together, did tremble in his heart, and he wished to himself that
+he had given the ugly old woman thirteen to the dozen.
+
+Nothing particular came to pass the next day, except that now and then
+the little Boompties complained of having pins stuck in their backs,
+and that their cookies were snatched away by some one unknown. On
+examination it was found that no marks of the pins were to be seen; and
+as to the cookies, the old black woman of the kitchen declared she saw
+an invisible hand just as one of the children lost his commodity.
+
+“Den I am pewitched, zure enough!” cried Boomptie, in despair, for
+he had had too much of “demonology and witchcraft” in the family not
+to know when he saw them, just as well as he did his own face in the
+Collect.
+
+On the second day of the year, the 'prentice boys all returned to their
+business, and Boomptie once more solaced himself with the baking of the
+staff of life. The reader must know that it is the custom of bakers to
+knead a great batch at a time, in a mighty bread tray, into which they
+throw two or three little apprentice boys to paddle about, like ducks
+in a mill pond, whereby it is speedily amalgamated, and set to rising
+in due time. When the little caitiffs began their gambols in this
+matter they one and all stuck fast in the dough, as though it had been
+so much pitch, and, to the utter dismay of honest Boomptie, behold the
+whole batch rose up in a mighty mass, with the boys sticking fast on
+the top of it!
+
+“_Wat blikslager!_” exclaimed little Boomptie, as he witnessed this
+catastrophe; “de duyvel ish cot into de yeast dis dime, I dink.”
+
+The bread continued to rise till it lifted the roof off the bakehouse,
+with the little 'prentice boys on the top, and the bread tray following
+after. Boss Boomptie and his wife watched this wonderful rising of the
+bread in dismay, and in proof of the poor woman's being bewitched,
+it was afterwards recollected that she uttered not a single word on
+this extraordinary occasion. The bread rose and rose, until it finally
+disappeared, boys and all, behind the Jersey hills. If such things had
+been known of at that time, it would have been taken for a balloon; as
+it was, the people of Bergen and Communipaw thought that it was a water
+spout.
+
+Little Boss Boomptie was disconsolate at the loss of his bread and his
+'prentice boys, whom he never expected to see again. However, he was a
+stirring body, and set himself to work to prepare another batch, seeing
+his customers must be supplied in spite of “witchcraft or demonology.”
+To guard against such another rebellious rising, he determined to go
+through the process down in the cellar, and turn his bread tray upside
+down. The bread, instead of rising, began to sink into the earth so
+fast, that Boss Boomptie had just time to jump off before it entirely
+disappeared in the ground, which opened and shut just like a snuffbox.
+
+“Wat blikslager is dat!” exclaimed he, out of breath; “my pread rises
+downward dis dime, I dink. My customers must go widout to-day.”
+
+By-and-by his customers came for hot rolls and muffins, but some of
+them had gone up and some down, as little Boss Boomptie related after
+the manner just described. What is very remarkable, nobody believed
+him; and doubtless, if there had been any rival baker in New-Amsterdam,
+the boss would have lost all his customers. Among those that called on
+this occasion, was the ugly old woman with the sharp eyes, nose, chin,
+voice, and leather spectacles.
+
+“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed she, as before.
+
+“Vuur en vlammen!” muttered he, as he counted out the twelve cakes.
+
+“I want one more!” screamed she.
+
+“Den you may co to de duyvel and kit it, I say, for not anoder shall
+you haf here, I dell you.”
+
+So the old woman took her twelve cakes, and went out grumbling, as
+before. All the time she staid, Boomptie's old dog, who followed him
+wherever he went, growled and whined, as it were, to himself, and
+seemed mightily relieved when she went away. That very night, as
+the little baker was going to see one of his old neighbours at the
+_Maiden's Valley_, then a little way out of town walking, as he always
+did, with his hands behind him, every now and then he felt something as
+cold as death against them, which he could never account for, seeing
+there was not a soul with him but his old dog. Moreover, Mrs. Boomptie,
+having bought half a pound of tea at a grocery store, and put it into
+her pocket, did feel a twitching and jerking of the paper of tea in
+her pocket, every step she went. The faster she ran the quicker and
+stronger was the twitching and jerking, so that when the good woman got
+home she was nigh fainting away. On her recovery she took courage, and
+pulled the tea out of her pocket, and laid it on the table, when behold
+it began to move by fits and starts, jumped off the table, hopped out
+of doors, all alone by itself, and jigged away to the place from whence
+it came. The grocer brought it back again, but Madam Boomptie looked
+upon the whole as a judgment for her extravagance, in laying out so
+much money for tea, and refused to receive it again. The grocer assured
+her that the strange capers of the bundle were owing to his having
+forgot to cut the twine with which he had tied it; but the good woman
+looked upon this as an ingenious subterfuge, and would take nothing but
+her money. When the husband and wife came to compare notes, they both
+agreed they were certainly bewitched. Had there been any doubt of the
+matter, subsequent events would soon have put it to rest.
+
+That very night Mrs. Boomptie was taken after a strange way. Sometimes
+she would laugh about nothing, and then she would cry about nothing;
+then she would set to work and talk about nothing for a whole hour
+without stopping, in a language nobody could understand; and then, all
+at once, her tongue would cleave to the roof of her mouth, so that
+it was impossible to force it away. When this fit was over she would
+get up and dance double trouble, till she tired herself out, when she
+fell asleep, and waked up quite rational. It was particularly noticed
+that when she talked loudest and fastest, her lips remained perfectly
+closed, without motion, and her mouth wide open, so that the words
+seemed to come from down her throat. Her principal talk was railing
+against Dominie Laidlie, the good pastor of Garden-street Church,
+whence everybody concluded that she was possessed by a devil. Sometimes
+she got hold of a pen, and though she had never learned to write, would
+scratch and scrawl certain mysterious and diabolical figures, that
+nobody could understand, and everybody said must mean something.
+
+As for little Boss Boomptie, he was worse off than his wife. He was
+haunted by an invisible hand, which played him all sorts of scurvy
+tricks. Standing one morning at his counter, talking to one of the
+neighbours, he received a great box on the ear, whereat being exceeding
+wroth, he returned it with such interest on the cheek of his neighbour,
+that he laid him flat on the floor. His friend hereupon took the law of
+him, and proved, to the satisfaction of the court, that he had both
+hands in his breeches pockets at the time Boss Boomptie said he gave
+him the box on the ear. The magistrate not being able to come at the
+truth of the matter, fined them each twenty-five guilders for the use
+of the dominie.
+
+A dried codfish was one day thrown at his head, and the next minute his
+walking stick fell to beating him, though nobody seemed to have hold of
+it A chair danced about the room, and at last alighted on the dinner
+table, and began to eat with such a good appetite, that had not the
+children snatched some of the dinner away, there would have been none
+left. The old cow one night jumped over the moon, and a pewter dish
+ran fairly off with a horn spoon, which seized a cat by the tail, and
+away they all went together, as merry as crickets. Sometimes, when Boss
+Boomptie had money, or cakes, or perhaps a loaf of bread in his hand,
+instead of putting them in their proper places, he would throw them
+into the fire, in spite of his teeth, and then the invisible hand would
+beat him with a bag of flour, till he was as white as a miller. As for
+keeping his accounts, that was out of the question; whenever he sat
+himself down to write his ink horn was snatched away by the invisible
+hand, and by-and-by it would come tumbling down the chimney. Sometimes
+an old dishcloth would be pinned to the skirt of his coat, and then a
+great diabolical laugh heard under the floor. At night he had a pretty
+time of it. His nightcap was torn off his head, his hair pulled out by
+handfuls, his face scratched, and his ears pinched as if with a red-hot
+pincers. If he went out in the yard at night, he was pelted with
+brickbats, sticks, stones, and all sorts of filthy missives; and if he
+staid at home, the ashes were blown upon his supper; and old shoes,
+instead of plates, seen on the table. One of the frying pans rang
+every night of itself for a whole hour, and a three-pronged fork stuck
+itself voluntarily into Boss Boomptie's back, without hurting him in
+the least. But what astonished the neighbours more than all, the little
+man, all at once, took to speaking in a barbarous and unknown jargon,
+which was afterwards found out to be English.
+
+These matters frightened some of the neighbours and scandalized others,
+until at length poor Boomptie's shop was almost deserted. People were
+jealous of eating his bread, for fear of being bewitched. Nay, more
+than one little urchin complained grievously of horrible, out of the
+way pains in the stomach, after eating two or three dozen of his
+Newyear cookies.
+
+Things went on in this way until Newyear's eve came round again, when
+Boss Boomptie was sitting behind his counter, which was wont to be
+thronged with customers on this occasion, but was now quite deserted.
+While thinking on his present miserable state and future prospects, all
+of a sudden the little ugly old woman, with a sharp nose, sharp chin,
+sharp eyes, sharp voice, and leather spectacles, again stood before
+him, leaning on her crooked black cane.
+
+“Ben je bedondered?” exclaimed Boss Boomptie, “what to you want now?”
+
+“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed the old creature.
+
+The little man counted out twelve, as before.
+
+“I want one more!” screamed she, louder than ever.
+
+“Men weet hoe een koe een haas vangen kan!” cried the boss, in a rage;
+“den want will pe your masder.”
+
+She offered him six stivers, which he indignantly rejected, saying,
+
+“I want none of your duyvel's stuyvers—begone, duyvel's huysvrouw!”
+
+The old woman went her way, mumbling and grumbling as usual.
+
+“By Saint Johannes de Dooper,” quoth Boss Boomptie, “put she's a
+peaudy!”
+
+That night, and all the week after, the brickbats flew about
+Knickerbocker Hall like hail, insomuch that Boss Boomptie marvelled
+where they could all come from, until one morning, after a terrible
+shower of bricks, he found, to his great grief and dismay, that his
+oven had disappeared; next went the top of his chimney; and when that
+was gone, these diabolical sinners began at the extreme point of the
+gable end, and so went on picking at the two edges downward, until they
+looked just like the teeth of a saw, as may be still seen in some of
+our old Dutch houses.
+
+“Onbegrypelik!” cried Boss Boomptie, “put it's too pad to have my
+prains peat out wid my own prickpats.”
+
+About the same time a sober respectable cat, that for years had done
+nothing but sit purring in the chimney corner, all at once got the
+duyvel in her, and after scratching the poor man half to death, jumped
+out of the chimney and disappeared. A Whitehall boatman afterwards saw
+her in Buttermilk Channel, with nothing but the tail left, swimming
+against the tide as easy as kiss your hand. Poor Mrs. Boomptie had
+no peace of her life, what with pinchings, stickings of needles, and
+talking without opening her mouth. But the climax of the malice of the
+demon which beset her was in at last tying up her tongue, so that she
+could not speak at all, but did nothing but sit crying and wringing her
+hands in the chimney corner.
+
+These carryings on brought round Newyear's eve again, when Boss
+Boomptie thought he would have a frolic, “in spite of de duyvel,” as
+he said, which saying was, somehow or other, afterwards applied to
+the creek at Kingsbridge. So he commanded his wife to prepare him a
+swinging mug of hot spiced rum, to keep up his courage against the
+assaults of the brickbats. But what was the dismay of the little man
+when he found that every time he put the beverage to his lips he
+received a great box on the ear, the mug was snatched away by an
+invisible hand, and every single drop drank out of it before it came to
+Boss Boomptie's turn. Then as if it was an excellent joke, he heard a
+most diabolical laugh down in the cellar.
+
+“Goeden Hemel! Is het mogelyk!” exclaimed the little man in despair.
+This was attacking him in the very intrenchments of his heart. It was
+worse than the brickbats.
+
+“Saint Nicholas! Saint Nicholas! what will become of me—what sal ich
+doon, mynheer?”
+
+Scarcely had he uttered this pathetic appeal, when there was a sound
+of horses' hoofs in the chimney, and presently a light wagon, drawn by
+a little, fat, gray 'Sopus pony, came trundling into the room, loaded
+with all sorts of knickknacks. It was driven by a jolly, fat, little
+rogue of a fellow, with a round sparkling eye, and a mouth which would
+certainly have been laughing had it not been for a glorious Meershaum
+pipe, which would have chanced to fall out in that case. The little
+rascal had on a three-cornered cocked hat, decked with old gold lace;
+a blue Dutch sort of a short pea jacket, red waistcoat, breeks of the
+same colour, yellow stockings, and honest thick-soled shoes, ornamented
+with a pair of skates. Altogether he was a queer figure—but there was
+something so irresistibly jolly and good-natured in his face, that Boss
+Boomptie felt his heart incline towards the stranger as soon as he saw
+him.
+
+“Orange Boven!” cried the good saint, pulling off his cocked hat, and
+making a low bow to Mrs. Boomptie, who sat tonguetied in the chimney
+corner.
+
+“Wat donderdag is dat?” said Boss Boomptie, speaking for his wife,
+which made the good woman very angry, that he should take the words out
+of her mouth.
+
+“You called on Saint Nicholas. Here am I,” quoth the jolly little
+saint. “In one word—for I am a saint of few words, and have my hands
+full of business to-night—in one word, tell me what you want.”
+
+“I am pewitched,” quoth Boss Boomptie. “The duyvel is in me, my house,
+my wife, my Newyear cookies, and my children. What shall I do?”
+
+“When you count a dozen you must count thirteen,” answered the wagon
+driver, at the same time cracking his whip, and clattering up the
+chimney, more like a little duyvel than a little saint.
+
+“Wat blixum!” muttered Boss Boomptie, “when you count a dozen you must
+count dirdeen! je mag even wel met un stokje in de goot roeron! I never
+heard of such counting. By Saint Johannes de Dooper, put Saint Nicholas
+is a great plockhead!”
+
+Just as he uttered this blasphemy against the excellent Saint Nicholas,
+he saw through the pane of glass, in the door leading from the spare
+room to the shop, the little ugly old woman, with the sharp eyes, sharp
+nose, sharp chin, sharp voice, and leather spectacles, alighting from a
+broomstick, at the street door.
+
+“Dere is de duyvel's kint come again,” quoth he, in one of his cross
+humours, which was aggravated by his getting just then a great box on
+the ear from the invisible hand. However, he went grumbling into the
+shop, for it was part of his religion never to neglect a customer, let
+the occasion be what it might.
+
+“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed the old beauty, as usual,
+and as usual Boss Boomptie counted out twelve.
+
+“I want another one,” screamed she still louder.
+
+“Aha!” thought Boss Boomptie, doubtless inspired by the jolly little
+caitiff, Saint Nicholas—”Aha! Het is goed visschen in troebel
+water—when you count dwalf, you must count dirdeen. Ha—ha! ho—ho—ho!”
+And he counted out the thirteenth cooky like a brave fellow.
+
+The old woman made him a low courtesy, and laughed till she might have
+shown her teeth, if she had had any.
+
+“Friend Boomptie,” said she, in a voice exhibiting the perfection of a
+nicely modulated scream—“Friend Boomptie, I love such generous little
+fellows as you, in my heart. I salute you,” and she advanced to kiss
+him. Boss Boomptie did not at all like the proposition; but, doubtless
+inspired by Saint Nicholas, he submitted with indescribable grace.
+
+At that moment, an explosion was heard inside the little glass pane,
+and the voice of Mrs. Boomptie crying out,
+
+“You false-hearted villain, have I found out your tricks at last!”
+
+“De Philistyner Onweetende!” cried Boss Boomptie. “She's come to her
+speech now!”
+
+“The spell is broken!” screamed the old woman with the sharp eyes,
+nose, chin, and voice. “The spell is broken, and henceforward a dozen
+is thirteen, and thirteen is a dozen! There shall be thirteen Newyear
+cookies to the dozen, as a type of the thirteen mighty states that are
+to arise out of the ruins of the government of faderland!”
+
+Thereupon she took a Newyear cake bearing the effigy of the blessed
+St. Nicholas, and caused Boss Boomptie to swear upon it, that for ever
+afterwards twelve should be thirteen, and thirteen should be twelve.
+After which, she mounted her broomstick and disappeared, just as the
+little old Dutch clock struck twelve. From that time forward, the
+spell that hung over the fortunes of little Boss Boomptie was broken;
+and ever after he became illustrious for baking the most glorious
+Newyear cookies in our country. Everything became as before: the little
+'prentice boys returned, mounted on the batch of bread, and their
+adventures may, peradventure, be told some other time. Finally, from
+that day forward no baker of New-Amsterdam was ever bewitched, at least
+by an ugly old woman, and a bakers dozen has been always counted as
+thirteen.
+
+
+
+
+                              THE GHOST.
+
+
+Some time in the year 1800 or 1801, I am not certain which, a man of
+the name of William Morgan—I don't mean the person whose “abduction”
+has made so much noise in the world—enlisted on board the United States
+frigate —— for a three years' cruise in the Mediterranean. He was an
+awful-looking person, six feet four inches high; a long pale visage
+deeply furrowed with wrinkles; sunken eyes far up towards his forehead;
+black exuberant hair standing on end as if he was always frightened at
+something; a sharp chin of a length proportioned to his height; teeth
+white, but very irregular; and the colour of his eyes what the writers
+on supernatural affairs call very singular and mysterious. Besides
+this, his voice was hollow and sepulchral; on his right arm were
+engraved certain mysterious devices, surmounted with the letters E. M.;
+and his tobacco box was of iron. His everyday dress was a canvass hat
+with a black riband band, a blue jacket, white trousers, and leather
+shoes. On Sundays he wore a white beaver, which, among sailors, bespoke
+something extraordinary, and on rainy days a pea jacket too short by
+half a yard. It is worthy of remark that Morgan entered on Friday;
+that the frigate was launched on Friday; that the master carpenter who
+built her was born on Friday; and that the squadron went to sea on
+Friday. All these singular coincidences, combined with his mysterious
+appearance, caused the sailors to look upon Morgan with some little
+degree of wonder.
+
+During the voyage to Gibraltar, Morgan's conduct served to increase
+the impression his appearance had made on the crew. He sometimes went
+without eating for several days together, at least no one ever saw him
+eat; and, if he ever slept at all, it was without shutting his eyes or
+lying down, for his messmates, one and all, swore that, wake at what
+time of the night they would, Morgan was seen sitting upright in his
+hammock, with his eyes glaring wide open. When his turn came to take
+his watch upon deck, his conduct was equally strange. He would stand
+stock still in one place, gazing at the stars, or the ocean, apparently
+unconscious of his situation; and when roused by his companions, tumble
+on the deck in a swoon. When he revived, he would fall to preaching
+the most strange and incomprehensible rhapsodies that ever were heard.
+In their idle hours upon the forecastle, Morgan told such stories
+about himself, and his strange escapes by sea and land, as caused
+the sailors' hair to stand on end, and made the jolly fellows look
+upon him as a person gifted with the privilege of living for ever. He
+often indeed hinted that he had as many lives as a cat, and several
+times offered to let himself be hanged for the gratification of his
+messmates. On more than one occasion, he was found lying on his back
+in his hammock, apparently without life, his eyes fixed and glassy,
+his limbs stiff and rigid, his lower jaw sunk down, and his pulse
+motionless, at least so his messmates swore when they went to call the
+doctor; though when the latter came he always found Morgan as well as
+ever he was in his life, and apparently unconscious of all that had
+happened.
+
+As they proceeded on the voyage, which proved for the most part a
+succession of calms, the sailors having little else to do, either
+imagined or invented new wonders about Morgan. At one time a little
+Welsh foretopman swore that as he was going to sit down to dinner, his
+canteen was snatched from under him by an invisible hand, and he fell
+plump on the deck. A second had his allowance of grog “abducted” in a
+mysterious manner, although he was ready to make oath he never had his
+eyes off it for a moment. A third had his tobacco box rifled, though it
+had never been out of his pocket. A fourth had a crooked sixpence, with
+a hole by which it was suspended from his neck by a riband, taken away
+without his ever being the wiser for it.
+
+These things at length reached the ears of Captain R————, who, the
+next time Morgan got into one of his trances, had him confined for
+four-and-twenty hours; and otherwise punished him in various ways
+on the recurrence of any one of these wonderful reports. All this
+produced no effect whatever either on Morgan or the crew, which at
+length had its wonder stretched to the utmost bounds by a singular
+adventure of our hero.
+
+One day, the squadron being about halfway across the Atlantic, and
+the frigate several leagues ahead with a fine breeze, there was an
+alarm of the magazine being on fire. Morgan was just coming on deck
+with a spoon in his hand, for some purpose or other, when hearing the
+cry of “magazine on fire,” he made one spring overboard. The fire was
+extinguished by the daring gallantry of an officer, now living, and
+standing in the first rank of our naval heroes. In the confusion and
+alarm, it was impossible to make any efforts to save Morgan; and it was
+considered a matter of course that he had perished in the ocean. Two
+days after, one of the other vessels of the squadron came alongside
+the frigate, and sent a boat on board with Billy Morgan. Twelve hours
+from the time of his leaping overboard, he had been found swimming away
+gallantly, with the spoon in his hand. When asked why he did not let it
+go, he replied that he kept it to help himself to salt water when he
+was dry. This adventure fixed in the minds of the sailors an obstinate
+opinion, that Morgan was either a dead man come to life again, or one
+that was not very easy to be killed.
+
+After this, Morgan continued his mysterious pranks. The sailors talked
+and wondered, and Captain R———— punished him, until the squadron was
+within two or three days' sail of Gibraltar, admitting the wind
+continued fair as it then was. Morgan had been punished pretty severely
+that morning for stargazing and falling into a swoon on his watch the
+night before, and had solemnly assured his messmates, that he intended
+to jump overboard and drown himself the first opportunity. He made his
+will, dressed himself in his best, and settled all his affairs. He
+also replenished his tobacco box, put his allowance of biscuit in his
+pocket, and filled a small canteen with water, which he strung about
+his neck; saying that perhaps he might take it into his head to live a
+day or two in the water, before he finally went to the bottom.
+
+Between twelve and one, the vessel being becalmed, the night a clear
+starlight, and the sentinels pacing their rounds, Morgan was distinctly
+seen to come up through the hatchway, walk forward, climb the bulwark,
+and let himself drop into the sea. A midshipman and two seamen
+testified to the facts; and Morgan being missing the next morning,
+there was no doubt of his having committed suicide by drowning himself.
+This affair occasioned much talk, and various were the opinions of the
+ship's crew on the subject. Some swore it was one Davy Jones who had
+been playing his pranks; others that it was no man, but a ghost or a
+devil that had got among them; and others were in daily expectation of
+seeing him come on board again, as much alive as ever he was.
+
+In the mean time, the squadron proceeded but slowly, being detained
+several days by calms and head winds, most of which were in some way or
+other laid to Billy Morgan by the gallant tars, who fear nothing but
+Fridays and men without heads. His fate, however, gradually ceased to
+be a subject of discussion, and the wonder was quickly passing away,
+when one night, about a week after his jumping overboard, the figure of
+Morgan, all pale and ghastly, his clothes hanging wet about him—with
+eyes more sunken, hair more upright, and face more thin and cadaverous
+than ever, was seen by one of his messmates, who happened to be lying
+awake, to emerge slowly from the forepart of the ship, approach one of
+the tables where there was a can of water, from which it took a hearty
+draught, and disappear in the direction whence it came. The sailor told
+the story next morning, but as yet very few believed him.
+
+The next night the same figure appeared, and was seen by a different
+person from him by whom it was first observed. It came from the same
+quarter again, helped itself to a drink, and disappeared in the same
+direction it had done before. The story of Morgan's ghost, in the
+course of a day or two, came to the ears of Captain R————, who caused
+a search to be made in that part of the vessel whence the ghost had
+come; under the impression that the jumping overboard of Morgan had
+been a deception, and that he was now secreted on board the ship. The
+search ended, however, without any discovery. The calms and head winds
+still continued, and not a sailor on board but ascribed them to Billy
+Morgan's mysterious influence. The ghost made its appearance again
+the following night after the search, when it was seen, by another of
+Morgan's messmates, to empty his tobacco box, and seize some of the
+fragments of supper, which had been accidentally left on a table, with
+which it again vanished in the manner before described. The sailor
+swore that when the ghost made free with his tobacco box, he attempted
+to lay hold of him, but felt nothing in his hand, except something
+exactly like cold water.
+
+Captain R———— was excessively provoked at these stories, and caused
+another and still more thorough search to be made, but without any
+discovery. He then directed a young midshipman to keep watch between
+decks. That night the ghost again made its appearance, and the
+courageous young officer sallied out upon it; but the figure darted
+away with inconceivable velocity, and disappeared. The midshipman,
+as directed, immediately informed Captain R————, who instituted an
+immediate search, but with as little success as before. By this time
+there was not a sailor on board that was not afraid of his shadow, and
+even the officers began to be infected with a superstitious dread. At
+length the squadron arrived at Gibraltar, and came to in the bay of
+Algesiras, where the ships remained some days waiting the arrival of
+those they had come to relieve. About the usual hour that night, the
+ghost of Billy Morgan again appeared to one of his messmates, offered
+him its hand, and saying “Good-by, Tom,” disappeared as usual.
+
+It was a fortnight or more before the relief squadron sailed up the
+Mediterranean, during which time the crews of the ships were permitted
+to take their turn to go on shore. On one of these occasions, a
+messmate of Billy Morgan, named Tom Brown, was passing through a
+tolerably dark lane in the suburbs of Algesiras, when he heard a
+well-known voice call out, “Tom, Tom, d—n your eyes, don't you know
+your old messmate?” Tom knew the voice, and looking round, recognised
+his old messmate Morgan's ghost. But he had no inclination to renew the
+acquaintance; he took to his heels, and without looking behind him to
+see if the ghost followed, ran to the boat where his companions were
+waiting, and told the story as soon as he could find breath for the
+purpose. This reached the ear of Captain R————, who, being almost sure
+of the existence of Morgan, applied to the governor of the town, who
+caused search to be made everywhere without effect. No one had ever
+seen such a person. That very night the ghost made its appearance on
+board the frigate, and passed its cold wet hand over the face of Tom
+Brown, to whom Morgan had left his watch and chest of clothes. The poor
+fellow bawled out lustily; but before any pursuit could be made, the
+ghost had disappeared in the forward part of the ship as usual. After
+this Billy again appeared two or three times alternately to some one
+of his old messmates; sometimes in the town, at others on board the
+frigate, but always in the dead of night. He seemed desirous to say
+something particular, but could never succeed in getting any of the
+sailors to listen quietly to the communication. The last time he made
+his appearance at Algesiras, on board the frigate, he was heard by one
+of the sailors to utter, in a low hollow whisper, “You shall see me at
+Malta;” after which he vanished as before.
+
+Caption R—— was excessively perplexed at these strange and
+unaccountable visitations, and instituted every possible inquiry
+into the circumstances in the hope of finding some clew to explain
+the mystery. He again caused the ship to be examined with a view to
+the discovery either of the place where Morgan secreted himself, or
+the means by which he escaped from the vessel. He questioned every
+man on board, and threatened the severest punishment, should he ever
+discover that they deceived him in their story, or were accomplices
+in the escape of Morgan. He even removed everything in the forward
+part of the ship, and rendered it impossible for any human being to
+be there without being detected. The whole resulted in leaving the
+affair involved in complete mystery, and the squadron proceeded up the
+Mediterranean, to cruise along the African coast, and rendezvous at
+Malta.
+
+It was some weeks before the frigate came to the latter place, and in
+the mean time, as nothing had been seen of the ghost, it was concluded
+that the shade of Billy Morgan was appeased, or rather the whole affair
+had been gradually forgotten. Two nights after her arrival, a party
+of sailors, being ashore at La Vallette, accidentally entered a small
+tavern in a remote part of the suburbs, where they commenced a frolic,
+after the manner of those amphibious bipeds. Among them was the heir
+of Billy Morgan, who about three or four in the morning went to bed,
+not quite as clear headed as he might have been. He could not tell how
+long he had been asleep, when he was awakened by a voice whispering in
+his ear, “Tom, Tom, wake up!” On opening his eyes, he beheld, by the
+pale light of the morning, the ghastly figure of Billy Morgan leaning
+over his bed and glaring at him with eyes like saucers. Tom cried,
+“Murder! ghost! Billy Morgan!” as loud as he could bawl, until he
+roused the landlord, who came to know what was the matter. Tom related
+the whole affair, and inquired if he had seen anything of the figure
+he described. Mine host utterly denied having seen or ever heard of
+such a figure as Billy Morgan, and so did all his family. The report
+was again alive on board the frigate, that Billy Morgan's ghost had
+taken the field once more. “Heaven and earth!” cried Captain R————, “is
+Billy Morgan's ghost come again? Shall I never get rid of this infernal
+spectre, or whatever else it may be?”
+
+Captain R———— immediately ordered his barge, waited on the governor,
+explained the situation of his crew, and begged his assistance in
+apprehending the ghost of Billy Morgan, or Billy himself, as the case
+might be. That night the governor caused the strictest search to be
+made in every hole and corner of the little town of La Vallette; but in
+vain. No one had seen that remarkable being, corporeal or spiritual;
+and the landlord of the house where the spectre appeared, together with
+all his family, utterly denied any knowledge of such a person or thing.
+It is little to be wondered at, that the search proved ineffectual,
+for that very night Billy took a fancy to appear on board the frigate,
+where he again accosted his old friend Tom, to whom he had bequeathed
+all his goods and chattels. But Tom had no mind for a confidential
+communication with the ghost, and roared out so lustily, as usual, that
+it glided away and disappeared as before, without being intercepted in
+the confusion which followed.
+
+Captain R———— was in despair; never was man so persecuted by a ghost
+in this world before. The ship's crew were in a state of terror and
+dismay, insomuch that had an Algerine come across them they might
+peradventure have surrendered at discretion. They signed a round robin,
+drawn up by one of Billy Morgan's old messmates, representing to
+Captain R———— the propriety of running the ship ashore, and abandoning
+her entirely to the ghost, which now appeared almost every night,
+sometimes between decks, at others on the end of the bowsprit, and
+at others cutting capers on the yards and topgallant mast. The story
+spread into the town of La Vallette, and nothing was talked of but the
+ghost of Billy Morgan, which now began to appear occasionally to the
+sentinels of the fort, one of whom had the courage to fire at it, by
+which he alarmed the whole island and made matters ten times worse than
+ever.
+
+From Malta the squadron, after making a cruise of a few weeks,
+proceeded to Syracuse, with the intention of remaining some time. They
+were obliged to perform a long quarantine; the ships were strictly
+examined by the health officers, and fumigated with brimstone, to
+the great satisfaction of the crew of the frigate, who were in great
+hopes this would drive away Billy Morgan's ghost. These hopes were
+strengthened by their seeing no more of that troublesome visiter during
+the whole time the quarantine continued. The very next night after the
+expiration of the quarantine, Billy again visited his old messmate
+and heir Tom Brown, lank, lean, and dripping wet, as usual, and after
+giving him a rousing shake, whispered, “Hush, Tom; I want to speak to
+you about my watch and chest of clothes.” But Tom had no inclination
+to converse with his old friend, and cried out “Murder” with all his
+might; when the ghost vanished as before, muttering, as Tom swore, “You
+bloody infernal lubber.”
+
+The reappearance of the ghost occasioned greater consternation than
+ever among the crew of the good ship, and it required all the
+influence of severe punishments to keep them from deserting on every
+occasion. Poor Tom Brown, to whom the devoirs of the spectre seemed
+most especially directed, left off swearing and chewing tobacco, and
+dwindled to a perfect shadow. He became very serious, and spent almost
+all his leisure time in reading chapters in the Bible or singing
+psalms. Captain R———— now ordered a constant watch all night between
+decks, in hopes of detecting the intruder; but all in vain, although
+there was hardly a night passed without Tom's waking and crying out
+that the ghost had just paid him a visit. It was, however, thought very
+singular, and to afford additional proof of its being a ghost, that on
+all these occasions, except two, it was invisible to everybody but Tom
+Brown.
+
+In addition to the vexation arising from this persevering and
+diabolical persecution of Billy's ghost, various other strange and
+unaccountable things happened almost every day on board the frigate.
+Tobacco boxes were emptied in the most mysterious manner, and in the
+dead of the night; sailors would sometimes be missing a whole day, and
+return again without being able to give any account of themselves;
+and not a few of them were overtaken with liquor, without their being
+ever the wiser for it, for they all swore they had not drunk a drop
+beyond their allowance. Sometimes, on going ashore on leave for a
+limited time, the sailors would be decoyed, as they solemnly assured
+the captain, by some unaccountable influence into strange, out of the
+way places, where they could not find their road back, and where they
+were found by their officers in a state of mysterious stupefaction,
+though not one had tasted a drop of liquor. On these occasions, they
+always saw the ghost of Billy Morgan, either flying through the air, or
+dancing on the tops of the steeples, with a fiery tail like a comet.
+Wonder grew upon wonder every day, until the wonder transcended the
+bounds of human credulity.
+
+At length, Tom Brown, the night after receiving a visit from Billy
+Morgan's ghost, disappeared, and was never heard of afterwards. As
+the chest of clothes inherited from his deceased messmate was found
+entirely empty, it might have been surmised that Tom had deserted,
+had not a sailor, who was on the watch, solemnly declared that he saw
+the ghost of Billy Morgan jump overboard with him in a flame of fire,
+and that he hissed like a red-hot ploughshare in the water. After
+this bold feat, the spectre appeared no more. The squadron remained
+some time at Syracuse, and various adventures befell the officers
+and crews, which those remaining alive tell of to this day. How
+Macdonough, then a madcap midshipman, “licked” the high constable of
+the town; how Burroughs quizzed the governor; what rows they kicked
+up at masquerades; what a dust they raised among the antiquities; and
+what wonders they whispered in the ear of Dionysius. From thence, they
+again sailed on a cruise, and after teaching the Bey of Tripoli a new
+way of paying tribute, and laying the foundation of that structure
+of imperishable glory which shall one day reach the highest heaven,
+returned home, after an absence of between two and three years. The
+crew of the frigate were paid off and discharged, and it is on record,
+as a wonder, that their three years' pay lasted some of them nearly
+three days. But though we believe in the ghost of Billy Morgan, we
+can scarcely credit this incredible wonder. Certain it is, that not a
+man of them ever doubted for a moment the reality of the spectre, or
+would have hesitated to make oath of having seen it more than once.
+Even Captain R———— spoke of it on his return, as one of those strange,
+inscrutable things, which baffle the efforts of human ingenuity, and
+seem to justify the most extraordinary relations of past and present
+times. His understanding revolted at the absurdity of a great part of
+the wonders ascribed to Billy Morgan's ghost; but some of the facts
+were so well attested, that a painful doubt would often pass over his
+mind, and dispose it to the reception of superstitious impressions.
+
+He remained in this state of mixed skepticism and credulity, when, some
+years after his return from the Mediterranean, being on a journey to
+the westward, he had occasion to halt at a log house, on the borders
+of the Tennessee, for refreshment. A man came forth to receive him,
+whom he at once recognised as his old acquaintance, Billy Morgan.
+“Heavens!” thought Captain R————, “here's Monsieur Tonson come again!”
+Billy, who had also found out who his guest was, when too late to
+retreat, looked rather sheepish, and invited him in with little of the
+frank hospitality characteristic of a genuine backwoodsman. Captain
+R—— followed him into the house, where he found a comely good-natured
+dame, and two or three yellow-haired boys and girls, all in a fluster
+at the stranger. The house had an air of comfort, and the mistress, by
+her stirring activity, accompanied with smiling looks withal, seemed
+pleased at the rare incident of a stranger's entering their door.
+
+Bill Morgan was at first rather shy and awkward. But finding Captain
+R—— treated him with good-humoured frankness, he, in the course of
+the evening, when the children were gone to bed, and the wife busy in
+milking the cows, took occasion to accost his old commander.
+
+“Captain, I hope you don't mean to shoot me for a deserter?”
+
+“By no means,” said the captain, smiling; “there would be little use in
+shooting a ghost, or a man with as many lives as a cat.”
+
+Billy Morgan smiled rather a melancholy smile. “Ah! captain, you have
+not forgot the ghost, I see. But it is a long time to remember an old
+score, and I hope you'll forgive me.”
+
+“On one condition I will,” replied Captain R————; “that you tell me
+honestly how you managed to make all my sailors believe they saw you,
+night after night, on board the ship as well as on shore.”
+
+“They did see me,” replied Billy, in his usual sepulchral voice.
+
+The captain began to be in some doubt whether he was talking to Billy
+Morgan or his ghost.
+
+“You don't pretend to say you were really on board my vessel all the
+time?”
+
+“No, not all the time, only at such times as the sailors saw me—except
+previous to our arrival at Gibraltar.”
+
+“Then their seeing you jump overboard was all a deception.”
+
+“By no means, sir; I did jump overboard—but then I climbed back again,
+directly after.”
+
+“The deuse you did—explain.”
+
+“I will, sir, as well as I am able. I was many years among the Sandwich
+Islanders, where the vessel in which I was a cabin boy was wrecked,
+a long time ago, and I can pass whole hours, I believe days, in the
+water, without being fatigued, except for want of sleep. I have also
+got some of their other habits, such as a great dislike to hard work,
+and a liking for going where I will, and doing just what I please. The
+discipline of a man-of-war did not suit me at all, and I grew tired
+after a few days. To pass the time, and to make fun for myself with the
+sailors, I told them stories of my adventures, and pretended that I
+could live in the water, and had as many lives as a cat. Besides this,
+as you know, I played them many other pranks, partly for amusement, and
+partly from a kind of pride I felt in making them believe I was half
+a wizard. The punishment you gave me, though I own I deserved it, put
+me out of all patience, and I made up my mind to desert the very first
+opportunity. I had an old shipmate with me, whom I could trust, and we
+planned the whole thing together. I knew if I deserted at Gibraltar,
+or any of the ports of the Mediterranean, I should almost certainly be
+caught, and shot as an example; and for this reason we settled that
+I should jump overboard, return again, and hide myself in a coil of
+cable which was stowed away between decks, close to the bows, where
+it was dark even in the daytime. My messmate procured a piece of old
+canvass, with which I might cover myself if necessary. To make my
+jumping overboard have a greater effect on the crew, and to provide
+against accidents until the ship arrived at Gibraltar, I took care to
+fill my tobacco box with tobacco, my pockets with biscuits, and to
+sling a canteen of water round my neck, as I told them perhaps I might
+take it into my head not to go to the bottom for two or three days. I
+got Tom Brown to write my will, intending to leave my watch and chest
+to my messmate, who was to return them to me at Gibraltar, the first
+chance he could get. But Tom played us a trick, and put his own name in
+place of my friend's. Neither he nor I were any great scholars, and the
+trick was not found out till afterwards, when my friend was afraid of
+discovery, if he made any rout about the matter.”
+
+“Who was your friend?” asked Captain R————.
+
+“He is still alive, and in service. I had rather not mention his name.”
+
+“Very well,” replied Captain R————, “go on.”
+
+“That night I jumped overboard.”
+
+“How did you get back into the ship?” asked the captain, hastily.
+
+“Why, sir, the forward porthole, on the starboard side, was left open,
+with a bit of rope fastened to the gun, and hanging down so that I
+could catch it.”
+
+The captain struck his forehead with the palm of his hand, and said to
+himself,
+
+“What a set of blockheads we were!”
+
+“Not so great as might have been expected,” said honest Billy Morgan,
+intending to compliment the captain; but it sounded directly the
+contrary.
+
+“As soon as I had jumped overboard I swam to the rope, which I held
+fast, waiting the signal from my friend to climb up and hide myself in
+the coil of cable. In the bustle which followed it was easy enough to
+do this, and nobody saw me but my friend. Here I remained in my wet
+clothes, rather uncomfortably, as you may suppose, until my provision
+and water were expended, and my tobacco box empty. I calculated they
+would last till we arrived at Gibraltar, when nothing would have
+been easier for me than to jump out of the porthole and swim ashore.
+But the plaguy head winds and calms, which I dare say you remember,
+delayed the squadron several days longer than I expected, and left me
+without supply. I could have gone without biscuit and water, but it
+was impossible to live without tobacco. My friend had promised to come
+near enough to hear signals of distress sometimes, but, as he told me
+afterwards, he was confined several days for picking a quarrel with Tom
+Brown, whom he longed to flog for forging the will.
+
+“I remained in this state until I was nearly starved, when, not being
+able to stand it any longer, I one night, when everybody between decks
+seemed fast asleep, crept out from my hiding place, where I was coiled
+up in the shape of a cable, and finding a pitcher of water, took a
+hearty drink out of it. This was as far as I dared go at that time,
+so I went back again as quietly as possible. But I was too hungry to
+remain quiet, though among the Sandwich Islanders I had been used to go
+without eating for days at a time. The next night I crept out again,
+and was lucky enough to get a pretty good supply of provisions, which
+happened to be left by some accident in the way. Two or three times I
+heard search making for me, and was very much frightened lest I should
+be found out in my hole.”
+
+“How was it possible for the blockheads to miss you?” asked Captain
+R————.
+
+“Why, sir, they did come to the cable tier where I was, but I believe
+they were too much frightened to look into it, or could not see me in
+the dark hole. They did not lift the canvass that covered me either
+of the times they came. The night I found the officer on the watch,
+I gave myself up for gone; but as luck would have it, my friend was
+now out of limbo, and always took care to examine the coil of cable so
+carefully, that nobody thought of looking into it after him. When we
+arrived at the bay of Algesiras, I took an opportunity to frighten Tom
+Brown a little, by visiting him in the night and bidding him good-by,
+after which I slipped quietly out of the porthole, and swam ashore,
+while my friend pulled up the rope and shut the port after me as usual.”
+
+“But how did you manage to escape from the search made by the police at
+Algesiras?”
+
+“Oh, sir! I was on board the frigate all the time in my old hiding
+place.”
+
+“And when the ship was searched directly after?”
+
+“I was ashore at that time.”
+
+“And how did you manage at Malta?”
+
+“The landlord was my sworn brother, and wouldn't have blabbed for a
+thousand pounds.”
+
+“And the capers on the yardarm and topgallant, the visits paid to Tom
+Brown at Syracuse, and the wonderful stories told by the sailors of
+being robbed of their tobacco, getting tipsy upon nothing, and being
+led astray by nobody? What do you say to all this, Mr. Ghost?” said the
+captain, smiling.
+
+“I never paid but two visits to the ship, so far is I remember, sir,
+after she left Malta. One was the night I wanted to talk with Tom
+Brown, the other when he disappeared the night afterwards. The rest of
+the stories were all owing to the jokes of some of the sailors, and the
+fears of the others.”
+
+“But you are sure you did not jump into the sea with Tom Brown, in a
+flame of fire?”
+
+“Yes, sir, as I am an honest man. Tom got away without any help of
+mine, and without my ever knowing how, until a long time afterwards,
+when I accidentally met him at Liverpool.”
+
+“Well?”
+
+“He was not to be convinced I was living, but ran away as hard as he
+could, and to this day believes in ghosts as much as he does in his
+being alive himself.”
+
+“So far all is clear enough,” said Captain R————; “but what could
+possibly induce you to put yourself in the way of being caught after
+escaping, by visiting the ship and letting yourself be seen?”
+
+“I wanted to see Tom Brown, sir.”
+
+“Why so?”
+
+“I wanted to get back my watch and clothes from him.”
+
+“Oh! I see it now. But had you no other object?”
+
+“Why, I'll tell you, sir; besides that, I had a sort of foolish pride,
+all my life, in frightening people, and making them wonder at me, by
+telling tough stories, or doing strange things. I haven't got over it
+to this day, and have been well beaten two or three times, besides
+being put in jail, for playing the ghost hereabout, with the country
+people, at court time. I confess too, sir, that I have once or twice
+frightened my wife almost into fits, by way of a frolic; and for all
+the trouble it has brought upon me, I believe in my soul I shall play
+the ghost till I give up the ghost at last. Besides this, the truth is,
+sir, I had a little spite at you for having put me in the bilboes for
+some of these pranks, as I deserved, and had no objection to pay you
+off, by breeding trouble in the ship.”
+
+“Truly, you succeeded wonderfully; but what became of you afterwards?”
+
+“Why, sir, after Tom Brown deserted, and, to quiet his conscience, left
+my watch and clothes to my friend, I had no motive for playing the
+ghost any more. I shipped in an American merchantman for Smyrna—from
+thence I went to Gibraltar—and after voyaging a year or two, and saving
+a few hundred dollars, came to Boston at last. I did not dare to stay
+along shore, for fear of being known by some of the officers of the
+squadron, so I took my money and my bundle and went into the back
+country. I am a little of everything, a jack of all trades, and turned
+farmer, as sea captains often do when they are tired of ploughing the
+ocean. I get on pretty well now, and hope you won't have me shot by a
+court martial.”
+
+“No,” replied Captain R————, “I am out of the navy now. I have turned
+farmer too, and you are quite safe.”
+
+“I hope you prosper well, sir?”
+
+“Not quite as well as you, Billy—I have come into the backwoods to see
+if I can do better.”
+
+“Only serve under me,” said Billy,“ and I will repay all your good
+offices.”
+
+“What, the floggings, _et cetera_?”
+
+“By God's help, sir, I may,” said Billy. “Try me, sir.”
+
+“No—I am going on a little farther.”
+
+“You may go farther, and fare worse, sir.”
+
+“Perhaps so—but I believe it is bedtime, and so good-night, Mr. Ghost.”
+
+Captain R———— retired very quietly to his room, went to bed, and slept
+like a top, till the broad sun shone over the summits of the trees into
+his face, as he lay under the window. He breakfasted sumptuously, and
+set out gallantly for the prairies of St. Louis.
+
+“Good-by, captain,” said Billy, leering, and lengthening his face to a
+supernatural degree. “I hope you won't meet any ghosts on your way.”
+
+“Good-by, Billy,” replied Captain R————, a little nettled at this joke.
+“I hope you will not get into the state prison for playing the ghost.”
+
+“I'll take care of that, sir; I've been in the state prison already,
+and you won't catch me there again, I warrant you.”
+
+“What do you mean, Billy?”
+
+“I mean, that there is little or no odds between a state ship and a
+state prison,” said Billy, with a face longer than ever, and a most
+expressive shrug.
+
+Captain R———— proceeded on his way, reflecting on the singular story
+of Billy Morgan, whose pranks on board the frigate had convinced some
+hundreds of men of the existence of ghosts, and thrown the gloom of
+superstitious horror over the remainder of their existence. “Not a
+sailor,” thought he, “out of more than five hundred, with the exception
+of a single one, but will go to his grave in the full belief of the
+appearance of Billy Morgan's ghost. What an unlucky rencounter this of
+mine; it has spoiled one of the best-authenticated ghost stories of the
+age.”
+
+
+
+
+THE
+
+NYMPH OF THE MOUNTAIN.
+
+
+In a certain corner of the Bay State there once stood, and we hope will
+continue to nourish long and happily, a snug town, now promoted to be
+a city, the name of which is not material to our purpose. Here in a
+great shingle palace, which would have been a very comfortable edifice
+had it only been finished, lived a reputable widow, well to do in the
+world, and the happy mother of a promising lad, a wonderful clever boy,
+as might be expected. In fact, Shearjashub (that was his name) was no
+bad specimen of the country lad. He was hardy, abstemious, independent,
+and _cute_ withal; and before he was a man grown, made a great bargain
+once out of a travelling merchant, a Scotchman, who chanced that way.
+Besides this, he was a mechanical genius; and, though far from being
+lazy, delighted in the invention of labour-saving machines, some of
+which were odd enough. He peeled all his mother's pumpkins by water,
+and spun her flax with a windmill. Nay, it was reported of him, that he
+once invented a machine for digging graves upon speculation, by which
+he calculated he should certainly have made his fortune, had not the
+people of the village all with one accord taken it into their heads to
+live for ever. The name of the family was Yankee, they having been the
+first that had intercourse with the Indians, who called them Yankee,
+because they could not say English.
+
+The Widow Yankee was a right pious, meeting-going woman, who held it
+to be a great want of faith not to believe in everything; especially
+everything out of the way and impossible. She was a great amateur of
+demonology and witchcraft. Moreover, she was gifted with a reasonable
+share of curiosity, though it is recorded that once she came very near
+missing to get at the bottom of a secret. The story ran as follows:—
+
+One day, as she was sitting at her window, which had a happy aspect for
+overlooking the affairs of the village, she saw a mysterious-looking
+man, with a stick in his hand and a pipe in his mouth, walking exactly
+three feet behind a white cow. The same thing happened precisely at the
+same hour in the same manner the next day, and so continued for some
+time. The first week the widow began to think it rather odd; the second
+she began to think it quite strange; the third it became altogether
+mysterious; and the fourth the poor woman took to her bed, of the
+disease of the man and the cow.
+
+Doctor Calomel undertook the cure in a new and original manner, to wit,
+without the use of medicine. He wrought upon the mysterious cowdriver
+to come to the widow's house, and tell her the whole secret of the
+business. When he came into the room the sick woman raised herself up,
+and in a faint voice addressed him as follows:—
+
+“Mysterious man! I conjure thee to tell me what under the sun makes
+thee always follow that cow about every day at the same hour, and at
+the same distance from her tail?”
+
+“Because the cow always goes before me!” replied the mysterious man.
+
+Upon which the widow jumped out of her sick bed, seized an old shoe,
+fired it at the mysterious man's head, and was miraculously cured from
+that moment. Doctor Calomel got into great practice thereupon.
+
+Shearjashub inherited a considerable share of his mother's inquiring
+disposition, and was very inquisitive about the affairs of other
+people; but, to do him justice, he took pretty good care to keep
+his own to himself, like a discreet lad as he was. Having invented
+so many labour-saving machines, Jashub, as he was usually called by
+the neighbours, thought it was great nonsense to work himself; so he
+set his machines going, and took to the amusement of killing time,
+which, in a country village, is no such easy matter. It required a
+considerable share of ingenuity. His favourite mode of doing this was
+taking his gun on his shoulder, and sallying forth into the fields and
+woods, followed by a cur, whose genealogy was perfectly mysterious.
+Nobody could tell to what family he belonged; certain it was, that
+he was neither “mongrel, puppy, whelp, nor hound,” but a cur of low
+degree, whose delight was to bask in the sun when he was not out with
+his young master.
+
+In this way Jashub would pass day after day, in what he called
+sporting; that is to say, toiling through tangled woods and rough bog
+meadows and swamps, that quivered like a jelly at every step, and
+returning home at night hungry as well as tired. Report said that he
+never was known to shoot anything; and thus far his time was spent
+innocently, if not improvingly.
+
+One fast-day, early in the spring of 1776, Jashub went forth as usual,
+with his gun on his shoulder, and little Snap (such was the name of the
+dog) at his heels. The early May had put on all her charms; a thousand
+little patches of wild violets were peeping forth with deep blue eyes;
+a thousand, yea, tens of thousands of little buds were expanding into
+leaves apace; and crowds of chirping birds were singing a hymn to the
+jolly laughing spring. Jashub could not find it in his heart to fire
+at them; but if he had, there would have been no danger, except of
+frightening the little warblers, and arresting their song.
+
+Beguiled by the beauties of Nature and her charming music, Jashub
+almost unconsciously wandered on until he came to the opening of a deep
+glen in the mountain, which rose at some miles distance, west of the
+village. It was formed by the passage of a pure crystal stream, which,
+in the course of ages, or perhaps by a single effort, had divided the
+mountain about the space of twenty yards, ten of which were occupied
+by the brook, which silently wound its way along the edge of steep and
+rocky precipices several hundred feet high, that formed the barriers of
+the glen on either side. These towering perpendicular masses of gray
+eternity were here and there green with the adventurous laurel, which,
+fastening its roots in the crevices, nodded over the mighty steep in
+fearful dizziness. Here and there a little spring gushed forth high up
+among the graybeard rocks, and trickled down their sides in silvery
+brightness. In other places patches of isinglass appeared, sparkling
+against the sober masses, and communicating a singularly lustrous
+character to the scene, which had otherwise been all gloomy solitude.
+
+Jashub gazed a while in apprehensive wonder, as he stood at the
+entrance of these everlasting gates. Curiosity prompted him to enter,
+and explore the recesses within, while a certain vague unwillingness
+deterred him. At length curiosity, or perhaps fate, which had decreed
+that he should become the instrument of her great designs, prevailed
+against all opposition, and he entered the gates of this majestic
+palace of nature. He slowly advanced, sometimes arrested by a certain
+feeling of mysterious awe; at others driven on by the power which had
+assumed the direction of his conduct, until he arrived at the centre
+of the hallowed solitude. Not a living thing breathed around him,
+except his little dog, and his gun trembled in his hand. All was
+gloom, silence, solitude, deep and profound. The brook poured forth
+no murmurs, the birds and insects seemed to have shunned the unsunned
+region, where everlasting twilight reigned; and the scream of the
+hawks, pursuing their way across the deep chasm, was hushed as they
+passed.
+
+Jashub was arrested by the melancholy grandeur of the scene, and his
+dog looked wistfully in his face, as if he wanted to go home. As he
+stood thus lingering, leaning on his gun, a merry strain broke forth
+upon the terrible silence, and echoed through the glen. The sound made
+him suddenly start, in doing which his foot somehow or other caught
+in the lock of his gun, which he had forgot to uncock, as was usual
+with him, and caused it to go off. The explosion rang through the
+recesses of the glen in a hundred repetitions, which were answered by
+the howlings of the little dog. As the echoes gradually subsided, and
+the smoke cleared away, the music again commenced. It was a careless,
+lively air, such as suited the taste of the young man, and he forgot
+his fears in his love of music.
+
+As he stood thus entranced he heard a voice, sweet, yet animating as
+the clear sound of the trumpet, exclaim,
+
+“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”
+
+Jashub's heart bounded into his throat, and prevented his answering. He
+loaded his gun, and stood on the defensive.
+
+In a moment after the same trumpet voice repeated the same words,
+
+“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”
+
+“What d'ye want, you tarnal kritter?” at length the young man answered,
+with a degree of courage that afterwards astonished him.
+
+“Listen—and look!”
+
+He listened and looked, but saw nothing, until a little flourish of the
+same sprightly tune directed his attention to the spot whence it came.
+
+High on the summit of the highest perpendicular cliff, which shone
+gorgeously with sparkling isinglass, seated under the shade of a tuft
+of laurels, he beheld a female figure, holding a little flageolet,
+and playing the sprightly air which he had just heard. Her height,
+notwithstanding the distance, appeared majestic; the flash of her
+bright beaming eye illumined the depths of the gloom, and her air
+seemed that of a goddess. She was dressed in simple robes of virgin
+white, and on her head she wore a cap, such as has since been
+consecrated to Liberty by my gallant countrymen.
+
+Shearjashub looked, trembled, and was silent. In a few minutes,
+however, his recollection returned.
+
+“Shearjashub!” exclaimed the lady of the rock, “listen!”
+
+But Shearjashub had given leg bail. Both he and his faithful squire,
+little Snap, had left the haunted glen as fast as their feet would
+carry them.
+
+He told the story when he got home, with some little exaggeration.
+Nobody believed him except the widow, his honoured mother, who had
+faith to swallow a camel. All the rest laughed at him, and the wicked
+damsels of the village were always joking about his mountain sweetheart.
+
+At last he got out of patience, and one day demanded of those who were
+bantering him what proof they would have of the truth of his story.
+
+“Why,” said old Deacon Mayhew, “I guess I should be considerably
+particular satisfied if you would bring us hum that same fife you heard
+the gal play on so finely.”
+
+“And I,” said another, “will believe the young squire if he'll play the
+same tune on it he heard yonder in the mountain.”
+
+Shearjashub was so pestered and provoked at last, that he determined to
+put his courage to the proof, and see whether it would bear him out in
+another visit to the chasm in the mountain. He thought he might as well
+be dead as have no comfort of his life.
+
+“I'll be darned if I don't go,” said he, and away he went, with no
+other company than his little dog. It was on the fourth day of July,
+1776, that Shearjashub wrought himself up to a second visit.
+
+“I'm just come of age this very day,” said he, “and I'll show the
+kritters I'm not made a man for nothing.”
+
+He certainly felt, as he afterwards confessed, a little skittish on
+this occasion, and his dog seemed not much to relish the excursion.
+Shearjashub had his gun, but had not the heart to fire at any of the
+birds that flitted about, and seemed as if they were not afraid of
+coming nigh him. His mind ran upon other matters entirely. He was a
+long while getting to the chasm in the mountain. Sometimes he would
+stop to rest, as he said to himself, though he was not in the least
+tired; sometimes he found himself standing still, admiring nothing;
+and once or twice actually detected his feet moving on their way home,
+instead of towards the mountain.
+
+On arriving at the vast gates that, as it were, guarded the entrance to
+the glen, he halted to consider the matter. All was silence, repose,
+gloom, and sublimity. His spirit at first sunk under the majesty of
+nature, but at length became gradually inspired by the scene before
+him with something of a kindred dignity. He marched forward with a
+vigorous step and firm heart, rendered the more firm by hearing and
+seeing nothing of the white nymph of the rock or her sprightly music.
+He hardly knew whether he wished to see her or not, if she appeared he
+might be inspired to run away again; and if she did not, the deacon and
+the girls would laugh at him worse than ever.
+
+With these conflicting thoughts he arrived at the very centre of the
+gloomy solitude, where he stood a few moments, expecting to hear the
+music. All was loneliness; Repose lay sleeping on his bed of rocks, and
+Silence reigned alone in her chosen retreat.
+
+“Is it possible that I was dreaming the other day, when I was here, as
+these tarnal kritters twit me I was?” asked the young man of himself.
+
+He was answered by the voice of the white girl of the mountain,
+exclaiming, in the same sweet yet clear, animating, trumpet tones,
+
+“Shearjashub! Shearjashub! listen.”
+
+Jashub's legs felt some little inclination to run away; but this time
+he kept his ground like a brave fellow.
+
+Again the same sprightly air echoed through the silence of the deep
+profound, in strains of animating yet simple, careless vivacity.
+Shearjashub began to feel himself inspired. He bobbed his head from
+side to side to suit the air, and was once or twice on the point of
+cutting a caper.
+
+He felt his bosom thrill with unwonted energies, and a new vigour
+animated his frame as he contemplated the glorious figure of the
+mountain nymph, and listened to her sprightly flageolet.
+
+“Shearjashub!” cried the nymph, after finishing her strain of music,
+“listen!”
+
+“Speak—I hear,” said the young man.
+
+“My name is Liberty; dost thou know me?”
+
+“I have heard my father and grandfather speak of thee, and say they
+came to the New World to seek thee.”
+
+“Well, I am found at last. Listen to me.”
+
+“Speak on.”
+
+“Your country has just devoted herself forever to me and my glory. Your
+countrymen have this day pronounced themselves freemen, and they shall
+be what they have willed, in spite of fate or fortune. But my blessings
+are never thrown away on cowards; they are to be gained by toil,
+suffering, hunger, wounds, and death; by courage and perseverance;
+by virtue and patriotism. The wrath and the mighty energies of the
+oppressor are now directed against your people; hunger assails them;
+force overmatches them, and their spirits begin to fail. Take this
+pipe,” and she flung him the little flageolet, which he caught in his
+hand. “Canst thou play on it? Try.”
+
+He put it to his lips, and to his surprise, produced the same animating
+strain he had heard from the nymph of the mountain.
+
+“Now go forth among the people and their armies, and inspire them for
+battle. Wherever thou goest with thy pipe, and whenever thou playest
+that air, I will be with thee and thy countrymen. Go, fear not; those
+who deserve me shall always win me. Farewell—we shall meet again.” So
+saying, she vanished behind the tuft of laurels.
+
+Shearjashub marched straight home with his pipe, and somehow or other
+felt he did not quite know how; he felt as if he could eat gunpowder,
+and snap his fingers at the deacon.
+
+“What the dickens has got in the kritter?” said the deacon, when he saw
+him strutting along like a captain of militia.
+
+“I declare, Jashub looks like a continental,” exclaimed the girls.
+
+Just then Shearjashub put his pipe to his mouth, and played the tune
+he had learned, as if by magic, from the mountain nymph; whereat
+Deacon Mayhew made for the little white meeting house, whither all
+the villagers followed him, and preached a sermon, calling on the
+people to rise and fight for liberty, in such stirring strains that
+forthwith all the men, young and old, took their muskets and went out
+in defence of their country, under the command of Shearjashub. Wherever
+he came he played the magic tune on his pipe, and the men, like those
+of his native village, took to their arms, and went forth to meet the
+oppressor, like little David against Goliath, armed with a sling and a
+stone.
+
+They joined the army of Liberty, which they found dispirited with
+defeat, and weak with suffering and want. They scarcely dared hope for
+success to their cause, and a general gloom depressed the hearts of all
+the true friends of freedom. In this state the enemy attacked them, and
+threw them into confusion, when Shearjashub came on at the head of his
+troops, playing his inspiring music with might and main. Wherever he
+went the sounds seemed to awaken the spirit of heroism in every breast.
+Those who were retreating rallied; and those who stood their ground
+maintained it more stoutly than ever. The victory remained with the
+sons of Liberty, and Shearjashub celebrated it with a tune on his pipe,
+which echoed through the whole land, and wakened it to new triumphs.
+
+After a hard and bloody struggle, in which the pipe of Shearjashub
+animated the very clods of the valley wherever he went, the promise of
+the nymph of the mountain was fulfilled. The countrymen of Shearjashub
+were free and independent. They were about to repose under the laurels
+they had reaped, and to wear what they had so dearly won.
+
+Shearjashub also departed for his native village with his pipe,
+which had so materially assisted in the attainment of the blessings
+of freedom. His way lay through the chasm in the mountain, where he
+first encountered the nymph with the cap and snow-white robe. He was
+anticipating the happiness of seeing his aged mother, who had lived
+through the long war, principally on the excitement of news, and the
+still more near and dear happiness of taking to his bosom the girl of
+his heart, Miss Prudence Worthy, as fair a maid as ever raised a sigh
+in the bosom of lusty youth.
+
+He had got to the centre of the glen when he was roused from his
+sweet anticipations by the well-remembered voice of the nymph of the
+mountain, who sat on the same inaccessible rock, under the same tuft of
+laurel, where he had first seen her, with an eagle at her side.
+
+“Shearjashub!” cried she, in a voice which made the echoes of the rocks
+mad with ecstasy—“Shearjashub! thou hast done well, and deserved nobly
+of thy country. The thought of that is, in itself, a glorious reward
+for toil, danger, and suffering. But thou shalt have one as dear, if
+not dearer than even this. Look where it comes.”
+
+Shearjashub looked, and beheld afar off a figure all in white coming
+towards him, at the entrance of the glen. It approached nearer, and it
+was a woman; nearer yet, and it was a young woman; still nearer, and
+Shearjashub rushed towards it, and kissed its blushing cheek. It was
+the girl of his heart, Miss Prudence Worthy.
+
+“This is thy other blessing,” exclaimed the mountain nymph, the
+sight of whom made Miss Prudence a little jealous; “a richer reward
+for noble exertions than a virtuous woman I know not of. Live free,
+live virtuous, and then thou wilt be happy. I shall be with thee an
+invisible witness, an invisible protector; but, in the mean while,
+should the spirit of the people ever flag, and their hearts fail them
+in time of peril, go forth among them as thou didst before, and rouse
+them with thy pipe and thy music. Farewell, and be happy!”
+
+The nymph disappeared, and the little jealous pang felt by Miss
+Prudence melted away in measureless confidence and love. The tune of
+the mountain nymph was played over and over again at Shearjashub's
+wedding, and ever afterwards became known by the name of YANKEE DOODLE.
+
+
+
+
+                                  THE
+                        RIDE OF SAINT NICHOLAS
+                                  ON
+                            NEWYEAR'S EVE.
+
+
+Of all the cities in this New World, that which once bore the name of
+Fort Orange, but now bears it no more, is the favourite of the good St.
+Nicholas. It is there that he hears the sound of his native language,
+and sees the honest Dutch pipe in the mouths of a few portly burghers,
+who, disdaining the pestilent innovations of modern times, still cling
+with honest obstinacy to the dress, the manners, and customs of old
+faderland. It is there, too that they have instituted a society in
+honour of the excellent saint, whose birthday they celebrate in a
+manner worthy of all commendation.
+
+True it is, that the city of his affections has from time to time
+committed divers great offences which sorely wounded the feelings of
+St. Nicholas, and almost caused him to withdraw his patronage from
+its backsliding citizens. First, by adopting the newfangled style of
+beginning the year at the bidding of the old lady of Babylon, whereby
+the jolly Newyear was so jostled out of place that the good saint
+scarcely knew where to look for it. Next, they essayed themselves to
+learn outlandish tongues, whereby they gradually sophisticated their
+own, insomuch that he could hardly understand them. Thirdly, they did,
+from time to time, admit into their churches preachings and singings
+in the upstart English language, until by degrees the ancient worship
+became adulterated in such a manner that the indignant St. Nicholas,
+when he first witnessed it, did, for the only time in his life, come
+near to uttering a great oath, by exclaiming, “Wat donderdag is dat?”
+Now be it known that had he said, “Wat donder is dat,” it would have
+been downright swearing; so you see what a narrow escape he had.
+
+Not content with these backslidings, the burghers of Fort Orange—a
+pestilence on all new names!—suffered themselves by degrees to be
+corrupted by various modern innovations, under the mischievous disguise
+of improvements. Forgetting the reverence due to their ancestors, who
+eschewed all internal improvement, except that of the mind and heart,
+they departed from the venerable customs of the faderland, and pulling
+down the old houses that, scorning all appearance of ostentation,
+modestly presented the little end to the street, began to erect in
+their places certain indescribable buildings, with the broadsides as
+it were turned frontwise, by which strange contortion the comeliness
+of Fort Orange was utterly destroyed. It is on record that a heavy
+judgment fell upon the head of the first man who adventured on this
+daring innovation. His money gave out before this monstrous novelty
+was completed, and he invented the pernicious system of borrowing and
+mortgaging, before happily unknown among these worthy citizens, who
+were utterly confounded, not long afterwards, at seeing the house
+change its owner—a thing that had never happened before in that goodly
+community, save when the son entered on the inheritance of his father.
+
+Becoming gradually more incorrigible in their backslidings, they were
+seduced into opening, widening, and regulating the streets; making the
+crooked straight and the narrow wide, thereby causing sad inroads into
+the strong boxes of divers of the honest burghers, who became all at
+once very rich, saving that they had no money to go to market. To cap
+the climax of their enormities, they at last committed the egregious
+sacrilege of pulling down the ancient and honourable Dutch church,
+which stood right in the middle of State-street, or Staats-street,
+being so called after the family of that name, from which I am lineally
+descended.
+
+At this the good St. Nicholas was exceedingly grieved; and when, by
+degrees, his favourite burghers left off eating sturgeon, being thereto
+instigated by divers scurvy jests of certain silly strangers, that knew
+not the excellence of that savoury fish, he cried out in the bitterness
+of his soul, “Onbegrypelyk!”—“Incredible!” meaning thereby that he
+could scarcely believe his eyes. In the bitterness of his soul he
+had resolved to return to faderland, and leave his beloved city to be
+swallowed up in the vortex of improvement. He was making his progress
+through the streets, to take his last farewell, in melancholy mood,
+when he came to the outlet of the Grand Canal, just then completed.
+“Is het mogelyk?”—which means, is it possible—exclaimed St. Nicholas;
+and thereupon he was so delighted with this proof that his beloved
+people had not altogether degenerated from their ancestors, that he
+determined not to leave them to strange saints, outlandish tongues, and
+modern innovations. He took a sail on the canal, and returned in such
+measureless content, that he blessed the good city of Fort Orange, as
+he evermore called it, and resolved to distribute a more than usual
+store of his Newyear cookies, at the Christmas holydays. That jovial
+season was now fast approaching. The autumn frosts had already invested
+the forests with a mantle of glory; the farmers were in their fields
+and orchards, gathering in the corn and apples, or making cider, the
+wholesome beverage of virtuous simplicity; the robins, blackbirds, and
+all the annual emigrants to southern climes, had passed away in flocks,
+like the adventurers to the far West; the bluebird alone lingered last
+of all to sing his parting song; and sometimes of a morning, the river
+showed a little fretted border of ice, looking like a fringe of lace on
+the garment of some decayed dowager. At length the liquid glass of the
+river cooled into a wide, immoveable mirror, glistening in the sun;
+the trees, all save the evergreens, stood bare to the keen cold winds;
+the fields were covered with snow, affording no lures to tempt to rural
+wanderings; the enjoyments of life gradually centred themselves at the
+cheerful fireside—it was winter, and Newyear's eve was come again!
+
+The night was clear, calm, and cold, and the bright stars glittered in
+the heavens in such multitudes, that every man might have had a star to
+himself. The worthy patriarchs of Fort Orange, having gathered around
+them their children, and children's children, even unto the third and
+fourth generation, were enjoying themselves in innocent revelry at the
+cheerful fireside. All the enjoyments of life had contracted themselves
+into the domestic circle; the streets were as quiet as a churchyard,
+and not even the stroke of the watchman was heard on the curbstone.
+Gradually it waxed late, and the city clocks rang, in the silence
+of night, the hour which not one of the orderly citizens had heard,
+except at midday, since the last anniversary of the happy Newyear,
+save peradventure troubled with a toothache, or some such unseemly
+irritation.
+
+The doleful warning, which broke upon the frosty air like the tolling
+of a funeral bell, roused the sober devotees of St. Nicholas to a sense
+of their trespasses on the waning night, and after one good, smoking
+draught of spiced Jamaica to the patron saint, they, one and all, young
+and old, hied them to bed, that he might have a fair opportunity to
+bestow his favours without being seen by mortal eye. For be it known,
+that St. Nicholas, like all really heart-whole generous fellows, loves
+to do good in secret, and eschews those pompous benefactions which are
+duly recorded in the newspapers, being of opinion they only prove that
+the vanity of man is sometimes an overmatch for his avarice.
+
+Having allowed them fifteen minutes, which is as much as a sober
+burgher of good morals and habits requires, to get as fast asleep as a
+church, St. Nicholas, having harnessed his pony, and loaded his little
+wagon with a store of good things for well-behaved, diligent children,
+together with whips and other mementoes for undutiful varlets, did set
+forth gayly on his errand of benevolence.
+
+_Vuur en vlammen!_ how the good saint did hurry through the streets,
+up one chimney and down another; for be it known, they are not such
+miserable narrow things as those of other cities, where the claims
+of ostentation are so voracious that people can't afford to keep up
+good fires, and the chimneys are so narrow that the little sweeps
+of seven years old often get themselves stuck fast, to the imminent
+peril of their lives. You may think he had a good deal of business
+on hand, being obliged to visit every house in Fort Orange, between
+twelve o'clock and daylight, with the exception of some few would-be
+fashionable upstarts, who had mortally offended him, by turning up
+their noses at the simple jollifications and friendly greetings of the
+merry Newyear. Accordingly, he rides like the wind, scarcely touching
+the ground; and this is the reason that he is never seen, except by
+a rare chance, which is the cause why certain unbelieving sinners,
+who scoff at old customs and notions, either really do, or pretend
+to doubt, whether the good things found on Christmas and Newyear
+mornings in the stockings of the little varlets of Fort Orange and
+New-Amsterdam, are put there by the jolly St. Nicholas or not. Beshrew
+them, say I—and may they never taste the blessing of his bounty! Goeden
+Hemel! as if I myself, being a kinsman of the saint, don't know him
+as well as a debtor does his creditor! But people are grown so wise
+nowadays, that they believe in nothing but the increased value of
+property.
+
+Be this as it may, St. Nicholas went forth blithely on his goodly
+errand, without minding the intense cold, for he was kept right warm by
+the benevolence of his heart, and when that failed, he ever and anon
+addressed himself to a snug little pottle, the contents of which did
+smoke lustily when he pulled out the stopper, a piece of snow-white
+corn cob.
+
+It is impossible for me to specify one by one the visits paid
+that night by the good saint, or the various adventures which he
+encountered. I therefore content myself, and I trust my worthy and
+excellent readers, with dwelling briefly on those which appear to me
+most worthy of descending to posterity, and withal convey excellent
+moral lessons, without which history is naught, whether it be true or
+false.
+
+After visiting various honest little Dutch houses, with notched
+roofs, and the gable ends to the street, leaving his benedictions,
+St. Nicholas at length came to a goodly mansion bearing strong marks
+of being sophisticated by modern fantastic innovations. He would have
+passed it by in scorn, had he not remembered that it belonged to a
+descendant of one of his favoured votaries, who had passed away to
+his long home without being once backslided from the customs of his
+ancestors. Respect for the memory of this worthy man wrought upon his
+feelings, and he forthwith dashed down the chimney, where he stuck
+fast in the middle, and came nigh being suffocated with the fumes of
+anthracite coal, which this degenerate descendant of a pious ancestor,
+who spent thousands in useless and unseemly ostentation, burned by way
+of economy.
+
+If the excellent saint had not been enveloped, as it were, in the odour
+of sanctity, which in some measure protected him from the poison of
+this pestilent vapour, it might have gone hard with him; as it was, he
+was sadly bewildered, when his little pony, which liked the predicament
+no better than his master, made a violent plunge, drew the wagon
+through the narrow passage, and down they came plump into a magnificent
+bedchamber, filled with all sorts of finery, such as wardrobes,
+bedizened with tawdry ornaments; satin chairs too good to be looked
+at or sat upon, and therefore covered with brown linen; a bedstead of
+varnished mahogany, with a canopy over it somewhat like a cocked hat,
+with a plume of ostrich feathers instead of orthodox valances and the
+like; and a looking-glass large enough to reflect a Dutch city.
+
+St. Nicholas contemplated the pair who slept in this newfangled
+abomination with a mingled feeling of pity and indignation, though I
+must say the wife looked very pretty in her lace nightcap, with one arm
+as white as snow partly uncovered. But he soon turned away, being a
+devout and self-denying saint, to seek for the stockings of the little
+children, who were innocent of these unseemly innovations. But what was
+his horror at finding that, instead of being hung up in the chimney
+corner, they were thrown carelessly on the floor, and that the little
+souls, who lay asleep in each other's arms in another room, lest they
+should disturb their parents, were thus deprived of all the pleasant
+anticipations accompanying the approaching jolly Newyear.
+
+“Een vervlocte jonge,” said he to himself, for he never uttered his
+maledictions aloud, “to rob their little ones of such wholesome and
+innocent delights! But they shall not be disappointed.” So he sought
+the cold and distant chamber of the children, who were virtuous and
+dutiful, who, when they waked in the morning, found the bed covered
+with good things, and were as happy as the day is long. When St,
+Nicholas returned to the splendid chamber, which, be it known, was
+furnished with the spoils of industrious unfortunate people, to whom
+the owner lent money, charging them so much the more in proportion
+to their necessities. It is true that he gave some of the wealth he
+thus got over the duyvel's back, as it were, to public charities, and
+sometimes churches, when he knew it would get into the newspapers, by
+which he obtained the credit of being very pious and charitable. But
+St. Nicholas was too sensible and judicious not to know that the only
+charitable and pious donations agreeable to the Giver of good, are
+those which are honestly come by. The alms which are got by ill means
+can never come to good, and it is better to give back to those from
+whom we have taken it dishonestly even one fourth, yea, one tenth, than
+to bestow ten times as much on those who have no such claim. The true
+atonement for injuries is that made to the injured alone. All other is
+a cheat in the eye of Heaven. You cannot settle the account by giving
+to Peter what you have filched from Paul.
+
+So thought the good St. Nicholas, as he revolved in his mind a plan
+for punishing this degenerate caitiff, who despised his ordinances
+and customs, and was moreover one who, in dealing with borrowers,
+not only shaved but skinned them. Remembering not the perils of the
+chimney, he was about departing the same way he came, but the little
+pony obstinately refused; and the good saint, having first taken off
+the lace nightcap, and put a foolscap in its place, and given the
+money lender a tweak of the nose that made him roar, whipped instantly
+through the keyhole to pursue his benevolent tour through the ancient
+city of Fort Orange.
+
+Gliding through the streets unheard and unseen, he at length came
+to a little winding lane, from which his quick ear caught the sound
+of obstreperous revelry. Stopping his pony, and listening more
+attentively,— he distinguished the words, “Ich ben Liederich,” roared
+out in a chorus of mingled voices seemingly issuing from a little low
+house of the true orthodox construction, standing on the right-hand
+side, at a distance of a hundred yards, or thereabout.
+
+“Wat donderdag!” exclaimed St. Nicholas, “is mine old friend, Baltus
+Van Loon, keeping it up at this time of the morning? The old rogue! but
+I'll punish him for this breach of the good customs of Fort Orange.”
+So he halted on the top of Baltus's chimney, to consider the best way
+of bringing it about, and was, all at once, saluted in the nostrils by
+such a delectable perfume, arising from a certain spiced beverage, with
+which the substantial burghers were wont to recreate themselves at this
+season of the year, that he was sorely tempted to join a little in the
+revelry below, and punish the merry caitiffs afterwards. Presently he
+heard honest Baltus propose—“The jolly St. Nicholas,” as a toast, which
+was drunk in a full bumper, with great rejoicing and acclamation.
+
+St. Nicholas could stand it no longer, but descended forthwith into
+the little parlour of old Baltus, thinking, by-the-way, that, just
+to preserve appearances, he would lecture the roistering rogues a
+little for keeping such late hours, and, provided Baltus could give
+a good reason, or indeed any reason at all, for such an unseemly
+transgression, he would then sit down with them, and take some of the
+savoury beverage that had regaled his nostrils while waiting at the top
+of the chimney.
+
+The roistering rogues were so busy roaring out, “Ich ben Liederich,”
+that they did not take note of the presence of the saint, until he
+cried out with a loud and angry voice, “Wat blikslager is dat?”—he
+did not say blixem, because that would have been little better than
+swearing. “Ben je be dondered, to be carousing here at this time of
+night, ye ancient, and not venerable sinners?”
+
+Old Baltus was not a little startled at the intrusion of the
+strangers—for, if the truth must out, he was a little in for it, and
+saw double, as is usual at such times. This caused such a confusion in
+his head that he forgot to rise from his seat, and pay due honour to
+his visiter, as did the rest of the company.
+
+“Are you not ashamed of yourselves,” continued the saint, “to set
+such a bad example to the neighbourhood, by carousing at this time of
+the morning, contrary to good old customs, known and accepted by all,
+except such noisy splutterkins as yourselves?”
+
+“This time of the morning,” replied old Baltus, who had his full
+portion of Dutch courage—”this time of the morning, did you say? Look
+yonder, and see with your own eyes whether it is morning or not.
+
+The cunning rogue, in order to have a good excuse for transgressing
+the canons of St. Nicholas, had so managed it, that the old clock in
+the corner had run down, and now pointed to the hour of eleven, where
+it remained stationary, like a rusty weathercock. St. Nicholas knew
+this as well as old Baltus himself, and could not help being mightily
+tickled at this device. He told Baltus that this being the case, with
+permission of his host he would sit down by the fire and warm himself,
+till it was time to set forth again, seeing he had mistaken the hour.
+
+Baltus, who by this time began to perceive that there was but one
+visiter instead of two, now rose from the table with much ado, and
+approaching the stranger, besought him to take a seat among the jolly
+revellers, seeing they were there assembled in honour of St. Nicholas,
+and not out of any regard to the lusts of the flesh. In this he was
+joined by the rest of the company, so that St. Nicholas, being a
+good-natured fellow, at length suffered himself to be persuaded,
+whereto he was mightily incited by the savoury fumes issuing from a
+huge pitcher standing smoking in the chimney corner. So he sat down
+with old Baltus, and being called on for a toast, gave them “Old
+Faderland” in a bumper.
+
+Then they had a high time of it you may be sure. Old Baltus sang a
+famous song celebrating the valour of our Dutch ancestors, and their
+triumph over the mighty power of Spain after a struggle of more than a
+generation, in which the meads of Holland smoked, and her canals were
+red with blood. Goeden Hemel! but I should like to have been there,
+for I hope it would have been nothing unseemly for one of my cloth to
+have joined in chorus with the excellent St. Nicholas. Then they talked
+about the good old times when the son who departed from the customs of
+his ancestors was considered little better than misbegotten; lamented
+over the interloping of such multitudes of idle flaunting men and
+women in their way to and from the springs; the increase of taverns,
+the high price of everything, and the manifold backslidings of the
+rising generation. Ever and anon, old Baltus would observe that sorrow
+was as dry as a corn cob, and pour out a full bumper of the smoking
+beverage, until at last it came to pass that honest Baltus and his
+worthy companions, being not used to such late hours, fell fast a sleep
+in their goodly armchairs, and snored lustily in concert. Whereupon St.
+Nicholas, feeling a little waggish, after putting their wigs the hinder
+part before, and placing a great China bowl upside down on the head of
+old Baltus, who sat nodding like a mandarin, departed laughing ready to
+split his sides. In the morning, when Baltus and his companions awoke,
+and saw what a figure they cut, they laid all the trick to the door of
+the stranger, and never knew to the last day of their lives who it was
+that caroused with them so lustily on Newyear's morning.
+
+Pursuing his way in high good humour, being somewhat exhilarated by
+the stout carousal with old Baltus and his roistering companions, St.
+Nicholas in good time came into the ancient _Colonie_, which being,
+as it were, at the outskirts of Fort Orange, was inhabited by many
+people not well to do in the world. He descended the chimney of an old
+weatherworn house that bore evident marks of poverty, for he is not one
+of those saints that hanker after palaces and turn their backs on their
+friends. It is his pleasure to seek out and administer to the innocent
+gratifications of those who are obliged to labour all the year round,
+and can only spare time to be merry at Christmas and Newyear. He is
+indeed the poor man's saint.
+
+On entering the room, he was struck with the appearance of poverty
+and desolation that reigned all around. A number of little children
+of different ages, but none more than ten years old, lay huddled
+close together on a straw bed, which was on the floor, their limbs
+intertwined to keep themselves warm, for their covering was scant and
+miserable. Yet they slept in peace, for they had quiet countenances,
+and hunger seeks refuge in the oblivion of repose. In a corner of the
+room stood a miserable bed, on which lay a female, whose face, as the
+moonbeams fell upon it through a window without shutters, many panes
+of which were stuffed with old rags to keep out the nipping air of the
+winter night, bore evidence of long and painful suffering. It looked
+like death rather than sleep. A little pine table, a few broken
+chairs, and a dresser, whose shelves were ill supplied, constituted the
+remainder of the furniture of this mansion of poverty.
+
+As he stood contemplating the scene, his honest old heart swelled with
+sorrowful compassion, saying to himself, “God bewaar ous, but this is
+pitiful.” At that moment, a little child on the straw bed cried out in
+a weak voice that went to the heart of the saint, “Mother, mother, give
+me to eat—I am hungry.” St. Nicholas went to the child, but she was
+fast asleep, and hunger had infected her very dreams. The mother did
+not hear, for long-continued sorrow and suffering sleep sounder than
+happiness, as the waters lie stillest when the tempest is past.
+
+Again the little child cried out, “Mother, mother, I am freezing—give
+me some more covering.” “Be quiet, Blandina,” answered a voice deep and
+hoarse, yet not unkind; and St. Nicholas, looking around to see whence
+it came, beheld a man sitting close in the chimney corner, though there
+was no fire burning, his arms folded close around him, and his head
+drooping on his bosom. He was clad like one of the children of poverty,
+and his teeth chattered with cold. St. Nicholas wiped his eyes, for he
+was a good-hearted saint, and coming close up to the miserable man,
+said to him kindly, “How do ye, my good friend?”
+
+“Friend,” said the other, “I have no friend but God, and he seems to
+have deserted me.” As he said this, he raised his saddened eyes to the
+good saint, and after looking at him a little while, as if he was not
+conscious of his presence, dropped them again, even without asking who
+he was, or whence he came, or what he wanted. Despair had deadened his
+faculties, and nothing remained in his mind but the consciousness of
+suffering.
+
+“_Het is jammer, het is jammer_—it is a pity, it is a pity!” quoth
+the kind-hearted saint, as he passed his sleeve across his eyes. “But
+something must be done, and that quickly too.” So he shook the poor man
+somewhat roughly by the shoulder, and cried out, “Ho! ho! what aileth
+thee, son of my good old friend, honest Johannes Garrebrantze?”
+
+This salutation seemed to rouse the poor man, who arose upon his seat,
+and essaying to stand upright, fell into the arms of St. Nicholas,
+who almost believed it was a lump of ice, so cold and stiff did it
+seem. Now, be it known that Providence, as a reward for his benevolent
+disposition, has bestowed on St. Nicholas the privilege of doing good
+without measure to all who are deserving of his bounty, and that by
+such means as he thinks proper to the purpose. It is a power he seldom
+exerts to the uttermost, except on pressing occasions, and this he
+believed one of them.
+
+Perceiving that the poor man was wellnigh frozen to death, he called
+into action the supernatural faculties which had been committed to him,
+and lo! in an instant a rousing fire blazed on the hearth, towards
+which the poor man, instinctively as it were, edged his chair, and
+stretched out one of his bony hands, that was as stiff as an icicle.
+The light flashed so brightly in the face of the little ones and their
+mother, that they awoke, and seeing the cheerful blaze, arose in their
+miserable clothing, which they had worn to aid in keeping them warm,
+and hied as fast as they could to bask in its blessed warmth. So eager
+were they, that for a while they were unconscious of the presence of a
+stranger, although St. Nicholas had now assumed his proper person, that
+he might not be taken for some one of those diabolical wizards who,
+being always in mischief, are ashamed to show their faces among honest
+people.
+
+At length the poor man, who was called after his father Johannes
+Garrebrantze, being somewhat revived by the genial warmth of the fire,
+looked around, and became aware of the presence of the stranger,
+which inspired him with a secret awe, for which he could not account,
+insomuch that his voice trembled, though now he was not cold, when,
+after some hesitation, he said,
+
+“Stranger, thou art welcome to this poor house. I would I were better
+able to offer thee the hospitalities of the season, but I will wish
+thee a happy Newyear, and that is all I can bestow.” The good yffrouw,
+his wife, repeated the wish, and straightway began to apologize for the
+untidy state of her apartment.
+
+“Make no apologies,” replied the excellent saint; “I come to give, not
+to receive. To-night I treat, to-morrow you may return the kindness to
+others.”
+
+“I?” said Johannes Garrebrantze; “I have nothing to bestow but good
+wishes, and nothing to receive but the scorn and neglect of the world.
+If I had anything to give thee to eat or drink, thou shouldst have it
+with all my heart. But the newyear, which brings jollity to the hearts
+of others, brings nothing but hunger and despair to me and mine.”
+
+“Thou hast seen better days, I warrant thee,” answered the saint; “for
+thou speakest like a scholar of Leyden. Tell me thy story, Johannes, my
+son, and we shall see whether in good time thou wilt not hold up thy
+head as high as a church steeple.”
+
+“Alas! to what purpose, since man assuredly has, and Heaven seems to
+have forsaken me.”
+
+“Hush!” cried St. Nicholas, “Heaven never forsakes the broken spirit,
+or turns a deaf ear to the cries of innocent children. It is for the
+wicked never to hope, the virtuous never to despair. I predict thou
+shalt live to see better days.”
+
+“I must see them soon then, for neither I, my wife, nor my children
+have tasted food since twenty-four hours past.”
+
+“What! God be with us! is there such lack of charity in the burghers of
+the Colonie, that they will suffer a neighbour to starve under their
+very noses? Onbegrypelik—I'll not believe it.”
+
+“They know not my necessities.”
+
+“No? What! hast thou no tongue to speak them?”
+
+“I am too proud to beg.”
+
+“And too lazy to work,” cried St. Nicholas, in a severe tone.
+
+“Look you,” answered the other, holding up his right arm with his left,
+and showing that the sinews were stiffened by rheumatism.
+
+“Is it so, my friend? Well, but thou mightst still have bent thy spirit
+to ask charity for thy starving wife and children, though, in truth,
+begging is the last thing an honest man ought to stoop to. But Goeden
+Hemel! here am I talking while thou and thine are perishing with
+hunger.”
+
+Saying which, St. Nicholas straightway bade the good yffrouw to bring
+forth the little pine table, which she did, making divers apologies for
+the want of a tablecloth; and when she had done so, he incontinently
+spread out upon it such store of good things from his little cart, as
+made the hungry childrens' mouths to water, and smote the hearts of
+their parents with joyful thanksgivings. “Eat, drink, and be merry,”
+said St. Nicholas, “for to-morrow thou shalt not die, but live.”
+
+The heart of the good saint expanded, like as the morning-glory does
+to the first rays of the sun, while he sat rubbing his hands at seeing
+them eat with such a zest, as made him almost think it was worth while
+to be hungry in order to enjoy such triumphant satisfaction. When they
+had done, and returned their pious thanks to Heaven and the good
+stranger, St. Nicholas willed the honest man to expound the causes
+which had brought him to his present deplorable condition. “My own
+folly,” said he; and the other sagely replied, “I thought as much.
+Beshrew me, friend, if in all my experience, and I have lived long,
+and seen much, I ever encountered distress and poverty that could not
+be traced to its source in folly or vice. Heaven is too bountiful to
+entail misery on its creatures, save through their own transgressions.
+But I pray thee, go on with thy story.”
+
+The good man then went on to relate that his father, old Johannes
+Garrebrantze—
+
+“Ah!” quoth St. Nicholas, “I knew him well. He was an honest man, and
+that, in these times of all sorts of improvements, except in mind
+and morals, is little less than miraculous. But I interrupt thee,
+friend—proceed with thy story, once more.”
+
+The son of Johannes again resumed his story, and related how his father
+had left him a competent estate in the _Colonie_, on which he lived
+in good credit, and in the enjoyment of a reasonable competency, with
+his wife and children, until within a few years past, when seeing
+a vast number of three-story houses, with folding doors and marble
+mantelpieces rising up all around him, he began to be ashamed of his
+little one-story house with the gable end to the street, and—
+
+“Ah! Johannes,” interrupted the pale wife, “do not spare me. It was I
+that in the vanity of my heart put such notions in thy head. It was I
+that tempted thee.”
+
+“It was the duyvel,” muttered St.Nicholas, “in the shape of a pretty
+wife.”
+
+Johannes gave his helpmate a look of affectionate forgiveness, and
+went on to tell St. Nicholas how, finally egged on by the evil example
+of his neighbours, he had at last committed sacrilege against his
+household gods, and pulled down the home of his fathers, commencing a
+new one on its ruins.
+
+“Donderdag!” quoth the saint to himself; “and the bricks came from
+faderland too!”
+
+When Johannes had about half finished his new house, he discovered one
+day, to his great astonishment and dismay, that all his money, which he
+had been saving for his children, was gone. His strong box was empty,
+and his house but half finished, although, after estimating the cost,
+he had allowed one third more in order to be sure in the business.
+
+Johannes was now at a dead stand. The idea of borrowing money and
+running in debt never entered his head before, and probably would
+not now, had it not been suggested to him by a neighbour, a great
+speculator, who had lately built a whole street of houses, not a single
+brick of which belonged to him in reality. He had borrowed the money,
+mortgaged the property, and expected to grow rich by a sudden rise.
+Poor Johannes may be excused for listening to the seductions of this
+losel varlet, seeing he had a house half finished on his hands; but
+whether so or not, he did listen and was betrayed into borrowing money
+of a bank just then established in the _Colonie_ on a capital paid in
+according to law—that is, not paid at all—the directors of which were
+very anxious to exchange their rags for lands and houses.
+
+Johannes finished his house in glorious style, and having opened
+this new mine of wealth, furnished it still more gloriously; and as
+it would have been sheer nonsense not to live gloriously in such a
+glorious establishment, spent thrice his income in order to keep up
+his respectability. He was going on swimmingly, when what is called a
+reaction took place; which means, as far as I can understand, that the
+bank directors, having been pleased to make money plenty to increase
+their dividends, are pleased thereafter to make it scarce for the
+same purpose. Instead of lending it in the name of the bank, it is
+credibly reported they do it through certain brokers, who charge lawful
+interest and unlawful commission, and thus cheat the law with a clear
+conscience. But I thank Heaven devoutly that I know nothing of their
+wicked mysteries, and therefore will say no more about them.
+
+Be this as it may, Johannes was called upon all of a sudden to pay his
+notes to the bank, for the reaction had commenced, and there was no
+more renewals. The directors wanted all the money to lend out at three
+per cent. a month. It became necessary to raise the wind, as they say
+in Wall-street, and Johannes, by the advice of his good friend the
+speculative genius, went with him to a certain money lender of his
+acquaintance, who was reckoned a good Christian, because he always
+charged most usury where there was the greatest necessity for a loan.
+To a rich man he would lend at something like a reasonable interest,
+but to a man in great distress for money he showed about as much mercy
+as a weazel does to a chicken. He sucked their blood till there was not
+a drop left in their bodies. This he did six days in the week, and on
+the seventh went three times to church, to enable him to begin the next
+week with a clear conscience. Beshrew such varlets, I say; they bring
+religion itself into disrepute, and add the sin of hypocrisy to men to
+that of insult to Heaven.
+
+Suffice it to say, that poor Johannes Garrebrantze the younger went
+down hill faster than he ever went up in his life; and inasmuch as
+I scorn these details of petty roguery as unworthy of my cloth and
+calling, I shall content myself with merely premising, that by a
+process very common nowadays, the poor man was speedily bereft of all
+the patrimony left him by his worthy father in paying commission to
+the money lender. He finally became bankrupt; and inasmuch as he was
+unacquainted with the mystery of getting rich by such a manœuvre, was
+left without a shilling in the world. He retired from his fine house,
+which was forthwith occupied by his good friend the money lender, whose
+nose had been tweaked by St. Nicholas, as heretofore recorded, and took
+refuge in the wretched building where he was found by that benevolent
+worthy. Destitute of resources, and entirely unacquainted with the art
+of living by his wits or his labours, though he tried hard both ways,
+poor Johannes became gradually steeped in poverty to the very lips, and
+being totally disabled by rheumatism, might, peradventure, with all his
+family, have perished that very night, had not Providence mercifully
+sent the good St. Nicholas to their relief.
+
+“_Wat donderdag!_” exclaimed the saint, when he had done—”_wat
+donderdag!_—was that your house down yonder, with the fine bedroom, the
+wardrobes, the looking-glass as big as the moon, and the bedstead with
+a cocked hat and feathers?”
+
+“Even so,” replied the other, hanging down his head.
+
+“_Is het mogelyk!_” And after considering a little while, the good
+saint slapped his hand on the table, broke forth again—“By donderdag,
+but I'll soon settle this business.”
+
+He then began to hum an old Dutch hymn, which by its soothing and
+wholesome monotony so operated upon Johannes and his family, that one
+and all fell fast asleep in their chairs.
+
+The good St. Nicholas then lighted his pipe, and seating himself by
+the fire, revolved in his mind the best mode of proceeding on this
+occasion. At first he determined to divest the rich money lender of all
+his ill-gotten gains, and bestow them on poor Johannes and his family.
+But when he considered that the losel caitiff was already sufficiently
+punished in being condemned to the sordid toils of money making, and
+in the privation of all those social and benevolent feelings which,
+while they contribute to our own happiness, administer to that of
+others; that he was for ever beset with the consuming cares of avarice,
+the hope of gain, and the fear of losses; and that, rich as he was, he
+suffered all the gnawing pangs of an insatiable desire for more—when he
+considered all this, St. Nicholas decided to leave him to the certain
+punishment of ill-gotten wealth, and the chances of losing it by an
+over craving appetite for its increase, which sooner or later produces
+all the consequences of reckless imprudence.
+
+“Let the splutterkin alone,” thought St. Nicholas, “and he will become
+the instrument of his own punishment.”
+
+Then he went on to think what he should do for poor Johannes and his
+little children. Though he had been severely punished for his folly,
+yet did the good saint, who in his nightly holyday peregrinations had
+seen more of human life and human passions than the sun ever shone
+upon, very well know that sudden wealth, or sudden poverty, is a sore
+trial of the heart of man, in like manner as the sudden transition
+from light to darkness, or darkness to light, produces a temporary
+blindness. It was true that Johannes had received a severe lesson,
+but the great mass of mankind are prone to forget the chastening rod
+of experience, as they do the pangs of sickness when they are past.
+He therefore settled in his mind, that the return of Johannes to
+competence and prosperity should be by the salutary process of his own
+exertions, and that he should learn their value by the pains it cost to
+attain them. “_Het is goed visschen in troebel water_,” quoth he, “for
+then a man knows the value of what he catches.”
+
+It was broad daylight before he had finished his pipe and his
+cogitations, and placing his old polished delft pipe carefully in
+his buttonhole, the good saint sallied forth, leaving Johannes and
+his family still fast asleep in their chairs. Directly opposite the
+miserable abode of Johannes there dwelt a little fat Dutchman, of
+a reasonable competency, who had all his life manfully stemmed the
+torrent of modern innovation. He eschewed all sorts of paper money as
+an invention of people without property to get hold of those that had
+it; abhorred the practice of widening streets; and despised in his
+heart all public improvements except canals, a sneaking notion for
+which he inherited from old faderland. He was honest as the light of
+the blessed sun; and though he opened his best parlour but twice a year
+to have it cleaned and put to rights, yet this I will say of him, that
+the poor man who wanted a dinner was never turned away from his table.
+The worthy burgher was standing at the street door, which opened in the
+middle, and leaning over the lower half, so that the smoke of his pipe
+ascended in the clear frosty morning in a little white column far into
+the sky before it was dissipated.
+
+St. Nicholas stopped his wagon right before his door, and cried out in
+a clear hearty voice,
+
+“Good-morning, good-morning, mynheer; and a happy Newyear to you.”
+
+“Good-morning,” cried the hale old burgher, “and many happy Newyears
+to _you_. Hast got any good fat hen turkies to sell?” for he took him
+for a countryman coming in to market. St. Nicholas answered and said
+that he had been on a different errand that morning; and the other
+cordially invited him to alight, come in, and take a glass of hot
+spiced rum, with the which it was his custom to regale all comers at
+the jolly Newyear. The invitation was frankly accepted, for the worthy
+St. Nicholas, though no toper, was never a member of the temperance
+society. He chose to be keeper of his own conscience, and was of
+opinion that a man who is obliged to sign an obligation not to drink,
+will be very likely to break it the first convenient opportunity.
+
+As they sat cozily together, by a rousing fire of wholesome and
+enlivening hickory, the little plump Dutchman occasionally inveighing
+stoutly against paper money, railroads, improving streets, and the
+like, the compassionate saint took occasion to utter a wish that the
+poor man over the way and his starving family had some of the good
+things that were so rife on Newyear's day, for he had occasion to know
+that they were suffering all the evils of the most abject poverty.
+
+“The splutterkin,” exclaimed the little fat burgher—”he is as proud as
+Lucifer himself. I had a suspicion of this, and sought divers occasions
+to get acquainted with him, that I might have some excuse for prying
+into his necessities, and take the privilege of an old neighbour to
+relieve them. But _vuur en vlammen_! would you believe it—he avoided me
+just as if he owed me money, and couldn't pay.”
+
+St. Nicholas observed that if it was ever excusable for a man to be
+proud, it was when he fell into a state where every one, high and low,
+worthless and honourable, looked down upon him with contempt. Then he
+related to him the story of poor Johannes, and taking from his pocket
+a heavy purse, he offered it to the worthy old burgher, who swore he
+would be dondered if he wanted any of his money.
+
+“But hearken to me,” said the saint; “yon foolish lad is the son of an
+old friend of mine, who did me many a kindness in his day, for which
+I am willing to requite his posterity. Thou shalt take this purse and
+bestow a small portion of it, as from thyself, as a loan from time to
+time, as thou seest he deserves it by his exertions. It may happen, as
+I hope it will, that in good time he will acquire again the competency
+he hath lost by his own folly and inexperience; and as he began the
+world a worthy, respectable citizen, I beseech thee to do this—to be
+his friend, and to watch over him and his little ones, in the name of
+St. Nicholas.”
+
+The portly Burgher promised that he would, and they parted with
+marvellous civility, St. Nicholas having promised to visit him again
+should his life be spared. He then mounted his little wagon, and
+the little Dutchman having turned his head for an instant, when he
+looked again could see nothing of the saint or his equipage. “_Is
+het mogelyk!_” exclaimed he, and his mind misgave him that there was
+something unaccountable in the matter.
+
+My story is already too long, peradventure, else would I describe the
+astonishment of Johannes and his wife when they awoke and found the
+benevolent stranger had departed without bidding them farewell. They
+would have thought all that had passed was but a dream, had not the
+fragments of the good things on which they regaled during the night
+bore testimony to its reality. Neither will I detail how, step by step,
+aided by the advice and countenance of the worthy little Dutchman, and
+the judicious manner of his dispensing the bounty of St. Nicholas,
+Johannes Garrebrantze, by a course of industry, economy, and integrity,
+at length attained once again the station he had lost by his follies
+and extravagance. Suffice it to say, that though he practised a
+rational self-denial in all his outlayings, he neither became a miser,
+nor did he value money except as the means of obtaining the comforts of
+life, and administering to the happiness of others.
+
+In the mean time, the money lender, not being content with the
+wealth he had obtained by taking undue advantage of the distresses of
+others, and becoming every day more greedy, launched out into mighty
+speculations. He founded a score of towns without any houses in them;
+dealt by hundreds of thousands in fancy stocks; and finally became the
+victim of one of his own speculations, by in time coming to believe in
+the very deceptions he had practised upon others. It is an old saying,
+that the greatest rogue in the world, sooner or latter, meets with
+his match, and so it happened with the money lender. He was seduced
+into the purchase of a town without any houses in it, at an expense of
+millions; was met by one of those reactions that play the mischief with
+honest labourers, and thus finally perished in a bottomless pit of his
+own digging. Finding himself sinking, he resorted to forgeries, and had
+by this means raised money to such an amount, that his villany almost
+approached to sublimity. His property, as the phrase is, came under the
+hammer, and Johannes purchased his own house at half the price it cost
+him in building.
+
+The good St. Nicholas trembled at the new ordeal to which Johannes
+had subjected himself; but finding, when he visited him, as he did
+regularly every Newyear's eve, that he was cured of his foolish
+vanities, and that his wife was one of the best housekeepers in all
+Fort Orange, he discarded his apprehensions, and rejoiced in the
+prosperity that was borne so meekly and wisely. The little fat Dutchman
+lived a long time in expectation that the stranger in the one-horse
+wagon would come for the payment of his purse of money; but finding
+that year after year rolled away without his appearing, often said to
+himself, as he sat on his stoop with a pipe in his mouth,
+
+“I'll be dondered if I don't believe it was the good St. Nicholas.”
+
+
+                               THE END.
+
+
+
+
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+                           ─────────────────
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+                           ─────────────────
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+                           ─────────────────
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+
+                           ─────────────────
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+
+                           ─────────────────
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+
+                           ─────────────────
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+                           ─────────────────
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+                     By the Rev. E. SMEDLEY, M.A.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                           In 2 vols. 18mo.,
+
+                           INDIAN BIOGRAPHY,
+
+        or, an Historical Account of those individuals who have
+              been distinguished among the North American
+               Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen,
+                         and other Remarkable
+                              Characters.
+
+                        By B. B. THATCHER, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+             In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,
+
+                 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF
+
+                            BRITISH INDIA.
+
+           From the most remote Period to the Present Time.
+
+       Including a Narrative of the early Portuguese and English
+             Voyages, the Revolutions in the Mogul Empire,
+              and the Origin, Progress, and Establishment
+               of the British Power; with Illustrations
+                   of the Botany, Zoology, Climate,
+                       Geology, and Mineralogy.
+
+            By HUGH MURRAY, Esq., JAMES WILSON, Esq., R. K.
+               GREVILLE, LL.D., WHITELAW AINSLIE, M.D.,
+                WILLIAM RHIND, Esq., Professor JAMESON,
+                    Professor WALLACE, and Captain
+                          CLARENCE DALRYMPLE.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+                       LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC.
+
+                    Addressed to Sir Walter Scott.
+
+                           By Dr. BREWSTER.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+                          HISTORY OF IRELAND.
+
+From the Anglo-Norman Invasion till the Union of the Country with Great
+                               Britain.
+
+                         By W. C. TAYLOR, Esq.
+
+               With Additions, by WILLIAM SAMPSON, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+             In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,
+
+HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF DISCOVERY ON THE NORTHERN COASTS OF
+                            NORTH AMERICA.
+
+             From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.
+
+                         By P. F. TYTLER, Esq.
+
+With Descriptive Sketches of the Natural History of the North American
+                               Regions.
+
+                         By Professor WILSON.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+                     THE TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES OF
+
+                        ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT;
+
+          being a condensed Narrative of his Journeys in the
+            Equinoctial Regions of America, and in Asiatic
+                 Russia: together with Analyses of his
+                    more important Investigations.
+
+                       By W. MACGILLIVRAY, A. M.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+              In 2 vols. 18mo., with numerous Engravings,
+
+                           LETTERS OF EULER
+
+             ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
+
+                    Addressed to a German Princess.
+
+                         Translated by HUNTER.
+
+ With Notes, and a Life of Euler, by Sir DAVID BREWSTER and Additional
+                     Notes, by JOHN GRISCOM, LL.D.
+
+                 With a Glossary of Scientific Terms.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+                          A POPULAR GUIDE TO
+
+                      THE OBSERVATION OF NATURE;
+
+    or, Hints of Inducement to the Study of Natural Productions and
+            Appearances, in their Connexions and Relations.
+
+                           By ROBERT MUDIE.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                          In one vol. 18mo.,
+
+                 THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.
+
+                   By JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M.D., F.R.S.
+
+                            With Questions.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+     ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY BY THE DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.
+
+                         By THOMAS DICK, LL.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                        HISTORY OF CHARLEMAGNE.
+
+To which is prefixed an Introduction, comprising the History of France
+         from the Earliest Period to the Birth of Charlemagne.
+
+                        By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+             In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,
+
+                         NUBIA AND ABYSSINIA.
+
+    Comprehending their Civil History, Antiquities, Arts, Religion,
+                   Literature, and Natural History.
+
+                     By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                       LIFE OF OLIVER CROMWELL.
+
+                     By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                          In one vol. 18mo.,
+
+              LECTURES ON GENERAL LITERATURE, POETRY, &c.
+
+          Delivered at the Royal Institute in 1830 and 1831.
+
+                         By JAMES MONTGOMERY.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                               MEMOIR OF
+
+                     THE LIFE OF PETER THE GREAT.
+
+                         By JOHN BARROW, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+             In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,
+
+                 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF
+
+                                PERSIA.
+
+             From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.
+
+          With a Detailed View of its Resources, Government,
+            Population, Natural History, and the Character
+                of its Inhabitants, particularly of the
+                      Wandering Tribes: including
+                     a Description of Afghanistan.
+
+                       By JAMES B. FRASER, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+             In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,
+
+                        THE HISTORY OF ARABIA.
+
+                          Ancient and Modern.
+
+          Containing a Description of the Country—An Account
+         of its Inhabitants, Antiquities, Political Condition,
+              and Early Commerce—The Life and Religion of
+             Mohammed—The Conquests, Arts, and Literature
+               of the Saracens—The Caliphs of Damascus,
+                  Bagdad, Africa, and Spain—The Civil
+                Government and Religious Ceremonies of
+                the Modern Arabs—Origin and Suppression
+                   of the Wahabees—The Institutions,
+                        Character, Manners, and
+                     Customs of the Bedouins; and
+                        a Comprehensive View of
+                         its Natural History.
+
+                          By ANDREW CRICHTON.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                          In one vol. 18mo.,
+
+                     THE PRINCIPLES OF PHYSIOLOGY,
+
+   APPLIED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH, AND TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF
+                    PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EDUCATION.
+
+                         By ANDREW COMBE, M.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+                   HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF
+
+                          THE BARBARY STATES.
+
+ Comprehending a View of their Civil Institutions, Antiquities, Arts,
+ Religion, Literature, Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Productions.
+
+                     By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+             In 2 vols. 18mo., with beautiful Engravings,
+
+                         A LIFE OF WASHINGTON.
+
+                        By J. K. PAULDING, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,
+
+                       The Philosophy of Living;
+
+              OR, THE WAY TO ENJOY LIFE AND ITS COMFORTS.
+
+                     By CALEB TICKNOR, A.M., M.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+       In one vol. 18mo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,
+
+                              THE EARTH.
+
+        ITS PHYSICAL CONDITION, AND MOST REMARKABLE PHENOMENA.
+
+                       By W. MULLINGER HIGGINS.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                               XENOPHON.
+
+ (Anabasis, translated by EDWARD SPELMAN, Esq., Cyropædia, by the Hon.
+                            M. A. COOPER.)
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                     THE ORATIONS OF DEMOSTHENES.
+
+                   Translated by THOMAS LELAND, D.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                          In one vol. 18mo.,
+
+                               SALLUST.
+
+                   Translated by WILLIAM ROSE, M.A.
+
+                     With Improvements and Notes.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                CAESAR.
+
+                     Translated by WILLIAM DUNCAN.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                CICERO.
+
+The Orations translated by DUNCAN, the Offices by COCKMAN, and the Cato
+                        and Lælius by MELMOTH.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                VIRGIL.
+
+ The Eclogues translated by WRANGHAM, the Georgics by SOTHEBY, and the
+                           Æneid by DRYDEN.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                          In one vol. 18mo.,
+
+                               ÆSCHYLUS.
+
+                Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                              SOPHOCLES.
+
+                 Translated by THOMAS FRANCKLIN, D.D.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                              EURIPIDES.
+
+                Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                HORACE.
+
+                  Translated by PHILIP FRANCIS, D.D.
+
+    With an Appendix, containing translations of various Odes, &c.
+
+ By BEN JONSON, COWLEY, MILTON, DRYDEN, POPE, ADDISON, SWIFT, BENTLEY,
+             CHATTERTON, G. WAKEFIELD, PORSON, BYRON, &c.
+
+       And by some of the most eminent Poets of the present day.
+
+                               PHÆDRUS.
+
+                     With the Appendix of Gudius.
+
+                 Translated by CHRISTOPHER SMART, A.M.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                 OVID.
+
+      Translated by DRYDEN, POPE, CONGREVE, ADDISON, and others.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                              HERODOTUS.
+
+                 Translated by the Rev. WILLIAM BELOE.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                HOMER.
+
+                  Translated by ALEXANDER POPE, Esq.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 5 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                                 LIVY.
+
+                   Translated by GEORGE BAKER, A.M.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                              THUCYDIDES.
+
+                   Translated by WILLIAM SMITH, A.M.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                    In one vol. 8vo., with Plates,
+
+                           PLUTARCH'S LIVES.
+
+     Translated from the original Greek, with Notes, Critical and
+                  Historical, and a Life of Plutarch.
+
+           By JOHN LANGHORNE, D.D., and WM. LANGHORNE, A.M.
+
+            A New Edition, carefully revised and corrected.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                  In one vol. 12mo., with a Portrait,
+
+                     A LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
+
+                            In Latin Prose.
+
+                   By FRANCIS GLASS, A.M., of Ohio.
+
+                       Edited by J. N. Reynolds.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                           In one vol. 8vo.,
+
+                        A TREATISE ON LANGUAGE,
+
+              or the Relation which Words bear to Things.
+
+                           By A. B. JOHNSON.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+       In one vol. 8vo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,
+
+                 THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SURVEYING;
+
+ containing all the Instructions requisite for the skilful practice of
+                               this art.
+
+            With a new set of accurate Mathematical Tables.
+
+                           By ROBERT GIBSON.
+
+  Newly arranged, improved, and enlarged, with useful selections, by
+                              JAMES RYAN.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                           In one vol. 8vo.,
+
+                 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON MECHANICS.
+
+             Translated from the French of M. Boucharlat.
+
+With additions and emendations, designed to adapt it to the use of the
+                 Cadets of the U. S. Military Academy.
+
+                        By EDWARD H. COURTENAY.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                          In one vol. 48mo.,
+
+                  The Reticule and Pocket Companion;
+
+                                  OR,
+
+               MINIATURE LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
+
+                            By LYMAN COBB.
+
+                           ─────────────────
+
+                           In one vol. 8vo.,
+
+                          ENGLISH SYNONYMES.
+
+   With copious Illustrations and Explanations, drawn from the best
+                               Writers.
+
+                         By GEORGE CRABB, M.A.
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF SAINT NICHOLAS ***
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-<section class='pg-boilerplate pgheader' id='pg-header' lang='en'>

-<h2 id='pg-header-heading' title=''>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of Saint Nicholas by Dominie Nicholas Ægedius Oudenarde</h2>

-

-<div>This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and 

-most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions 

-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms 

-of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online 

-at <a class="reference external" href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not located in the United States, 

-you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located 

-before using this eBook.</div>

-

-

-<div class='container' id='pg-machine-header'>

-<p><strong>Title:</strong> The Book of Saint Nicholas</p>

-<div id='pg-header-authlist'>

-<p><strong>Author:</strong> Dominie Nicholas Ægedius Oudenarde</p>

-</div>

-

-<p><strong>Release Date:</strong> August 14, 2023 [eBook #71404]</p>

-<p><strong>Language:</strong> English</p>

-<p><strong>Credits:</strong> Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p>

-</div>

-<div id='pg-start-separator'>

-<span>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF SAINT NICHOLAS ***</span>

-</div>

-</section>

-

-<div class="transnote">

-<h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3>

-

-<p>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p>

-<p>The cover was prepared by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

-</p>

-</div>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p>

-

-

-

-

-<h1>THE  BOOK<br>

-

-<small>OF</small><br>

-

-SAINT NICHOLAS.</h1>

-

-

-<p class="center"><small>TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL DUTCH</small></p>

-

-<p class="center"><small>OF</small></p>

-

-<p class="center">DOMINIE NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.</p>

-

-

-<p class="center pspaced">NEW-YORK:<br>

-

-HARPER &amp; BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.<br>

-

-1836.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p>

-

-

-<p class="center pspaced">

-<small>[Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by<br>

-JAMES K. PAULDING,<br>

-in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.]</small>

-</p>

-

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2>

-</div>

-

-<table class="autotable">

-<tr>

-<td></td>

-<td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">Dedication</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">Author's Advertisement</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Legend of Saint Nicholas</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Little Dutch Sentinel of the Manhadoes</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">Cobus Yerks</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">A Strange Bird in Nieuw-Amsterdam</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">Claas Schlaschenschlinger</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Revenge of Saint Nicholas</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Origin of the Bakers' Dozen</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Ghost</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Nymph of the Mountain</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">The Ride of Saint Nicholas on Newyear's Eve</td>

-<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td>

-</tr>

-</table>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="TO"><small>TO</small><br>

-

-

-THE SOCIETIES OF SAINT NICHOLAS<br>

-

-<small>IN THE<br>

-

-NEW NETHERLANDS,<br>

-

-COMMONLY CALLED<br>

-

-NEW-YORK.</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-<p class="center">

-MOST DEAR AND WORTHY ASSOCIATES,</p>

-

-<p>In obedience to the command of the good saint

-who is equally an object of affectionate reverence

-to us all, as well as in due deference to the feelings

-of brotherhood which attach us irrevocably to those

-who honour his name, his virtues, and his country,

-I dedicate this work to you all without discrimination

-or exception. As descendants, in whole or

-in part, from that illustrious people who, after conquering

-nature by their industry and perseverance,

-achieved liberty by their determined valour, and

-learning and science by their intellectual vigour,

-I rejoice to see you instituting bonds of union, for

-the purpose of preserving the remembrance of such

-an honourable lineage, and the ties of a common

-origin. While we recollect with honest pride the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>

-industry, the integrity, the enterprise, the love of

-liberty, and the heroism of old “_faderland_,” let us

-not forget that the truest way to honour worthy ancestors

-is to emulate their example.</p>

-

-<p>That you may long live to cherish the memory

-of so excellent a saint, and such venerable forefathers

-is the earnest wish of</p>

-

-<p class="psig">

-<span class="gap5r">Your associate and friend,</span><br>

-NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.</p>

-

-<p><small>Nieuw-Amsterdam, July, 1827.</small></p>

-

-

-<div class="chap">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p>

-

-

-<h2>THE<br>

-

-AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT,</h2>

-

-<p class="center">WHICH IS EARNESTLY RECOMMENDED TO THE<br>

-ATTENTIVE PERUSAL OF THE JUDICIOUS<br>

-READER.</p>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>You will please to understand, gentle reader, that

-being a true descendant of the adventurous Hollanders

-who first discovered the renowned island

-of Manhattan—which is every day becoming more

-and more worth its weight in paper money—I have

-all my life been a sincere and fervent follower of the

-right reverend and jolly St. Nicholas, the only tutelary

-of this mighty state. I have never, on any

-proper occasion, omitted doing honour to his memory

-by keeping his birthday with all due observances,

-and paying him my respectful devoirs on

-Christmas and Newyear's eve.</p>

-

-<p>From my youth upward I have been always

-careful to hang up my stocking in the chimney

-corner, on both these memorable anniversaries; and

-this I hope I may say without any unbecoming ebullition

-of vanity, that on no occasion did I ever fail

-to receive glorious remembrances of his favour and

-countenance, always saving two exceptions. Once<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>

-when the good saint signified his displeasure at my

-tearing up a Dutch almanac, and again on occasion

-of my going to a Presbyterian meeting house with

-a certain little Dutch damsel, by filling my stockings

-with snow balls, instead savoury oily cookies.</p>

-

-<p>Saving these manifestations of his displeasure, I

-can safely boast of having been always a special

-favourite of the good St. Nicholas, who hath ever

-shown a singular kindness and suavity towards me

-in all seasons of my life, wherein he hath at divers

-times and seasons of sore perplexity, more than

-once vouchsafed to appear to me in dreams and

-visions, always giving me sage advice and goodly

-admonition. The which never failed of being of

-great service to me in my progress through life,

-seeing I was not only his namesake, but always

-reverently honoured his name to the best of my

-poor abilities.</p>

-

-<p>From my youth upward I have, moreover, been

-accustomed to call upon him in time of need; and

-this I will say for him, that he always came

-promptly whenever he was within hearing. I will

-not detain the expectant reader with the relation of

-these special instances, touching the years of my

-juvenility, but straightway proceed to that which is

-material to my present purpose.</p>

-

-<p>The reader will please to comprehend that after

-I had, with the labour and research of many years,

-completed the tales which I now, with an humble

-deference, offer to his acceptance, I was all at once

-struck dumb, with the unparalleled difficulty of finding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>

-a name for my work, seeing that every title

-appertinent to such divertisements hath been applied

-over and over again, long and merry agone.

-Now, as before intimated to the judicious reader,

-whenever I am in sore perplexity of mind, as not

-unfrequently happens to such as (as it were) cudgel

-their brains for the benefit of their fellow-creatures—I

-say, when thus beleaguered, I always shut my

-eyes, lean back in my chair, which is furnished

-with a goodly stuffed back and arms, and grope for

-that which I require in the profound depths of abstraction.</p>

-

-<p>It was thus I comported myself on this trying

-occasion, when, lo! and behold! I incontinently fell

-asleep, as it were, in the midst of my cogitations,

-and while I was fervently praying to the good-hearted

-St. Nicholas to inspire me with a proper

-and significant name for this my mental offspring.

-I cannot with certainty say how long I had remained

-in the bonds of abstraction, before I was

-favoured with the appearance of a vision, which, at

-first sight, I knew to be that of the excellent St.

-Nicholas, who scorns to follow the pestilent fashions

-of modern times, but ever appears in the ancient

-dress of the old patriarchs of Holland. And

-here I will describe the good saint, that peradventure

-all those to whom he may, in time to come,

-vouchsafe his presence, may know him at first

-sight, even as they know the father that begot

-them.</p>

-

-<p>He is a right fat, jolly, roistering little fellow—<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>

-if I may make bold to call him so familiarly—and

-had I not known him of old for a veritable saint, I

-might, of a truth, have taken him, on this occasion,

-for little better than a sinner. He was dressed in a

-snuff-coloured coat of goodly conceited dimensions,

-having broad skirts, cuffs mighty to behold, and

-buttons about the size of a moderate Newyear

-cooky. His waistcoat and breeches, of which he

-had a proper number, were of the same cloth and

-colour; his hose of gray worsted; his shoes high-quartered,

-even up to the instep, ornamented with

-a pair of silver buckles, exceedingly bright; his hat

-was of a low crown and right broad brim, cocked

-up on one side; and in the buttonholes of his coat

-was ensconced a long delft pipe, almost as black as

-ebony. His visage was the picture of good-humoured

-benevolence; and by these marks I knew

-him as well as I know the nose on my own face.</p>

-

-<p>The good saint, being always in a hurry on errands

-of good fellowship, and especially about the

-time of the holydays of Paas and Pinxster; and

-being withal a person of little ceremony, addressed

-me without delay, and with much frankness, which

-was all exceedingly proper, as we were such old

-friends. He spoke to me in Dutch, which is now

-a learned language, understood only by erudite

-scholars.</p>

-

-<p>“What aileth thee, my Godson Nicholas?” quoth

-he.</p>

-

-<p>I was about to say I was in sore perplexity concerning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>

-the matter aforesaid, when he courteously

-interrupted me, saying,</p>

-

-<p>“Be quiet, I know it, and therefore there is no

-special occasion for thee to tell me. Thou shalt

-call thy work ‘THE BOOK OF ST. NICHOLAS,’ in

-honour of thy _patroon_; and here are the materials

-of my biography, which I charge thee, on pain of

-empty pockets from this time forward, to dilate and

-adorn in such a manner, as that, foreseeing, as I do,

-thy work will go down to the latest posterity, it

-may do honour to my name, and rescue it from that

-obscurity in which it hath been enveloped through

-the crying ignorance of past generations, who have

-been seduced into a veneration for St. George, St.

-Dennis, St. David, and other doughty dragon-slaying

-saints, who were little better than roistering

-bullies. Moreover, I charge thee, as thou valuest

-my blessing and protection, to dedicate thy work

-unto the worthy and respectable societies of St.

-Nicholas in this my stronghold in the New World.

-Thou mightst, perhaps, as well have left out that

-prank of mine at the carousing of old Baltus, but

-verily it matters not. Let the truth be told.”</p>

-

-<p>Saying this, he handed me a roll of ancient vellum,

-containing, as I afterwards found, the particulars

-which, in conformity with his solemn command,

-I have dilated into the only veritable biography

-of my patron saint which hath ever been given

-to the world. The one hitherto received as orthodox

-is, according to the declaration of the saint<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>

-himself, little better than a collection of legends,

-written under the express inspection of the old lady

-of Babylon.</p>

-

-<p>I reverently received the precious deposite, and

-faithfully promised obedience to his commands;

-whereupon the good St. Nicholas, puffing in my

-face a whiff of tobacco smoke more fragrant than

-all the spices of the East, blessed me, and departed

-in haste, to be present at a wedding in Communipaw.

-Hereupon I awoke, and should have thought

-all that had passed but a dream, arising out of the

-distempered state of my mind, had I not held in my

-hand the identical roll of vellum, presented in the

-manner just related. On examination, it proved to

-contain the matter which is incorporated in the first

-story of this collection, under the title of “The

-Legend of St. Nicholas,” not only in due obedience

-to his command, but in order that henceforward

-no one may pretend ignorance concerning

-this illustrious and benevolent saint, seeing they

-have now a biography under his own hand.</p>

-

-<p>Thus much have I deemed it proper to preface

-to the reader, as some excuse for the freedom of

-having honoured my poor fictions with the title of

-The Book of St. Nicholas, which might otherwise

-have been deemed a piece of unchristian presumption.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter"></div>

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p>

-

-<p class="half-title">THE STORY BOOK<br>

-

-<small>OF</small><br>

-

-SAINT NICHOLAS.</p>

-

-

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LEGEND_OF_ST_NICHOLAS">THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS.</h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Everybody has heard of St. Nicholas, that

-honest Dutch saint, whom I look upon as having

-been one of the most liberal, good-natured little

-fat fellows in the world. But, strange as it may

-seem, though everybody has heard, nobody seems

-to know anything about him. The place of his

-birth, the history of his life, and the manner in

-which he came to be the dispenser of Newyear

-cakes, and the patron of good boys, are matters

-that have hitherto not been investigated, as they

-ought to have been long and long ago. I am about

-to supply this deficiency, and pay a debt of honour

-which is due to this illustrious and obscure tutelary

-genius of the jolly Newyear.</p>

-

-<p>It hath often been justly remarked that the birth,

-parentage, and education of the most illustrious

-personages of antiquity, are usually enveloped in

-the depths of obscurity. And this obscurity, so far<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>

-from being injurious to their dignity and fame, has

-proved highly beneficial; for as no one could tell

-who were their fathers and mothers on earth, they

-could the more easily claim kindred with the skies,

-and trace their descent from the immortals. Such

-was the case with Saturn, Hercules, Bacchus, and

-others among the heathens; and of St. George,

-St. Dennis, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and the rest

-of the tutelaries, of whom—I speak it with great

-respect and reverence—it may justly be said, that

-nobody would ever have heard of their progenitors

-but for the renown of their descendants. It is,

-therefore, no reflection on the respectable St.

-Nicholas, that his history has hitherto remained a

-secret, and his origin unknown.</p>

-

-<p>In prosecuting this biography, and thus striving

-to repay my obligations for divers, and I must say

-unmerited favours received from this good saint,

-after whom I was christened, I shall refrain from

-all invention or hyperbole, seeking the truth industriously,

-and telling it simply and without reserve

-or embellishment. I scorn to impose on my readers

-with cock and bull stories of his killing dragons,

-slaughtering giants, or defeating whole armies of

-pagans with his single arm. St. Nicholas was a

-peaceful, quiet, orderly saint, who, so far as I have

-been able to learn, never shed a drop of blood in

-his whole life, except, peradventure, it may be possible

-he sometimes cut his finger, of which I profess

-to know nothing, and, therefore, contrary to

-the custom of biographers, shall say nothing.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p>

-

-<p>St. Nicholas was born—and that is all I can tell

-of the matter—on the first of January; but in what

-year or at what place, are facts which I have not

-been able to ascertain, although I have investigated

-them with the most scrupulous accuracy. His obscurity

-would enable me to give him a king and

-queen for his parents, whereby he might be able

-to hold up his head with the best of them all; but,

-as I before observed, I scorn to impose such doubtful,

-to say no worse, legends upon my readers.</p>

-

-<p>Nothing is known of his early youth, except that

-it hath come down to us that his mother dreamed,

-the night before his birth, that the sun was changed

-into a vast Newyear cake and the stars into _oily

-cooks_—which she concluded was the reason they

-burned so bright. It hath been shrewdly intimated

-by certain would-be antiquaries, who doubtless

-wanted to appear wiser than they really were, that

-because our worthy saint was called Nicholas, that

-must of course have been the name of his father.

-But I set such conjectures at naught, seeing that if

-all the sons were called after their fathers, the distinction

-of senior and junior would no longer be

-sufficient, and they would be obliged to number

-them as they do in the famous island of Nantucket,

-where I hear there are thirty-six Isaac Coffins and

-sixteen Pelegs.</p>

-

-<p>Now, of the first years of the life of good St.

-Nicholas, in like manner, we have been able to

-learn nothing until he was apprenticed to a baker

-in the famous city of Amsterdam, after which this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>

-metropolis was once called, but which my readers

-doubtless know was christened over again when

-the English usurped possession, in the teeth of the

-great right of discovery derived from the illustrious

-navigator, Henricus Hudson, who was no more an

-Englishman than I am.</p>

-

-<p>“Whether the youth Nicholas was thus apprenticed

-to a baker on account of his mother's dream,

-or from his great devotion to Newyear cakes, which

-may be inferred from the bias of his after life, it is

-impossible to tell at this distant period. It is certain,

-however, that he was so apprenticed, and that

-is sufficient to satisfy all reasonable readers. As

-for those pestilent, curious, prying people, who

-want to know the why and wherefore of everything

-we refer them to the lives of certain famous persons,

-which are so intermingled and confounded

-with the lives of their contemporaries, and the

-events, great and small, which happened in all

-parts of the world during their sojourn on the earth,

-that it is utterly impossible to say whose life it is

-we are reading. Many people of little experience

-take the title page for a guide, not knowing, peradventure,

-they might almost as safely rely upon history

-for a knowledge of the events of past ages.</p>

-

-<p>Little Nicholas, our hero, was a merry, sweet-tempered

-caitiff, which was, doubtless, somewhat

-owing to his living almost altogether upon sweet

-things. He was marvellously devoted to cakes,

-and ate up numberless gingerbread alphabets before

-he knew a single letter.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p>

-

-<p>Passing over the intermediate years, of which,

-indeed, I know no more than the man in the moon,

-I come to the period when, being twenty-four, and

-the term of his apprenticeship almost out, he fell

-desperately in love with the daughter of his worthy

-master, who was a burgomaster of forty years

-standing. In those unprecocious times, the boys

-did not grow to be men and the girls women, so

-soon as they do now. It would have been considered

-highly indecent for the former to think of falling

-in love before they were out of their time, or

-the latter to set up for young women before they

-knew how to be anything else. But as soon as

-the worthy Nicholas arrived at the age of twenty-four,

-being, as I said, within a year of the expiration

-of his time, he thought to himself that Katrinchee,

-or Catharine, as the English call it, was a

-clever, notable little soul, and eminently calculated

-to make him a good wife. This was the main

-point in the times of which I am speaking, when

-people actually married without first running mad

-either for love or money.</p>

-

-<p>Katrinchee was the toast of all the young bakers

-of Amsterdam, and honest Nicholas had as many

-rivals as there were loaves of bread in that renowned

-city. But he was as gallant a little Dutchman

-as ever smoked his way through the world

-pipe foremost, and did not despair of getting the

-better of his rivals, especially as he was a great

-favourite with the burgomaster, as, indeed, his conduct

-merited. Instead of going the vulgar way to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>

-work, and sighing and whining out romance in her

-ear, he cunningly, being doubtless inspired by

-Cupid himself, proceeded to insinuate his passion,

-and make it known by degrees, to the pretty little

-Katrinchee, who was as plump as a partridge, and

-had eyes of the colour of a clear sky.</p>

-

-<p>First did he bake a cake in the shape of a heart

-pierced half through by a toasting fork, the which

-he presented her smoking hot, which she received

-with a blush and did eat, to the great encouragement

-of the worthy Nicholas. A month after, for

-he did not wish to alarm the delicacy of the pretty

-Katrinchee, he did bake another cake in the shape

-of two hearts, entwined prettily with a true lover's

-knot. This, too, she received with a blush, and

-did eat with marvellous content. After the expiration

-of a like period, he did contrive another cake

-in the shape of a letter, on which he had ingeniously

-engraven the following couplet:—</p>

-

-<div class="poetry-container">

-<div class="poetry">

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“Wer diesen glauben wöhlt hat die vernanft verschworen,</div>

-    <div class="verse indent0">Dem denken abgesaght sein eigentham verlohren.”</div>

-  </div>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-<p>The meaning of which, if the reader doth not comprehend,

-I do hereby earnestly advise him to set

-about studying the Dutch language forthwith, that

-he may properly appreciate its hidden beauties.</p>

-

-<p>Little Katrinchee read this poesy with a sigh,

-and rewarded the good Nicholas with a look which,

-as he afterward affirmed, would have heated an

-oven.</p>

-

-<p>Thus did the sly youth gradually advance himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>

-in the good graces of the little damsel, until at

-length he ventured a downright declaration, in the

-shape of a cake made in the exact likeness of a

-little Dutch Cupid. The acceptance of this was

-conclusive, and was followed by permission to address

-the matter to the decision of the worthy burgomaster,

-whose name I regret hath not come

-down to the present time.</p>

-

-<p>The good man consulted his pipe, and after six

-months' hard smoking, came to the conclusion that

-the thing was feasible. Nicholas was a well-behaved,

-industrious lad, and the burgomaster justly

-concluded that the possession of virtuous and industrious

-habits without houses and lands, was

-better than houses and lands without them. So he

-gave his consent like an honest and ever to be

-respected magistrate.</p>

-

-<p>The news of the intended marriage spoiled all

-the bread baked in Amsterdam that day. The

-young bakers were so put out that they forgot to

-put yeast in their bread, and it was all heavy. But

-the hearts of the good Nicholas and his bride were

-as light as a feather notwithstanding, and when

-they were married it was truly said there was not

-a handsomer couple in all Amsterdam.</p>

-

-<p>They lived together happily many years, and

-nothing was wanting to their felicity but a family

-of little chubby boys and girls. But it was ordained

-that he never should be blessed with any

-offspring, seeing that he was predestined to be the

-patron and benefactor of the children of others, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>

-of his own. In good time, and in the fullness of

-years, the burgomaster died, leaving his fortune

-and his business to Nicholas, who had ever been a

-kind husband to his daughter, and a dutiful son to

-himself. Rich and liberal, it was one of the chief

-pleasures of the good Nicholas to distribute his

-cakes, of which he baked the best in all Amsterdam,

-to the children of the neighbourhood, who

-came every morning, and sometimes in the evening;

-and Nicholas felt his heart warm within his bosom

-when he saw how they ate and laughed, and were

-as happy, ay, and happier, too, than so many little

-kings. The children all loved him, and so did their

-fathers and mothers, so that in process of time he

-was made a burgomaster, like his father-in-law

-before him.</p>

-

-<p>Not only did he entertain the jolly little folk of

-the city in the manner heretofore described, but

-his home was open to all travellers and sojourners

-who had no other home, as well as those who came

-recommended from afar off. In particular the

-good pilgrims of the church, who went about

-preaching and propagating the true faith, by the

-which I mean the doctrines of the illustrious reformers

-in all time past.</p>

-

-<p>The good Nicholas had, in the latter part of his

-life, embraced these doctrines with great peril to

-himself, for sore were the persecutions they underwent

-in those days who departed from the crying

-abominations of the ancient church; and had it not

-been for the good name he had established in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>

-city of Amsterdam, among all classes, high and

-low, rich and poor, he might, peradventure, have

-suffered at the stake. But he escaped, as it were,

-by a miracle, and lived to see the truth triumph at

-last even throughout all the land.</p>

-

-<p>But before this came to pass his faithful and

-affectionate helpmate had been taken from him by

-death, sorely to his grief; and he would have stood

-alone in the world had it not been for the little

-children, now grown up to be men and women,

-who remembered his former kindness, and did all

-they could to console him—for such is ever the

-reward of kindness to our fellow-creatures.</p>

-

-<p>One night as he was sitting disconsolate at home,

-thinking of poor Katrinchee, and wishing that

-either she was with him or he with her, he heard a

-distant uproar in the street, which seemed approaching

-nearer and nearer. He was about to

-rise and go to the door to see what was the occasion,

-when suddenly it was pushed open with some

-violence, and a man rushed past him with very

-little ceremony. He seemed in a great hurry, for

-he panted for breath, and it was some time before

-he could say,</p>

-

-<p>“I beseech thee to shut the door and hide me,

-for my life is in danger.”</p>

-

-<p>Nicholas, who never refused to do a good-natured

-act, did as he was desired, so far as shutting and

-barring the door. He then asked,</p>

-

-<p>“What hath endangered thy life, and who art

-thou, friend, that thou art thus afraid?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p>

-

-<p>“Ask me not now, I beseech thee, Nicholas—”</p>

-

-<p>“Thou knowest my name then?” said the other,

-interrupting him.</p>

-

-<p>“I do—everybody knows thee, and thy kindness

-of heart. But ask me nothing now—only hide me

-for the present, and when the danger is past I will

-tell thee all.”</p>

-

-<p>“Thou art no murderer or fugitive from justice?”</p>

-

-<p>“No, on my faith. I am sinned against, but I

-never injured but one man, and I was sorry for

-that. But hark, I hear them coming—wilt thou

-or wilt thou not protect me?”</p>

-

-<p>“I will,” said the good Nicholas, who saw in

-the dignified air and open countenance of the stranger

-something that inspired both confidence and

-awe. Accordingly he hastily led him into a remote

-apartment, where he secreted him in a closet,

-the door of which could not be distinguished, and

-in which he kept his money and valuables, for he

-said to himself, I will trust this man, he does not

-look as if he would abuse my confidence.</p>

-

-<p>“Take this key and lock thyself in, that thou

-mayst be able to get out in case they take me

-away.”</p>

-

-<p>Presently there was heard a great hallooing and

-banging at the outward door, with a cry of “Open!

-open!” and Nicholas went to the door and opened it.

-A flood of people rushed in helter-skelter, demanding

-the body of an arch heretic, who, they said, had

-been seen to take refuge in the house. But with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>

-all their rage and eagerness, they begged his excuse

-for this unceremonious proceeding, for Nicholas

-was beloved and respected by all, though he

-was a heretic himself.</p>

-

-<p>“He's here—we saw him enter!” they cried.</p>

-

-<p>“If he is here, find him,” quoth Nicholas, quietly.

-“I will not say he is not here, neither would I betray

-him if he were.”</p>

-

-<p>The interlopers then proceeded to search all

-parts of the house, except the secret closet, which

-escaped their attention. When they had done this,

-one of them said.</p>

-

-<p>“We have heard of thy having a secret place in

-thy house where thy money and papers are secured.

-Open it to us—we swear not to molest or take

-away aught that is thine.”</p>

-

-<p>The good Nicholas was confounded at this

-demand, and stood for a moment not knowing

-what to say or what to do. The stranger in the

-closet heard it too; but he was a stout-hearted man,

-and trusted in the Lord.</p>

-

-<p>“Where is thy strong closet?” cried one of the

-fiercest and most forward of the intruders. “We

-must and will find it.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, then, find it,” quoth Nicholas, quietly.</p>

-

-<p>They inspected the room narrowly, and knocked

-against the walls in hopes the hollow sound would

-betray the secret of the place. But they were

-disappointed, for the door was so thick that it returned

-no hollow sound.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p>

-

-<p>They now began to be impatient, and savage

-withal, and the ferocious leader exclaimed,</p>

-

-<p>“Let us take this fellow then. One heretic is

-as good as another—as bad I mean.”</p>

-

-<p>“Seize him!” cried one.</p>

-

-<p>“Away with him!” cried another.</p>

-

-<p>“To the stake!” cried a third.</p>

-

-<p>They forgot the ancient kindness of the good

-man; for bigotry and over-heated zeal remember

-not benefits, and pay no respect to the obligations

-of gratitude. The good Nicholas was violently

-seized, his hands tied behind him, and he was

-about to be carried away a sacrifice to the demon

-of religious discord, when the door of the closet

-flew open, and the stranger came forth with a step

-so firm, a look so lofty and inspired, that the rabble

-quailed, and were silent before him.</p>

-

-<p>“Unbind this man,” said he, in a voice of authority,

-“and bind me in his stead.”</p>

-

-<p>Not a man stirred. They seemed spell bound,

-and stood looking at each other in silent embarrassment.</p>

-

-<p>“Unbind this man, I say!”</p>

-

-<p>Still they remained, as it were, petrified with

-awe and astonishment.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, then, I shall do it myself,” and he proceeded

-to release the good Nicholas from his bonds,

-while the interlopers remained silent and motionless.</p>

-

-<p>“Mistaken men!” then said he, looking at them

-with pity, mingled with indignation, “you believe<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>

-yourselves fulfilling the duties of your faith when

-you chase those who differ from you about the

-world, as if they were wild beasts, and drag them

-to the stake, like malefactors who have committed

-the worst crimes against society. You think that

-the blood of human victims is the most acceptable

-offering to your Maker, and worse than the ignorant

-pagans, who made martyrs of the blessed

-saints, sacrifice them on the altar of a religion

-which is all charity, meekness, and forgiveness.

-But I see you are ashamed of yourselves. Go,

-and do so no more.”</p>

-

-<p>The spirit of intolerance quailed before the majesty

-of truth and genius. The poor deluded men,

-whose passions had been stimulated by mistaken

-notions of religious duty, bowed their heads and

-departed, rebuked and ashamed.</p>

-

-<p>“Who art thou?” asked Nicholas, when they

-were gone.</p>

-

-<p>“Thou shalt soon know,” replied the stranger.

-“In the mean time listen to me. I must be gone

-before the fiend, which I have, perhaps, only laid

-for a few moments, again awakens in the bosoms

-of these deluded men, or some others like them

-get on the scent of their prey, and track their victim

-hither. Listen to me, Nicholas, kind and good

-Nicholas. Thou wouldst have endangered thy

-own life for the safety of a stranger—one who had

-no claim on thee save that of hospitality—nay, not

-even that, for I was not thy guest by invitation, but

-intrusion. Blessed be thee and thine, thy house,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>

-thy memory when thou art dead, and thy lot hereafter.

-Thou art worthy to know who I am.”</p>

-

-<p>He then disclosed to him a name with which

-the world hath since rung, from clime to clime,

-from country to country. A name incorporated inseparably

-with the interests of truth and the progress

-of learning.</p>

-

-<p>“Tell it not in Gath—proclaim it not in the

-streets of Askalon,” continued he, “for it is a name

-which carries with it the sentence of death in this

-yet benighted city. Interests of the deepest nature—interests

-vitally connected with the progress of

-truth—the temporal and eternal happiness of millions

-living, of millions yet unborn, brought me

-hither. The business I came upon is in part performed;

-but it is now known to some that I am, or

-have been in the city, who will never rest till they

-run me down and tear me in pieces. Farewell,

-and look for thy reward, if not here, hereafter—for,

-sure as thou livest and breathest, a good action,

-done with a pure and honest motive, is twice

-blessed—once to the doer and once to him to whom

-it is done.</p>

-

-<p>The good Nicholas would have knelt to the

-mighty genius that stood before him, but he prevented

-him.</p>

-

-<p>“I am no graven image, nor art thou an idolater

-that thou shouldst kneel to me. Farewell! Let

-me have thy prayers, for the prayers of a good man

-are indeed blessings.”</p>

-

-<p>Saying this, the illustrious stranger departed in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>

-haste, and Nicholas never saw him more for a long

-time. But he said to himself,</p>

-

-<p>“Blessed is my house, for it hath sheltered the

-bright light of the universe.”</p>

-

-<p>From that time forward, he devoted himself to

-the good cause of the reformation with heart and

-soul. His house was ever the refuge of the persecuted;

-his purse the never-failing resource of

-the distressed; and many were the victims of

-bigotry and intolerance whom his influence and

-entreaties saved from the stake and the torture.

-He lived a blessing to all within the sphere of his

-influence, and was blessed in living to see the faith

-which he loved and cherished at length triumph

-over the efforts of power, the arts of intrigue, and

-the fire of bigotry.</p>

-

-<p>Neither did he forget or neglect the customary

-offices of kindness and good will to the little children

-of the city, who continued still to come and

-share his goodly cakes, which he gave with the

-smile and the open hand of kind and unaffected

-benignity. It must have been delightful to see the

-aged patriarch sitting at his door, while the little

-boys and girls gathered together from all parts to

-share his smiles, to be patted on the head, and

-kissed, and laden with his bounties.</p>

-

-<p>Every Newyear's day especially, being his birthday,

-as it came round, was a festival, not only to

-all the children, but to all that chose to come and

-see him. It seemed that he grew younger instead

-of older on each return of the season; for he received<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>

-every one with smiles, and even his enemies

-were welcome to his good cheer. He had

-not the heart to hate anybody on the day which

-he had consecrated to innocent gayety, liberal hospitality,

-and universal benevolence. In process of

-time, his example spread among the whole city, and

-from thence through the country, until every village

-and town, nay, every house, adopted the good

-custom of setting apart the first day of the year to

-be gay and happy, to exchange visits, and shake

-hands with friends and to forgive enemies.</p>

-

-<p>Thus the good Nicholas lived, blessing all and

-blessed by all, until he arrived at a happy old age.

-When he had reached fourscore years, he was sitting

-by himself late in the evening of the first of

-January, old style, which is the only true and genuine

-era after all—the new style being a pestilent

-popish innovation—he was sitting, I say, alone, the

-visiters having all departed, laden with gifts and

-good wishes. A knock was heard at the door,

-which always opened of itself, like the heart of its

-owner, not only on Newyear's day, but every day

-in the year.</p>

-

-<p>A stately figure entered and sat down by him,

-after shaking his hand right heartily. The good

-Nicholas was now old, and his eyesight had somewhat

-failed him, particularly at night.</p>

-

-<p>“Thou art welcome,” quoth the old man.</p>

-

-<p>“I know it,” replied the other, “every one is

-welcome to the house of the good Nicholas, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>

-only on this, but every other day. I have heard of

-thee in my travels.”</p>

-

-<p>“Thou knowest my name—may I not know

-thine?”</p>

-

-<p>The stranger whispered a name in his ear, which

-made the heart of the good Nicholas leap in his

-bosom.</p>

-

-<p>“Dost thou remember the adventure of the

-closet?” said the stranger.</p>

-

-<p>“Yea—blessed be the day and the hour,” said

-the old man.</p>

-

-<p>And now they had a long conversation, which

-pertained to high matters, not according with the

-nature of my story, and therefore I pass them by,

-more especially as I do not exactly know what

-they were.</p>

-

-<p>“I almost fear to ask thee,” at length said Nicholas;

-“but thou wilt partake of my cheer, on this

-the day of my birth. I shall not live to see another.”</p>

-

-<p>Old people are often prophetic on the duration

-of their lives.</p>

-

-<p>“Assuredly,” replied the other, “for it is neither

-beneath my character nor calling to share the good

-man's feast, and to be happy when I can.”</p>

-

-<p>So they sat down together and talked of old

-times, and how much better the new times were

-than the old, inasmuch as the truth had triumphed,

-and they could now enjoy their consciences in

-peace.</p>

-

-<p>The illustrious visiter staid all night; and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>

-next morning, as he was about to depart, the aged

-Nicholas said to him,</p>

-

-<p>“Farewell—I shall never see thee again. Thou

-art going a long journey, thou sayst, but I am

-about venturing on one yet longer.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, be it so,” said the other. “But those

-who remain behind will bless thy name and thy

-memory. The little children will love thee, and

-so long as thy countrymen cherish their ancient

-customs, thou wilt not be forgotten.”</p>

-

-<p>They parted, and the prediction of the good

-Nicholas was fulfilled. He fell asleep in the arms

-of death, who called him so softly, and received

-him so gently in his embrace, that though his

-family knew he slept, they little thought it was for

-ever.</p>

-

-<p>When this news went abroad into the city, you

-might see the worthy burgomasters and citizens

-knocking the ashes out of their pipes, and putting

-them quietly by in their buttonholes; and the good

-housewives, ever and anon lifting their clean white

-aprons to their eyes, that they might see to thread

-their needles or find the stitches, as they sat knitting

-their stockings. The shops and schools were

-all shut the day he was buried; and it was remarked

-that the men neglected their usual amusements,

-and the little children had no heart to play.</p>

-

-<p>When the whole city had gathered together at

-the side of his grave, there suddenly appeared

-among them a remarkable and goodly-looking man,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>

-of most reverent demeanour. Every one bowed

-their bodies, in respectful devotion, for they knew

-the man, and what they owed him. All was silent

-as the grave, just about to receive the body of

-Nicholas, when he I have just spoken of lifted his

-head, and said as follows:—</p>

-

-<p>“The good man just about to enter the narrow

-house never defrauded his neighbour, never shut

-his door on the stranger, never did an unkind action,

-nor ever refused a kind one either to friend or

-foe. His heart was all goodness, his faith all purity,

-his morals all blameless, yea, all praiseworthy.

-Such a man deserves the highest title that can be

-bestowed on man. Join me then, my friends, old

-and young—men, women, and children, in blessing

-his memory as _the good Saint Nicholas_; for I

-know no better title to such a distinction than pure

-faith, inflexible integrity, and active benevolence.”

-Thus spake the great reformer, John Calvin.</p>

-

-<p>The whole assembled multitude, with one voice

-and one heart, cried out, “Long live the blessed

-memory of the good St. Nicholas!” as they piously

-consigned him to the bosom of his mother

-earth.</p>

-

-<p>Thus did he come to be called St. Nicholas;

-and the people, not content with this, as it were by

-a mutual sympathy, and without coming to any

-understanding on the subject, have ever since set

-apart the birthday of the good man, for the exercise

-of hospitality to men, and gifts to little children.

-From the Old World they carried the custom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>

-to the New, where their posterity still hold it

-in reverence, and where I hope it will long continue

-to flourish, in spite of the cold heartless forms, unmeaning

-ceremonies, and upstart pretensions of

-certain vulgar people, who don't know any better,

-and therefore ought to be pitied for their ignorance,

-rather than contemned for their presumption.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_C1"><small>THE</small><br>

-

-

-LITTLE DUTCH SENTINEL<br>

-

-<small>OF THE</small>

-

-MANHADOES.</h2>

-</div>

-

-<p>“How times change in this world, and especially

-in this New World!” exclaimed old Aurie Doremus,

-as he sat at the door of his domicil—the last

-of the little Dutch houses, built of little Dutch

-bricks, with gable end turned to the street—on a

-sultry summer evening, in the year so many honest

-people found out that paper money was not silver

-or gold. Half a dozen of his grown-up grandchildren

-were gathered about him, on the seats of

-the little porch, the top of which was shaped something

-like an old revolutionary cocked hat, as the

-good patriarch made this sage observation. He

-was in fine talking humour, and after a little while,

-went on amid frequent pauses, as if taxing his

-memory to make up his chronicle.</p>

-

-<p>“It was the twenty-fourth—no, the twenty-fifth

-of March, 1609, that Hendrick Hudson sailed from

-Amsterdam. On the fourth of September, after

-coasting along Newfoundland to Cape Cod, from

-Cape Cod to Chesapeake Bay, and thence back<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>

-again along the Jersey coast, he came in sight of

-the Highlands of Neversink, and anchored in the

-evening inside of Sandy Hook. This was in 1609—how

-long ago is that, Egbert?” said the good man,

-turning to me.</p>

-

-<p>“Two hundred and sixteen years,” replied I,

-after sore tribulation, for I never was good at ciphering.</p>

-

-<p>“Two hundred and sixteen years—well, at that

-time there was not a single white man, or white

-man's habitation, in sight of where we are now sitting,

-in the midst of thousands, ten of thousands—I

-might almost say hundreds of thousands. Ah!

-boys, 'tis a rapid growth, and Heaven grant it may

-not afford another proof, that the quick of growth

-are quick of decay.” After musing a little he proceeded,

-as if speaking to himself rather than to us.</p>

-

-<p>“If it were possible that an Indian, who had

-lived on this spot at the time of Hudson's first visit,

-could rise from the dead, with all his recollections

-of the past about him, what would he think at beholding

-the changes that have taken place. Nothing

-that he had ever seen, nothing that he had

-ever known, would he recognise; for even the face

-of the earth has passed away, and the course of the

-mighty rivers intruded upon by the labours of the

-white strangers. No vestiges, not even the roots

-of the woods where he hunted his game—no landmarks

-familiar to his early recollections—no ruins

-of his ancient habitations—no traces to guide him

-to the spot where once reposed the remains of his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>

-fathers—nothing to tell him that his eyes had

-opened on the very spot where they closed two

-hundred years ago.” Again he paused a few moments,

-and then resumed his cogitations.</p>

-

-<p>“And this is not all, its name and destinies, as

-well as its nature, are changed. From the Manhadoes

-of the ancient proprietors, it passed into the

-New-Amsterdam of the Dutch, and the New-York

-of the English; and now,” continued he, his eyes

-sparkling with exultation—” now it is the possession

-of a free and sovereign people. The sandy

-barren which formed the projecting point of our

-isle, and where a few Indian canoes were hauled up,

-is now the resort of thousands of stately ships, coming

-from the farthest parts of the earth, and bearing

-the rich products of the New World into every

-corner of the Old. Their masts bristle around the

-city, like the leafless trees of a wintry forest. The

-rugged island, to which nature had granted nothing

-but its noble situation, and which seemed condemned

-to perpetual sterility, is now become a region

-of rich gardens and white groups of houses—the

-very rocks are turned to beds of flowers, and

-the tangled swamps of ivy clinging about the stinted

-shrubbery, into smooth lawns, embellishing and

-embellished by the sprightly forms of playful lads

-and lasses, escaped from the city to enjoy a summer

-afternoon of rural happiness. All, all is

-changed—and man the most of all. Simplicity has

-given place to the ostentatious, vulgar pride of

-purse-proud ignorance—the wild Indian to the idle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>

-and effeminate beau—politeness to ceremony—comfort

-to splendour—honest mechanics to knavish

-brokers—morals to manners—wampum to paper

-money—and the fear of ghosts to the horror of

-poverty.” Here again the old man paused, and

-seemed to retire within himself for a minute or two;

-after which I observed him begin to chuckle and

-rub his hands, while his mischievous old eye assumed

-a new vivacity.</p>

-

-<p>“I wonder what figure our Dutch belles or beaux

-of 1700, or thereabout, would make at a rout, or

-the Italian opera? I'faith I believe they would be

-more out of their element than the Indian I spoke

-of just now. They would certainly make rare sport

-in a cotillon, and I doubt would never arrive at

-that acme of modern refinement, which enables

-people to prefer sounds without sense, to sense

-without sound—and to expire with ecstasy at sentiments

-expressed in a language of which they

-don't comprehend a word.”</p>

-

-<p>“But did they believe in ghosts, grandfather?”

-asked the youngest little granddaughter, who was

-just beginning to dip in the modern wonders of romance,

-and had been caught by the word ghost in

-the old gentleman's harangue.</p>

-

-<p>“Ay, that they did, and in everything else. Now

-people believe in nothing except what they see in

-the newspapers—and the only exercise of their

-faith appears, not indeed in believing a crust of

-bread is a shoulder of mutton, but that a greasy rag

-of paper is a guinea. I have heard my grandfather<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>

-tell fifty stories of ghosts and witches; but they

-have all passed from my memory, except one about

-a little Dutch sentinel, which he used to repeat so

-often, that I have never forgotten it to this day.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, tell us the story,” cried the little romance

-reader, who was the old gentleman's prime favourite,

-and to whom he never thought of denying anything,

-either in or out of reason. “I'll give you

-two kisses if you will.”</p>

-

-<p>“A bargain,” cried the good Aurie; “come hither,

-baggage.” The little girl presented first one rosy

-cheek and then the other, which he kissed affectionately,

-and began as follows, while we all gathered

-about him, and listened like so many Schahriars.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p>“Once upon a time, then, to use the words of a

-pleasant and instructive historian, the governors of

-New-Amsterdam were little kings, and the burgomasters

-such great men, that whoever spoke ill of

-one of them, had a bridle put into his mouth, rods

-under his arms, and a label on his breast recording

-his crime. In this trim he was led by the sheriff

-and tied to a post, where he remained a spectacle

-to the public, and an example to all evil doers—or

-rather evil sayers. I wonder how such a custom

-would go down nowadays, with the great champions

-of the liberty of the press? Then, too, instead

-of street inspectors, whose duty it is to take

-care of one side of a street and let the other take

-care of itself, there were roy meesters to look to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>

-the fences, and keep the cows from trespassing on

-their neighbour's pastures—then the houses were

-covered with reeds and straw, and the chimneys

-were made of wood—then all matrimonial disputes

-were settled by ‘a commissary of marriage affairs,’

-and no man could eat a loaf of bread, except the

-flour had been inspected by the ‘comptroller general

-of the company's windmill,’ who could be no

-other than the sage Don Quixote himself—then,

-the distinction of ranks, instead of being designated

-by great and little barons, was signified by great

-and little burghers, who danced hipsey-saw and

-reels—plucked the goose—rambled on the commons,

-now the park, for nuts and strawberries—made

-parties of pleasure to enjoy the retired shades

-of the Ladies' Valley, since metamorphosed into

-Maiden Lane—shot bears in the impenetrable forests

-of Harlem Heights—hunted the deer along

-the Bloomingdale road—and erected Maypoles on

-the first of May, in the great meadow where the

-college now stands.”</p>

-

-<p>“In what year of our Lord was that?” asked the

-little pet lady.</p>

-

-<p>“Why, in the year 1670, or thereabout, you baggage.”</p>

-

-<p>“I declare I thought it must have been somewhere

-about the year one,” said she, laughing.

-The old man patted her cheek, and went on.</p>

-

-<p>“About this time the good citizens of New-Amsterdam

-were most especially afraid of three things—Indians,

-ghosts, and witches. For the first, they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>

-had good reason, for the Indians inhabited the

-country around them in all directions, and though

-the honest Amsterdamers could beat them at a

-bargain, there was another game at which they had

-rather the advantage. In regard to ghosts and

-witches, I cannot say as much in justification of

-their fears. But that is neither here nor there.

-Some people that will run like a deer from real

-danger, defy ghosts and witches, and all their

-works; while the fearless soldier who faces death

-without shrinking in a hundred battles, trembles

-and flees from a white cow in a churchyard, or a

-white sheet on a clothes line, of a moonlight night.

-It was thus with honest JAN SOL, the little Dutch

-sentinel of the Manhadoes.</p>

-

-<p>“Jan was a short, square-built, bandy-legged,

-broad-faced, snub-nosed little fellow, who valued

-himself upon being an old soldier; a species of

-men that, with the exception of travellers, are the

-most given to telling what are called tough stories,

-of any people in the world. According to his own

-account, he had been in more pitched battles than

-Henry the Lion, or Julius Cæsar; and made more

-lucky escapes than any knight-errant on record.

-The most miraculous one of all, was at some battle—I

-forget the name—where he would certainly

-have been killed, if he had not very opportunely arrived

-just after it was over. But though one of the

-most communicative persons in the world, he never

-gave any tolerable reason for visiting New-Amsterdam.

-He hinted, indeed, that he had been invited<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>

-over to discipline the raw provincials; but there was

-a counter story abroad, that he was drummed out of

-the regiment for walking in his sleep, and emptying

-the canteens of the whole mess. Indeed, he

-did not positively deny that he was apt to be a

-rogue in his sleep; but then he made it up by being

-as honest as the day when he was awake.</p>

-

-<p>“However this may be, at the time I speak of,

-Jan Sol figured as corporal in the trusty city guard,

-whose business it was to watch during the night,

-to guard against the inroads of the savages, and to

-enforce, in the daytime, the military code established

-for the good order and well being of the metropolis.

-This code consisted of nineteen articles,

-every one of which was a perfect blue law. Bread

-and water, boring tongues with a red-hot iron,

-hanging, and such like trifles, were the least a man

-had to expect in those days. The mildest infliction

-of the whole code, was that of riding a wooden

-horse, for not appearing on parade at the ringing of

-a bell. This town was always famous for bellringing.

-Jan had many a ride in this way for nothing.

-Among the most rigid of these regulations, was one

-which denounced death for going in and out of the

-fort, except through the gate; and another, ordaining

-a similar punishment for entering or leaving

-the city by any other way but the land poort, after

-the mayor had gone his rounds in the evening, and

-received the keys from the guard.</p>

-

-<p>“The state of society, and the neighbourhood of

-the Indians, I suppose, made these severe restrictions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>

-necessary; and we are not, while sitting quietly

-at our firesides, out of their reach, to set ourselves

-in judgment upon our ancestors, who planted

-the seeds of this empire in the midst of dangers.

-In the little sketch of New-Amsterdam to which I

-have before referred, and which is well worth your

-reading, it is stated that the gate was shut in the

-evening before dark, and opened at daylight. At

-nine o'clock the tattoo was beat, as the signal for

-the honest folks to go to sleep as quick as possible,

-and it is recorded they all obeyed the summons in

-the most exemplary manner. The sentinels were

-placed at different points considered the most accessible,

-and changed every half hour, that being

-the limit of a quiet, orderly Dutchman's capacity

-for keeping awake after nine o'clock.</p>

-

-<p>“One bright moonlight night, in the month of

-August, it fell to the lot of Jan Sol to mount guard,

-not a hundred yards from the great gate, or land

-poort, which was situated in Broadway, near where

-Trinity Church now stands. Beyond this, between

-Liberty and Courtlandt streets, stood the company's

-windmill, where nearly all the flour was made

-for the consumption of the little metropolis. The

-place where he took his rounds was a sand bank,

-elevated above the surrounding objects, and whence

-he could see the river, the opposite shore of New-Jersey,

-then called Pavonia, the capacious bay, and

-the distant hills of Staten Island. The night was

-calm, and the cloudless sky showed thousands of

-wandering glories overhead, whose bright twinklings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>

-danced on the slow undulating surface of the

-glassy mirror. All round there was perfect silence

-and repose, nothing moved upon the land or the waters,

-neither lights were burning nor dogs barking;

-these sagacious animals having been taught, by a

-most infallible way of appealing to their instincts,

-that it was unlawful to disturb the somniferous indulgences

-of their masters. It was a scene for poetic

-inspiration, but Jan Sol was no poet, although

-he often availed himself of the poetic license in his

-stories. He was thinking of something else, besides

-the beauty of the night and the scene. The

-truth is, his nerves were very much out of order at

-that moment.</p>

-

-<p>“It was about the time that witches made their

-first appearance in the New World, whither they

-came, I suppose, to escape the pleasant alternative

-of being either drowned or hanged, proffered to

-them in those days by the good people of England.

-But they got out of the frying pan into the fire, as

-history records, particularly to the eastward of the

-Manhadoes, where some of them underwent the ordeal

-of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Others

-fled to New-Amsterdam, greatly to the discomfort

-of the good citizens, who took such umbrage at

-broomsticks, that the industrious and cleanly housewife's

-vocation of sweeping the parlour twelve times

-a day was considered as naught. It is affirmed,

-that instead of a broom, they used the broad-brimmed

-Sunday hats of their husbands in blowing

-away the dust, for fear of being taken for witches.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>

-There was a universal panic, and a universal dust

-throughout all the city.</p>

-

-<p>“But this was not the worst of it either. Just

-about this time Dominie Egidius Luyck prophesied

-the world was coming speedily to an end, as plainly

-appeared from the great quantity of toad stools,

-which made their appearance in the Ladies' Valley

-and Windmill Meadow after a heavy rain. This

-prophecy was followed up by the appearance of

-the northern lights, falling stars, and mysterious

-rattlings of invisible carriages through the streets

-at midnight. To crown all, an inspired fanatic had

-passed through the Broadway, crying out 'Wo,

-wo to the crown of pride, and the drunkards of

-Ephraim. Two woes past, and the third coming,

-except ye repent—repent—repent.' All these horrors

-now encompassed the imagination of Jan Sol,

-as he paced the little sand hillock with slow steps,

-and from time to time started at his shadow. The

-half hour seemed an age, and never did anybody

-long so much for the appearance of a corporal's

-guard to relieve him.</p>

-

-<p>“He had not been on his watch more than ten

-minutes, or so, when, happening to look towards

-the opposite shore of Pavonia, he saw something

-moving on the waters like a canoe shooting across

-the river. Five hundred Indians with tomahawks

-and scalping knives all at once stood before the

-little sentinel, whose imagination was ready cocked

-and primed for the reception of all sorts of horrors.

-He had a great mind to fire his gun, and alarm the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>

-garrison, but a little of the fear of his companions'

-jokes restrained him for that time. However, he

-drew a pistol, and refreshed his courage with a little

-of the genuine Schiedam, after which he ventured

-to look that way again. But the canoe had

-disappeared in a most miraculous manner, and Jan

-was satisfied in his own mind, that it was neither

-more nor less than the ghost of a canoe. There

-was not much consolation in this; but it was better

-than the five hundred Indians, with their tomahawks

-and scalping knives.</p>

-

-<p>“The night breeze now sprung up with its chilling

-dews, and cooled Jan's courage till it nearly

-fell down to the freezing point. The wind, or

-some other cause, produced a sort of creaking and

-moaning in the old crazy windmill, which drew the

-eyes of the little sentinel in that direction. At that

-moment, Jan saw a head slowly rising and peeping

-over the wall, directly in a line with the windmill.

-His eyes became riveted to the spot, with

-the irresistible fascination of overwhelming terror.

-Gradually the head was followed by shoulders,

-body and legs, which Jan swore belonged to a giant

-at least sixteen ells high. After sitting a moment

-upon the wall, the figure, according to Jan's

-relation before the governor next morning, put forth

-a pair of enormous wings, and whirling itself round

-and round in a circle—while its eyes flashed fire,

-and its teeth appeared like live coals—actually flew

-down from the wall towards the governor's garden,

-where it disappeared, or rather sank into the ground,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>

-close by the garden gate. Jan fired his gun, and

-one might have supposed he killed himself, for he

-fell flat on his face, apparently as dead as a door

-nail.</p>

-

-<p>“Here he was found by the relief guard, about

-five minutes afterwards, with his face buried in the

-sand hill. The moment they touched him, he began

-to roar out with awful vociferation, ‘Wo, wo to

-the crown of pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim.’

-They could make nothing of Jan or his story, and

-forthwith carried him to the ‘big house,’ as it was

-called, where the governor resided, and who, together

-with the whole corporation and city, had

-been waked by the discharge of the gun. Such a

-thing had not happened within the memory of man.

-Jan told his story, and swore to it afterwards; but

-all he got by it, was a ride on the wooden horse

-the next morning. The story, however, took wind,

-and there was more liquor sold that day at the

-Stadt Herberg, or city tavern, than for a whole

-week before. Coming upon the back of the dominie's

-toad stools, the northern lights, the rumbling

-of the invisible wheels, and the mysterious

-denunciation of the drunkards of Ephraim, it made

-a great impression; and many, not to say all, believed

-there must be something in it. Several

-people went to church the next day, who had not

-been there since they were christened.</p>

-

-<p>“Measures were taken the following night, and

-for several nights afterwards, to detect this gigantic

-spectre, but in vain. Nothing appeared to disturb<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>

-the quiet repose of the guard and the city, till the

-next Saturday night, when it came to Jan Sol's

-turn to take his watch upon the sand hill, about the

-same hour as before. They say Jan fortified himself

-with a double allowance of Schiedam, and put

-a little Dutch Bible in the pocket of one of his

-breeches. But all would not do, for many people

-were ready to swear afterwards, that his hair stood

-on end so sturdily that he could hardly keep his tin

-cap upon it. Ghosts, hobgoblins, and all that sort

-of thing, have not only a propensity to visit some

-one particular person, but are likewise extremely

-regular in their habits, as well as in their hours of

-appearing. Exactly at the same hour the little

-canoe shot from Pavonia—the night breeze sprang

-up as before—the old windmill began to creak and

-moan—the gigantic spectre peered over the wall

-at the same spot as before, and cautiously glaring

-round with his fiery eyes, unfurled his mighty

-wings, and after turning a few somersets, flew towards

-the gate of the governor's garden, where he

-disappeared as before. This time Jan was too far

-gone to fire his matchlock, but a few minutes after

-he was found almost insensible with fright, by the

-relief guard, who carried him before the governor

-next morning, where he swore to the same story,

-and was complimented with another ride on the

-wooden horse.</p>

-

-<p>“But the repetition of a miracle is sure to make

-it less miraculous; and a wonder twice told is

-almost half proved. People began to believe, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>

-from believing, to be sure there was something out

-of the way, at least, in this affair. Miracles, like

-misfortunes, never come single; and almost every

-one had a wonder of his own to reinforce that of

-the little Dutch sentinel. At least fifty of them

-happened within less than a week, each more

-alarming than the other. Doors opened at midnight,

-by invisible hands—strange black cats with

-green eyes, and sparks of fire flying out of their

-backs, appeared at different times—the old mahogany

-chests of drawers made divers strange

-noises, and sometimes went off with a report almost

-as loud as a pistol—and an old woman coming into

-market with cabbages before daylight in the morning,

-met a black figure, she could almost swear had

-a tail and a cloven foot. A horseman was heard

-in the middle of the night galloping furiously towards

-the land poort, crying ‘Whoa! whoa!’ with

-a hollow voice; and what was very singular,

-though several persons got up to look out of the

-windows, not one could see the least sign of horse

-or horseman. In short, the whole city of New-Amsterdam

-was in a panic, and he was a bold man

-that did not run away from his own shadow. Even

-the ‘big house’ where the governor dwelt, was infected,

-insomuch that his excellency doubled his

-guards, and slept with loaded pistols at his bedside.

-One of these made a voluntary discharge

-one night, and the bullet passed right through the

-picture of Admiral Van Tromp, which hung up in

-the chamber. If it had been the admiral himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>

-he would have been killed as sure as a gun. This

-accident was considered as very remarkable, as

-there were no hair triggers in those days, to go off

-of themselves.</p>

-

-<p>“There was at that time a public-spirited little

-magistrate in office, by the name of DIRCK SMET,

-a pipemaker by trade, who was the father of more

-laws than all the lawyers before or after him, from

-Moses down to the present time. He had the itch

-of legislation to a most alarming degree, and like

-Titus, considered he had lost a day when he had

-not begotten at least one law. A single circumstance

-or event, no matter how insignificant, was

-enough for him. If a little boy happened to frighten

-a sober Dutch horse, which, by-the-way, was no

-such easy matter, by flying his kite, the worshipful

-Dirck Smet would forthwith call a meeting of

-the common council, and, after declaiming a full

-hour upon the dangers of kiteflying, get a law

-passed, denouncing a penalty upon all wicked parents

-who allowed their children to indulge in that

-pestilent amusement. If there happened a rumour

-of a man, a horse, a cow, or any other animal being

-bitten by a mad dog, in some remote part of

-New-England, or elsewhere, Dirck Smet would

-spout a speech enough to make one's hair stand on

-end, about the horrors of hydrophobia, and get a

-law passed against all the honest mastiffs of New-Amsterdam,

-who had no more idea of running mad

-than I have at this moment. Owing to the number

-of little creeks intersecting the city, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>

-quantity of grass growing in the streets at that time,

-there was never a finer city for raising flocks of

-geese than New-Amsterdam—in fact, there were as

-many geese as inhabitants. Dirck declared war

-against these in a speech of three hours, which so

-overpowered the council, that they all fell asleep,

-and passed a law banishing the geese from the

-city; although one of the members, who had the

-finest goose pond in the place, talked very learnedly

-about the famous goose that saved the capitol.

-It is said that Dirck's antipathy to these honest

-birds arose from having been attacked and sorely

-buffeted by a valiant old gander, whose premises he

-had chanced to invade on some occasion. He was,

-indeed, the most arrant meddler and busybody of

-his day, always poking his nose into holes and corners,

-ferreting out nuisances, and seeking pretexts

-for new laws; so that if the people had paid any

-attention to them they would have been under a

-worse tyranny than that of the Turk or the Spaniard.

-But they were saved from this by a lucky circumstance—the

-council thinking they did enough by

-making the laws, let them take care of themselves

-afterwards; and honest Dirck Smet was too busy

-begetting new laws, to mind what became of the

-old ones. Nevertheless, he got the reputation of a

-most vigilant magistrate, which means a pestilent

-intermeddler with people's domestic sports and occupations,

-and a most industrious busybody in attempting

-impossibilities.</p>

-

-<p>“As soon as Dirck Smet heard the story of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>

-inroads of the winged monster, he fell into a fever

-of anxiety to do something for the good of the community.

-He was on the point of proposing a severe

-law against winged monsters, but from this he

-was dissuaded by a judicious friend, who represented

-the difficulty of catching this sort of delinquents,

-and that this was absolutely necessary, before he

-could punish them. Baffled in this point, he fumed

-about from one place to another, insisting that

-something must be done for the quiet and security

-of the city, and that a law of some kind or other

-was absolutely necessary on the occasion, if it

-were only to show their zeal for the public good.

-It was his opinion that a bad law was better than no

-law at all, and that it would be an inexcusable piece

-of negligence to let these interloping monsters fly

-over the wall with impunity.</p>

-

-<p>“All this while his excellency the governor of

-New-Amsterdam said nothing, but thought a great

-deal. He was a little jealous of the popularity of

-Dirck Smet, who had got the title of Father of the

-City, on account of having saved it from the horrors

-of flying kites, mad dogs, and hissing ganders. In

-fact, they were two such great men, that the city

-was not half large enough for them both, and the

-consequence was, that instead of assisting, they

-only stood in each other's way, like two carts in a

-narrow lane. We can have too much of a good

-thing, even as regards laws and rulers. The governor

-was determined to do nothing, for no other

-reason that could ever be discovered than because<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>

-his rival was so busy. The fears of the good citizens,

-however, and their increasing clamours

-against the negligence of their rulers, at length

-roused the activity of the governor, who forthwith

-convened his council, to deliberate upon the best

-means of saving the city of New-Amsterdam.</p>

-

-<p>“Dirck Smet, who was ex-officio a member, was

-in his glory on this occasion, and talked so much

-that there was no time for acting. At length, however,

-the inward man gave out, and he had not

-breath to say anything more. It was then, tradition

-says, that a silent old member, who never

-made a set speech in his life, proposed, in as few

-words as possible, and in a quiet colloquial manner,

-that measures should be first taken to ascertain

-the truth of the story, after which means might

-be found to detect the miracle or the impostor,

-whatever it might be. It is affirmed the whole

-council was astonished that a man should be able

-to say so much in so few words, and that henceforth

-the silent member was considered the wisest of

-them all. Even Dirck Smet held his tongue for the

-rest of the sitting, thus furnishing another striking

-proof, my children, that good sense is an overmatch

-for the most confirmed garrulity. The same old

-gentleman suggested, that as Saturday night seemed

-to be the period chosen for his two visits by the

-winged monster, it would be advisable to place

-some of the most trusty of the city guard in ambush

-in the vicinity of the spot where, according

-to the testimony of Jan Sol, he had flown over the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>

-wall, to intercept him there, or at least overtake

-him in his progress to the governor's garden. Everybody

-wondered at the wisdom of this proposal,

-which was adopted with only one dissenting voice.

-Dirck Smet moved, as an amendment, that the

-word ‘progress’ should be changed to ‘flight,’ but

-it was negatived, greatly to his mortification, and

-therefore he voted against the whole proposition,

-declaring it went against his conscience.</p>

-

-<p>“Accordingly, the next Saturday night a party

-was got in readiness, of six picked men of the city

-guard, under the command of Captain Balthaser

-Knyff, of immortal memory, who had faced more

-ghosts in his generation than any man living. The

-whole band was equipped with an extraordinary

-number of nether garments for defence, and fortified

-with double allowance of Schiedam, to keep up

-their courage in this arduous service. The captain

-was considered a person of the greatest weight

-in all the city; and in addition to this, he added to

-his specific gravity, by stuffing into his pocket all

-the leaden weights he could borrow of a neighbouring

-grocer, for he did not know but the monster

-might fly away with him. His comrades remonstrated

-that this additional weight would impede

-his pursuit of the foe; but the captain nobly replied,

-‘it was beneath a soldier to run, either from

-or after an enemy.’ The most perfect secrecy

-was preserved in all these arrangements.</p>

-

-<p>“Thus equipped, they took their station, about

-eleven o'clock on the Saturday night following the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>

-last appearance of the winged monster, under cover

-of one of the neighbouring houses, and there waited

-the coming of the mysterious visiter. Twelve

-o'clock, the favourite hour of spectres of all sorts,

-came and passed, yet no spectre appeared peeping

-over the wall. By this time they began to be

-wearied with long watching, and it was proposed

-that they should take turns, one at a time, while

-the others slept off the fatigue of such unheard-of

-service. The lot fell upon Jan Sol, who being, as

-it were, a sort of old acquaintance of the spectre,

-was supposed to be particularly qualified for this

-honour. Jan forthwith posted himself at the corner

-of the house, upon one leg, to make sure of

-keeping awake, as he had whilome seen the New-Amsterdam

-geese do, ere they were banished from

-the city, by the inflexible patriotism of Dirck Smet,

-the great lawgiver.</p>

-

-<p>“The little Dutch sentinel stood for about half

-an hour, sometimes on one leg, sometimes on the

-other, with his head full of hobgoblins and his

-heart full of fears. All was silent as the grave,

-save the sonorous music of the captain's vocal nose,

-or, as it might be poetically expressed, ‘living lyre,’

-which ever and anon snorted a low requiem to the

-waning night. The moon was on the swift decrease,

-and now exhibited an arch not unlike a

-bright Indian bow, suspended in the west, a little

-above the distant horizon. Gradually it sank

-behind the hills, leaving the world to the guardianship

-of the watchmen of the night, the twinkling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>

-stars. Scarcely a minute after, the heart of honest

-Jan was sent bumping against his trusty ribs, by

-the appearance of something slowly rising above

-the indistinct line of the city wall, which I ought

-to observe was made of wood. The spectre gradually

-mounted higher and higher, and rested on

-the very spot where he had seen it twice before.

-The teeth of Jan Sol chattered, and his knees

-knocked against each other—but he stood his

-ground manfully, and either would not or could

-not run away. This time the spectre, though he

-appeared with two enormous wings projecting from

-his shoulders, did not whirl them round, or expand

-them in the manner he had done before. After

-sitting perched for a few moments on the wall, he

-flew down to the ground, and crept cautiously

-along, under cover of the wall, in a direction towards

-the big house. At this moment, the trusty

-Jan with some difficulty roused his companions,

-and silently pointed to the spectre gliding along as

-before related. Whether it was that it saw or

-heard something to alarm it, I cannot say; but

-scarcely had the redoubtable Captain Knyff risen,

-and shaken from his valiant spirit the fumes of

-sleep and Schiedam, when the spirit took as it

-were to itself wings, and sped rapidly towards the

-gate of the governor's garden. The party pursued,

-with the exception of the captain, who carried too

-much weight for a race, and arrived within sight

-of the gate just in time to see the spectre vanish,

-either under, over, or inside of it, they could not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>

-tell which. When they got to the gate, they found

-it fast locked, a proof, if any had been wanting,

-that it must have been something supernatural.</p>

-

-<p>“In pursuance of their instructions, the guard

-roused the governor, his household, and his troops,

-with the intention of searching the garden, and, if

-necessary, every part of his house, for the purpose

-of detecting this mysterious intruder. The garden

-was surrounded by a high brick wall, the top of

-which bristled with iron spikes and pieces of bottles

-set in mortar. It was worth a man's life to

-get over it. There was no getting in or out except

-by the gate, on the outside of which the governor

-stationed two trusty fellows, with orders to stand

-a little apart, and perfectly quiet. Now all the

-governor's household was wide awake, and in a

-rustle of anxiety and trepidation, except one alone,

-who did not make her appearance. This was the

-governor's only daughter, as pretty a little Dutch

-damsel as ever crossed Kissing Bridge, or rambled

-over the green fields of the Manhadoes. Compared

-to the queer little bodies that figure nowadays

-in the Broadway, seemingly composed of

-nothing but hats, feathers, and flounces, she was a

-composition of real flesh and blood, which is better

-than all the gauze, silk, tulle, and gros de Naples

-in the world. “A man marries a milliner's shop

-instead of a woman nowadays,” said the old gentleman,

-glancing a little archly at the fashionable

-paraphernalia of his pretty pet granddaughter.

-“Her face and form was all unsophisticated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>

-native beauty, and her dress all simplicity and

-grace.”</p>

-

-<p>“Is that her picture hanging in the back parlour?”

-asked the little girl, in a sly way.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes; but the picture does not do justice either

-to the beauty or the dress of the original.”</p>

-

-<p>“I hope not,” said the other; “for if it does, I

-am sure I would not be like her for the world.”</p>

-

-<p>“Pshaw, you baggage,” replied the old gentleman,

-“you'll never be fit to hold a candle to her.”</p>

-

-<p>“The search now commenced with great vigour

-in the garden, although Jan Sol openly declared it

-as his opinion, that they might look themselves

-blind before they found the spectre, who could fly

-over a wall as easy as a grasshopper. He accordingly

-kept aloof from the retired part of the garden,

-and stuck close to his noble commander, Captain

-Knyff, who by this time had come up with

-the pursuers. All search, however, proved vain;

-for after a close investigation of more than an hour,

-it was unanimously agreed that the intruder, whether

-man, monster, or ghost, could not possibly be

-hid in the garden. The governor then determined

-to have the house searched, and accordingly the

-whole party entered for that purpose, with the exception

-of the two sentinels without the gate.

-Here, while rummaging in closets, peering under

-beds, and looking up chimneys in vain, they were

-alarmed by a sudden shout from the garden, which

-made their hearts quake with exceeding apprehension.

-The shout was succeeded by loud talking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>

-and apparent tugging and struggling, as if between

-persons engaged in hot contention. At the same

-moment the governor's daughter rushed into her

-chamber, and throwing herself on the bed with a

-loud shriek, remained insensible for some time.

-Everybody was sure she had seen the spectre.</p>

-

-<p>“It appears that while the search was going on

-in the big house, and the attention of everybody

-employed in that direction, the sentinels outside the

-gate heard the key cautiously turned inside, then,

-after a little pause, slowly open. A face then

-peeped out as if to take an observation, and the

-owner, apparently satisfied that the coast was

-clear, darted forward. The first step, he unluckily

-tripped over a rope which these trusty fellows had

-drawn across the gate, and fell full length on the

-ground. Before he could recover his feet the two

-sentinels were upon him, and in spite of his exertions

-kept him down, until their shouts drew the

-rest of the guard to their assistance. The spectre

-was then secured with ropes, and safely lodged in

-the cellar under a strong escort, to await his examination

-the next morning. Jan Sol was one of the

-band, though he insisted it was all nonsense to

-mount guard over a spectre.</p>

-

-<p>“The council met betimes at the sound of a bell,

-rung by a worthy citizen, who, in addition to his

-vocation of bellringer, was crier of the court, messenger

-to the governor, sexton, clerk, and gravedigger

-to the whole city of New-Amsterdam. It

-was something to be a man in those days, before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>

-the invention of steam engines, spinning jennies,

-and chessplaying automatons caused such a superfluity

-of human beings, that it is much if they

-can now earn salt to their porridge. At that time,

-men were so scarce, that there were at least half

-a dozen offices to one man; now there are half a

-dozen men to one office; all which is owing to

-machinery. This accumulation of honours in the

-person of the bellringer, made him a man of considerable

-consequence, insomuch, that the little

-boys about Flattenbarrack Hill chalked his name

-upon their sleighs, and it is even asserted that he

-had an Albany sloop called after him. I could,

-therefore, do no less than make honourable mention

-of a person of his dignity.</p>

-

-<p>“After the council met, and everything was ready,

-the door of the cellar was cautiously opened, and

-Jan Sol, at the head, that is to say, in the rear of

-a file of soldiers, descended for the purpose of

-bringing forth this daring interloper, who had thus,

-from time to time, disturbed the sleep of the sober

-citizens of New-Amsterdam. Jan offered to bet

-a canteen of Schiedam, that they would find nobody

-in the cellar; but, contrary to all expectation, they

-presently came forth with the body of a comely

-youth, apparently about the age of five-and-twenty,

-which was considered very young in those days.

-Nothing was more customary there, than for a

-sturdy mother to bastinado her boys, as she called

-them, after they had grown to be six feet high.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>

-They were all the better for it, and made excellent

-husbands.</p>

-

-<p>“When the young man came into the presence

-of the puissant governor of the New Netherlands,

-he appeared a comely person, tall, fair complexioned,

-and pleasant of feature. He was asked

-whence he came, and not having a lawyer at his

-elbow to teach him the noble art of prevarication,

-replied without hesitation,</p>

-

-<p>“‘From Pavonia.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘How did you get into the city?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I climbed the wall, near the company's windmill.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘And how did you get into the governor's

-garden?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘The same way I got out.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘How was that?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Through the gate.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘How did you get through the gate?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘By unlocking it.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘With what?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘With a key.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Whence came that key?’</p>

-

-<p>“No answer.</p>

-

-<p>“‘Whence came that key?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I shall not tell.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘What induced you to scale the wall and intrude

-into the garden?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I shall not tell.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Not if you are hanged for not telling?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Not if I am hanged for not telling.’</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p>

-

-<p>“‘What have you done with the wings with

-which, according to the testimony of Jan Sol, you

-flew from the wall, and through the street to the

-governor's garden?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I never had any wings, and never flew in the

-whole course of my life.’</p>

-

-<p>“Here Jan Sol was called up, and testified positively

-to the wings and the flying. There was now

-great perplexity in the council, when the keeper of

-the windmill demanded to be heard. He stated he

-remembered perfectly well, that on the two nights

-referred to, he had set his windmill going about the

-hour in which Jan Sol saw the spectre whirl round

-and fly from the wall. There had been a calm for

-several days previous, and the citizens began to be

-in want of flour. He had therefore taken advantage

-of the rising of the wind at the time, to set his

-mill going. A little further inquiry led to the fact,

-that the place where the spectre scaled the wall

-was exactly in a line with the windmill and the spot

-where Jan held his watch. It was thus that the

-spectre became identified with the wings of the mill.

-This exposition marvellously quieted the fears of

-the good people; but there were a number of stern

-believers who stuck by the little sentinel, and continued

-to believe in the winged monster. As for

-poor Jan, he looked ten times more foolish than

-when he used to be caught emptying the canteens

-of his comrades in his sleep. This elucidation

-being over, the examination proceeded.</p>

-

-<p>“‘Did you know of the law making it death for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>

-any one to enter or depart from the city between

-sunset and sunrise, except through the gate?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I did.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘What induced you to violate it?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I shall not tell.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Was it plunder?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I am no thief.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Was it treason against the state?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I am no traitor.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Was it mischief?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I am not a child.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Was it to frighten people?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I am no fool.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘What is your name?’</p>

-

-<p>“'My name is of no consequence—a man can

-be hanged without a name.'</p>

-

-<p>“And this was all they could get out of him.

-Various cross-questions were put to entrap him.

-He replied to them all with perfect freedom and

-promptitude, until they came to his name, and his

-motives for intruding into the city in violation of a

-law so severe, that none as yet had ever been

-known to transgress it. Then, as before, he declined

-answering.</p>

-

-<p>“In those early days, under the Dutch dynasty,

-trial by jury was not in fashion. People were too

-busy to serve as jurymen, if they had been wanted;

-and the decision of most cases was left either to the

-burgomasters, or if of great consequence, to the

-governor and council. Justice was severe and

-prompt, in proportion to the dangers which surrounded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>

-the early colonists, and the spirit of the

-times in which they flourished. They lived in perpetual

-apprehension; and fear is the father of cruelty.

-The law denouncing death to any person

-who should enter the city between sunset and sunrise,

-except by the gate, was considered as too essential

-to the security of the citizens to be relaxed

-in favour of any one, especially of a person who

-refused to tell either his name or the motive for

-his intrusion. By his own admission, he was

-guilty of the offence, and but one course remained

-for the council. The young man was sentenced

-to be hanged that day week, and sent to the fort

-for safe keeping till the period arrived.</p>

-

-<p>“That day the daughter of the governor did not

-appear to grace the table of his excellency, nor in

-the management of those little household affairs,

-that are not beneath the dignity of the daughters of

-kings. She was ill with a headache, and kept her

-bed. The governor had no child but her, and

-though without any great portion of sensibility,

-was capable of all the warmth of parental affection.

-Indeed, all his affections were centred in this little

-blooming offspring, who was the only being in all

-the New World that carried a drop of his blood

-coursing in her blue veins. He was also proud of

-her—so proud, that his pride often got the better of

-his affection. She had many admirers—for she

-was fair, wealthy, and the daughter of the greatest

-governor in the New World, not excepting him of

-Virginia. It followed, as a matter of course, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>

-she was admired, but it was at an awful distance.

-The honest Dutch swains, who had not pursued

-the female sprite through all the mazes of romance,

-and learned how ofttimes highborn ladies stooped

-to lads of low degree, gaped at her at church, as if

-she had been a sea serpent. They would as soon

-have thought of aspiring to the governor's dignity,

-as to the governor's daughter. Besides, he was

-one of those absurd old blockheads, who consider

-nobody good enough for their daughters at home,

-and hawk them about Europe, in search of some

-needy sprig of nobility, who will exchange his

-mighty honours for bags of gold, and a fair, blooming,

-virtuous virgin into the bargain. He had sworn

-a thousand times, that his Blandina should never

-marry anything below a Dutch baron.”</p>

-

-<p>“Was her name Blandina—was she my namesake?”

-interrupted the little granddaughter.</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, girl, she was your great great grandmother,

-and you were christened after her,” said the old

-man, and proceeded.</p>

-

-<p>“This fear on the part of the young fellows of

-New-Amsterdam, and this well-known determination

-of the governor, kept all admirers at an awful

-distance from the young lady, who grew up to the

-age of eighteen, loving no one save her father, now

-that her mother was no more; and an old black

-woman, who had taken care of her ever since she

-was a child. The throne of her innocent bosom

-had remained till then quite vacant, nor did she

-know for certain what it was that made her sometimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>

-so weary of the world, and so tired of the

-length of the livelong sultry summer hours. She

-walked into the garden to pluck the flowers, until

-she became tired of that. She strolled with her old

-nurse into the rural retirement of Ladies' Valley,

-and the shady paths which coursed the wood where

-the Park is now, until she became tired of these.

-In short, she became tired of everything, and so

-spiritless, that her father was not a little alarmed

-for her health.</p>

-

-<p>“About this time the governor was called by important

-political business to the eastern frontier,

-and the journey was expected to take up several

-days. During his absence, a party was formed to

-cross the river, and spend the day in rambling about

-the romantic solitudes of Weehawk, then a sort of

-frontier between the white man and the Indian.

-Blandina was pressed to accompany them, and at

-last consented, although against the will, not only

-of the governor's deputy, but of the governor himself,

-who would certainly have forbidden it, had he

-been present; but he was a hundred miles off, and

-in the absence of the governor there was nobody

-equal to the governor's daughter. The morning

-was fine, and the party set out as happy as youthful

-spirits and youthful anticipations could make

-them. Here they rambled at will and at random,

-in groups, in pairs, and alone, just as it suited them;

-gathering together to take their refreshments, and

-again separating, as chance or will directed them.</p>

-

-<p>“Blandina had separated from the others, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>

-wandered, almost unconsciously, half a mile from

-the landing place by herself. Perhaps when she

-set out, she expected some of the beaux to follow,

-but they stood in such awe of her, that not one had

-the temerity to offer his attendance. Each being

-occupied with his own pursuits and reflections, no

-one missed the young madam for some time, until

-their attention was roused by a shriek at a distance

-in the wood. After a momentary pause, the shrieks

-were repeated in quick succession, and almost immediately

-succeeded by the report of a gun. The

-little group of young people was struck with dismay,

-and the first impulse was to run to the boats, and

-escape into the stream. But to do them justice,

-this was but an involuntary selfishness, for the moment

-they missed Blandina, the young men prepared

-to pursue in the direction of the shrieks and

-the gun. At this crisis, a figure darted swiftly

-from the wood, bearing the young lady insensible

-in his arms, and approaching the group, placed her

-with her head in the lap of one of the girls, while

-he ran to the river, and returned with some water

-in his hat.</p>

-

-<p>“Blandina soon came to herself, and related that

-she had been seized by an Indian, and rescued by

-the young man, who, all the young damsels presently

-discovered, was very handsome. He wore

-the dress of a gentleman of that day, which, sooth

-to say, would not cut much of a figure just now.

-He was accoutred as a sportsman, and had in his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>

-bag sufficient evidence of his skill. It was decided

-on all hands that the stranger, having saved the life

-of Blandina, or at least rescued her from captivity,

-was destined to be her future husband, and that her

-time was now come. Such prophecies are very

-apt to be fulfilled. The stranger announced himself

-as the son of the ancient and honourable Lord

-of Pavonia, and was blushingly invited by Blandina

-to come and receive the thanks of her father,

-when he should return from the eastern frontier.

-But he only shook his head, and replied with

-a dubious smile, ‘Are you sure I shall be welcome?’</p>

-

-<p>“From this time Blandina became more languid

-and thoughtful than ever. When the father returned,

-and heard the story of her straying into the woods,

-and of her deliverance, he swore he would reward

-the gallant young man, like a most liberal and puissant

-governor. But when afterwards, on inquiring

-his name, he found that he was the son of the Lord

-of Pavonia, he retracted his promise, and swore that

-the son was no better than the father, who was an

-arrant splutterkin. They had quarrelled about

-boundaries; his excellency claiming the whole of

-the river on the west side, up to the high-water

-mark, while the Lord of Pavonia, whose territories

-lay exactly opposite the city of New-Amsterdam,

-had the temerity to set nets, and catch shad in the

-very middle of the stream. The feud was bitter

-in proportion to the dignity of the parties and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>

-the importance of the point at issue. The governor

-commanded his daughter never to mention

-the name of the splutterkin, on pain of his displeasure.</p>

-

-<p>“Rumour, however, says that the young man

-found means to renew his acquaintance with Blandina,

-and that though she might never mention his

-name to her father, she thought of him all day, and

-dreamed about him all night. After a while the rumour

-died away, and the people began to think and

-talk of something else. Some of the young men,

-however, who happened to see the culprit that had

-dared to leap over the wall against the statute,

-thought he had a strong resemblance to the youth

-who had rescued Blandina from the Indian. The

-young lady, as I said before, continued ill all day,

-and for several days after the condemnation of the

-spectre youth, who persevered in obstinately refusing

-any disclosure of his name, or his motives for

-scaling the walls of New-Amsterdam. In the

-mean time the period of his execution approached;

-only two days of life now remained to him, when

-Blandina, with an effort, determined to bring her fate

-to a crisis at once. She rose from her bed, pale

-and drooping like a lily, and tottering to her father's

-study, sank at his feet.</p>

-

-<p>“‘Father,’ said she, ‘will you forgive him and

-me?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Forgive thee, my daughter; I have nothing to

-forgive, so that is settled. But who is the other?’</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p>

-

-<p>“‘My husband.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Thy husband!’ exclaimed the puissant governor,

-starting up in dismay; ‘and who is he?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘The youth who is sentenced to die the day

-after the morrow.’</p>

-

-<p>“'And who is he—in the d—l's name, I had

-almost said,' exclaimed his excellency, in wrathful

-amazement.</p>

-

-<p>“‘He is the son of the Lord of Pavonia,’ replied

-she, hiding her face with her hands.</p>

-

-<p>“‘And thou art married to that splutterkin?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Yes, father.’</p>

-

-<p>“'Then I shall take care to unmarry thee—the

-knot the parson tied the hangman shall untie the

-day after the morrow, or I'm no governor. But

-who dared to marry thee against my will?'</p>

-

-<p>“‘Dominie Curtenius.’</p>

-

-<p>“'He did—then the dominie shall hang by the

-side of the splutterkin. Go to thy chamber, to thy

-bed, to thy grave, thou art no daughter of mine.'</p>

-

-<p>“Poor Blandina crawled to her bed, and wept

-herself into a temporary forgetfulness. The next

-day she was so much worse, that the old nurse

-declared she would die before her husband. The

-governor kept up a good countenance, but his

-heart was sorely beset by pity and forgiveness,

-which both clung weeping about him. He went so

-far as to sound some of the council about pardoning

-the young man; but one of them, who was suspected

-of looking up to the fair Blandina, talked so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>

-eloquently about the safety of the city and the public

-good, that he was fain to hold his tongue, and

-shut himself up, for he could not bear to see his

-daughter.</p>

-

-<p>“At length the day arrived, big with the fate of

-poor Blandina and her unhappy husband. She

-sent to her father for permission to see him before

-he died, but the governor, after a sore struggle, denied

-her request.</p>

-

-<p>“‘Then, indeed, he is no longer my father,’

-cried Blandina, and sinking upon her bed, covered

-her head, as if to shut out the world. Presently

-the bell tolled the hour of the sacrifice, and its hollow

-vibrations penetrated the ears of the mourning

-wife. In spite of her weakness, and the endeavours

-of the old nurse, she started up, and rushing

-towards the door of her chamber, exclaimed, wildly,

-'I will see him—I will go and see him die.' But

-her strength failed her, and she sank on the floor.

-In the mean time a scene, peculiarly interesting to

-the fortunes of Blandina, was passing below. The

-proud, obdurate, rich old Lord of Pavonia, had

-heard of the capture, the condemnation of his only

-son. For a while his pride and hatred of the

-Governor of New-Amsterdam almost choked the

-thought of entreaty or concession to his ancient enemy.

-But as the time approached, and he heard

-of the situation of his son, and of his unfortunate

-wife, who had never offended him, his heart gradually

-relented. When the morning arrived, and he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>

-looked across the smooth river, from the long porch

-fronting his stately mansion, towards the spot where

-his son was about suffering an ignominious death,

-he could restrain his feelings no longer.</p>

-

-<p>“Calling for his boatmen and his barge, and

-hastily putting on his cocked hat and sword, he

-embarked, crossed swiftly over the river, and landing,

-proceeded directly to the big house. He demanded

-an audience of the governor.</p>

-

-<p>“'The splutterkin is here too—but let him come

-in, that I may be satisfied the old dog is as miserable

-as myself,' said the governor, with tears in his

-eyes.</p>

-

-<p>“The Lord of Pavonia entered with a stately

-bow, which was returned in as stately a manner

-by the governor.</p>

-

-<p>“‘I come,’ said Pavonia, ‘I come,’ and his

-voice became choked, ‘to ask the life of my son

-at your hands.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘Thy son has broken the laws, and the laws

-have condemned him to death, justly.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I know it,’ said the other; ‘but what if I pay

-the price of his ransom?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘I am no money higgler.’</p>

-

-<p>“‘But if I surrender the right of the river to

-high-water mark?’</p>

-

-<p>“‘What!’ said his excellency, pricking up his

-ears, ‘wilt thou? And the shad fishery, and the

-diabolical gill nets?’</p>

-

-<p>“'Yea—all—all,‘ said the other, 'to save the life

-of my only son.’</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p>

-

-<p>“‘Wilt thou sign, seal, and deliver?’</p>

-

-<p>“'This instant—so I receive back my boy

-alive.'</p>

-

-<p>“‘Stay, then, a moment.’</p>

-

-<p>“The governor then hastily directed his bellringer

-to call the council together, and laid the proposition

-before them. The concession was irresistible, and

-the council decided to pardon the son, on condition

-that the father executed the deed of relinquishment.

-He did so, and the young man was forthwith set at

-liberty. It is time for me to retire,” said our good

-grandfather, “so I must cut short my story. The

-meeting of the husband and his faithful wife took

-place without witnesses, and none was ever able to

-describe it. Blandina speedily recovered, and lived

-to see her children's children play about the room

-by dozens. The Lord of Pavonia and the Governor

-of New-Amsterdam continued a sort of grumbling

-acquaintance, and dined together once a year,

-when they always quarrelled about the fishery and

-high-water mark. In process of time, their respective

-fortunes became united in the person of the

-winged monster, and formed a noble patrimony,

-some of which I inherited with your grandmother.</p>

-

-<p>“Jan Sol underwent many a joke, good, bad, and

-indifferent, about the winged monster. But he continued

-to his dying day to assert his solemn belief,

-that the young Lord of Pavonia and the spectre

-were two different persons. Many a time and oft

-did he frighten his wife and children with the story,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>

-which he improved every time he told it, till he

-was at length gathered to his fathers, as his fathers

-had been gathered before him. He had enough

-people to keep him in countenance, for there were

-hundreds of discreet citizens, who treated all doubts

-concerning the appearance of the winged monster

-with as little toleration as do the good folks of the

-town of Salem the wicked unbelievers in the existence

-of the great sea serpent.”</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="COBUS_YERKS">COBUS YERKS.</h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Little Cobus Yerks—his name was Jacob, but

-being a Dutchman, if not a double Dutchman, it

-was rendered in English Cobus—little Cobus, I

-say, lived on the banks of Sawmill River, where it

-winds close under the brow of the Raven Rock, an

-enormous precipice jutting out of the side of the

-famous Buttermilk Hill, of which the reader has

-doubtless often heard. It was a rude, romantic

-spot, distant from the high road, which, however,

-could be seen winding up the hill about three

-miles off. His nearest neighbours were at the

-same distance, and he seldom saw company except

-at night, when the fox and the weasel sometimes

-beat up his quarters, and caused a horrible cackling

-among the poultry.</p>

-

-<p>One Tuesday, in the month of November, 1793,

-Cobus had gone in his wagon to the little market

-town on the river, from whence the boats plied

-weekly to New-York, with the produce of the

-neighbouring farmers. It was then a pestilent

-little place for running races, pitching quoits, and

-wrestling for gin slings; but I must do it the credit

-to say, that it is now a very orderly town, sober<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>

-and quiet, save when Parson Mathias, who calls

-himself a son of thunder, is praying in secret, so

-as to be heard across the river. It so happened,

-that of all the days in the year, this was the very

-day a rumour had got into town, that I myself—the

-veritable writer of this true story—had been

-poisoned by a dish of Souchong tea, which was

-bought a great bargain of a pedler. There was

-not a stroke of work done in the village that day.

-The shoemaker abandoned his awl; the tailor his

-goose; the hatter his bowstring; and the forge of

-the blacksmith was cool from dawn till nightfall.

-Silent was the sonorous harmony of the big spinning

-wheel; silent the village song, and silent the

-fiddle of Master Timothy Canty, who passed his

-livelong time in playing tuneful measures, and

-catching bugs and butterflies. I must say something

-of Tim before I go on with my tale.</p>

-

-<p>Master Timothy was first seen in the village,

-one foggy morning, after a drizzling, warm, showery

-night, when he was detected in a garret, at the

-extremity of the suburbs; and it was the general

-supposition that he had rained down in company

-with a store of little toads that were seen hopping

-about, as is usual after a shower. Around his

-garret were disposed a number of unframed pictures,

-painted on glass, as in the olden time, representing

-the Four Seasons, the old King of Prussia,

-and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in their sharp-pointed

-cocked hats; the fat, bald-pated Marquis

-of Granby, the beautiful Constantia Phillips, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>

-divers others, not forgetting the renowned Kitty

-Fisher, who, I honestly confess, was my favourite

-among them all. The whole village poured into

-the garret to gaze at these chef d'œuvres; and it is

-my confirmed opinion, which I shall carry to the

-grave, that neither the gallery of Florence, Dresden,

-nor the Louvre, was ever visited by so many

-real amateurs. Besides the pictures, there were a

-great many other curiosities, at least curiosities to

-the simple villagers, who were always sure of being

-welcomed by Master Tim with a jest and a tune.</p>

-

-<p>Master Tim, as they came to call him when

-they got to be a little acquainted, was a rare

-fellow, such as seldom rains down anywhere,

-much less on a country village. He was of

-“merry England,” as they call it—lucus a non

-lucendo—at least so he said and I believe, although

-he belied his nativity, by being the merriest rogue

-in the world, even when the fog was at the thickest.

-In truth, he was ever in a good humour, unless

-it might be when a rare bug or gorgeous butterfly,

-that he had followed through thick and thin,

-escaped his net at last. Then, to be sure, he was

-apt to call the recreant all the “vagabonds” he

-could think of. He was a middle-sized man, whose

-person decreased regularly, from the crown of his

-head to the—I was going to say, sole of his foot—but

-it was only to the commencement of the

-foot, to speak by the card. The top of his head

-was broad and flat, and so was his forehead, which

-took up at least two thirds of his face, that tapered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>

-off suddenly to a chin, as sharp as the point of a

-triangle. His forehead was indeed a large field,

-diversified like the country into which he had

-rained down, with singular varieties of hill and

-dale, meadow and plough land, hedge and ditch,

-ravine and watercourse. It had as many points

-as a periwinkle. The brow projected exuberantly,

-though not heavily, over a pair of rascally little

-cross-firing, twinkling eyes, that, as the country

-people said, looked at least nine ways from Sunday.

-His teeth were white enough, but no two of

-them were fellows. But his head would have

-turned the brains of a phrenologist, in exploring

-the mysteries of its development; it was shaped

-somewhat like Stony Point—which everybody

-knows as the scene of a gallant exploit of Pennsylvanian

-Wayne—and had quite as many abruptnesses

-and quizzical protuberances to brag about.

-At the upper extremity of his forehead, as he assured

-us, he carried his money, in the shape of a

-piece of silver, three inches long and two wide,

-inserted there in consequence of a fracture he got

-by falling down a precipice in hot chase of a “vagabond

-of a beetle,” as he was pleased to call him.

-Descending towards terra firma, to wit, his feet,

-we find his body gradually diminishing to his legs,

-which were so thin, everybody wondered how they

-could carry the great head. But, like Captain

-Wattle, each had a foot at the end of it, full as

-large as the Black Dwarf. It is so long ago that

-I almost forget his costume. All I recollect is,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>

-that he never wore boots or pantaloons, but exhibited

-his spindles in all weathers in worsted stockings,

-and his feet in shoes, gorgeously caparisoned

-in a pair of square silver buckles, the only pieces

-of finery he ever displayed.</p>

-

-<p>In the merry months of spring and summer, and

-early in autumn, Master Timothy was most of his

-time chasing bugs and butterflies about the fields,

-to the utter confusion of the people, who wondered

-what he could want with such trumpery. Being

-a genius and an idler by profession, I used to

-accompany him frequently in these excursions, for

-he was fond of me, and called me vagabond oftener

-than he did anybody else. He had a little net of

-green gauze, so constructed as to open and shut as

-occasion required, to entrap the small fry, and a

-box with a cork bottom, upon which he impaled

-his prisoners with true scientific barbarity, by sticking

-a pin in them. Thus equipped, this Don

-Quixote of butterfly catchers, with myself his

-faithful esquire, would sally out of a morning into

-the clovered meadows and flower-dotted fields, over

-brook, through tangled copse and briery dell, in

-chase of these gentlemen commoners of nature.

-Ever and anon, as he came upon some little retired

-nook, where nature, like a modest virgin, shrouded

-her beauties from the common view—a rocky glen,

-romantic cottage, rustic bridge, or brawling stream,

-he would take out his little portfolio, and pointing

-me to some conspicuous station to animate his

-little landscape, sketch it and me together, with a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>

-mingled taste and skill I have never since seen surpassed.

-I figure in all his landscapes, although he

-often called me a vagabond, because he could not

-drill me into picturesque attitudes. But the finest

-sport for me, was to watch him creeping slily after

-a humming bird, the object of his most intense desires,

-half buried in the bliss of the dewy honeysuckle,

-and just as he was on the point of covering

-it with his net, to see the little vagrant flit away

-with a swiftness that made it invisible. It was an

-invaluable sight to behold Master Timothy stand

-wiping his continent of a forehead, and blessing the

-bird for a “little vagabond.” These were happy

-times, and at this moment I recall them, I hardly

-know why, with a melancholy yet pleasing delight.</p>

-

-<p>During the winter season, Master Timothy was

-usually employed in the daytime painting pleasure

-sleighs, which, at that period, it was the fashion

-among the farmers to have as fine as fiddles. Timothy

-was a desperate hand at a true lover's knot, a

-cipher, or a wreath of flowers; and as for a blazing

-sun! he painted one for the squire, that was seriously

-suspected of melting all the snow in ten

-leagues round. He would go ten or a dozen miles

-to paint a sleigh, and always carried his materials

-on a board upon the top of his head—it was before

-the invention of high-crowned hats. Destiny had

-decreed he should follow this trade, and nature had

-provided him a head on purpose. It was as flat

-as a pancake. In the long winter evenings it was

-his pleasure to sit by the fireside, and tell enormous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>

-stories to groups of horrorstruck listeners.

-I never knew a man that had been so often robbed

-on Hounslow Heath, or had seen so many ghosts

-in his day, as Master Tim Canty. Peace to his

-ashes! he is dead, and, if report is to be credited,

-is sometimes seen on moonlight nights in the churchyard,

-with his little green gauze net, chasing the

-ghosts of moths and beetles, as he was wont in

-past times.</p>

-

-<p>But it is high time to return to my story; for I

-candidly confess I never think of honest Tim that

-I don't grow as garrulous as an old lady, talking

-about the revolution and the Yagers. In all country

-villages I ever saw or heard of, whenever anything

-strange, new, horrible, or delightful happens,

-or is supposed to have happened, all the male inhabitants,

-not to say female, make for the tavern

-as fast as possible, to hear the news, or tell the

-news, and get at the bottom of the affair. I don't

-deny that truth is sometimes to be found at the

-bottom of a well; but in these cases she is generally

-found at the bottom of the glass. Be this as

-it may—when Cobus Yerks looked into the village

-inn, just to say How d'ye do to the landlady, he

-beheld a party of some ten or a dozen people, discussing

-the affair of my being poisoned with Souchong

-tea, which by this time had been extended

-to the whole family, not one of whom had been

-left alive by the bloody-minded damsel, Rumour.</p>

-

-<p>Cobus could not resist the fascination of these

-horrors. He edged himself in among them, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>

-after a little while they were joined by Master

-Timothy, who, on hearing of the catastrophe of his

-old fellow-labourer in butterfly catching, had strode

-over a distance of two miles to our house to ascertain

-the truth of the story. He of course found it

-was a mistake, and had now returned with a nefarious

-design of frightening them all out of their

-wits by a story of more than modern horrors. By

-this time it was the dusk of the evening, and Cobus

-had a long way to travel before he could reach

-home. He had been so fascinated with the story,

-and the additions every moment furnished by

-various new comers, that he forgot the time till it

-began to grow quite dark; and then he was so

-horrorstruck at what he had heard, that he grew

-fast to his chair in the chimney corner, where he

-had intrenched himself. It was at this moment

-Master Timothy came in with the design aforesaid.</p>

-

-<p>The whole party gathered round him to know if

-the story of the poisoning was true. Tim shook

-his head, and the shaking of such a head was

-awful. “What! all the family?” cried they, with

-one voice. “Every soul of them,” cried Tim, in

-a hollow tone—“every soul of them, poor creatures;

-and not only they, but all the cattle, horses,

-pigs, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs, and guinea hens,

-are poisoned.” “What! with Souchong tea?”

-“No—with coloquintida.” Coloquintida! the very

-name was enough to poison a whole generation of

-Christian people. “But the black bulldog!” cried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>

-Timothy, in a sepulchral voice, that curdled the

-very marrow of their innermost bones. “What

-of the black bulldog?” quoth little Cobus. “Why,

-they do say that he came to life again after laying

-six hours stone dead, and ran away howling like a

-d—l incarnate.” “A d—l incarnate!” quoth Cobus,

-who knew no more about the meaning of that

-fell word than if it had been Greek. He only

-knew it was something very terrible. “Yes,” replied

-Timothy; “and what's more, I saw where

-he jumped over the barnyard gate, and there was

-the print of a cloven foot, as plain as the daylight

-this blessed minute.” It was as dark as pitch, but

-the comparison was considered proof positive. “A

-cloven foot!” quoth Cobus, who squeezed himself

-almost into the oven, while the thought of going

-home all alone in the dark, past the churchyard,

-the old grave at the cross roads, and, above all, the

-spot where John Ryer was hanged for shooting the

-sheriff, smote upon his heart, and beat it into a

-jelly—at least it shook like one. What if he

-should meet the big black dog, with his cloven

-foot, who howled like a d—l incarnate! The

-thought was enough to wither the heart of a stone.</p>

-

-<p>Cobus was a little, knock-kneed, broad-faced,

-and broad-shouldered Dutchman, who believed all

-things, past, present, and to come, concerning

-spooks, goblins, and fiends of all sorts and sizes,

-from a fairy to a giant. Tim Canty knew him of

-old, for he had once painted a sleigh for him, and

-frightened Cobus out of six nights' sleep, by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>

-story of a man that he once saw murdered by a

-highwayman on Hounslow Heath. Tim followed

-up the story of the black dog with several others,

-each more appalling than the first, till he fairly

-lifted Cobus's wits off the hinges, aided as he was

-by certain huge draughts upon a pewter mug, with

-which the little man reinforced his courage at short

-intervals. He was a true disciple of the doctrine

-that spirit and courage, that is to say, whiskey and

-valour were synonymous.</p>

-

-<p>It now began to wax late in the evening, and the

-company departed, not one by one, but in pairs, to

-their respective homes. The landlady, a bitter

-root of a woman, and more than a match for half

-the men in the village, began to grow sleepy, as it

-was now no longer worth her while to keep awake.

-Gradually all became quiet within and without the

-house, except now and then the howling of a wandering

-cur, and the still more doleful moaning of

-the winds, accompanied by the hollow thumpings

-of the waves, as they dashed on the rocky shores

-of the river that ran hard by. Once, and once

-only, the cat mewed in the garret, and almost

-caused Cobus to jump out of his skin. The landlady

-began to complain that it grew late, and she

-was very sleepy; but Cobus would take no hints,

-manfully keeping his post in the chimney corner,

-till at last the good woman threatened to call up

-her two negroes, and have him turned neck and

-heels out of doors. For a moment the fear of the

-big black dog with the cloven foot was mastered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>

-by the fear of the two stout black men, and the

-spirit moved Cobus towards the door, lovingly

-hugging the stone jug, which he had taken care to

-have plentifully replenished with the creature. He

-sallied forth in those graceful curves, which are

-affirmed to constitute the true lines of beauty; and

-report says that he made a copious libation of the

-contents of the stone jug outside the door, ere the

-landlady, after assisting to untie his patient team,

-had tumbled him into his wagon. This was the

-last that was seen of Cobus Yerks.</p>

-

-<p>That night his faithful, though not very obedient

-little wife, whom he had wedded at Tappan, on the

-famous sea of that name, and who wore a cap

-trimmed with pink ribands when she went to

-church on Sundays, fell asleep in her chair, as she

-sat anxiously watching his return. About midnight

-she waked, but she saw not her beloved Cobus,

-nor heard his voice calling her to open the

-door. But she heard the raven, or something very

-like it, screaming from the Raven Rock, the foxes

-barking about the house, the wind whistling and

-moaning among the rocks and trees of the mountain

-side, and a terrible commotion among the poultry,

-Cobus having taken the great house dog with

-him that day. Again she fell asleep, and waked

-not until the day was dawning. She opened the

-window, and looked forth upon as beautiful an autumnal

-morning as ever blessed this blessed country.

-The yellow sun threw a golden lustre over

-the many-tinted woods, painted by the cunning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>

-hand of Nature with a thousand varied dies; the

-smoke of the neighbouring farmhouses rose straight

-upward to heaven in the pure atmosphere, and the

-breath of the cattle mingled its warm vapour with

-the invisible clearness of the morning air. But

-what were all these beauties of delicious nature to

-the eye and the heart of the anxious wife, who saw

-that Cobus was not there?</p>

-

-<p>She went forth to the neighbours to know if they

-had seen him, and they good-naturedly sallied out

-to seek him on the road that led from the village to

-his home. But no traces of him could be found,

-and they were returning with bad news for his anxious

-wife, when they bethought themselves of turning

-into a byroad that led to a tavern, that used

-whilome to attract the affections of honest Cobus,

-and where he was sometimes wont to stop and wet

-his whistle.</p>

-

-<p>They had not gone far, when they began to perceive

-traces of the lost traveller. First his broad-brimmed

-hat, which he had inherited through divers

-generations, and which he always wore when

-he went to the village, lay grovelling in the dirt,

-crushed out of all goodly shape by the wheel of his

-wagon, which had passed over it. Next, they encountered

-the backboard of the wagon, ornamented

-with C. Y. in a true lover's knot, painted by Tim

-Canty, in his best style—and anon a little farther,

-a shoe, that was identified as having belonged to

-our hero, by having upward of three hundred hobnails

-in the sole, for he was a saving little fellow,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>

-though he would wet his whistle sometimes, in

-spite of all his wife and the minister could say.

-Proceeding about a hundred rods farther, to a sudden

-turn of the road, they encountered the wagon,

-or rather the fragments of it, scattered about and

-along in the highway, and the horses standing quietly

-against a fence, into which they had run the

-pole of the wagon.</p>

-

-<p>But what was become of the unfortunate driver,

-no one could discover. At length, after searching

-some time, they found him lying in a tuft of blackberry

-briars, amid the fragments of the stone jug,

-lifeless and motionless. His face was turned upward,

-and streaked with seams of blood; his clothes

-torn, bloody, and disfigured with dirt; and his pipe,

-that he carried in the buttonholes of his waistcoat,

-shivered all to naught. They made their way to

-the body, full of sad forebodings, and shook it, to see

-if any life remained. But it was all in vain—there

-seemed neither sense nor motion there. “Maybe,

-after all,” said one, “he is only in a swound—here

-is a little drop of the spirits left in the bottom

-of the jug—let us hold it to his nose, it may bring

-him to life.”</p>

-

-<p>The experiment was tried, and wonderful to tell,

-in a moment or two, Cobus, opening his eyes, and

-smacking his lips with peculiar satisfaction, exclaimed,

-“Some o' that, boys!” A little shaking

-brought him to himself, when being asked to give

-an account of the disaster of his wagon and his

-stone jug, he at first shook his head mysteriously, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>

-demurred. Being, however taken to the neighbouring

-tavern, and comforted a little with divers refreshments,

-he was again pressed for his story,

-when, assuming a face of awful mystification, he

-began as follows:—</p>

-

-<p>“You must know,” said Cobus, “I started

-rather late from town, for I had been kept there by—by

-business; and because, you see, I was waiting

-for the moon to rise, that I might find my way

-home in the dark night. But it grew darker and

-darker, until you could not see your hand before

-your face, and at last I concluded to set out, considering

-I was as sober as a deacon, and my horses

-could see their way blindfold. I had not gone quite

-round the corner, where John Ryer was hung for

-shooting Sheriff Smith, when I heard somebody

-coming, pat, pat, pat, close behind my wagon. I

-looked back, but I could see nothing, it was so

-dark. By-and-by, I heard it again, louder and

-louder, and then I confess I began to be a little

-afeard. So I whipped up my horses a quarter of a

-mile or so, and then let them walk on. I listened,

-and pat, pat, pat, went the noise again. I began to

-be a good deal frightened, but considering it could

-be nothing at all, I thought I might as well take a

-small dram, as the night was rather chilly, and I

-began to tremble a little with the cold. I took but

-a drop, as I am a living sinner, and then went on

-quite gayly; but pat, pat, pat, went the footsteps

-ten times louder and faster than ever. And then!

-then I looked back, and saw a pair of saucer eyes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>

-just at the tail of my wagon, as big and as bright as

-the mouths of a fiery furnace, dancing up and down

-in the air like two stage lamps in a rough road.</p>

-

-<p>“By gosh, boys, but you may depend I was

-scared now! I took another little dram, and then

-made the whip fly about the ears of old Pepper and

-Billy, who cantered away at a wonderful rate,

-considering. Presently, bang! something heavy

-jumped into the wagon, as if heaven and earth were

-coming together. I looked over my shoulder, and

-the great burning eyes were within half a yard of

-my back. The creature was so close that I felt its

-breath blowing upon me, and it smelled for all one

-exactly like brimstone. I should have jumped out

-of the wagon, but, somehow or other, I could not

-stir, for I was bewitched as sure as you live. All

-I could do was to bang away upon Pepper and

-Billy, who rattled along at a great rate up hill and

-down, over the rough roads, so that if I had not

-been bewitched, I must have tumbled out to a certainty.

-When I came to the bridge, at old Mangham's,

-the black dog, for I could see something

-black and shaggy under the goggle eyes, all at once

-jumped up, and seated himself close by me on the

-bench, snatched the whip and reins out of my hands

-like lightning. Then looking me in the face, and

-nodding, he whispered something in my ear, and

-lashed away upon Pepper and Billy, till they

-seemed to fly through the air. From that time I

-began to lose my wits by degrees, till at last the

-smell of brimstone overpowered me, and I remember<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>

-nothing till you found me this morning in the

-briars.”</p>

-

-<p>Here little Cobus concluded his story, which he

-repeated with several variations and additions to

-his wife, when he got home. That good woman,

-who, on most occasions, took the liberty of lecturing

-her good man, whenever he used to be belated

-in his excursions to the village, was so struck with

-this adventure, that she omitted her usual exhortation,

-and ever afterwards viewed him as one ennobled

-by supernatural communication, submitting to

-him as her veritable lord and master. Some

-people, who pretend to be so wise that they

-won't believe the evidence of their senses when it

-contradicts their reason, affected to be incredulous,

-and hinted that the goggle eyes, and the brimstone

-breath, appertained to Cobus Yerks's great house-dog,

-which had certainly followed him that day to

-the village, and was found quietly reposing by his

-master, in the tuft of briars. But Cobus was ever

-exceedingly wroth at this suggestion, and being a

-sturdy little brusier, had knocked down one or two

-of these unbelieving sinners, for venturing to assert

-that the contents of the stone jug were at the bottom

-of the whole business. After that, everybody

-believed it, and it is now for ever incorporated with

-the marvellous legends of the renowned Buttermilk

-Hill.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_STRANGE_BIRD">A STRANGE BIRD<br>

-

-

-<small>IN</small><br>

-

-NIEUW-AMSTERDAM.</h2>

-</div>

-

-<p>In the year of the building of the city (which

-in Latin is called _Anno Urba Conditur_) fifty-five,

-to wit, the year of our Lord 1678, there appeared

-a phenomenon in the street of Nieuw-Amsterdam

-called Garden-street. This was a youthful stranger,

-dressed in the outlandish garb of the English

-beyond the Varsche river, towards the east, where

-those interlopers have grievously trespassed on

-the territories of their high mightinesses, the states

-general. Now, be it known that this was the first

-stranger from foreign parts that ever showed himself

-in the streets of Nieuw-Amsterdam, which had

-never been before invaded in like manner. Whereat

-the good people were strangely perplexed and

-confounded, seeing they could by no means divine

-his business. The good yffrouws did gaze at him

-as he passed along by their stoops, and the idle

-boys followed him wheresoever he went, shouting

-and hallooing, to the great disturbance of the

-peaceable and orderly citizens, of whom it was

-once said that the barking of a cur disturbed the

-whole city.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p>

-

-<p>But the stranger took not the least heed of the

-boys or their hallooings, but passed straight onward,

-looking neither to the right nor to the left,

-which circumstance seemed exceedingly perplexing

-to the good yffrouws, seeing it savoured of

-having no curiosity to see or be seen, which to

-them appeared altogether out of nature. The

-stranger proceeded in a sort of rigmarole way,

-seeming little to care whither he went, all along

-by the Stadt Huys, the East and West Docks, the

-Bendeel or Battery, the Rondeels, and I can't tell

-where else. All the while he seemed to take

-no notice of anything, which everybody thought

-strange, since he appeared as if he had no other

-business than to see the city.</p>

-

-<p>In the course of his marvellous peregrinations, he

-at length came to the great building, which, being

-the only house of public resort, was called, by way

-of eminence, the City Tavern. Here he stopped

-all of a sudden, so abruptly, that little Brom, son of

-Alderman Botherwick, who was close at his heels,

-did run right upon his hinder parts, and almost

-knocked him down, before he could stop himself.

-Whereupon the stranger turned round and gave him

-a look, whether of menace or good will, was long

-after disputed by divers people that saw him. Be

-this as it may, the stranger, on seeing the tavern,

-nodded his head, and went straight up the steps

-into the bar-room, where he courteously saluted

-the landlord, good Mynheer Swighauser, by pulling

-off his hat, saying, at the same time, nothing; which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>

-mynheer thought rather mighty particular. He

-asked the interloping stranger what he would

-please to have; for he was a polite man enough,

-except to losel beggars, and that sort of vermin.

-The stranger hereupon said nothing, but addressed

-Mynheer Swighauser in a figurative style, which

-all landlords comprehend. He pulled out a purse,

-and showed him the money, at the sight of which

-mynheer made him a reverend bow, and ushered

-him into the Half Moon, so called from being ornamented

-with a gallant picture of the vessel of that

-name, in which good Master Hendrick Hudson did

-first adventure to the discovery of the Manhadoes.

-It was the best room in the house, and always

-reserved by Mynheer Swighauser for guests that

-carried full purses.</p>

-

-<p>Having so done, mynheer courteously asked the

-stranger what he would please to have for dinner,

-it being now past eleven o'clock, and the dinner

-hour nigh. Whereat the stranger looked hard at

-him, and said not a word. Mynheer thereupon

-raised his voice so loud, that he frightened divers

-tame pigeons, sitting on their coop in the yard, who

-rose into the air out of sight, and, it is affirmed,

-never returned again. The stranger answered not

-a word, as before.</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat donder is dat?_” exclaimed mynheer; “a

-man with such a full purse might venture to call

-for his dinner, I think.”</p>

-

-<p>However, when Mynheer Swighauser and his

-family sat down to their dinner at twelve o'clock,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>

-the stranger, without any ceremony, sat down with

-them, taking the chair from time immemorial appropriated

-to mynheer's youngest child, who was

-thereat so mortally offended, that she set up a great

-cry, and refused to eat any dinner. Yffrouw Swighauser

-looked hard and angry at the stranger, who

-continued to eat as if it were his last, saying nothing

-all the while, and paying no more heed to the

-little child than he did to the hallooing of the boys

-or mynheer's courteous interrogatories.</p>

-

-<p>When he had finished, he took up his hat, and

-went forth on a peregrination, from which he did

-not return until it was nigh dusk. Mynheer was

-in tribulation lest he should lose the price of his

-dinner, but the Yffrouw said she did not care if she

-never saw such a dumb noddy again. The stranger

-ate a huge supper in silence, smoked his pipe,

-and went to bed at eight o'clock, at which hour

-mynheer always shut up the front of his house,

-leaving the back door open to the roistering younkers,

-who came there to carouse every night, and

-play at all-fours. Soon after the stranger retired,

-there was heard a great noise in his room, which

-so excited the curiosity of Yffrouw Swighauser,

-that she took a landlady's liberty, and went and

-listened at the door. It proved only the stranger

-playing a concert with Morpheus, on the nasal

-trumpet, whereupon the yffrouw went away, exclaiming,</p>

-

-<p>“The splutterkin! he makes noise enough in his

-sleep, if he can't when he is awake.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p>

-

-<p>That night the good city of Nieuw-Amsterdam

-was impestered with divers strange noises, grievous

-mishaps, and unaccountable appearances. The

-noises were such as those who heard them could

-not describe, and, for that reason, I hope the courteous

-reader will excuse me, if I say nothing more

-about them; the mishaps were of certain mysterious

-broken heads, black eyes, and sore bruises received,

-as was affirmed, from unknown assailants;

-and the mysterious appearances consisted in lights

-moving about, at midnight, in the Ladies' Valley,

-since called Maiden Lane, which might have

-passed for lightning bugs, only people that saw

-them said they were as big as jack-a-lanterns. Besides

-these, there were seen divers stars shooting

-about in the sky, and an old yffrouw, being called

-out after midnight on a special occasion, did certify

-that she saw two stars fighting with each other,

-and making the sparks fly at every blow. Other

-strange things happened on that memorable night,

-which alarmed the good citizens, and excited the

-vigilance of the magistrates.</p>

-

-<p>The next night, matters were still worse. The

-lights in the Ladies' Valley were larger and more

-numerous; the noises waxed more alarming and

-unaccountable; and the stranger, while he continued

-to act and say nothing all day, snored louder

-than ever. At length, Yffrouw Swighauser, being

-thereunto, as I suspect, instigated by a stomachful

-feeling, on account of the stranger's having got possession

-of her favourite's seat, and set her a crying,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>

-did prevail, by divers means, of which, thank Heaven,

-I have little experience, being a bachelor, to

-have her husband go and make a complaint against

-the stranger, as having some diabolical agency in

-these matters.</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat donner meen je_, wife?” quoth mynheer;

-“what have I to say against the man? He is a

-very civil, good sort of a body, and never makes

-any disturbance except in his sleep.”</p>

-

-<p>“Ay, there it is,” replied the yffrouw. “I never

-heard such a snore in all my life. Why, it's no

-more like yours than the grunt of a pig is to the

-roar of a lion. It's unnatural.”</p>

-

-<p>Mynheer did not like this comparison, and answered

-and said, “By St. Johannes de Dooper,

-whoever says I snore like a pig is no better than a

-goose.”</p>

-

-<p>The yffrouw had a point to gain, or mynheer

-Swighauser would have repented this rejoinder.</p>

-

-<p>“My duck-a-deary,” said she, “whoever says

-you don't snore like a fiddle has no more ear for

-music than a mole—I mean a squeaking fiddle,”

-quoth she, aside.</p>

-

-<p>Without further prosecuting this dialogue, let it

-suffice to say that the yffrouw at length wrought

-upon mynheer to present the stranger unto Alderman

-Schlepevalcker as a mysterious person, who

-came from—nobody knew where, for—nobody knew

-what; and for aught he knew to the contrary, was

-at the bottom of all the disturbances that had beset

-the good people of Nieuw-Amsterdam for the last<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>

-two nights. Accordingly, the honest man went on his

-way to the Stadt Huys, where the excellent magistrate

-was taking his turn in presiding over the peace

-of the city of Nieuw-Amsterdam, and told all he

-knew, together with much more besides.</p>

-

-<p>During this communication, the worthy alderman

-exclaimed, from time to time, “Indeedaad!” “Onbegrypelyk!”

-“Goeden Hemel!” “Is het mogelyk!”

-“Vuur envlammen!” and finally dismissed

-Mynheer Swighauser, desiring him to watch the

-stranger, and come next day with the result of his

-observations. After which he went home to consult

-his pillow, which he considered worth all the

-law books in the world.</p>

-

-<p>The honest publican returned to the City Tavern,

-where he found supper all ready; and the

-stranger, sitting down as usual in the old place, ate

-a hearty meal without uttering one word. The

-yffrouw was out of all patience with him, seeing she

-never before had a guest in the house four-and-twenty

-hours, without knowing all about him.

-The upshot of the interview with the worthy magistrate

-being disclosed to the yffrouw, it was

-agreed in secret to set old Quashee, the black

-hostler, to watch the stranger; though the yffrouw

-told her husband he might as well set a wooden

-image to do it, for Quashee was the most notorious

-sleepyhead in all Nieuw-Amsterdam, not excepting

-himself.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, well,” quoth mynheer, “_men weet niet

-hoe een koe een haas vangan kan_;” which means,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>

-“There is no saying that a cow won't catch a

-hare,” and so the matter was settled.</p>

-

-<p>When the stranger retired to his room after

-supper, the old negro was accordingly stationed

-outside the door, with strict injunctions to keep

-himself awake, on pain of losing his Newyear

-present, and being shut up in the stable all Newyear's

-day. But it is recorded of Quashee, that

-the flesh was too strong for the spirit, though he

-had a noggin of genuine Holland to comfort him,

-and that he fell into a profound nap, which lasted

-till after sunrise next day, when he was found sitting

-bolt upright on a three-legged stool, with his

-little black stump of a pipe declining from the

-dexter corner of his mouth. Mynheer was exceeding

-wroth, and did accommodate old Quashee

-with such a hearty cuff on the side of his head,

-that he fell from the stool, and did incontinently

-roll down the stairs and so into the kitchen, where

-he was arrested by the great Dutch andirons.

-“_Een vervlockte jonge_,” exclaimed Mynheer Swighauser,

-“_men weet niet, hoe een dubbeltje rollen

-kan_”—in English, “There is no saying which way

-a sixpence will roll.”</p>

-

-<p>At breakfast, the stranger was for the first time

-missing from his meals, and this excited no small

-wonder in the family, which was marvellously aggravated,

-when, after knocking some time and

-receiving no answer, the door was opened, and the

-stranger found wanting.</p>

-

-<p>“_Is het mogelyk!_” exclaimed the yffrouw, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>

-“_Wat blixen!_” cried mynheer. But their exclamations

-were speedily arrested by the arrival of the

-reverend schout, Master Roelif, as he was commonly

-called, who summoned them both forthwith

-to the Stadt Huys, at the command of his worship

-Alderman Schlepevalker.</p>

-

-<p>“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried mynheer; “what

-can his worship want of my wife now?”</p>

-

-<p>“Never mind,” replied the good yffrouw, “_het is

-goed visschen in troebel water_,” and so they followed

-Master Roelif to the Stadt House, according

-to the behest of Alderman Schlepevalker, as aforesaid.

-When they arrived there, whom should

-they see, in the middle of a great crowd in the hall

-of justice, but that “_vervlocte hond_,” the stranger,

-as the yffrouw was wont to call him, when he

-would not answer her questions.</p>

-

-<p>The stranger was standing with his hands tied

-behind, and apparently unconscious, or indifferent

-to what was going forward around him. It appears

-he had been detected very early in the morning in

-a remote part of the King's Farm, as it was afterwards

-called, but which was then a great forest full

-of rabbits and other game, standing over the dead

-body of a man, whose name and person were

-equally unknown, no one recollecting ever to have

-seen him before. On being interrogated on the

-subject, he had not only declined answering, but

-affected to take not the least heed of what they said

-to him. Under these suspicious circumstances he

-was brought before the magistrate, charged with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>

-the murder of the unknown person, whose body

-was also produced in proof of the fact. No marks

-of violence were found on the body, but all agreed

-that the man was dead, and that there must have

-been some cause for his death. The vulgar are

-ever prone to suspicions, and albeit, are so fond of

-seeing a man hanged, that they care little to inquire

-whether he is guilty or not.</p>

-

-<p>The worthy alderman, after ordering Master

-Roelif to call the people to order, proceeded to

-interrogate the prisoner as followeth:—</p>

-

-<p>“What is thy name?”</p>

-

-<p>The stranger took not the least notice of him.</p>

-

-<p>“What is thy name, _ben je bedonnered_?” repeated

-the worthy magistrate, in a loud voice, and

-somewhat of a violent gesture of impatience.</p>

-

-<p>The stranger looked him in the face and nodded

-his head.</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat donner is dat?_” cried the magistrate.</p>

-

-<p>The stranger nodded as before.</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat donner meen je?_”</p>

-

-<p>Another nod. The worthy magistrate began, as

-it were, to wax wroth, and demanded of the prisoner

-whence he came; but he had relapsed into his

-usual indifference, and paid not the least attention,

-as before. Whereupon the angry alderman committed

-him for trial, on the day but one following,

-as the witnesses were all on the spot, and the prisoner

-contumacious. In the interim, the body of

-the dead man had been examined by the only two

-doctors of Nieuw-Amsterdam, Mynheer Van Dosum<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>

-and Mynheer Vander Cureum, who being rival

-practitioners, of course differed entirely on the

-matter. Mynheer Van Dosum decided that the

-unknown died by the hand of man, and Mynheer

-Vander Cureum, by the hand of his Maker.</p>

-

-<p>When the cause came to be tried, the stranger,

-as before, replied to all questions, either by taking

-not the least notice, or nodding his head. The

-worthy magistrate hereupon was sorely puzzled,

-whether this ought to be construed into pleading

-guilty or not pleading at all. In the former case

-his course was quite clear; in the latter, he did not

-exactly know which way to steer his doubts. But

-fortunately having no lawyers to confound him, he

-finally decided, after consulting the ceiling of the

-courtroom, that as it was so easy for a man to say

-not guilty, the omission or refusal to say it was

-tantamount to a confession of guilt. Accordingly

-he condemned the prisoner to be hanged, in spite

-of the declaration of Doctor Vander Cureum, that

-the murdered man died of apoplexy.</p>

-

-<p>The prisoner received the sentence, and was

-conducted to prison without saying a word in his

-defence, and without discovering the least emotion

-on the occasion. He merely looked wistfully, first

-on the worthy magistrate, then on his bonds, and

-then at Master Roelif, who, according to the custom

-of such losel varlets in office, rudely pushed

-him out of the court and dragged him to prison.</p>

-

-<p>On the fourteenth day after his condemnation, it

-being considered that sufficient time had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>

-allowed him to repent of his sins, the poor stranger

-was brought forth to execution. He was accompanied

-by the good dominie, who had prepared his

-last dying speech and confession, and certified that

-he died a repentant sinner. His face was pale

-and sad, and his whole appearance bespoke weakness

-and suffering. He still persisted in his obstinate

-silence, and seemed unconscious of what was

-going forward; whether from indifference or despair,

-it was impossible to decide. When placed

-on a coffin in the cart, and driven under the gallows,

-he seemed for a moment to be aware of his situation,

-and the bitter tears coursed one by one down

-his pallid cheeks. But he remained silent as before;

-and when the rope was tied round his neck,

-only looked wistfully with a sort of innocent wonder

-in the face of the executioner.</p>

-

-<p>All being now ready, and the gaping crowd on

-the tiptoe of expectation, the dominie sang a devout

-hymn, and shaking hands for the last time with the

-poor stranger, descended from the cart. The bell

-tolled the signal for launching him into the illimitable

-ocean of eternity, when, all at once, its dismal

-moanings were, as it were, hushed into silence by

-the piercing shrieks of a female which seemed

-approaching from a distance. Anon a voice was

-heard crying out, “Stop, stop, for the love of

-Heaven stop; he is innocent!”</p>

-

-<p>The crowd opened, and a woman of good appearance,

-seemingly about forty-five years old,

-rushed forward, and throwing herself at the feet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>

-of the worthy alderman, whose duty it was to preside

-at the execution and maintain due order among

-the crowd, cried out aloud,</p>

-

-<p>“Spare him, he is my son—he is innocent!“</p>

-

-<p>“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried the magistrate,

-“_he is een verdoemde schurk_, and has confessed

-his crime by not denying it.”</p>

-

-<p>“He cannot confess or deny it—he was born

-deaf and dumb!”</p>

-

-<p>“_Goeden Hemel!_” exclaimed Alderman Schlepevalcker;

-“that accounts for his not pleading guilty

-or not guilty. But art thou sure of it, good

-woman?”</p>

-

-<p>“Sure of it! Did not I give him birth, and did

-I not watch like one hanging over the deathbed of

-an only child, year after year, to catch some token

-that he could hear what I said? Did I not try and

-try, day after day, month after month, year after

-year, to teach him only to name the name of mother?

-and when at last I lost all hope that I should

-ever hear the sound of his voice, did I not still bless

-Heaven that I was not childless, though my son

-could not call me mother?”</p>

-

-<p>“_Het is jammer!_” exclaimed the worthy magistrate,

-wiping his eyes. “But still a dumb man

-may kill another, for all this. What have you to

-say against that?”</p>

-

-<p>At this moment the poor speechless youth recognised

-his mother, and uttering a strange inarticulate

-scream, burst away from the executioner,

-leaped from the cart, and throwing himself on her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>

-bosom, sobbed as if his heart was breaking. The

-mother pressed him to her heart in silent agony,

-and the absence of words only added to the deep

-pathos of the meeting.</p>

-

-<p>Alderman Schlepevalcker was sorely puzzled as

-well as affected on this occasion, and after wiping

-his eyes, addressed the weeping mother.</p>

-

-<p>“How came thy son hither?”</p>

-

-<p>“He is accustomed to ramble about the country,

-sometimes all day, alone; and one day having

-strayed farther than usual, lost his way, and being

-unable to ask any information, wandered we knew

-not whither, until a neighbour told us a rumour of

-a poor youth, who was about to be executed at

-Nieuw-Amsterdam for refusing to answer questions.

-I thought it might be my son, and came in time, I

-hope, to save him.”</p>

-

-<p>“Why did not thy husband come with thee?”</p>

-

-<p>“He is dead.”</p>

-

-<p>“And thy father?”</p>

-

-<p>“He died when I was a child.”</p>

-

-<p>“And thy other relatives?”</p>

-

-<p>“I have none but him,” pointing to the dumb

-youth.</p>

-

-<p>“_Het is jammer!_ but how will he get rid of the

-charge of this foul murder?”</p>

-

-<p>“I will question him,” said the mother, who now

-made various signs, which were replied to by the

-youth in the same way.</p>

-

-<p>“What does he say?” asked the worthy magistrate.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p>

-

-<p>“He says that he went forth early in the morning

-of the day; he was found standing over the

-dead body, as soon as the gate was opened to admit

-the country people, where he saw the dead man

-lying under a tree, and was seized while thus occupied.

-He knows nothing more.”</p>

-

-<p>“_Onbegrypelik!_ how can you understand all

-this?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, sir, I have been used to study every look

-and action of his life since he was a child, and can

-comprehend his inmost thoughts.”</p>

-

-<p>“_Goeden Hemel!_ is all this true? but he must

-go back to prison, while I wait on the governor to

-solicit his pardon. Wilt thou accompany him?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh yes!—but no. I will go with thee to the

-governor. He will not deny the petition of a mother

-for the life of her only child.”</p>

-

-<p>Accordingly, the worthy magistrate calling on

-Doctor Vander Cureum on his way, proceeded to

-the governor's house, accompanied by the mother

-of the youth, who repeated what he had told her

-by signs. The doctor also again certified, in the

-most positive manner, that the supposed murdered

-man had died of apoplexy, brought on, as he supposed,

-by excessive drinking; and the good governor,

-moved by the benevolence of his heart, did

-thereupon grant the poor youth an unconditional

-pardon. He was rewarded by the tears, the

-thanks, and the blessings of the now happy

-mother.</p>

-

-<p>“Where dost thou abide?” asked the governor.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>

-“If it is at a distance, I will send some one to

-protect thee.”</p>

-

-<p>“My home is beyond the fresh water river.”</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat blikslager!_ thou belongest to the Splutterkins,

-who—but no matter, thou shalt have protection

-in thy journey home.“ The governor, being

-somewhat of a conscientious man, instead of

-swearing by the lightning, did piously asseverate

-by the tinman.</p>

-

-<p>The young man was forthwith released, to the

-unutterable joy of the mother, and the infinite content

-of the Yffrouw Swighauser, who, now that she

-knew the cause of his silence, forgave him with

-all her heart. The next day the mother and son

-departed towards home, accompanied by an escort

-provided by the good governor, the commander of

-which carried a stout defiance to the Yankees;

-and the last words of that upright and excellent

-magistrate, Alderman Schlepevalcker, as he looked

-kindly at the youth, were,</p>

-

-<p>”_Het is jammer_—it is a pity.”</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="CLAAS_SCHLASCHENSCHLINGER">CLAAS SCHLASCHENSCHLINGER.</h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Thrice blessed St. Nicholas! may thy memory

-and thine honours endure for ever and a day! It

-is true that certain arch calumniators, such as

-Romish priests, and the like, have claimed thee as

-a Catholic saint, affirming, with unparalleled insolence,

-that ever since the pestilent heresy of the illustrious

-John Calvin, there hath not been so much

-as a single saint in the Reformed Dutch Church.

-But beshrew these keepers of fasts, and other

-abominations, the truth is not, never was, nor ever

-will be in their mouths, or their hearts! Doth

-not everybody know that the blessed St. Nicholas

-was of the Reformed Dutch Church, and that the

-cunning Romanists did incontinently filch him

-from us to keep their own calendar in countenance?

-The splutterkins! But I will restrain the outpourings

-of my wrath, and contenting myself with having

-proved that the good saint was of the true faith,

-proceed with my story, which is of undoubted authority,

-since I had it from a descendant of Claas

-Schlaschenschlinger himself, who lives in great

-honour and glory at the Waalboght on Long Island,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>

-and is moreover a justice of the peace and deacon

-of the church.</p>

-

-<p>Nicholas, or, according to the true orthography,

-Claas Schlaschenschlinger, was of a respectable

-parentage, being born at Saardam, in our good

-faderland, where his ancestors had been proprietors

-of the greatest windmill in all the country round,

-ever since the period when that bloody tyrant,

-Philip of Spain, was driven from the Low Countries

-the invincible valour of the Dutch, under the

-good Prince of Orange. It is said in a certain

-credible tradition, that one of the family had done

-a good turn to the worshipful St. Nicholas, in secreting

-him from the persecutions of the Romanists,

-who now, forsooth, claim him to themselves! and

-that ever afterwards the saint took special interest

-and cognizance in their affairs.</p>

-

-<p>While at Saardam, little Claas, who was the

-youngest of a goodly family of seventeen children,

-was observed to be a great favourite of St. Nicholas,

-whose namesake he was, who always brought

-him a cake or two extra at his Christmas visits, and

-otherwise distinguished him above his brothers and

-sisters; whereat they were not a little jealous, and

-did sometimes slyly abstract some of the little

-rogue's benefactions, converting them to their own

-comfort and recreation.</p>

-

-<p>In the process of time, Claas grew to be a stout

-lad, and withal a little wild, as he did sometimes

-neglect the great windmill, the which he had charge

-of in turn with the rest of his brothers, whereby<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>

-it more than once came to serious damage. Upon

-these occasions, the worthy father, who had a reverend

-care of the morals of his children, was accustomed

-to give him the bastinado; but as Claas

-wore a competent outfit of breeches, he did not

-much mind it, not he; only it made him a little angry,

-for he was a boy of great spirit. About the

-time, I say, that Claas had arrived at the years of

-two or three and twenty, and was considered a stout

-boy for his age, there was great talk of settling a

-colony at the Manhadoes, which the famous Heinrick

-Hudson had discovered long years before.

-Many people of good name and substance were

-preparing to emigrate there, seeing it was described

-as a land flowing with milk and honey—that is to

-say, abounding in shad and herrings—and affording

-mighty bargains of beaver and other skins.</p>

-

-<p>Now Claas began to cherish an earnest longing

-to visit these parts, for he was tired of tending the

-windmill, and besides he had a natural love for

-marshes and creeks, and being a shrewd lad, concluded

-that there must be plenty of these where

-beavers and such like abounded. But his father

-and the Vrouw Schlaschenschlinger did eschew and

-anathematize this notion of Claas's, and placed him

-apprentice to an eminent shoemaker, to learn that

-useful art and mystery. Claas considered it derogatory

-to the son of the proprietor of the greatest

-windmill in all Saardam to carry the lapstone, and

-wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, or some such

-thing. But his father told him in so many words,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>

-that there were more lawyers than clients in the

-town already, and that a good cobbler saved more

-people from being sick, than all the doctors cured.

-So Claas became apprentice to the shoemaking

-business, and served out his time, after which he

-got to be his own master, and determined to put

-in practice his design of visiting the Manhadoes, of

-which he had never lost sight.</p>

-

-<p>After much ado, Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger,

-and the good vrouw, consented unwillingly to let

-him follow the bent of his inclinations, and accordingly

-all things were got ready for his departure

-for the New World, in company with a party which

-was going out under that renowned Lord Michael

-Paauw, who was proceeding to settle his domain

-of Pavonia, which lieth directly opposite to New-Amsterdam.

-Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger fitted

-out his son nobly, and becoming the owner of the

-largest windmill in all Saardam, equipping him

-with awls, and knives, and wax, and thread, together

-with a bench, and a goodly lapstone, considering

-in his own mind that the great scarcity of

-stones in Holland might, peradventure, extend to

-the Manhadoes. Now all being prepared, it was

-settled that Claas should depart on the next day

-but one, the next being St. Nicholas his day, and

-a great festival among the people of Holland.</p>

-

-<p>According to custom, ever since the days of the

-blessed saint, they had a plentiful supper of waffles

-and chocolate—that pestilent beverage tea not

-having yet come into fashion—and sat up talking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>

-of Claas, his adventures, and what he would see

-and hear in the Manhadoes, till it was almost nine

-o'clock. Upon this, mynheer ordered them all to

-bed, being scandalized at such unseasonable hours.

-In the morning when Claas got up, and went to

-put on his stocking, he felt something hard at the

-toe, and turning it inside out, there fell on the floor

-the bowl of a pipe of the genuine _Meershaum_,

-which seemed to have been used beyond memory

-since its polish was a thousand times more soft

-and delightsome than ivory or tortoise shell, and

-its lustre past all price. Would that the blessed

-saint would bestow such a one on me!</p>

-

-<p>Claas was delighted; he kissed it as if he had

-been an idolatrous Romanist—which, by the blessing

-of Saint Nicholas, he was not—and bestowing it

-in the bottom of his strong oaken chest, resolved

-like unto a prudent Dutchman, never to use it

-for fear of accidents. In a few hours afterwards,

-he parted from his parents, his family, and his

-home; his father gave him a history of the bloody

-wars and persecutions of Philip of Spain; a small

-purse of guilders, and abundance of advice for the

-government of his future life; but his mother gave

-him what was more precious than all these—her

-tears, her blessing, and a little Dutch Bible with

-silver clasps. Bibles were not so plenty then as

-they are now, and were considered as the greatest

-treasures of the household. His brothers and sisters

-took an affectionate farewell of him, and asked

-his pardon for stealing his Newyear cookies. So<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>

-Claas kissed his mother, promising, if it pleased

-Heaven, to send her stores of herrings and beaver

-skins, whereat she was marvellously comforted;

-and he went on his way, as it were sorrowfully

-rejoicing.</p>

-

-<p>I shall pass over the journey, and the voyage to

-the Manhadoes, saving the relation of a curious

-matter that occurred after the ship had been about

-ninety days at sea, and they were supposed to be

-well on their way to the port of New-Amsterdam.

-It came into the heads of the passengers to while

-away the time as they were lying to one day with

-the sails all furled, except one or two, which I name

-not, for a special reason, contrary to the practice

-of most writers—namely, because I am ignorant

-thereof—having the sails thus furled, I say, on

-account of certain suspicious-looking clouds, the

-which the captain, who kept a bright lookout day

-and night, had seen hovering overhead, with no

-good intentions, it came into the noddles of divers

-of the passengers to pass the time by opening their

-chests, and comparing their respective outfits, for

-they were an honest set of people, and not afraid

-of being robbed.</p>

-

-<p>When Claas showed his lapstone, most of the

-company, on being told the reasons for bringing it

-such a long distance, held up their hands, and admired

-the foresight of his father, considering him an

-exceeding prudent and wise man to think of such

-matters. Some of them wanted to buy it on speculation,

-but Claas was too well acquainted with its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>

-value to set a price on it. While they were thus

-chaffering, an old sailor, who had accompanied the

-renowned Heinrick Hudson as cabin boy, in his

-first voyage to the Manhadoes, happening to come

-by and hear them, swore a great Dutch oath, and

-called Claas a splutterkin for bringing stones all

-the way from Holland, saying that there were

-enough at the Manhadoes to furnish lapstones for

-the whole universe. Whereupon Claas thought to

-himself, “What a fine country it must be, where

-stones are so plenty.”</p>

-

-<p>In process of time, as all things, and especially

-voyagings by sea, have an end, the vessel came in

-sight of the highlands of Neversink—vulgarly called

-by would-be learned writers, Navesink—and Claas

-and the rest, who had never seen such vast mountains

-before, did think that it was a wall, built up

-from the earth to the sky, and that there was no

-world beyond.</p>

-

-<p>Favoured by a fine south wind, whose balmy

-freshness had awakened the young spring into

-early life and beauty, they shot like an arrow from

-a bow through the Narrows, and sailing along the

-heights of Staaten Island, came in sight of the illustrious

-city of New-Amsterdam, which, though at

-that period containing but a few hundred people, I

-shall venture to predict, in some future time, may

-actually number its tens of thousands.</p>

-

-<p>Truly it was a beautiful city, and a beautiful

-sight as might be seen of a spring morning. As

-they came through Buttermilk Channel, they beheld<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>

-with delighted astonishment the fort, the

-church, the governor's house, the great dock jutting

-out into the salt river, the Stadt Huys, the rondeel,

-and a goodly assemblage of houses, with the gable

-ends to the street, as before the villanous introduction

-of new fashions, and at the extremity of the

-city, the gate and wall, from whence Wall-street

-deriveth its name. But what above all gloriously

-delighted Claas, was a great windmill, towering in

-the air, and spreading its vast wings on the rising

-ground along the Broadway, between Liberty and

-Courtlandt streets, the which reminded him of home

-and his parents. The prospect rejoiced them all

-mightily, for they thought to themselves, “We have

-come to a little Holland far over the sea.”</p>

-

-<p>So far as I know, it was somewhere about the

-year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and

-sixty, or thereabout, and in the month of May,

-that Claas landed in the New World; but of the

-precise day of the month I cannot be certain, seeing

-what confusion of dates hath been caused by

-that idolatrous device of Pope Gregory, called the

-New Style, whereby events that really happened in

-one year are falsely put down to another, by which

-means history becomes naught. The first thing

-he thought of, was to provide himself a home, for

-be it known it was not then the fashion to live in

-taverns and boarding houses, and the man who thus

-demeaned himself was considered no better than

-he should be; nobody would trust or employ him,

-and he might consider it a special bounty of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>

-good St. Nicholas, if he escaped a ride on the

-wooden horse provided for the punishment of delinquents.

-So Claas looked out for a pleasant

-place whereon to pitch his tent. As he walked

-forth for this end, his bowels yearned exceedingly

-for a lot on the Broad-street, through which ran a

-delightful creek, crooked like unto a ram's horn,

-the sides of which were low, and, as it were, juicy

-with the salt water which did sometimes overflow

-them at spring tides, and the full of the moon.

-More especially the ferry house, with its never to

-be forgotten weathercock, did incite him sorely to

-come and set himself down thereabout. But he

-was deterred by the high price of lots in that favoured

-region, seeing they asked him as much as

-five guilders for the one at the corner of the Broad

-and Wall streets, a most unheard-of price, and not

-to be thought of by a prudent man like Claas

-Schlaschenschlinger.</p>

-

-<p>So he sought about elsewhere, though he often

-looked wistfully at the fair meads of the Broad-street,

-and nothing deterred him from ruining himself

-by gratifying his longings, but the truly excellent

-expedient of counting his money, which I recommend

-to all honest people, before they make a

-bargain. But though he could not settle in Broad-street,

-he resolved in his mind to get as nigh as

-possible, and finding a lot with a little puddle of

-brackish water in it large enough for a goose pond,

-nigh unto the wall and gate of the city, and just at

-the head of what hath lately been called Newstreet—then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>

-the region of unsettled lands—he procured

-a grant thereof from the schout, scheepens,

-and burgomasters, who then ruled the city, for five

-stivers, being the amount of fees for writing and

-recording the deed by the Geheim Schryver.</p>

-

-<p>Having built himself a comfortable house, with

-a little stoop to it, he purchased a pair of geese, or,

-to be correct and particular, as becometh a conscientious

-historian, a goose and gander, that he might

-recreate himself with their gambols in the salt puddle,

-and quietly sat himself down to the making and

-mending of shoes. In this he prospered at first

-indifferently well, and thereafter mightily, when

-the people found that he made shoes, some of

-which were reported never to wear out; but this

-was, as it were, but a sort of figure of speech to express

-their excellent qualities.</p>

-

-<p>Every Sunday, after church, in pleasant weather,

-Claas, instead of putting off his Sunday suit, as

-was the wont of the times, used to go and take a

-walk in the Ladies' Valley, since called Maiden

-Lane, for everything has changed under those arch

-intruders, the English, who, I believe, in their

-hearts, are half Papists. This valley was an exceeding

-cool, retired, and pleasant place, being bordered

-by a wood, in the which was plenty of pinkster

-blossoms in the season. Being a likely young fellow,

-and dressed in a goodly array of breeches and

-what not, he was much noticed, and many a little

-damsel cast a sheep's eye upon him as he sat smoking

-his pipe of a summer afternoon under the shade<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>

-of the trees which grew plentifully in that quarter.

-I don't know how it was, but so it happened, that in

-process of time he made acquaintance with one of

-these, a buxom creature of rare and unmatchable

-lineaments and dimensions, insomuch that she was

-considered the beauty of New-Amsterdam, and had

-refused even the burgomaster, Barendt Roeloffsen,

-who was taxed three guilders, being the richest man

-of the city. But Aintjie was not to be bought with

-gold; she loved Claas because he was a solid young

-fellow, who plucked for her the most beautiful pinkster

-blossoms, and was the most pleasant companion

-in the world, for a ramble in the Ladies'

-Valley.</p>

-

-<p>Report says, but I believe there was no great

-truth in the story, that they sometimes QUEESTED<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>

-together, but of that I profess myself doubtful.

-Certain it is, however, that in good time they were

-married, to the great content of both, and the great

-discontent of the burgomaster, Barendt Roeloffsen.</p>

-

-<div class="footnotes">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> This word is untranslatable.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<p>In those days young people did not marry to set

-up a coach, live in fine houses filled with rich furniture,

-for which they had no use, and become

-bankrupt in a few years. They began in a small

-way, and increased their comforts with their means.

-It was thus with Claas and his wife, who were

-always employed in some useful business, and

-never ran into extravagance, except it may be on

-holydays. In particular Claas always feasted lustily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>

-on St. Nicholas his day, because, he was his

-patron saint, and he remembered his kindness in

-faderland.</p>

-

-<p>Thus they went on prospering as folks always do

-that are industrious and prudent, every year laying

-up money, and every year increasing their family;

-for be it known, those who are of the true Dutch

-blood, always apportion the number of children to

-the means of providing for them. They never are

-caught having children for other people to take

-care of. But be this as it may, about this time began

-the mischievous and oppressive practice of improving

-the city, draining the marshes, cutting

-down hills, and straightening streets, which hath

-since grown to great enormity in this city, insomuch

-that a man may be said to be actually impoverished

-by his property.</p>

-

-<p>Barendt Roeloffsen, who was at the head of the

-reformers, having a great estate in vacant lands,

-which he wanted to make productive at the expense

-of his neighbours—Barendt Roeloffsen, I

-say, bestirred himself lustily to bring about what

-he called, in outlandish English, the era of improvement,

-and forthwith looked around to see

-where he should begin. I have always believed,

-and so did the people at that time, that Barendt

-singled out Claas his goose pond for the first experiment,

-being thereunto impelled by an old grudge

-against Claas, on account of his having cut him out

-with the damsel he wished to marry, as before related.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p>

-

-<p>But, however, Barendt Roeloffsen, who bore a

-great sway among the burgomasters, on account of

-his riches, got a law passed, by hook or by crook,

-for draining Claas his pond, at his own expense,

-making him pay at the same time for the rise in

-the value of his property, of which they did not permit

-him to be the judge, but took upon themselves

-to say what it was. The ancestors of Claas had

-fought valiantly against Philip of Spain, in defence

-of their religion and liberty, and he had kept up his

-detestation of oppression by frequently reading the

-account of the cruelties committed in the Low Countries

-by the Spaniard, in the book which his father

-had given him on his departure from home. Besides,

-he had a great admiration, I might almost say

-affection, for his goose pond, as is becoming in every

-true Dutchman. In it he was accustomed to

-see, with singular delight, his geese, now increased

-to a goodly flock, sailing about majestically, flapping

-their wings, dipping their necks into the water,

-and making a noise exceedingly tuneful and

-melodious. Here, too, his little children were wont

-to paddle in the summer days, up to their knees in

-the water, to their great contentment as well as recreation,

-thereby strengthening themselves exceedingly.

-Such being the case, Claas resisted the

-behest of the burgomasters, declaring that he would

-appeal to the laws for redress if they persisted in

-trespassing on his premises. But what can a man

-get by the law at any time, much less when the

-defendant, as in this case, was judge as well as a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>

-party in the business? After losing a vast deal of

-time, which was as money to him, and spending a

-good portion of what he had saved for his children,

-Claas was at length cast in his suit, and the downfall

-of his goose pond irrevocably decreed.</p>

-

-<p>It was a long time before he recovered this blow,

-and when he did, Fortune, as if determined to persevere

-in her ill offices, sent a blacksmith from Holland,

-who brought over with him the new and diabolical

-invention of hobnails, the which he so strenuously

-recommended to the foolish people, who are

-prone to run after novelties, that they, one and all,

-had their shoes stuck full of nails, whereby they

-did clatter about the streets like unto a horse newly

-shod. As might be expected, the business of shoemaking

-decreased mightily upon this, insomuch

-that the shoes might be said to last for ever; and I

-myself have seen a pair that have descended

-through three generations, the nails of which shone

-like unto silver sixpences. Some people supposed

-this was a plot of Barendt Roeloffsen, to complete the

-ruin of poor Claas; but whether it was or not, it is

-certain that such was the falling off in his trade, on

-account of the pestilent introduction of hobnails,

-that, at the end of the year, Claas found that he

-had gone down hill at a great rate. The next year

-it was still worse, and thus, in the course of a few

-more, from bad to worse, he at last found himself

-without the means of support for himself, his wife,

-and his little children. But what shows the goodness

-of Providence, it is worthy of record, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>

-from this time his family, miraculously as it were,

-ceased to increase.</p>

-

-<p>Neither begging nor running in debt without the

-prospect of paying was in fashion in those days,

-nor were there any societies to invite people to

-idleness and improvidence by the certainty of being

-relieved from their consequences without the trouble

-of asking. Claas tried what labouring day and

-night would do, but there was no use in making

-shoes when there was nobody to buy them. His

-good wife tried the magic of saving; but where

-there is nothing left to save, economy is to little

-purpose. He tried to get into some other business,

-but the wrath of Barendt Roeloffsen was upon

-him, and the whole influence of the burgomasters

-stood in his way on account of the opposition he

-had made to the march of improvement. He then

-offered his house and lot for sale; but here again

-his old enemy Barendt put a spoke in his wheel,

-going about among the people and insinuating that

-as Claas had paid nothing for his lot, the title was

-good for nothing. So one by one he tried all ways

-to keep want from his door; but it came at last,

-and one Newyear's eve, in the year of our Lord—I

-don't know what, the family was hovering round

-a miserable fire, not only without the customary

-means of enjoying the festivity of the season, but

-destitute of the very necessaries of life.</p>

-

-<p>The evening was cold and raw, and the heavy

-moanings of a keen northeast wind announced the

-approach of a snow storm. The little children<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>

-cowered over the almost expiring embers, shivering

-with cold and hunger; the old cat lay half buried

-in the ashes to keep herself warm; and the poor

-father and mother now looked at the little flock of

-ragged—no, not ragged—the mother took care of

-that; and industry can always ward off rags and

-dirt. But though not ragged or dirty, they were

-miserably clad and worse fed; and as the parents

-looked first at them and then at each other, the

-tears gathered in their eyes until they ran over.</p>

-

-<p>“We must sell the silver clasps of the Bible my

-mother gave me, wife,” said Claas, at last.</p>

-

-<p>“The Goodness forbid,” said she; “we should

-never prosper after it.”</p>

-

-<p>“We can't prosper worse than we do now,

-Aintjie.”</p>

-

-<p>“You had better sell the little book about the

-murders of the Spaniards, that you sometimes read

-to me.”</p>

-

-<p>“It has no silver clasps, and will bring nothing,”

-replied Claas, despondingly, covering his face with

-his hand, and seeming to think for a few moments.

-All at once he withdrew his hand, and cried,</p>

-

-<p>“The pipe! the meershaum pipe! it is worth a

-hundred guilders!” and he ran to the place where

-he had kept it so carefully that he never used it

-once in the whole time he had it in his possession.</p>

-

-<p>He looked at it wistfully, and it brought to his

-mind the time he found it in his stocking. He

-thought of his parents, his brothers, his sisters, and

-old faderland, and wished he had never parted from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>

-them to visit the New World. His wife saw what

-was passing in his heart, and said,</p>

-

-<p>“Never mind, dear Claas, with these hundred

-guilders we shall get on again by the blessing of

-the good St. Nicholas, whose namesake you are.”</p>

-

-<p>Claas shook his head, and looked at the meershaum,

-which he could not bear to part with, because,

-somehow or other, he could not help thinking

-it was the gift of St. Nicholas. The wind now

-freshened, and moaned more loudly than ever, and

-the snow began to come in through the crevices of

-the door and windows. The cold increased apace,

-and the last spark of fire was expiring in the chimney.

-There was darkness without and within, for

-the candle, the last they had, was just going out.</p>

-

-<p>Claas, without knowing what he was doing,

-rubbed the pipe against his sleeve, as it were mechanically.</p>

-

-<p>He had scarcely commenced rubbing, when the

-door suddenly opened, and without more ado, a little

-man, with a right ruddy good-humoured face, as

-round as an apple, and a cocked beaver, white with

-snow, walked in, without so much as saying, “By

-your leave,” and sitting himself by the side of the

-yffrouw, began to blow at the fire, and make as if

-he was warming his fingers, though there was no

-fire there, for that matter.</p>

-

-<p>Now Claas was a good-natured fellow, and

-though he had nothing to give, except a welcome,

-which is always in the power of everybody, yet he

-wished to himself he had more fire to warm people's<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>

-fingers. After a few moments, the little man

-rubbed his hands together, and looking around him,

-with a good-humoured smile, said,</p>

-

-<p>“Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger, methinks it

-might not be amiss to replenish this fire a little;

-'tis a bitter cold night, and my fingers are almost

-frostbitten.”</p>

-

-<p>“Alack, mynheer,” quoth Claas, “I would, with

-all my heart, but I have nothing wherewith to

-warm myself and my children, unless I set fire to

-my own house. I am sorry I cannot entertain thee

-better.”</p>

-

-<p>Upon this the little man broke the cane with

-which he walked into two pieces, which he threw

-in the chimney, and thereupon the fire began to

-blaze so cheerfully that they could see their shadows

-on the wall, and the old cat jumped out of the

-ashes, with her coat well singed, which made the

-little jolly fellow laugh heartily.</p>

-

-<p>The sticks burnt and burnt, without going out,

-and they were soon all as warm and comfortable

-as could be. Then the little man said,</p>

-

-<p>“Friend Claas, methinks it would not be much

-amiss if the good vrouw here would bestir herself

-to get something to eat. I have had no dinner to-day,

-and come hither on purpose to make merry

-with thee. Knowest thou not that this is Newyear's

-eve?”</p>

-

-<p>“Alack!” replied Claas, “I know it full well;

-but we have not wherewithal to keep away hunger,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>

-much less to make merry with. Thou art welcome

-to all we have, and that is nothing.”</p>

-

-<p>“Come, come, Friend Claas, thou art a prudent

-man, I know, but I never thought thou wert stingy

-before. Bestir thyself, good Aintjie, and see what

-thou canst find in that cupboard. I warrant there

-is plenty of good fare in it.”</p>

-

-<p>The worthy yffrouw looked rather foolish at this

-proposal, for she knew she would find nothing

-there if she went; but the little man threatened her,

-in a good-humoured way, to break the long pipe he

-carried stuck in his cocked hat, over her nightcap,

-if she didn't do as he bid her. So she went to the

-cupboard, resolved to bring him out the empty pewter

-dishes, to show they had nothing to give him.

-But when she opened the cupboard, she started

-back, and cried out aloud, so that Claas ran to see

-what was the matter; and what was his astonishment

-to find the cupboard full of all sorts of good

-things for a notable jollification.</p>

-

-<p>“Aha!” cried the merry little man, “you're

-caught at last. I knew thou hadst plenty to entertain

-a stranger withal; but I suppose thou

-wantedst to keep it all to thyself. Come, come!

-bestir thyself, Aintjie, for I am as hungry as a

-schoolboy.”</p>

-

-<p>Aintjie did as she was bid, wondering all the

-time who this familiar little man could be; for the

-city was not so big, but that she knew by sight

-everybody that lived in it, and she was sure she

-had never seen him before.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p>

-

-<p>In a short time there was a glorious array of

-good things set out before them, and they proceeded

-to enjoy themselves right lustily in keeping of

-the merry Newyear's eve. The little man cracked

-his jokes, patted little Nicholas—Claas, his youngest

-son, who was called after his father—on the

-head; chucked Aintjie under the chin; said he was

-glad she did not wed the splutterkin Barendt Roeloffsen,

-and set them so good an example, that they

-all got as merry as crickets.</p>

-

-<p>By-and-by the little man inquired of Claas concerning

-his affairs, and he gave him an account of

-his early prosperity, and how he had declined, in

-spite of all he could do, into poverty and want; so

-that he had nothing left but his wife, his children,

-his Dutch Bible, his history of the Low Country

-wars, and his meershaum pipe.</p>

-

-<p>“Aha!” quoth the little man, “you've kept that,

-hey! Let me see it.”</p>

-

-<p>Claas gave it to him, while the tears came into

-is eyes, although he was so merry, to think that

-he must part with it on the morrow. It was the

-pride of his heart, and he set too great a value on

-it to make any use of it whatever.</p>

-

-<p>The little man took the pipe, and looking at it,

-said, as if to himself,</p>

-

-<p>“Yes; here it is! the very identical meershaum

-out of which the great Calvin used to smoke. Thou

-hast done well, Friend Claas, to preserve it; and

-thou must keep it as the apple of thine eye all thy

-life, and give it as an inheritance to thy children.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p>

-

-<p>“Alack!” cried Aintjie, “he must sell it to-morrow,

-or we shall want wherewithal for a dinner.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yea,” said Claas, “of a truth it must go to-morrow!”</p>

-

-<p>“Be quiet, splutterkin!” cried the little man,

-merrily; “give me some more of that spiced beverage,

-for I am as thirsty as a dry sponge. Come,

-let us drink to the Newyear, for it will be here in

-a few minutes.”</p>

-

-<p>So they drank a cup to the jolly Newyear, and

-at that moment the little boys and negroes, who

-didn't mind the snow any more than a miller does

-flour, began to fire their cannon at a great rate;

-whereupon the little man jumped up, and cried

-out,</p>

-

-<p>“My time is come! I must be off, for I have a

-great many visits to pay before sunrise.”</p>

-

-<p>Then he kissed the yffrouw with a hearty smack,

-just as doth the illustrious Rip Van Dam, on the

-like occasions; patted little Nicholas on the head,

-and gave him his blessing; after which he did incontinently

-leap up the chimney and disappear.

-Then they knew it was the good St. Nicholas, and

-rejoiced mightily in the visit he had paid them,

-looking upon it as an earnest that their troubles

-were over.</p>

-

-<p>The next morning the prudent housewife, according

-to custom, got up before the dawn of day

-to put her house in order, and when she came to

-sweep the floor, was surprised to hear something

-jingle just like money. Then opening the embers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>

-the sticks which the good saint had thrown upon

-the fire again blazed out, and she descried a large

-purse, which, on examination, was found filled with

-golden ducats. Whereupon she called out to

-Claas, and they examined the purse, and found

-fastened to it a paper bearing this legend:—</p>

-

-<p>

-“THE GIFT OF SAINT NICHOLAS.”<br>

-</p>

-

-<p>While they stood in joyful wonder, they heard a

-great knocking and confusion of tongues outside

-the door, and the people calling aloud upon Claas

-Schlaschenschlinger to come forth; whereupon he

-went forth, and, to his great astonishment, found

-that his little wooden house had disappeared in

-the night, and in its place was standing a gorgeous

-and magnificent mansion of Dutch bricks, two stories

-high, with three windows in front, all of a different

-size; and a door cut right out of the corner,

-just as it is seen at this blessed day.</p>

-

-<p>The neighbours wondered much, and it was

-whispered among them, that the fiend had helped

-Claas to this great domicil, which was one of the

-biggest in the city, and almost equal to that of Barendt

-Roeloffsen. But when Claas told them of

-the visit of St. Nicholas, and showed them the

-purse of golden ducats, with the legend upon it,

-they thought better of it, and contented themselves

-with envying him heartily his good fortune.</p>

-

-<p>I shall not relate how Claas prospered ever afterwards,

-in spite of his enemies the burgomasters,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>

-who, at last, were obliged to admit him as one of

-their number; or how little Aintjie held up her

-head among the highest; or how Claas ever after

-eschewed the lapstone, and, like a worshipful magistrate,

-took to bettering the condition of mankind,

-till at length he died, and was gathered to his forefathers,

-full of years and honours.</p>

-

-<p>All I shall say is, that the great house in New street

-continued in the family for several generations,

-until a degenerate descendant of Claas, being

-thereunto incited by the d—l, did sell it to another

-degenerate splutterkin, who essayed to pull it

-down. But mark what followed. No sooner had

-the workmen laid hands on it, than the brickbats

-began to fly about at such a rate, that they all came

-away faster than they went; some with broke

-heads, and others with broken bones, and not one

-could ever be persuaded to meddle with it afterwards.</p>

-

-<p>And let this be a warning to any one who shall

-attempt to lay their sacrilegious hands on the LAST

-OF THE DUTCH HOUSES, the gift of St. Nicholas,

-for whoever does so, may calculate, to a certainty

-on getting well peppered with brickbats, I can tell

-them.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE"><small>THE</small><br>

-REVENGE OF SAINT NICHOLAS.<br>

-

-

-<small>A TALE FOR THE HOLYDAYS.</small></h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Everybody knows that in the famous city of

-New-York, whose proper name is New-Amsterdam,

-the excellent St. Nicholas—who is worth a

-dozen St. Georges and dragons to boot, and who,

-if every tub stood on its right bottom, would be at

-the head of the Seven Champions of christendom—I

-say, everybody knows the excellent St. Nicholas,

-in holyday times, goes about among the people in

-the middle of the night, distributing all sorts of

-toothsome and becoming gifts to the good boys

-and girls in this his favourite city. Some say that

-he comes down the chimneys in a little Jersey

-wagon; others, that he wears a pair of Holland

-skates, with which he travels like the wind; and

-others, who pretend to have seen him, maintain

-that he has lately adopted a locomotive, and was

-once actually detected on the _Albany_ railroad.

-But this last assertion is looked upon to be entirely

-fabulous, because St. Nicholas has too much discretion

-to trust himself in such a newfangled jarvie;

-and so I leave this matter to be settled by whomsoever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>

-will take the trouble. My own opinion is,

-that his favourite mode of travelling is on a canal,

-the motion and speed of which aptly comport

-with the philosophic dignity of his character. But

-this is not material, and I will no longer detain my

-readers with extraneous and irrelevant matters, as

-is too much the fashion with our statesmen, orators,

-biographers, and story tellers.</p>

-

-<p>It was in the year one thousand seven hundred

-and sixty, or sixty-one, for the most orthodox

-chronicles differ in this respect; but it was a very

-remarkable year, and it was called _annus mirabilis_

-on that account. It was said that several people

-were detected in speaking the truth about that

-time; that nine staid, sober, and discreet widows,

-who had sworn on an anti-masonic almanac never

-to enter a second time into the holy state, were

-snapped up by young husbands before they knew

-what they were about; that six venerable bachelors

-wedded as many buxom young belles, and, it is reported,

-were afterwards sorry for what they had

-done; that many people actually went to church,

-from motives of piety; and that a great scholar,

-who had written a book in support of certain

-opinions, was not only convinced of his error,

-but acknowledged it publicly afterwards. No

-wonder the year one thousand seven hundred and

-sixty, if that was the year, was called _annus mirabilis_!</p>

-

-<p>What contributed to render this year still more

-remarkable, was the building of six new three-story<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>

-brick houses in the city, and three persons setting

-up equipages, who, I cannot find, ever failed in

-business afterwards, or compounded with their

-creditors at a pistareen in the pound. It is, moreover,

-recorded in the annals of the horticultural society

-of that day, which were written on a cabbage

-leaf, as is said, that a member produced a forked

-radish, of such vast dimensions, that being dressed

-up in fashionable male attire at the exhibition, it

-was actually mistaken for a travelled beau by several

-inexperienced young ladies, who pined away

-for love of its beautiful complexion, and were

-changed into daffadowndillies. Some maintained

-it was a mandrake, but it was finally detected by

-an inquest of experienced matrons. No wonder

-the year seventeen hundred and sixty was called

-_annus mirabilis_!</p>

-

-<p>But the most extraordinary thing of all, was the

-confident assertion that there was but one _gray

-mare_ within the bills of mortality; and, incredible

-as it may appear, she was the wife of a responsible

-citizen, who, it was affirmed, had grown rich by

-weaving velvet purses out of sows' ears. But this

-we look upon as being somewhat of the character

-of the predictions of almanac makers. Certain

-it is, however, that Amos Shuttle possessed the

-treasure of a wife who was shrewdly suspected of

-having established within doors a system of government

-not laid down in Aristotle or the Abbe

-Sièyes, who made a constitution for every day in

-the year, and two for the first of April.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p>

-

-<p>Amos Shuttle, though a mighty pompous little

-man out of doors, was the meekest of human creatures

-within. He belonged to that class of people

-who pass for great among the little, and little

-among the great; and he would certainly have

-been master in his own house had it not been for a

-woman! We have read somewhere that no wise

-woman ever thinks her husband a demigod. If

-so, it is a blessing that there are so few wise women

-in the world.</p>

-

-<p>Amos had grown rich, Heaven knows how—he

-did net know himself; but, what was somewhat extraordinary,

-he considered his wealth a signal proof

-of his talents and sagacity, and valued himself according

-to the infallible standard of pounds, shillings,

-and pence. But though he lorded it without, he

-was, as we have just said, the most gentle of men

-within doors. The moment he stepped inside of

-his own house, his spirit cowered down, like that

-of a pious man entering a church; he felt as if he

-was in the presence of a superior being—to wit,

-Mrs. Abigail Shuttle. He was, indeed, the meekest

-of beings at home, except Moses; and Sir Andrew

-Aguecheek's song, which Sir Toby Belch declared

-“would draw nine souls out of one weaver,”

-would have failed in drawing half a one out of

-Amos. The truth is, his wife, who ought to have

-known, affirmed he had no more soul than a monkey;

-but he was the only man in the city thus circumstanced

-at the time we speak of. No wonder,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>

-therefore, the year one thousand seven hundred and

-sixty was called _annus mirabilis_!</p>

-

-<p>Such as he was, Mr. Amos Shuttle waxed richer

-and richer every day, insomuch that those who envied

-his prosperity were wont to say, “that he had

-certainly been born with a dozen silver spoons in

-his mouth, or such a great blockhead would never

-have got together such a heap of money.” When

-he had become worth ten thousand pounds, he

-launched his shuttle magnanimously out of the

-window, ordered his weaver's beam to be split up

-for oven wood, and Mrs. Amos turned his weaver's

-shop into a _boudoir_. Fortune followed him faster

-than he ran away from her. In a few years the

-ten thousand doubled, and in a few more trebled,

-quadrupled—in short, Amos could hardly count his

-money.</p>

-

-<p>“What shall we do now, my dear?” asked Mrs.

-Shuttle, who never sought his opinion, that I can

-learn, except for the pleasure of contradicting him.</p>

-

-<p>“Let us go and live in the country, and enjoy

-ourselves,” quoth Amos.</p>

-

-<p>“Go into the country! go to—” I could never

-satisfy myself what Mrs. Shuttle meant; but she

-stopped short, and concluded the sentence with a

-withering look of scorn, that would have cowed the

-spirits of nineteen weavers.</p>

-

-<p>Amos named all sorts of places, enumerated all

-sorts of modes of life he could think of, and every

-pleasure that might enter into the imagination of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>

-man without a soul. His wife despised them all;

-she would not hear of them.</p>

-

-<p>“Well, my dear, suppose you suggest something;

-do now, Abby,” at length said Amos, in a

-coaxing whisper; “will you, my onydoney?”</p>

-

-<p>“Ony fiddlestick! I wonder you repeat such

-vulgarisms. But if I must say what I should like,

-I should like to travel.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, let us go and make a tour as far as Jamaica,

-or Hackensack, or Spiking-devil. There is

-excellent fishing for striped bass there.”</p>

-

-<p>“Spiking-devil!” screamed Mrs. Shuttle; “an't

-you ashamed to swear so, you wicked mortal! I

-won't go to Jamaica, nor Hackensack among the

-Dutch Hottentots, nor to Spiking-devil to catch

-striped bass. I'll go to Europe!”</p>

-

-<p>If Amos had possessed a soul it would have

-jumped out of its skin at the idea of going beyond

-seas. He had once been on the sea-bass banks,

-and got a seasoning there; the very thought of which

-made him sick. But, as he had no soul, there was

-no great harm done.</p>

-

-<p>When Mrs. Shuttle said a thing, it was settled.

-They went to Europe, taking their only son with

-them; the lady ransacked all the milliners' shops in

-Paris, and the gentleman visited all the restaurateurs.

-He became such a desperate connoisseur

-and gourmand, that he could almost tell an _omelette

-au jambon_ from a gammon of bacon. After consummating

-the polish, they came home, the lady

-with the newest old fashions, and the weaver with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>

-a confirmed preference of _potage à la Turque_ over

-pepper-pot. It is said the city trembled, as with an

-earthquake, when they landed; but the notion was

-probably superstitious.</p>

-

-<p>They arrived near the close of the year, the memorable

-year, the _annus mirabilis_, one thousand seven

-hundred and sixty. Everybody that had ever known

-the Shuttles flocked to see them, or rather to see

-what they had brought with them; and such was

-the magic of a voyage to Europe, that Mr. and Mrs.

-Amos Shuttle, who had been nobodies when they

-departed, became somebodies when they returned,

-and mounted at once to the summit of _ton_.</p>

-

-<p>“You have come in good time to enjoy the festivities

-of the holydays,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble,

-an old friend of Amos the weaver and his wife.</p>

-

-<p>“We shall have a merry Christmas and a happy

-Newyear,” exclaimed Mrs. Doubletrouble, another

-old acquaintance of old times.</p>

-

-<p>“The holydays,” drawled Mrs. Shuttle; “the

-holydays? Christmas and Newyear? Pray what

-are they?”</p>

-

-<p>It is astonishing to see how people lose their

-memories abroad sometimes. They often forget

-their old friends, old customs, and occasionally

-themselves.</p>

-

-<p>“Why, la! now, who'd have thought it?” cried

-Mrs. Doubletrouble; “why, sure you haven't forgot

-the oily cooks and the mince pies, the merry meetings

-of friends, the sleigh-rides, the Kissing Bridge,

-and the family parties?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p>

-

-<p>“Family parties!” shrieked Mrs. Shuttle, and

-held her salts to her nose; “family parties! I never

-heard of anything so Gothic in Paris or Rome; and

-oily cooks—oh shocking! and mince pies—detestable!

-and throwing open one's doors to all one's

-old friends, whom one wishes to forget as soon as

-possible. Oh! the idea is insupportable!” and again

-she held the salts to her nose.</p>

-

-<p>Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble found

-they had exposed themselves sadly, and were quite

-ashamed. A real, genteel, well-bred, enlightened

-lady of fashion ought to have no rule of conduct—no

-conscience, but Paris—whatever is fashionable

-there is genteel—whatever is not fashionable is

-vulgar. There is no other standard of right, and

-no other eternal fitness of things. At least so thought

-Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble.</p>

-

-<p>“But is it possible that all these things are out

-of fashion abroad?” asked the latter, beseechingly.</p>

-

-<p>“They never were in,” said Mrs. Amos Shuttle.

-“For my part, I mean to close my doors and windows

-on Newyear's day—I'm determined.”</p>

-

-<p>“And so am I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble.</p>

-

-<p>“And so am I,” said Mrs. Doubletrouble.</p>

-

-<p>And it was settled that they should make a combination

-among themselves and their friends, to put

-down the ancient and good customs of the city, and

-abolish the sports and enjoyments of the jolly Newyear.

-The conspirators then separated, each to

-pursue her diabolical designs against oily cooks,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>

-mince pies, sleigh ridings, sociable visitings, and

-family parties.</p>

-

-<p>Now the excellent St. Nicholas, who knows well

-what is going on in every house in the city, though,

-like a good and honourable saint, he never betrays

-any family secrets, overheard these wicked women

-plotting against his favourite anniversary, and he

-said to himself,</p>

-

-<p>“_Vuur en Vlammen!_ but I'll be even with you,

-_mein vrouw_.” So he determined he would play

-these conceited and misled women a trick or two

-before he had done with them.</p>

-

-<p>It was now the first day of the new year, and

-Mrs. Amos Shuttle, and Mrs. Doubletrouble, and

-Mrs. Hubblebubble, and all their wicked abetters,

-had shut up their doors and windows, so that when

-their old friends called they could not get into their

-houses. Moreover, they had prepared neither mince

-pies, nor oily cooks, nor crullers, nor any of the

-good things consecrated to St. Nicholas by his pious

-and well-intentioned votaries, and they were mightily

-pleased at having been as dull and stupid as

-owls, while all the rest of the city were as merry

-as crickets, chirping and frisking in the warm chimney

-corner. Little did they think what horrible

-judgments were impending over them, prepared by

-the wrath of the excellent St. Nicholas, who was

-resolved to make an example of them for attempting

-to introduce their newfangled corruptions in place

-of the ancient customs of his favourite city. These<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>

-wicked women never had another comfortable sleep

-in their lives!</p>

-

-<p>The night was still, clear, and frosty—the earth

-was everywhere one carpet of snow, and looked

-just like the ghost of a dead world, wrapped in a

-white winding sheet; the moon was full, round, and

-of a silvery brightness, and by her discreet silence

-afforded an example to the rising generation of

-young damsels, while the myriads of stars that multiplied

-as you gazed at them, seemed as though they

-were frozen into icicles, they looked so cold, and

-sparkled with such a glorious lustre. The streets

-and roads leading from the city were all alive with

-sleighs, filled with jovial souls, whose echoing

-laughter and cheerful songs, mingled with a thousand

-merry bells, that jingled in harmonious dissonance,

-giving spirit to the horses and animation to

-the scene. In the license of the season, hallowed

-by long custom, each of the sleighs saluted the

-others in passing with a “Happy Newyear,” a

-merry jest, or mischievous gibe, exchanged from

-one gay party to another. All was life, motion, and

-merriment; and as old frostbitten Winter, aroused

-from his trance by the rout and revelry around,

-raised his weatherbeaten head to see what was

-passing, he felt his icy blood warming and coursing

-through his veins, and wished he could only overtake

-the laughing buxom Spring, that he might dance

-a jig with her, and be as frisky as the best of them.

-But as the old rogue could not bring this desirable

-matter about, he contented himself with calling for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>

-a jolly bumper of cocktail, and drinking a swinging

-draught to the health of the blessed St. Nicholas,

-and those who honour the memory of the president

-of good fellows.</p>

-

-<p>All this time the wicked women and their abetters

-lay under the malediction of the good saint, who

-caused them to be bewitched by an old lady from

-Salem. Mrs. Amos Shuttle could not sleep, because

-something had whispered in her apprehensive

-ear, that her son, her only son, whom she had engaged

-to the daughter of Count Grenouille, in Paris,

-then about three years old, was actually at that moment

-crossing Kissing Bridge, in company with little

-Susan Varian, and some others besides. Now

-Susan was the fairest little lady of all the land; she

-had a face and an eye just like the Widow Wadman,

-in Leslie's charming picture; a face and an

-eye which no reasonable man under Heaven could

-resist, except my Uncle Toby—beshrew him and

-his fortifications, I say! She was, moreover, a good

-little girl, and an accomplished little girl—but, alas!

-she had not mounted to the step in Jacob's ladder

-of fashion, which qualifies a person for the heaven

-of high ton, and Mrs. Shuttle had not been to Europe

-for nothing. She would rather have seen her son

-wedded to dissipation and profligacy than to Susan

-Varian; and the thought of his being out sleigh-riding

-with her, was worse than the toothache. It

-kept her awake all the livelong night; and the only

-consolation she had was scolding poor Amos, because

-the sleigh bells made such a noise.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p>

-

-<p>As for Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble,

-they neither of them got a wink of sleep

-during a whole week, for thinking of the beautiful

-French chairs and damask curtains Mrs. Shuttle had

-brought from Europe. They forthwith besieged

-their good men, leaving them no rest until they sent

-out orders to Paris for just such rich chairs and curtains

-as those of the thrice happy Mrs. Shuttle,

-from whom they kept the affair a profound secret,

-each meaning to treat her to an agreeable surprise.

-In the mean while they could not rest for fear the

-vessel which was to bring these treasures might be

-lost on her passage. Such was the dreadful judgment

-inflicted on them by the good St. Nicholas.</p>

-

-<p>The perplexities of Mrs. Shuttle increased daily.

-In the first place, do all she could, she could not

-make Amos a fine gentleman. This was a metamorphosis

-which Ovid would never have dreamed

-of. He would be telling the price of everything in

-his house, his furniture, his wines, and his dinners,

-insomuch that those who envied his prosperity, or,

-perhaps, only despised his pretensions, were wont

-to say, after eating his venison and drinking his

-old Madeira, “that he ought to have been a tavern

-keeper, he knew so well how to make out a bill.”

-Mrs. Shuttle once overheard a speech of this kind,

-and the good St. Nicholas himself, who had brought

-it about, almost felt sorry for the mortification she

-endured on the occasion.</p>

-

-<p>Scarcely had she got over this, when she was

-invited to a ball, by Mrs. Hubblebubble, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>

-first thing she saw on entering the drawing room,

-was a suit of damask curtains and chairs, as much

-like her own as two peas, only the curtains had far

-handsomer fringe. Mrs. Shuttle came very near

-fainting away, but escaped for that time, determining

-to mortify this impudent creature, by taking not

-the least notice of her finery. But St. Nicholas

-ordered it otherwise, so that she was at last obliged

-to acknowledge they were very elegant indeed.

-Nay, this was not the worst, for she overheard one

-lady whisper to another, that Mrs. Hubblebubble's

-curtains were much richer than Mrs. Shuttle's.</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, I dare say,” replied the other—”I dare say

-Mrs. Shuttle bought them second hand, for her husband

-is as mean as pursley.</p>

-

-<p>This was too much. The unfortunate woman

-was taken suddenly ill—called her carriage, and

-went home, where it is supposed she would have

-died that evening had she not wrought upon Amos

-to promise her an entire new suit of French furniture

-for her drawing room and parlour to boot, besides

-a new carriage. But for all this she could

-not close her eyes that night for thinking of the

-“second-hand curtains.”</p>

-

-<p>Nor was the wicked Mrs. Doubletrouble a whit

-better off, when her friend Mrs. Hubblebubble

-treated her to the agreeable surprise of the French

-window curtains and chairs. “It is too bad—too

-bad, I declare,” said she to herself; “but I'll pay

-her off soon.” Accordingly she issued invitations

-for a grand ball and supper, at which both Mrs.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>

-Shuttle and Mrs. Hubblebubble were struck dumb

-at beholding a suit of curtains and a set of chairs

-exactly of the same pattern with theirs. The shock

-was terrible, and it is impossible to say what might

-have been the consequences, had not the two ladies

-all at once thought of uniting in abusing Mrs. Doubletrouble

-for her extravagance.</p>

-

-<p>“I pity poor Mr. Doubletrouble,” said Mrs.

-Shuttle, shrugging her shoulders significantly, and

-glancing at the room.</p>

-

-<p>“And so do I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble, doing

-the same.</p>

-

-<p>Mrs. Doubletrouble had her eye upon them, and

-enjoyed their mortification until her pride was

-brought to the ground by a dead shot from Mrs.

-Shuttle, who was heard to exclaim, in reply to a

-lady who observed the chairs and curtains were

-very handsome,</p>

-

-<p>“Why, yes; but they have been out of fashion

-in Paris a long time; and, besides, really they are

-getting so common, that I intend to have mine removed

-to the nursery.”</p>

-

-<p>Heavens! what a blow! Poor Mrs. Doubletrouble

-hardly survived it. Such a night of misery

-as the wicked woman endured almost made the

-good St. Nicholas regret the judgment he had

-passed upon these mischievous and conceited females.

-But he thought to himself he would persevere

-until he had made them a sad example to

-all innovators upon the ancient customs of our forefathers.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p>

-

-<p>Thus were these wicked and miserable women

-spurred on by witchcraft from one piece of extravagance

-to another, and a deadly rivalship grew up

-between them, which destroyed their own happiness

-and that of their husbands. Mrs. Shuttle's

-new carriage and drawing-room furniture in due

-time were followed by similar extravagances on the

-part of the two other wicked women, who had conspired

-against the hallowed institutions of St. Nicholas;

-and soon their rivalship came to such a height

-that neither of them had a moment's rest or comfort

-from that time forward. But they still shut

-their doors on the jolly anniversary of St. Nicholas,

-though the old respectable burghers and their

-wives, who had held up their heads time out of

-mind, continued the good custom, and laughed at

-the presumption of these upstart interlopers, who

-were followed only by a few people of silly pretensions,

-who had no more soul than Amos Shuttle

-himself. The three wicked women grew to be

-almost perfect skeletons, on account of the vehemence

-with which they strove to outdo each other,

-and the terrible exertions necessary to keep up the

-appearance of being the best friends in the world.

-In short, they became the laughingstock of the

-town; and sensible, well-bred folks cut their acquaintance,

-except when they sometimes accepted

-an invitation to a party, just to make merry with

-their folly and conceitedness.</p>

-

-<p>The excellent St. Nicholas, finding they still

-persisted in their opposition to his rites and ceremonies,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>

-determined to inflict on them the last and

-worst punishment that can befall the sex. He decreed

-that they should be deprived of all the delights

-springing from the domestic affections, and

-all taste for the innocent and virtuous enjoyments

-of a happy fireside. Accordingly, they lost all

-relish for home; were continually gadding about

-from one place to another in search of pleasure,

-and worried themselves to death to find happiness

-where it is never to be found. Their whole lives

-became one long series of disappointed hopes,

-galled pride, and gnawing envy. They lost their

-health, they lost their time, and their days became

-days of harassing impatience, their nights nights

-of sleepless, feverish excitement, ending in weariness

-and disappointment. The good saint sometimes

-felt sorry for them, but their continued obstinacy

-determined him to persevere in his plan to

-punish the upstart pride of these rebellious females.</p>

-

-<p>Young Shuttle, who had a soul, which I suppose

-he inherited from his mother, all this while continued

-his attentions to little Susan Varian, which

-added to the miseries inflicted on his wicked mother.

-Mrs. Shuttle insisted that Amos should

-threaten to disinherit his son, unless he gave up

-this attachment.</p>

-

-<p>“Lord bless your soul, Abby,” said Amos,

-“what's the use of my threatening, the boy knows

-as well as I do that I've no will of my own. Why,

-bless my soul, Abby—”</p>

-

-<p>“Bless your soul!” interrupted Mrs. Shuttle;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>

-“I wonder who'd take the trouble to bless it but

-yourself? However, if you don't I will.”</p>

-

-<p>Accordingly, she threatened the young man

-with being disinherited unless he turned his back

-on little Susan Varian, which no man ever did

-without getting a heartache.</p>

-

-<p>“If my father goes on as he has done lately,”

-sighed the youth, “he won't have anything left to

-disinherit me of but his affection, I fear. But if he

-had millions I would not abandon Susan.”</p>

-

-<p>Are you not ashamed of such a lowlived attachment?

-You, that have been to Europe! But,

-once for all, remember this, renounce this lowborn

-upstart, or quit your father's home for ever.”</p>

-

-<p>“Upstart!” thought young Shuttle; “one of the

-oldest families in the city.” He made his mother

-a respectful bow, bade Heaven bless her, and left

-the house. He was, however, met by his father

-at the door, who said to him,</p>

-

-<p>“Johnny, I give my consent; but mind, don't

-tell your mother a word of the matter. I'll let her

-know I've a soul as well as other people;” and he

-tossed his head like a war horse.</p>

-

-<p>The night after this Johnny was married to little

-Susan, and the blessing of affection and beauty

-lighted upon his pillow. Her old father, who was

-in a respectable business, took his son-in-law into

-partnership, and they prospered so well that in a

-few years Johnny was independent of all the world,

-with the prettiest wife and children in the land.

-But Mrs. Shuttle was inexorable, while the knowledge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>

-of his prosperity and happiness only worked

-her up to a higher pitch of anger, and added to the

-pangs of jealousy perpetually inflicted on her by

-the rivalry of Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble,

-who suffered under the like infliction from

-the wrathful St. Nicholas, who was resolved to

-make them an example to all posterity.</p>

-

-<p>No fortune, be it ever so great, can stand the

-eternal sapping of wasteful extravagance, engendered

-and stimulated by the baleful passion of envy.

-In less than ten years from the hatching of the diabolical

-conspiracy of these three wicked women

-against the supremacy of the excellent St. Nicholas,

-their spendthrift rivalship had ruined the fortunes

-of their husbands, and entailed upon themselves

-misery and remorse. Rich Amos Shuttle

-became at last as poor as a church mouse, and,

-would have been obliged to take to the loom again

-in his old age, had not Johnny, now rich, and a

-worshipful magistrate of the city, afforded him and

-his better half a generous shelter under his own

-happy roof. Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble

-had scarcely time to condole with Mrs.

-Shuttle, and congratulate each other, when their

-husbands went the way of all flesh, that is to say,

-failed for a few tens of thousands, and called their

-creditors together to hear the good news. The

-two wicked women lived long enough after this to

-repent of their offence against St. Nicholas; but

-they never imported any more French curtains, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>

-at last perished miserably in an attempt to set the

-fashions in Pennypot alley.</p>

-

-<p>Mrs. Abigail Shuttle might have lived happily

-the rest of her life with her children and grandchildren,

-who all treated her with reverent courtesy

-and affection, now that the wrath of the mighty St.

-Nicholas was appeased by her exemplary punishment.

-But she could not get over her bad habits

-and feelings, or forgive her lovely little daughter-in-law

-for treating her so kindly when she so little

-deserved it. She gradually pined away; and

-though she revived at hearing of the catastrophe of

-Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, it was

-only for a moment. The remainder of the life of

-this wicked woman was a series of disappointments

-and heartburnings, and when she died, Amos

-tried to shed a few tears, but he found it impossible,

-I suppose, because, as his wife always said,

-“he had no soul.”</p>

-

-<p>Such was the terrible revenge of St. Nicholas,

-which ought to be a warning to all who attempt to

-set themselves up against the venerable customs

-of their ancestors, and backslide from the hallowed

-institutions of the blessed saint, to whose good

-offices, without doubt, it is owing that this his favourite

-city has transcended all others of the universe

-in beautiful damsels, valorous young men,

-mince pies, and Newyear cookies. The catastrophe

-of these three wicked women had a wonderful

-influence in the city, insomuch that from this time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>

-forward, no _gray mares_ were ever known, no

-French furniture was ever used, and no woman was

-hardy enough to set herself up in opposition to the

-good customs of St. Nicholas. And so, wishing

-many happy Newyears to all my dear countrywomen

-and countrymen, saving those who shut their

-doors to old friends, high or low, rich or poor, on

-that blessed anniversary, which makes more glad

-hearts than all others put together—I say, wishing

-a thousand happy Newyears to all, with this single

-exception, I lay down my pen, with a caution to

-all wicked women to beware of the revenge of St.

-Nicholas.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_ORIGIN">THE ORIGIN<br>

-

-

-<small>of</small><br>

-

-THE BAKERS' DOZEN.</h2>

-</div>

-

-<p>Little Brom Boomptie, or Boss Boomptie, as

-he was commonly called by his apprentices and

-neighbours, was the first man that ever baked Newyear

-cakes in the good city of New-Amsterdam.

-It is generally supposed that he was the inventor

-of those excellent and respectable articles. However

-this may be, he lived and prospered in the little

-Dutch house in William-street, called, time out

-of mind, Knickerbocker Hall, just at the outskirts

-of the good town of New-Amsterdam.</p>

-

-<p>Boomptie was a fat comfortable creature, with a

-capital pair of oldfashioned legs; a full, round,

-good-natured face; a corporation like unto one of

-his plump loaves; and as much honesty as a

-Turkish baker, who lives in the fear of having his

-ears nailed to his own door for retailing bad bread.

-He wore a low-crowned, broad-brimmed beaver;

-a gray bearskin cloth coat, waistcoat, and breeches,

-and gray woollen stockings, summer and winter, all

-the year round. The only language he spoke, understood,

-or had the least respect for, was Dutch—<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>

-and the only books he ever read or owned, were a

-Dutch Bible, with silver clasps and hinges, and a

-Dutch history of the Duke of Alva's bloody wars

-in the Low Countries. Boss Boomptie was a pious

-man, of simple habits and simple character; a believer

-in “demonology and witchcraft;” and as

-much afraid of _spooks_ as the mother that bore him.

-It ran in the family to be bewitched, and for three

-generations the Boompties had been very much

-pestered with supernatural visitations. But for all

-this they continued to prosper in the world, insomuch

-that Boss Boomptie daily added a piece of

-wampum or two to his strong box. He was

-blessed with a good wife, who saved the very parings

-of her nails, and three plump boys, after whom he

-modelled his gingerbread babies, and who were

-every Sunday zealously instructed never to pass a

-pin without picking it up and bringing it home to

-their mother.</p>

-

-<p>It was on Newyear's eve, in the year 1655, and

-the good city of New-Amsterdam, then under the

-special patronage of the blessed St. Nicholas, was

-as jovial and wanton as hot spiced rum and long

-abstinence from fun and frolic could make it. It

-is worth while to live soberly and mind our business

-all the rest of the year, if it be only to enjoy the

-holydays at the end with a true zest. St. Nicholas,

-thrice blessed soul! was riding up one chimney

-and down another like a locomotive engine in his

-little one-horse wagon, distributing cakes to the good

-boys, and whips to the bad ones; and the laugh of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>

-the good city, which had been pent up all the year,

-now burst forth with an explosion that echoed even

-unto Breuckelen and Communipaw.</p>

-

-<p>Boss Boomptie, who never forgot the main

-chance, and knew from experience that Newyear's

-eve was a shrewd time for selling cakes, joined

-profit and pleasure on this occasion. He was one

-minute in his shop, dealing out cakes to his customers,

-and the next laughing, and tippling, and jigging,

-and frisking it with his wife and children in

-the little back room, the door of which had a pane

-of glass that commanded a full view of the shop.

-Nobody, that is, no genuine disciple of jolly St.

-Nicholas, ever went to bed till twelve o'clock on

-Newyear's eve. The Dutch are eminently a sober,

-discreet folk; but somehow or other, no people

-frolic so like the very dickens, when they are once

-let loose, as your very sober and discreet bodies.</p>

-

-<p>By twelve o'clock the spicy beverage, sacred to

-holydays at that time, began to mount up into Boss

-Boomptie's head, and he was vociferating a Dutch

-ditty in praise of St. Nicholas with marvellous discordance,

-when just as the old clock in one corner

-of the room struck the hour that ushers in the new

-year, a loud knock was heard on the counter, which

-roused the dormant spirit of trade within his bosom.

-He went into the shop, where he found a

-little ugly old thing of a woman, with a sharp chin,

-resting on a crooked black stick, which had been

-burned in the fire and then polished; two high sharp

-cheek bones; two sharp black eyes; skinny lips,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>

-and a most diabolical pair of leather spectacles on

-a nose ten times sharper than her chin.</p>

-

-<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed

-she, in a voice sharper than her nose.</p>

-

-<p>“Vel, den, you needn't sbeak so loud,” replied

-Boss Boomptie, whose ear being just then attuned

-to the melody of his own song, was somewhat outraged

-by this shrill salutation.</p>

-

-<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed

-she again, ten times louder and shriller than ever.</p>

-

-<p>“Duyvel—I an't teaf den,” grumbled the worthy

-man, as he proceeded to count out the cakes, which

-the other very deliberately counted after him.</p>

-

-<p>“I want a dozen,” screamed the little woman;

-“here is only twelve.”</p>

-

-<p>“Vel, den, and what de duyvel is dwalf but a

-dozen?” said Boomptie.</p>

-

-<p>“I tell you I want one more,” screamed she, in a

-voice that roused Mrs. Boomptie in the back room,

-who came and peeped through the pane of glass,

-as she often did when she heard the boss talking to

-the ladies.</p>

-

-<p>Boss Boomptie waxed wroth, for he had a reasonable

-quantity of hot spiced rum in his noddle,

-which predisposes a man to valour.</p>

-

-<p>“Vel, den,” said he, “you may co to de duyvel

-and get anoder, for you won't get it here.”</p>

-

-<p>Boomptie was not a stingy man; on the contrary,

-he was very generous to the pretty young

-damsels who came to buy cakes, and often gave

-them two or three extra for a smack, which made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>

-Mrs. Boomptie peevish sometimes, and caused her

-to watch at the little pane of glass when she ought

-to have been minding her business like an honest

-woman.</p>

-

-<p>But this old hag was as ugly as sin, and the little

-baker never in his whole life could find in his heart

-to be generous to an ugly woman, old or young.</p>

-

-<p>“In my country they always give thirteen to the

-dozen,” screamed the ugly woman in the leather

-spectacles.</p>

-

-<p>“And where de duyvel is your gountry?” asked

-Boomptie.</p>

-

-<p>“It is nobody's business,” screeched the old woman.

-“But will you give me another cake, once

-for all?”</p>

-

-<p>“Not if it would save me and all my chineration

-from peing pewitched and pedemonologized dime

-out of mind,” cried he, in a great passion.</p>

-

-<p>What put it into his head to talk in this way I

-don't know, but he might better have held his

-tongue. The old woman gave him three stivers

-for his cakes, and went away, grumbling something

-about “living to repent it,” which Boss Boomptie

-didn't understand or care a fig about. He was

-chock full of Dutch courage, and defied all the ugly

-old women in Christendom. He put his three stivers

-in the till and shut up his shop, determined to enjoy

-the rest of the night without further molestation.</p>

-

-<p>While he was sitting smoking his pipe, and now

-and then sipping his beverage, all at once he heard

-a terrible jingling of money in his shop, whereupon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>

-he thought some losel caitiff was busy with his little

-till. Accordingly, priming himself with another

-reinforcement of Dutch courage, he took a pine

-knot, for he was too economical to burn candles at

-that late hour, and proceeded to investigate. His

-money was all safe, and the till appeared not to

-have been disturbed.</p>

-

-<p>“Duyvel,” quoth the little baker man, “I pelieve

-mine _vrouw_ and I have bote cot a zinging in

-our heads.”</p>

-

-<p>He had hardly turned his back when the same

-jingling began again, so much to the surprise of

-Boss Boomptie, that had it not been for his invincible

-Dutch courage, he would, as it were, have

-been a little frightened. But he was not in the

-least; and again went and unlocked the till, when

-what was his astonishment to see the three diabolical

-stivers, received from the old woman, dancing,

-and kicking up a dust among the coppers and wampum

-with wonderful agility.</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat donder is dat!_” exclaimed he, sorely perplexed;

-“de old duyvel has cot indo dat old sinner's

-stivers, I dink.” He had a great mind to

-throw them away, but he thought it a pity to waste

-so much money; so he kept them locked up all

-night, enjoining them to good behaviour, with a design

-to spend them the next day in another jollification.

-But the next day they were gone, and so

-was the broomstick with which it was the custom

-to sweep out the shop every morning. Some of

-the neighbours coming home late the night before,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>

-on being informed of the “abduction” of the broomstick,

-deposed and said, they had seen an old woman

-riding through the air upon just such another,

-right over the top of the little bakehouse; whereat

-Boss Boomptie, putting these odds and ends together,

-did tremble in his heart, and he wished to

-himself that he had given the ugly old woman thirteen

-to the dozen.</p>

-

-<p>Nothing particular came to pass the next day,

-except that now and then the little Boompties complained

-of having pins stuck in their backs, and that

-their cookies were snatched away by some one unknown.

-On examination it was found that no

-marks of the pins were to be seen; and as to the

-cookies, the old black woman of the kitchen declared

-she saw an invisible hand just as one of the

-children lost his commodity.</p>

-

-<p>“Den I am pewitched, zure enough!” cried

-Boomptie, in despair, for he had had too much of

-“demonology and witchcraft” in the family not to

-know when he saw them, just as well as he did his

-own face in the Collect.</p>

-

-<p>On the second day of the year, the 'prentice boys

-all returned to their business, and Boomptie once

-more solaced himself with the baking of the staff of

-life. The reader must know that it is the custom of

-bakers to knead a great batch at a time, in a mighty

-bread tray, into which they throw two or three little

-apprentice boys to paddle about, like ducks in a

-mill pond, whereby it is speedily amalgamated, and

-set to rising in due time. When the little caitiffs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>

-began their gambols in this matter they one and all

-stuck fast in the dough, as though it had been so

-much pitch, and, to the utter dismay of honest

-Boomptie, behold the whole batch rose up in a

-mighty mass, with the boys sticking fast on the

-top of it!</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat blikslager!_” exclaimed little Boomptie,

-as he witnessed this catastrophe; “de duyvel ish

-cot into de yeast dis dime, I dink.”</p>

-

-<p>The bread continued to rise till it lifted the roof

-off the bakehouse, with the little 'prentice boys on

-the top, and the bread tray following after. Boss

-Boomptie and his wife watched this wonderful rising

-of the bread in dismay, and in proof of the

-poor woman's being bewitched, it was afterwards

-recollected that she uttered not a single word on

-this extraordinary occasion. The bread rose and

-rose, until it finally disappeared, boys and all, behind

-the Jersey hills. If such things had been

-known of at that time, it would have been taken

-for a balloon; as it was, the people of Bergen and

-Communipaw thought that it was a water spout.</p>

-

-<p>Little Boss Boomptie was disconsolate at the

-loss of his bread and his 'prentice boys, whom he

-never expected to see again. However, he was a

-stirring body, and set himself to work to prepare

-another batch, seeing his customers must be supplied

-in spite of “witchcraft or demonology.” To

-guard against such another rebellious rising, he determined

-to go through the process down in the cellar,

-and turn his bread tray upside down. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>

-bread, instead of rising, began to sink into the earth

-so fast, that Boss Boomptie had just time to jump

-off before it entirely disappeared in the ground,

-which opened and shut just like a snuffbox.</p>

-

-<p>“Wat blikslager is dat!” exclaimed he, out

-of breath; “my pread rises downward dis dime, I

-dink. My customers must go widout to-day.”</p>

-

-<p>By-and-by his customers came for hot rolls and

-muffins, but some of them had gone up and some

-down, as little Boss Boomptie related after the

-manner just described. What is very remarkable,

-nobody believed him; and doubtless, if there had

-been any rival baker in New-Amsterdam, the boss

-would have lost all his customers. Among those

-that called on this occasion, was the ugly old woman

-with the sharp eyes, nose, chin, voice, and

-leather spectacles.</p>

-

-<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed

-she, as before.</p>

-

-<p>“Vuur en vlammen!” muttered he, as he counted

-out the twelve cakes.</p>

-

-<p>“I want one more!” screamed she.</p>

-

-<p>“Den you may co to de duyvel and kit it, I say,

-for not anoder shall you haf here, I dell you.”</p>

-

-<p>So the old woman took her twelve cakes, and

-went out grumbling, as before. All the time she

-staid, Boomptie's old dog, who followed him wherever

-he went, growled and whined, as it were, to

-himself, and seemed mightily relieved when she

-went away. That very night, as the little baker

-was going to see one of his old neighbours at the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>

-_Maiden's Valley_, then a little way out of town

-walking, as he always did, with his hands behind

-him, every now and then he felt something as cold

-as death against them, which he could never account

-for, seeing there was not a soul with him but

-his old dog. Moreover, Mrs. Boomptie, having

-bought half a pound of tea at a grocery store, and

-put it into her pocket, did feel a twitching and jerking

-of the paper of tea in her pocket, every step she

-went. The faster she ran the quicker and stronger

-was the twitching and jerking, so that when the

-good woman got home she was nigh fainting away.

-On her recovery she took courage, and pulled the

-tea out of her pocket, and laid it on the table, when

-behold it began to move by fits and starts, jumped

-off the table, hopped out of doors, all alone by itself,

-and jigged away to the place from whence it

-came. The grocer brought it back again, but Madam

-Boomptie looked upon the whole as a judgment

-for her extravagance, in laying out so much money

-for tea, and refused to receive it again. The grocer

-assured her that the strange capers of the bundle

-were owing to his having forgot to cut the twine

-with which he had tied it; but the good woman

-looked upon this as an ingenious subterfuge, and

-would take nothing but her money. When the

-husband and wife came to compare notes, they both

-agreed they were certainly bewitched. Had there

-been any doubt of the matter, subsequent events

-would soon have put it to rest.</p>

-

-<p>That very night Mrs. Boomptie was taken after<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>

-a strange way. Sometimes she would laugh

-about nothing, and then she would cry about nothing;

-then she would set to work and talk about

-nothing for a whole hour without stopping, in a language

-nobody could understand; and then, all at

-once, her tongue would cleave to the roof of her

-mouth, so that it was impossible to force it away.

-When this fit was over she would get up and dance

-double trouble, till she tired herself out, when she

-fell asleep, and waked up quite rational. It was

-particularly noticed that when she talked loudest

-and fastest, her lips remained perfectly closed, without

-motion, and her mouth wide open, so that the

-words seemed to come from down her throat. Her

-principal talk was railing against Dominie Laidlie,

-the good pastor of Garden-street Church, whence

-everybody concluded that she was possessed by a

-devil. Sometimes she got hold of a pen, and

-though she had never learned to write, would

-scratch and scrawl certain mysterious and diabolical

-figures, that nobody could understand, and

-everybody said must mean something.</p>

-

-<p>As for little Boss Boomptie, he was worse off than

-his wife. He was haunted by an invisible hand,

-which played him all sorts of scurvy tricks. Standing

-one morning at his counter, talking to one of

-the neighbours, he received a great box on the ear,

-whereat being exceeding wroth, he returned it with

-such interest on the cheek of his neighbour, that he

-laid him flat on the floor. His friend hereupon

-took the law of him, and proved, to the satisfaction<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>

-of the court, that he had both hands in his breeches

-pockets at the time Boss Boomptie said he gave

-him the box on the ear. The magistrate not being

-able to come at the truth of the matter, fined them

-each twenty-five guilders for the use of the dominie.</p>

-

-<p>A dried codfish was one day thrown at his head,

-and the next minute his walking stick fell to beating

-him, though nobody seemed to have hold of it

-A chair danced about the room, and at last alighted

-on the dinner table, and began to eat with such a

-good appetite, that had not the children snatched

-some of the dinner away, there would have been

-none left. The old cow one night jumped over the

-moon, and a pewter dish ran fairly off with a horn

-spoon, which seized a cat by the tail, and away they

-all went together, as merry as crickets. Sometimes,

-when Boss Boomptie had money, or cakes,

-or perhaps a loaf of bread in his hand, instead of

-putting them in their proper places, he would throw

-them into the fire, in spite of his teeth, and then

-the invisible hand would beat him with a bag of

-flour, till he was as white as a miller. As for keeping

-his accounts, that was out of the question;

-whenever he sat himself down to write his ink horn

-was snatched away by the invisible hand, and by-and-by

-it would come tumbling down the chimney.

-Sometimes an old dishcloth would be pinned to

-the skirt of his coat, and then a great diabolical

-laugh heard under the floor. At night he had a

-pretty time of it. His nightcap was torn off his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>

-head, his hair pulled out by handfuls, his face

-scratched, and his ears pinched as if with a red-hot

-pincers. If he went out in the yard at night, he

-was pelted with brickbats, sticks, stones, and all

-sorts of filthy missives; and if he staid at home, the

-ashes were blown upon his supper; and old shoes,

-instead of plates, seen on the table. One of the

-frying pans rang every night of itself for a whole

-hour, and a three-pronged fork stuck itself voluntarily

-into Boss Boomptie's back, without hurting

-him in the least. But what astonished the neighbours

-more than all, the little man, all at once, took

-to speaking in a barbarous and unknown jargon,

-which was afterwards found out to be English.</p>

-

-<p>These matters frightened some of the neighbours

-and scandalized others, until at length poor Boomptie's

-shop was almost deserted. People were jealous

-of eating his bread, for fear of being bewitched.

-Nay, more than one little urchin complained grievously

-of horrible, out of the way pains in the stomach,

-after eating two or three dozen of his Newyear cookies.</p>

-

-<p>Things went on in this way until Newyear's eve

-came round again, when Boss Boomptie was sitting

-behind his counter, which was wont to be thronged

-with customers on this occasion, but was now quite

-deserted. While thinking on his present miserable

-state and future prospects, all of a sudden the little

-ugly old woman, with a sharp nose, sharp chin,

-sharp eyes, sharp voice, and leather spectacles,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>

-again stood before him, leaning on her crooked black

-cane.</p>

-

-<p>“Ben je bedondered?” exclaimed Boss Boomptie,

-“what to you want now?”</p>

-

-<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed

-the old creature.</p>

-

-<p>The little man counted out twelve, as before.</p>

-

-<p>“I want one more!” screamed she, louder than

-ever.</p>

-

-<p>“Men weet hoe een koe een haas vangen kan!”

-cried the boss, in a rage; “den want will pe your

-masder.”</p>

-

-<p>She offered him six stivers, which he indignantly

-rejected, saying,</p>

-

-<p>“I want none of your duyvel's stuyvers—begone,

-duyvel's huysvrouw!”</p>

-

-<p>The old woman went her way, mumbling and

-grumbling as usual.</p>

-

-<p>“By Saint Johannes de Dooper,” quoth Boss

-Boomptie, “put she's a peaudy!”</p>

-

-<p>That night, and all the week after, the brickbats

-flew about Knickerbocker Hall like hail, insomuch

-that Boss Boomptie marvelled where they could

-all come from, until one morning, after a terrible

-shower of bricks, he found, to his great grief

-and dismay, that his oven had disappeared; next

-went the top of his chimney; and when that was

-gone, these diabolical sinners began at the extreme

-point of the gable end, and so went on picking at

-the two edges downward, until they looked just<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>

-like the teeth of a saw, as may be still seen in some

-of our old Dutch houses.</p>

-

-<p>“Onbegrypelik!” cried Boss Boomptie, “put it's

-too pad to have my prains peat out wid my own

-prickpats.”</p>

-

-<p>About the same time a sober respectable cat,

-that for years had done nothing but sit purring in

-the chimney corner, all at once got the duyvel in

-her, and after scratching the poor man half to death,

-jumped out of the chimney and disappeared. A

-Whitehall boatman afterwards saw her in Buttermilk

-Channel, with nothing but the tail left, swimming

-against the tide as easy as kiss your hand.

-Poor Mrs. Boomptie had no peace of her life, what

-with pinchings, stickings of needles, and talking

-without opening her mouth. But the climax of the

-malice of the demon which beset her was in at last

-tying up her tongue, so that she could not speak at

-all, but did nothing but sit crying and wringing her

-hands in the chimney corner.</p>

-

-<p>These carryings on brought round Newyear's

-eve again, when Boss Boomptie thought he would

-have a frolic, “in spite of de duyvel,” as he said,

-which saying was, somehow or other, afterwards

-applied to the creek at Kingsbridge. So he commanded

-his wife to prepare him a swinging mug of

-hot spiced rum, to keep up his courage against the

-assaults of the brickbats. But what was the dismay

-of the little man when he found that every time

-he put the beverage to his lips he received a great

-box on the ear, the mug was snatched away by an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>

-invisible hand, and every single drop drank out of

-it before it came to Boss Boomptie's turn. Then

-as if it was an excellent joke, he heard a most diabolical

-laugh down in the cellar.</p>

-

-<p>“Goeden Hemel! Is het mogelyk!” exclaimed

-the little man in despair. This was attacking

-him in the very intrenchments of his heart. It was

-worse than the brickbats.</p>

-

-<p>“Saint Nicholas! Saint Nicholas! what will become

-of me—what sal ich doon, mynheer?”</p>

-

-<p>Scarcely had he uttered this pathetic appeal,

-when there was a sound of horses' hoofs in the

-chimney, and presently a light wagon, drawn by a

-little, fat, gray 'Sopus pony, came trundling into the

-room, loaded with all sorts of knickknacks. It was

-driven by a jolly, fat, little rogue of a fellow, with

-a round sparkling eye, and a mouth which would

-certainly have been laughing had it not been for

-a glorious Meershaum pipe, which would have

-chanced to fall out in that case. The little rascal

-had on a three-cornered cocked hat, decked with old

-gold lace; a blue Dutch sort of a short pea jacket,

-red waistcoat, breeks of the same colour, yellow

-stockings, and honest thick-soled shoes, ornamented

-with a pair of skates. Altogether he was a queer

-figure—but there was something so irresistibly jolly

-and good-natured in his face, that Boss Boomptie

-felt his heart incline towards the stranger as soon

-as he saw him.</p>

-

-<p>“Orange Boven!” cried the good saint, pulling

-off his cocked hat, and making a low bow to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>

-Mrs. Boomptie, who sat tonguetied in the chimney

-corner.</p>

-

-<p>“Wat donderdag is dat?” said Boss Boomptie,

-speaking for his wife, which made the good woman

-very angry, that he should take the words out of her

-mouth.</p>

-

-<p>“You called on Saint Nicholas. Here am I,”

-quoth the jolly little saint. “In one word—for I

-am a saint of few words, and have my hands full

-of business to-night—in one word, tell me what

-you want.”</p>

-

-<p>“I am pewitched,” quoth Boss Boomptie. “The

-duyvel is in me, my house, my wife, my Newyear

-cookies, and my children. What shall I do?”</p>

-

-<p>“When you count a dozen you must count thirteen,”

-answered the wagon driver, at the same time

-cracking his whip, and clattering up the chimney,

-more like a little duyvel than a little saint.</p>

-

-<p>“Wat blixum!” muttered Boss Boomptie, “when

-you count a dozen you must count dirdeen! je mag

-even wel met un stokje in de goot roeron! I never

-heard of such counting. By Saint Johannes de

-Dooper, put Saint Nicholas is a great plockhead!”</p>

-

-<p>Just as he uttered this blasphemy against the

-excellent Saint Nicholas, he saw through the pane

-of glass, in the door leading from the spare room to

-the shop, the little ugly old woman, with the sharp

-eyes, sharp nose, sharp chin, sharp voice, and leather

-spectacles, alighting from a broomstick, at the

-street door.</p>

-

-<p>“Dere is de duyvel's kint come again,” quoth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>

-he, in one of his cross humours, which was aggravated

-by his getting just then a great box on the

-ear from the invisible hand. However, he went

-grumbling into the shop, for it was part of his religion

-never to neglect a customer, let the occasion

-be what it might.</p>

-

-<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed

-the old beauty, as usual, and as usual Boss Boomptie

-counted out twelve.</p>

-

-<p>“I want another one,” screamed she still louder.</p>

-

-<p>“Aha!” thought Boss Boomptie, doubtless inspired

-by the jolly little caitiff, Saint Nicholas—”Aha!

-Het is goed visschen in troebel water—when

-you count dwalf, you must count dirdeen.

-Ha—ha! ho—ho—ho!” And he counted out the

-thirteenth cooky like a brave fellow.</p>

-

-<p>The old woman made him a low courtesy, and

-laughed till she might have shown her teeth, if she

-had had any.</p>

-

-<p>“Friend Boomptie,” said she, in a voice exhibiting

-the perfection of a nicely modulated scream—“Friend

-Boomptie, I love such generous little fellows

-as you, in my heart. I salute you,” and she

-advanced to kiss him. Boss Boomptie did not at

-all like the proposition; but, doubtless inspired by

-Saint Nicholas, he submitted with indescribable

-grace.</p>

-

-<p>At that moment, an explosion was heard inside

-the little glass pane, and the voice of Mrs. Boomptie

-crying out,</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p>

-

-<p>“You false-hearted villain, have I found out your

-tricks at last!”</p>

-

-<p>“De Philistyner Onweetende!” cried Boss

-Boomptie. “She's come to her speech now!”</p>

-

-<p>“The spell is broken!” screamed the old woman

-with the sharp eyes, nose, chin, and voice. “The

-spell is broken, and henceforward a dozen is thirteen,

-and thirteen is a dozen! There shall be thirteen

-Newyear cookies to the dozen, as a type of the

-thirteen mighty states that are to arise out of the

-ruins of the government of faderland!”</p>

-

-<p>Thereupon she took a Newyear cake bearing

-the effigy of the blessed St. Nicholas, and caused

-Boss Boomptie to swear upon it, that for ever afterwards

-twelve should be thirteen, and thirteen should

-be twelve. After which, she mounted her broomstick

-and disappeared, just as the little old Dutch

-clock struck twelve. From that time forward, the

-spell that hung over the fortunes of little Boss Boomptie

-was broken; and ever after he became illustrious

-for baking the most glorious Newyear cookies in

-our country. Everything became as before: the

-little 'prentice boys returned, mounted on the batch

-of bread, and their adventures may, peradventure,

-be told some other time. Finally, from that day

-forward no baker of New-Amsterdam was ever

-bewitched, at least by an ugly old woman, and a

-bakers dozen has been always counted as thirteen.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_GHOST">THE GHOST.</h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Some time in the year 1800 or 1801, I am not

-certain which, a man of the name of William Morgan—I

-don't mean the person whose “abduction”

-has made so much noise in the world—enlisted on

-board the United States frigate —— for a three

-years' cruise in the Mediterranean. He was an

-awful-looking person, six feet four inches high; a

-long pale visage deeply furrowed with wrinkles;

-sunken eyes far up towards his forehead; black

-exuberant hair standing on end as if he was always

-frightened at something; a sharp chin of a length

-proportioned to his height; teeth white, but very

-irregular; and the colour of his eyes what the

-writers on supernatural affairs call very singular

-and mysterious. Besides this, his voice was hollow

-and sepulchral; on his right arm were engraved

-certain mysterious devices, surmounted with the letters

-E. M.; and his tobacco box was of iron. His

-everyday dress was a canvass hat with a black

-riband band, a blue jacket, white trousers, and

-leather shoes. On Sundays he wore a white

-beaver, which, among sailors, bespoke something

-extraordinary, and on rainy days a pea jacket too<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>

-short by half a yard. It is worthy of remark that

-Morgan entered on Friday; that the frigate was

-launched on Friday; that the master carpenter who

-built her was born on Friday; and that the squadron

-went to sea on Friday. All these singular

-coincidences, combined with his mysterious appearance,

-caused the sailors to look upon Morgan

-with some little degree of wonder.</p>

-

-<p>During the voyage to Gibraltar, Morgan's conduct

-served to increase the impression his appearance

-had made on the crew. He sometimes went

-without eating for several days together, at least

-no one ever saw him eat; and, if he ever slept at

-all, it was without shutting his eyes or lying down,

-for his messmates, one and all, swore that, wake at

-what time of the night they would, Morgan was seen

-sitting upright in his hammock, with his eyes glaring

-wide open. When his turn came to take his

-watch upon deck, his conduct was equally strange.

-He would stand stock still in one place, gazing at

-the stars, or the ocean, apparently unconscious of

-his situation; and when roused by his companions,

-tumble on the deck in a swoon. When he revived,

-he would fall to preaching the most strange and

-incomprehensible rhapsodies that ever were heard.

-In their idle hours upon the forecastle, Morgan

-told such stories about himself, and his strange

-escapes by sea and land, as caused the sailors' hair

-to stand on end, and made the jolly fellows look

-upon him as a person gifted with the privilege of

-living for ever. He often indeed hinted that he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>

-had as many lives as a cat, and several times

-offered to let himself be hanged for the gratification

-of his messmates. On more than one occasion,

-he was found lying on his back in his hammock,

-apparently without life, his eyes fixed and

-glassy, his limbs stiff and rigid, his lower jaw sunk

-down, and his pulse motionless, at least so his

-messmates swore when they went to call the doctor;

-though when the latter came he always found

-Morgan as well as ever he was in his life, and apparently

-unconscious of all that had happened.</p>

-

-<p>As they proceeded on the voyage, which proved

-for the most part a succession of calms, the sailors

-having little else to do, either imagined or invented

-new wonders about Morgan. At one time a little

-Welsh foretopman swore that as he was going to

-sit down to dinner, his canteen was snatched from

-under him by an invisible hand, and he fell plump

-on the deck. A second had his allowance of grog

-“abducted” in a mysterious manner, although he

-was ready to make oath he never had his eyes off

-it for a moment. A third had his tobacco box rifled,

-though it had never been out of his pocket.

-A fourth had a crooked sixpence, with a hole by

-which it was suspended from his neck by a riband,

-taken away without his ever being the wiser for it.</p>

-

-<p>These things at length reached the ears of Captain

-R——, who, the next time Morgan got into one

-of his trances, had him confined for four-and-twenty

-hours; and otherwise punished him in various

-ways on the recurrence of any one of these wonderful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>

-reports. All this produced no effect whatever

-either on Morgan or the crew, which at length had

-its wonder stretched to the utmost bounds by a singular

-adventure of our hero.</p>

-

-<p>One day, the squadron being about halfway

-across the Atlantic, and the frigate several leagues

-ahead with a fine breeze, there was an alarm of the

-magazine being on fire. Morgan was just coming

-on deck with a spoon in his hand, for some purpose

-or other, when hearing the cry of “magazine on

-fire,” he made one spring overboard. The fire was

-extinguished by the daring gallantry of an officer,

-now living, and standing in the first rank of our

-naval heroes. In the confusion and alarm, it was

-impossible to make any efforts to save Morgan;

-and it was considered a matter of course that he

-had perished in the ocean. Two days after, one

-of the other vessels of the squadron came alongside

-the frigate, and sent a boat on board with Billy

-Morgan. Twelve hours from the time of his leaping

-overboard, he had been found swimming away

-gallantly, with the spoon in his hand. When asked

-why he did not let it go, he replied that he kept it

-to help himself to salt water when he was dry.

-This adventure fixed in the minds of the sailors an

-obstinate opinion, that Morgan was either a dead

-man come to life again, or one that was not very

-easy to be killed.</p>

-

-<p>After this, Morgan continued his mysterious

-pranks. The sailors talked and wondered, and

-Captain R—— punished him, until the squadron<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>

-was within two or three days' sail of Gibraltar, admitting

-the wind continued fair as it then was.

-Morgan had been punished pretty severely that

-morning for stargazing and falling into a swoon on

-his watch the night before, and had solemnly assured

-his messmates, that he intended to jump overboard

-and drown himself the first opportunity. He

-made his will, dressed himself in his best, and settled

-all his affairs. He also replenished his tobacco

-box, put his allowance of biscuit in his pocket,

-and filled a small canteen with water, which he

-strung about his neck; saying that perhaps he

-might take it into his head to live a day or two in

-the water, before he finally went to the bottom.</p>

-

-<p>Between twelve and one, the vessel being becalmed,

-the night a clear starlight, and the sentinels

-pacing their rounds, Morgan was distinctly

-seen to come up through the hatchway, walk forward,

-climb the bulwark, and let himself drop into

-the sea. A midshipman and two seamen testified

-to the facts; and Morgan being missing the next

-morning, there was no doubt of his having committed

-suicide by drowning himself. This affair occasioned

-much talk, and various were the opinions

-of the ship's crew on the subject. Some swore it

-was one Davy Jones who had been playing his

-pranks; others that it was no man, but a ghost or a

-devil that had got among them; and others were in

-daily expectation of seeing him come on board

-again, as much alive as ever he was.</p>

-

-<p>In the mean time, the squadron proceeded but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>

-slowly, being detained several days by calms and

-head winds, most of which were in some way or

-other laid to Billy Morgan by the gallant tars, who

-fear nothing but Fridays and men without heads.

-His fate, however, gradually ceased to be a subject

-of discussion, and the wonder was quickly passing

-away, when one night, about a week after his jumping

-overboard, the figure of Morgan, all pale and

-ghastly, his clothes hanging wet about him—with

-eyes more sunken, hair more upright, and face

-more thin and cadaverous than ever, was seen by

-one of his messmates, who happened to be lying

-awake, to emerge slowly from the forepart of the

-ship, approach one of the tables where there was a

-can of water, from which it took a hearty draught,

-and disappear in the direction whence it came.

-The sailor told the story next morning, but as yet

-very few believed him.</p>

-

-<p>The next night the same figure appeared, and

-was seen by a different person from him by whom

-it was first observed. It came from the same quarter

-again, helped itself to a drink, and disappeared

-in the same direction it had done before. The story

-of Morgan's ghost, in the course of a day or two,

-came to the ears of Captain R——, who caused a

-search to be made in that part of the vessel whence

-the ghost had come; under the impression that the

-jumping overboard of Morgan had been a deception,

-and that he was now secreted on board the

-ship. The search ended, however, without any discovery.

-The calms and head winds still continued,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>

-and not a sailor on board but ascribed them

-to Billy Morgan's mysterious influence. The ghost

-made its appearance again the following night after

-the search, when it was seen, by another of

-Morgan's messmates, to empty his tobacco box, and

-seize some of the fragments of supper, which had

-been accidentally left on a table, with which it again

-vanished in the manner before described. The

-sailor swore that when the ghost made free with

-his tobacco box, he attempted to lay hold of him, but

-felt nothing in his hand, except something exactly

-like cold water.</p>

-

-<p>Captain R—— was excessively provoked at

-these stories, and caused another and still more

-thorough search to be made, but without any discovery.

-He then directed a young midshipman to

-keep watch between decks. That night the ghost

-again made its appearance, and the courageous

-young officer sallied out upon it; but the figure

-darted away with inconceivable velocity, and disappeared.

-The midshipman, as directed, immediately

-informed Captain R——, who instituted an

-immediate search, but with as little success as before.

-By this time there was not a sailor on board

-that was not afraid of his shadow, and even the officers

-began to be infected with a superstitious

-dread. At length the squadron arrived at Gibraltar,

-and came to in the bay of Algesiras, where the

-ships remained some days waiting the arrival of

-those they had come to relieve. About the usual

-hour that night, the ghost of Billy Morgan again<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>

-appeared to one of his messmates, offered him its

-hand, and saying “Good-by, Tom,” disappeared

-as usual.</p>

-

-<p>It was a fortnight or more before the relief squadron

-sailed up the Mediterranean, during which time

-the crews of the ships were permitted to take their

-turn to go on shore. On one of these occasions,

-a messmate of Billy Morgan, named Tom Brown,

-was passing through a tolerably dark lane in the

-suburbs of Algesiras, when he heard a well-known

-voice call out, “Tom, Tom, d—n your eyes,

-don't you know your old messmate?” Tom knew

-the voice, and looking round, recognised his old

-messmate Morgan's ghost. But he had no inclination

-to renew the acquaintance; he took to his

-heels, and without looking behind him to see if the

-ghost followed, ran to the boat where his companions

-were waiting, and told the story as soon as he

-could find breath for the purpose. This reached

-the ear of Captain R——, who, being almost sure

-of the existence of Morgan, applied to the governor

-of the town, who caused search to be made everywhere

-without effect. No one had ever seen such

-a person. That very night the ghost made its appearance

-on board the frigate, and passed its cold

-wet hand over the face of Tom Brown, to whom

-Morgan had left his watch and chest of clothes.

-The poor fellow bawled out lustily; but before

-any pursuit could be made, the ghost had disappeared

-in the forward part of the ship as usual.

-After this Billy again appeared two or three times<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>

-alternately to some one of his old messmates;

-sometimes in the town, at others on board the

-frigate, but always in the dead of night. He

-seemed desirous to say something particular, but

-could never succeed in getting any of the sailors

-to listen quietly to the communication. The

-last time he made his appearance at Algesiras, on

-board the frigate, he was heard by one of the sailors

-to utter, in a low hollow whisper, “You shall

-see me at Malta;” after which he vanished as before.</p>

-

-<p>Caption R—— was excessively perplexed at

-these strange and unaccountable visitations, and

-instituted every possible inquiry into the circumstances

-in the hope of finding some clew to explain

-the mystery. He again caused the ship to be examined

-with a view to the discovery either of the

-place where Morgan secreted himself, or the means

-by which he escaped from the vessel. He questioned

-every man on board, and threatened the severest

-punishment, should he ever discover that

-they deceived him in their story, or were accomplices

-in the escape of Morgan. He even removed

-everything in the forward part of the ship, and rendered

-it impossible for any human being to be

-there without being detected. The whole resulted

-in leaving the affair involved in complete mystery,

-and the squadron proceeded up the Mediterranean,

-to cruise along the African coast, and rendezvous

-at Malta.</p>

-

-<p>It was some weeks before the frigate came to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>

-the latter place, and in the mean time, as nothing

-had been seen of the ghost, it was concluded that

-the shade of Billy Morgan was appeased, or rather

-the whole affair had been gradually forgotten. Two

-nights after her arrival, a party of sailors, being

-ashore at La Vallette, accidentally entered a small

-tavern in a remote part of the suburbs, where they

-commenced a frolic, after the manner of those amphibious

-bipeds. Among them was the heir of

-Billy Morgan, who about three or four in the morning

-went to bed, not quite as clear headed as he

-might have been. He could not tell how long he

-had been asleep, when he was awakened by a

-voice whispering in his ear, “Tom, Tom, wake

-up!” On opening his eyes, he beheld, by the pale

-light of the morning, the ghastly figure of Billy

-Morgan leaning over his bed and glaring at him

-with eyes like saucers. Tom cried, “Murder!

-ghost! Billy Morgan!” as loud as he could bawl,

-until he roused the landlord, who came to know

-what was the matter. Tom related the whole affair,

-and inquired if he had seen anything of the figure

-he described. Mine host utterly denied having

-seen or ever heard of such a figure as Billy Morgan,

-and so did all his family. The report was again

-alive on board the frigate, that Billy Morgan's ghost

-had taken the field once more. “Heaven and

-earth!” cried Captain R——, “is Billy Morgan's

-ghost come again? Shall I never get rid of this

-infernal spectre, or whatever else it may be?”</p>

-

-<p>Captain R—— immediately ordered his barge,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>

-waited on the governor, explained the situation of

-his crew, and begged his assistance in apprehending

-the ghost of Billy Morgan, or Billy himself, as

-the case might be. That night the governor caused

-the strictest search to be made in every hole and

-corner of the little town of La Vallette; but in

-vain. No one had seen that remarkable being,

-corporeal or spiritual; and the landlord of the house

-where the spectre appeared, together with all his

-family, utterly denied any knowledge of such a

-person or thing. It is little to be wondered at, that

-the search proved ineffectual, for that very night

-Billy took a fancy to appear on board the frigate,

-where he again accosted his old friend Tom, to

-whom he had bequeathed all his goods and chattels.

-But Tom had no mind for a confidential communication

-with the ghost, and roared out so lustily, as

-usual, that it glided away and disappeared as before,

-without being intercepted in the confusion

-which followed.</p>

-

-<p>Captain R—— was in despair; never was man

-so persecuted by a ghost in this world before. The

-ship's crew were in a state of terror and dismay,

-insomuch that had an Algerine come across them

-they might peradventure have surrendered at discretion.

-They signed a round robin, drawn up by

-one of Billy Morgan's old messmates, representing

-to Captain R—— the propriety of running the ship

-ashore, and abandoning her entirely to the ghost,

-which now appeared almost every night, sometimes

-between decks, at others on the end of the bowsprit,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>

-and at others cutting capers on the yards and topgallant

-mast. The story spread into the town of

-La Vallette, and nothing was talked of but the ghost

-of Billy Morgan, which now began to appear occasionally

-to the sentinels of the fort, one of whom

-had the courage to fire at it, by which he alarmed

-the whole island and made matters ten times worse

-than ever.</p>

-

-<p>From Malta the squadron, after making a cruise

-of a few weeks, proceeded to Syracuse, with the

-intention of remaining some time. They were

-obliged to perform a long quarantine; the ships

-were strictly examined by the health officers, and

-fumigated with brimstone, to the great satisfaction

-of the crew of the frigate, who were in great hopes

-this would drive away Billy Morgan's ghost. These

-hopes were strengthened by their seeing no more

-of that troublesome visiter during the whole time

-the quarantine continued. The very next night

-after the expiration of the quarantine, Billy again

-visited his old messmate and heir Tom Brown, lank,

-lean, and dripping wet, as usual, and after giving

-him a rousing shake, whispered, “Hush, Tom; I

-want to speak to you about my watch and chest of

-clothes.” But Tom had no inclination to converse

-with his old friend, and cried out “Murder” with

-all his might; when the ghost vanished as before,

-muttering, as Tom swore, “You bloody infernal

-lubber.”</p>

-

-<p>The reappearance of the ghost occasioned greater

-consternation than ever among the crew of the good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>

-ship, and it required all the influence of severe punishments

-to keep them from deserting on every

-occasion. Poor Tom Brown, to whom the devoirs

-of the spectre seemed most especially directed, left

-off swearing and chewing tobacco, and dwindled to

-a perfect shadow. He became very serious, and

-spent almost all his leisure time in reading chapters

-in the Bible or singing psalms. Captain R——

-now ordered a constant watch all night between

-decks, in hopes of detecting the intruder; but all

-in vain, although there was hardly a night passed

-without Tom's waking and crying out that the ghost

-had just paid him a visit. It was, however, thought

-very singular, and to afford additional proof of its

-being a ghost, that on all these occasions, except

-two, it was invisible to everybody but Tom Brown.</p>

-

-<p>In addition to the vexation arising from this persevering

-and diabolical persecution of Billy's ghost,

-various other strange and unaccountable things

-happened almost every day on board the frigate.

-Tobacco boxes were emptied in the most mysterious

-manner, and in the dead of the night; sailors

-would sometimes be missing a whole day, and return

-again without being able to give any account

-of themselves; and not a few of them were overtaken

-with liquor, without their being ever the wiser

-for it, for they all swore they had not drunk a drop

-beyond their allowance. Sometimes, on going

-ashore on leave for a limited time, the sailors would

-be decoyed, as they solemnly assured the captain,

-by some unaccountable influence into strange, out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>

-of the way places, where they could not find their

-road back, and where they were found by their

-officers in a state of mysterious stupefaction, though

-not one had tasted a drop of liquor. On these

-occasions, they always saw the ghost of Billy Morgan,

-either flying through the air, or dancing on the

-tops of the steeples, with a fiery tail like a comet.

-Wonder grew upon wonder every day, until the

-wonder transcended the bounds of human credulity.</p>

-

-<p>At length, Tom Brown, the night after receiving

-a visit from Billy Morgan's ghost, disappeared, and

-was never heard of afterwards. As the chest of

-clothes inherited from his deceased messmate was

-found entirely empty, it might have been surmised

-that Tom had deserted, had not a sailor, who was

-on the watch, solemnly declared that he saw the

-ghost of Billy Morgan jump overboard with him in

-a flame of fire, and that he hissed like a red-hot

-ploughshare in the water. After this bold feat, the

-spectre appeared no more. The squadron remained

-some time at Syracuse, and various adventures befell

-the officers and crews, which those remaining

-alive tell of to this day. How Macdonough, then a

-madcap midshipman, “licked” the high constable

-of the town; how Burroughs quizzed the governor;

-what rows they kicked up at masquerades; what

-a dust they raised among the antiquities; and

-what wonders they whispered in the ear of Dionysius.

-From thence, they again sailed on a cruise,

-and after teaching the Bey of Tripoli a new way<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>

-of paying tribute, and laying the foundation of that

-structure of imperishable glory which shall one day

-reach the highest heaven, returned home, after an

-absence of between two and three years. The

-crew of the frigate were paid off and discharged,

-and it is on record, as a wonder, that their three

-years' pay lasted some of them nearly three days.

-But though we believe in the ghost of Billy Morgan,

-we can scarcely credit this incredible wonder.

-Certain it is, that not a man of them ever doubted

-for a moment the reality of the spectre, or would

-have hesitated to make oath of having seen it more

-than once. Even Captain R—— spoke of it on

-his return, as one of those strange, inscrutable

-things, which baffle the efforts of human ingenuity,

-and seem to justify the most extraordinary relations

-of past and present times. His understanding revolted

-at the absurdity of a great part of the wonders

-ascribed to Billy Morgan's ghost; but some

-of the facts were so well attested, that a painful

-doubt would often pass over his mind, and dispose

-it to the reception of superstitious impressions.</p>

-

-<p>He remained in this state of mixed skepticism

-and credulity, when, some years after his return

-from the Mediterranean, being on a journey to the

-westward, he had occasion to halt at a log house, on

-the borders of the Tennessee, for refreshment. A

-man came forth to receive him, whom he at once

-recognised as his old acquaintance, Billy Morgan.

-“Heavens!” thought Captain R——, “here's Monsieur

-Tonson come again!” Billy, who had also<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>

-found out who his guest was, when too late to retreat,

-looked rather sheepish, and invited him in

-with little of the frank hospitality characteristic of a

-genuine backwoodsman. Captain R—— followed

-him into the house, where he found a comely good-natured

-dame, and two or three yellow-haired boys

-and girls, all in a fluster at the stranger. The

-house had an air of comfort, and the mistress, by

-her stirring activity, accompanied with smiling looks

-withal, seemed pleased at the rare incident of a

-stranger's entering their door.</p>

-

-<p>Bill Morgan was at first rather shy and awkward.

-But finding Captain R—— treated him

-with good-humoured frankness, he, in the course of

-the evening, when the children were gone to bed,

-and the wife busy in milking the cows, took occasion

-to accost his old commander.</p>

-

-<p>“Captain, I hope you don't mean to shoot me

-for a deserter?”</p>

-

-<p>“By no means,” said the captain, smiling; “there

-would be little use in shooting a ghost, or a man

-with as many lives as a cat.”</p>

-

-<p>Billy Morgan smiled rather a melancholy smile.

-“Ah! captain, you have not forgot the ghost, I see.

-But it is a long time to remember an old score, and

-I hope you'll forgive me.”</p>

-

-<p>“On one condition I will,” replied Captain

-R——; “that you tell me honestly how you managed

-to make all my sailors believe they saw you,

-night after night, on board the ship as well as on

-shore.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p>

-

-<p>“They did see me,” replied Billy, in his usual

-sepulchral voice.</p>

-

-<p>The captain began to be in some doubt whether

-he was talking to Billy Morgan or his ghost.</p>

-

-<p>“You don't pretend to say you were really on

-board my vessel all the time?”</p>

-

-<p>“No, not all the time, only at such times as the

-sailors saw me—except previous to our arrival at

-Gibraltar.”</p>

-

-<p>“Then their seeing you jump overboard was all

-a deception.”</p>

-

-<p>“By no means, sir; I did jump overboard—but

-then I climbed back again, directly after.”</p>

-

-<p>“The deuse you did—explain.”</p>

-

-<p>“I will, sir, as well as I am able. I was many

-years among the Sandwich Islanders, where the vessel

-in which I was a cabin boy was wrecked, a

-long time ago, and I can pass whole hours, I believe

-days, in the water, without being fatigued, except

-for want of sleep. I have also got some of

-their other habits, such as a great dislike to hard

-work, and a liking for going where I will, and doing

-just what I please. The discipline of a man-of-war

-did not suit me at all, and I grew tired after

-a few days. To pass the time, and to make fun

-for myself with the sailors, I told them stories of

-my adventures, and pretended that I could live in

-the water, and had as many lives as a cat. Besides

-this, as you know, I played them many other

-pranks, partly for amusement, and partly from a

-kind of pride I felt in making them believe I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>

-half a wizard. The punishment you gave me,

-though I own I deserved it, put me out of all patience,

-and I made up my mind to desert the very

-first opportunity. I had an old shipmate with me,

-whom I could trust, and we planned the whole

-thing together. I knew if I deserted at Gibraltar,

-or any of the ports of the Mediterranean, I should

-almost certainly be caught, and shot as an example;

-and for this reason we settled that I should

-jump overboard, return again, and hide myself in a

-coil of cable which was stowed away between

-decks, close to the bows, where it was dark even in

-the daytime. My messmate procured a piece of

-old canvass, with which I might cover myself if

-necessary. To make my jumping overboard have

-a greater effect on the crew, and to provide against

-accidents until the ship arrived at Gibraltar, I took

-care to fill my tobacco box with tobacco, my pockets

-with biscuits, and to sling a canteen of water

-round my neck, as I told them perhaps I might

-take it into my head not to go to the bottom for two

-or three days. I got Tom Brown to write my will,

-intending to leave my watch and chest to my messmate,

-who was to return them to me at Gibraltar,

-the first chance he could get. But Tom played us

-a trick, and put his own name in place of my

-friend's. Neither he nor I were any great scholars,

-and the trick was not found out till afterwards,

-when my friend was afraid of discovery, if he

-made any rout about the matter.”</p>

-

-<p>“Who was your friend?” asked Captain R——.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p>

-

-<p>“He is still alive, and in service. I had rather

-not mention his name.”</p>

-

-<p>“Very well,” replied Captain R——, “go on.”</p>

-

-<p>“That night I jumped overboard.”</p>

-

-<p>“How did you get back into the ship?” asked

-the captain, hastily.</p>

-

-<p>“Why, sir, the forward porthole, on the starboard

-side, was left open, with a bit of rope fastened

-to the gun, and hanging down so that I could catch

-it.”</p>

-

-<p>The captain struck his forehead with the palm

-of his hand, and said to himself,</p>

-

-<p>“What a set of blockheads we were!”</p>

-

-<p>“Not so great as might have been expected,” said

-honest Billy Morgan, intending to compliment the

-captain; but it sounded directly the contrary.</p>

-

-<p>“As soon as I had jumped overboard I swam to

-the rope, which I held fast, waiting the signal from

-my friend to climb up and hide myself in the coil of

-cable. In the bustle which followed it was easy

-enough to do this, and nobody saw me but my

-friend. Here I remained in my wet clothes, rather

-uncomfortably, as you may suppose, until my provision

-and water were expended, and my tobacco

-box empty. I calculated they would last till we

-arrived at Gibraltar, when nothing would have been

-easier for me than to jump out of the porthole and

-swim ashore. But the plaguy head winds and

-calms, which I dare say you remember, delayed

-the squadron several days longer than I expected,

-and left me without supply. I could have gone<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>

-without biscuit and water, but it was impossible to

-live without tobacco. My friend had promised to

-come near enough to hear signals of distress sometimes,

-but, as he told me afterwards, he was confined

-several days for picking a quarrel with Tom

-Brown, whom he longed to flog for forging the

-will.</p>

-

-<p>“I remained in this state until I was nearly

-starved, when, not being able to stand it any

-longer, I one night, when everybody between

-decks seemed fast asleep, crept out from my hiding

-place, where I was coiled up in the shape of a

-cable, and finding a pitcher of water, took a hearty

-drink out of it. This was as far as I dared go at

-that time, so I went back again as quietly as possible.

-But I was too hungry to remain quiet, though

-among the Sandwich Islanders I had been used to

-go without eating for days at a time. The next

-night I crept out again, and was lucky enough to

-get a pretty good supply of provisions, which happened

-to be left by some accident in the way.

-Two or three times I heard search making for me,

-and was very much frightened lest I should be found

-out in my hole.”</p>

-

-<p>“How was it possible for the blockheads to miss

-you?” asked Captain R——.</p>

-

-<p>“Why, sir, they did come to the cable tier

-where I was, but I believe they were too much

-frightened to look into it, or could not see me in the

-dark hole. They did not lift the canvass that

-covered me either of the times they came. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>

-night I found the officer on the watch, I gave myself

-up for gone; but as luck would have it, my

-friend was now out of limbo, and always took care

-to examine the coil of cable so carefully, that nobody

-thought of looking into it after him. When

-we arrived at the bay of Algesiras, I took an opportunity

-to frighten Tom Brown a little, by visiting

-him in the night and bidding him good-by,

-after which I slipped quietly out of the porthole,

-and swam ashore, while my friend pulled up the

-rope and shut the port after me as usual.”</p>

-

-<p>“But how did you manage to escape from the

-search made by the police at Algesiras?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, sir! I was on board the frigate all the time

-in my old hiding place.”</p>

-

-<p>“And when the ship was searched directly

-after?”</p>

-

-<p>“I was ashore at that time.”</p>

-

-<p>“And how did you manage at Malta?”</p>

-

-<p>“The landlord was my sworn brother, and

-wouldn't have blabbed for a thousand pounds.”</p>

-

-<p>“And the capers on the yardarm and topgallant,

-the visits paid to Tom Brown at Syracuse,

-and the wonderful stories told by the sailors of

-being robbed of their tobacco, getting tipsy upon

-nothing, and being led astray by nobody? What

-do you say to all this, Mr. Ghost?” said the captain,

-smiling.</p>

-

-<p>“I never paid but two visits to the ship, so far

-is I remember, sir, after she left Malta. One was

-the night I wanted to talk with Tom Brown, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>

-other when he disappeared the night afterwards.

-The rest of the stories were all owing to the jokes of

-some of the sailors, and the fears of the others.”</p>

-

-<p>“But you are sure you did not jump into the sea

-with Tom Brown, in a flame of fire?”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes, sir, as I am an honest man. Tom got

-away without any help of mine, and without my

-ever knowing how, until a long time afterwards,

-when I accidentally met him at Liverpool.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well?”</p>

-

-<p>“He was not to be convinced I was living, but

-ran away as hard as he could, and to this day believes

-in ghosts as much as he does in his being

-alive himself.”</p>

-

-<p>“So far all is clear enough,” said Captain

-R——; “but what could possibly induce you to

-put yourself in the way of being caught after escaping,

-by visiting the ship and letting yourself be

-seen?”</p>

-

-<p>“I wanted to see Tom Brown, sir.”</p>

-

-<p>“Why so?”</p>

-

-<p>“I wanted to get back my watch and clothes

-from him.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh! I see it now. But had you no other object?”</p>

-

-<p>“Why, I'll tell you, sir; besides that, I had a

-sort of foolish pride, all my life, in frightening people,

-and making them wonder at me, by telling

-tough stories, or doing strange things. I haven't

-got over it to this day, and have been well beaten

-two or three times, besides being put in jail, for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>

-playing the ghost hereabout, with the country

-people, at court time. I confess too, sir, that I

-have once or twice frightened my wife almost into

-fits, by way of a frolic; and for all the trouble it

-has brought upon me, I believe in my soul I shall

-play the ghost till I give up the ghost at last.

-Besides this, the truth is, sir, I had a little spite at

-you for having put me in the bilboes for some of

-these pranks, as I deserved, and had no objection

-to pay you off, by breeding trouble in the ship.”</p>

-

-<p>“Truly, you succeeded wonderfully; but what

-became of you afterwards?”</p>

-

-<p>“Why, sir, after Tom Brown deserted, and, to

-quiet his conscience, left my watch and clothes to

-my friend, I had no motive for playing the ghost

-any more. I shipped in an American merchantman

-for Smyrna—from thence I went to Gibraltar—and

-after voyaging a year or two, and saving a

-few hundred dollars, came to Boston at last. I did

-not dare to stay along shore, for fear of being

-known by some of the officers of the squadron, so

-I took my money and my bundle and went into

-the back country. I am a little of everything, a

-jack of all trades, and turned farmer, as sea captains

-often do when they are tired of ploughing the

-ocean. I get on pretty well now, and hope you

-won't have me shot by a court martial.”</p>

-

-<p>“No,” replied Captain R——, “I am out of the

-navy now. I have turned farmer too, and you are

-quite safe.”</p>

-

-<p>“I hope you prosper well, sir?”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p>

-

-<p>“Not quite as well as you, Billy—I have come

-into the backwoods to see if I can do better.”</p>

-

-<p>“Only serve under me,” said Billy,“ and I will

-repay all your good offices.”</p>

-

-<p>“What, the floggings, _et cetera_?”</p>

-

-<p>“By God's help, sir, I may,” said Billy. “Try

-me, sir.”</p>

-

-<p>“No—I am going on a little farther.”</p>

-

-<p>“You may go farther, and fare worse, sir.”</p>

-

-<p>“Perhaps so—but I believe it is bedtime, and

-so good-night, Mr. Ghost.”</p>

-

-<p>Captain R—— retired very quietly to his room,

-went to bed, and slept like a top, till the broad sun

-shone over the summits of the trees into his face,

-as he lay under the window. He breakfasted sumptuously,

-and set out gallantly for the prairies of St.

-Louis.</p>

-

-<p>“Good-by, captain,” said Billy, leering, and

-lengthening his face to a supernatural degree. “I

-hope you won't meet any ghosts on your way.”</p>

-

-<p>“Good-by, Billy,” replied Captain R——, a little

-nettled at this joke. “I hope you will not get

-into the state prison for playing the ghost.”</p>

-

-<p>“I'll take care of that, sir; I've been in the state

-prison already, and you won't catch me there again,

-I warrant you.”</p>

-

-<p>“What do you mean, Billy?”</p>

-

-<p>“I mean, that there is little or no odds between

-a state ship and a state prison,” said Billy, with a

-face longer than ever, and a most expressive shrug.</p>

-

-<p>Captain R—— proceeded on his way, reflecting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>

-on the singular story of Billy Morgan, whose pranks

-on board the frigate had convinced some hundreds

-of men of the existence of ghosts, and thrown the

-gloom of superstitious horror over the remainder of

-their existence. “Not a sailor,” thought he, “out

-of more than five hundred, with the exception of a

-single one, but will go to his grave in the full belief

-of the appearance of Billy Morgan's ghost.

-What an unlucky rencounter this of mine; it has

-spoiled one of the best-authenticated ghost stories

-of the age.”</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p>

-

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_C2"><small>THE</small><br>

-

-

-NYMPH OF THE MOUNTAIN.</h2>

-</div>

-

-<p>In a certain corner of the Bay State there once

-stood, and we hope will continue to nourish long

-and happily, a snug town, now promoted to be a

-city, the name of which is not material to our purpose.

-Here in a great shingle palace, which would

-have been a very comfortable edifice had it only

-been finished, lived a reputable widow, well to do

-in the world, and the happy mother of a promising

-lad, a wonderful clever boy, as might be expected.

-In fact, Shearjashub (that was his name) was no

-bad specimen of the country lad. He was hardy,

-abstemious, independent, and _cute_ withal; and before

-he was a man grown, made a great bargain

-once out of a travelling merchant, a Scotchman, who

-chanced that way. Besides this, he was a mechanical

-genius; and, though far from being lazy,

-delighted in the invention of labour-saving machines,

-some of which were odd enough. He peeled all

-his mother's pumpkins by water, and spun her flax

-with a windmill. Nay, it was reported of him,

-that he once invented a machine for digging graves

-upon speculation, by which he calculated he should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>

-certainly have made his fortune, had not the people

-of the village all with one accord taken it into their

-heads to live for ever. The name of the family

-was Yankee, they having been the first that had

-intercourse with the Indians, who called them

-Yankee, because they could not say English.</p>

-

-<p>The Widow Yankee was a right pious, meeting-going

-woman, who held it to be a great want of

-faith not to believe in everything; especially everything

-out of the way and impossible. She was

-a great amateur of demonology and witchcraft.

-Moreover, she was gifted with a reasonable share

-of curiosity, though it is recorded that once she

-came very near missing to get at the bottom of a

-secret. The story ran as follows:—</p>

-

-<p>One day, as she was sitting at her window,

-which had a happy aspect for overlooking the

-affairs of the village, she saw a mysterious-looking

-man, with a stick in his hand and a pipe in his

-mouth, walking exactly three feet behind a white

-cow. The same thing happened precisely at the

-same hour in the same manner the next day, and

-so continued for some time. The first week the

-widow began to think it rather odd; the second she

-began to think it quite strange; the third it became

-altogether mysterious; and the fourth the poor

-woman took to her bed, of the disease of the man

-and the cow.</p>

-

-<p>Doctor Calomel undertook the cure in a new and

-original manner, to wit, without the use of medicine.

-He wrought upon the mysterious cowdriver<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>

-to come to the widow's house, and tell her the

-whole secret of the business. When he came into

-the room the sick woman raised herself up, and in

-a faint voice addressed him as follows:—</p>

-

-<p>“Mysterious man! I conjure thee to tell me what

-under the sun makes thee always follow that cow

-about every day at the same hour, and at the same

-distance from her tail?”</p>

-

-<p>“Because the cow always goes before me!” replied

-the mysterious man.</p>

-

-<p>Upon which the widow jumped out of her sick

-bed, seized an old shoe, fired it at the mysterious

-man's head, and was miraculously cured from that

-moment. Doctor Calomel got into great practice

-thereupon.</p>

-

-<p>Shearjashub inherited a considerable share of his

-mother's inquiring disposition, and was very inquisitive

-about the affairs of other people; but, to do

-him justice, he took pretty good care to keep his

-own to himself, like a discreet lad as he was. Having

-invented so many labour-saving machines, Jashub,

-as he was usually called by the neighbours,

-thought it was great nonsense to work himself; so

-he set his machines going, and took to the amusement

-of killing time, which, in a country village, is

-no such easy matter. It required a considerable

-share of ingenuity. His favourite mode of doing

-this was taking his gun on his shoulder, and sallying

-forth into the fields and woods, followed by a

-cur, whose genealogy was perfectly mysterious.

-Nobody could tell to what family he belonged;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>

-certain it was, that he was neither “mongrel, puppy,

-whelp, nor hound,” but a cur of low degree,

-whose delight was to bask in the sun when he was

-not out with his young master.</p>

-

-<p>In this way Jashub would pass day after day, in

-what he called sporting; that is to say, toiling

-through tangled woods and rough bog meadows and

-swamps, that quivered like a jelly at every step, and

-returning home at night hungry as well as tired.

-Report said that he never was known to shoot anything;

-and thus far his time was spent innocently, if

-not improvingly.</p>

-

-<p>One fast-day, early in the spring of 1776, Jashub

-went forth as usual, with his gun on his shoulder,

-and little Snap (such was the name of the dog) at his

-heels. The early May had put on all her charms;

-a thousand little patches of wild violets were peeping

-forth with deep blue eyes; a thousand, yea,

-tens of thousands of little buds were expanding into

-leaves apace; and crowds of chirping birds were

-singing a hymn to the jolly laughing spring. Jashub

-could not find it in his heart to fire at them; but if

-he had, there would have been no danger, except of

-frightening the little warblers, and arresting their

-song.</p>

-

-<p>Beguiled by the beauties of Nature and her charming

-music, Jashub almost unconsciously wandered

-on until he came to the opening of a deep glen in

-the mountain, which rose at some miles distance,

-west of the village. It was formed by the passage

-of a pure crystal stream, which, in the course of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>

-ages, or perhaps by a single effort, had divided the

-mountain about the space of twenty yards, ten of

-which were occupied by the brook, which silently

-wound its way along the edge of steep and rocky

-precipices several hundred feet high, that formed

-the barriers of the glen on either side. These towering

-perpendicular masses of gray eternity were

-here and there green with the adventurous laurel,

-which, fastening its roots in the crevices, nodded

-over the mighty steep in fearful dizziness. Here

-and there a little spring gushed forth high up among

-the graybeard rocks, and trickled down their sides

-in silvery brightness. In other places patches of

-isinglass appeared, sparkling against the sober

-masses, and communicating a singularly lustrous

-character to the scene, which had otherwise been

-all gloomy solitude.</p>

-

-<p>Jashub gazed a while in apprehensive wonder,

-as he stood at the entrance of these everlasting

-gates. Curiosity prompted him to enter, and explore

-the recesses within, while a certain vague

-unwillingness deterred him. At length curiosity,

-or perhaps fate, which had decreed that he should

-become the instrument of her great designs, prevailed

-against all opposition, and he entered the

-gates of this majestic palace of nature. He slowly

-advanced, sometimes arrested by a certain feeling

-of mysterious awe; at others driven on by the

-power which had assumed the direction of his conduct,

-until he arrived at the centre of the hallowed

-solitude. Not a living thing breathed around him,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>

-except his little dog, and his gun trembled in his

-hand. All was gloom, silence, solitude, deep and

-profound. The brook poured forth no murmurs,

-the birds and insects seemed to have shunned the unsunned

-region, where everlasting twilight reigned;

-and the scream of the hawks, pursuing their way

-across the deep chasm, was hushed as they passed.</p>

-

-<p>Jashub was arrested by the melancholy grandeur

-of the scene, and his dog looked wistfully in his

-face, as if he wanted to go home. As he stood

-thus lingering, leaning on his gun, a merry strain

-broke forth upon the terrible silence, and echoed

-through the glen. The sound made him suddenly

-start, in doing which his foot somehow or other

-caught in the lock of his gun, which he had forgot

-to uncock, as was usual with him, and caused

-it to go off. The explosion rang through the recesses

-of the glen in a hundred repetitions, which

-were answered by the howlings of the little dog.

-As the echoes gradually subsided, and the smoke

-cleared away, the music again commenced. It was

-a careless, lively air, such as suited the taste of the

-young man, and he forgot his fears in his love of

-music.</p>

-

-<p>As he stood thus entranced he heard a voice,

-sweet, yet animating as the clear sound of the trumpet,

-exclaim,</p>

-

-<p>“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”</p>

-

-<p>Jashub's heart bounded into his throat, and prevented

-his answering. He loaded his gun, and stood

-on the defensive.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p>

-

-<p>In a moment after the same trumpet voice repeated

-the same words,</p>

-

-<p>“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”</p>

-

-<p>“What d'ye want, you tarnal kritter?” at length

-the young man answered, with a degree of courage

-that afterwards astonished him.</p>

-

-<p>“Listen—and look!”</p>

-

-<p>He listened and looked, but saw nothing, until a

-little flourish of the same sprightly tune directed

-his attention to the spot whence it came.</p>

-

-<p>High on the summit of the highest perpendicular

-cliff, which shone gorgeously with sparkling isinglass,

-seated under the shade of a tuft of laurels, he

-beheld a female figure, holding a little flageolet,

-and playing the sprightly air which he had just

-heard. Her height, notwithstanding the distance,

-appeared majestic; the flash of her bright beaming

-eye illumined the depths of the gloom, and her air

-seemed that of a goddess. She was dressed in

-simple robes of virgin white, and on her head she

-wore a cap, such as has since been consecrated to

-Liberty by my gallant countrymen.</p>

-

-<p>Shearjashub looked, trembled, and was silent.

-In a few minutes, however, his recollection returned.</p>

-

-<p>“Shearjashub!” exclaimed the lady of the rock,

-“listen!”</p>

-

-<p>But Shearjashub had given leg bail. Both he

-and his faithful squire, little Snap, had left the

-haunted glen as fast as their feet would carry

-them.</p>

-

-<p>He told the story when he got home, with some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>

-little exaggeration. Nobody believed him except

-the widow, his honoured mother, who had faith to

-swallow a camel. All the rest laughed at him, and

-the wicked damsels of the village were always

-joking about his mountain sweetheart.</p>

-

-<p>At last he got out of patience, and one day demanded

-of those who were bantering him what proof

-they would have of the truth of his story.</p>

-

-<p>“Why,” said old Deacon Mayhew, “I guess I

-should be considerably particular satisfied if you

-would bring us hum that same fife you heard the

-gal play on so finely.”</p>

-

-<p>“And I,” said another, “will believe the young

-squire if he'll play the same tune on it he heard

-yonder in the mountain.”</p>

-

-<p>Shearjashub was so pestered and provoked at

-last, that he determined to put his courage to the

-proof, and see whether it would bear him out in

-another visit to the chasm in the mountain. He

-thought he might as well be dead as have no comfort

-of his life.</p>

-

-<p>“I'll be darned if I don't go,” said he, and away

-he went, with no other company than his little dog.

-It was on the fourth day of July, 1776, that Shearjashub

-wrought himself up to a second visit.</p>

-

-<p>“I'm just come of age this very day,” said he,

-“and I'll show the kritters I'm not made a man for

-nothing.”</p>

-

-<p>He certainly felt, as he afterwards confessed, a

-little skittish on this occasion, and his dog seemed

-not much to relish the excursion. Shearjashub had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>

-his gun, but had not the heart to fire at any of the

-birds that flitted about, and seemed as if they were

-not afraid of coming nigh him. His mind ran upon

-other matters entirely. He was a long while getting

-to the chasm in the mountain. Sometimes he

-would stop to rest, as he said to himself, though he

-was not in the least tired; sometimes he found

-himself standing still, admiring nothing; and once

-or twice actually detected his feet moving on their

-way home, instead of towards the mountain.</p>

-

-<p>On arriving at the vast gates that, as it were,

-guarded the entrance to the glen, he halted to consider

-the matter. All was silence, repose, gloom,

-and sublimity. His spirit at first sunk under the

-majesty of nature, but at length became gradually inspired

-by the scene before him with something of

-a kindred dignity. He marched forward with a

-vigorous step and firm heart, rendered the more

-firm by hearing and seeing nothing of the white

-nymph of the rock or her sprightly music. He

-hardly knew whether he wished to see her or not,

-if she appeared he might be inspired to

-run away again; and if she did not, the deacon and

-the girls would laugh at him worse than ever.</p>

-

-<p>With these conflicting thoughts he arrived at the

-very centre of the gloomy solitude, where he stood

-a few moments, expecting to hear the music. All

-was loneliness; Repose lay sleeping on his bed of

-rocks, and Silence reigned alone in her chosen retreat.</p>

-

-<p>“Is it possible that I was dreaming the other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>

-day, when I was here, as these tarnal kritters twit

-me I was?” asked the young man of himself.</p>

-

-<p>He was answered by the voice of the white girl

-of the mountain, exclaiming, in the same sweet yet

-clear, animating, trumpet tones,</p>

-

-<p>“Shearjashub! Shearjashub! listen.”</p>

-

-<p>Jashub's legs felt some little inclination to run

-away; but this time he kept his ground like a brave

-fellow.</p>

-

-<p>Again the same sprightly air echoed through the

-silence of the deep profound, in strains of animating

-yet simple, careless vivacity. Shearjashub

-began to feel himself inspired. He bobbed his

-head from side to side to suit the air, and was once

-or twice on the point of cutting a caper.</p>

-

-<p>He felt his bosom thrill with unwonted energies,

-and a new vigour animated his frame as he contemplated

-the glorious figure of the mountain nymph,

-and listened to her sprightly flageolet.</p>

-

-<p>“Shearjashub!” cried the nymph, after finishing

-her strain of music, “listen!”</p>

-

-<p>“Speak—I hear,” said the young man.</p>

-

-<p>“My name is Liberty; dost thou know me?”</p>

-

-<p>“I have heard my father and grandfather speak

-of thee, and say they came to the New World to

-seek thee.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well, I am found at last. Listen to me.”</p>

-

-<p>“Speak on.”</p>

-

-<p>“Your country has just devoted herself forever

-to me and my glory. Your countrymen have this

-day pronounced themselves freemen, and they shall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>

-be what they have willed, in spite of fate or fortune.

-But my blessings are never thrown away on

-cowards; they are to be gained by toil, suffering,

-hunger, wounds, and death; by courage and perseverance;

-by virtue and patriotism. The wrath

-and the mighty energies of the oppressor are now

-directed against your people; hunger assails them;

-force overmatches them, and their spirits begin to

-fail. Take this pipe,” and she flung him the little

-flageolet, which he caught in his hand. “Canst

-thou play on it? Try.”</p>

-

-<p>He put it to his lips, and to his surprise, produced

-the same animating strain he had heard from

-the nymph of the mountain.</p>

-

-<p>“Now go forth among the people and their armies,

-and inspire them for battle. Wherever thou

-goest with thy pipe, and whenever thou playest

-that air, I will be with thee and thy countrymen.

-Go, fear not; those who deserve me shall always

-win me. Farewell—we shall meet again.” So

-saying, she vanished behind the tuft of laurels.</p>

-

-<p>Shearjashub marched straight home with his

-pipe, and somehow or other felt he did not quite

-know how; he felt as if he could eat gunpowder,

-and snap his fingers at the deacon.</p>

-

-<p>“What the dickens has got in the kritter?” said

-the deacon, when he saw him strutting along like a

-captain of militia.</p>

-

-<p>“I declare, Jashub looks like a continental,” exclaimed

-the girls.</p>

-

-<p>Just then Shearjashub put his pipe to his mouth,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>

-and played the tune he had learned, as if by magic,

-from the mountain nymph; whereat Deacon Mayhew

-made for the little white meeting house, whither

-all the villagers followed him, and preached a

-sermon, calling on the people to rise and fight for

-liberty, in such stirring strains that forthwith all the

-men, young and old, took their muskets and went

-out in defence of their country, under the command

-of Shearjashub. Wherever he came he played the

-magic tune on his pipe, and the men, like those of

-his native village, took to their arms, and went

-forth to meet the oppressor, like little David against

-Goliath, armed with a sling and a stone.</p>

-

-<p>They joined the army of Liberty, which they

-found dispirited with defeat, and weak with suffering

-and want. They scarcely dared hope for success

-to their cause, and a general gloom depressed

-the hearts of all the true friends of freedom. In

-this state the enemy attacked them, and threw

-them into confusion, when Shearjashub came on at

-the head of his troops, playing his inspiring music

-with might and main. Wherever he went the

-sounds seemed to awaken the spirit of heroism in

-every breast. Those who were retreating rallied;

-and those who stood their ground maintained it

-more stoutly than ever. The victory remained

-with the sons of Liberty, and Shearjashub celebrated

-it with a tune on his pipe, which echoed through

-the whole land, and wakened it to new triumphs.</p>

-

-<p>After a hard and bloody struggle, in which the

-pipe of Shearjashub animated the very clods of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>

-valley wherever he went, the promise of the nymph

-of the mountain was fulfilled. The countrymen of

-Shearjashub were free and independent. They

-were about to repose under the laurels they had

-reaped, and to wear what they had so dearly won.</p>

-

-<p>Shearjashub also departed for his native village

-with his pipe, which had so materially assisted in

-the attainment of the blessings of freedom. His

-way lay through the chasm in the mountain, where

-he first encountered the nymph with the cap and

-snow-white robe. He was anticipating the happiness

-of seeing his aged mother, who had lived

-through the long war, principally on the excitement

-of news, and the still more near and dear happiness

-of taking to his bosom the girl of his heart,

-Miss Prudence Worthy, as fair a maid as ever

-raised a sigh in the bosom of lusty youth.</p>

-

-<p>He had got to the centre of the glen when he was

-roused from his sweet anticipations by the well-remembered

-voice of the nymph of the mountain,

-who sat on the same inaccessible rock, under the

-same tuft of laurel, where he had first seen her,

-with an eagle at her side.</p>

-

-<p>“Shearjashub!” cried she, in a voice which made

-the echoes of the rocks mad with ecstasy—“Shearjashub!

-thou hast done well, and deserved nobly of

-thy country. The thought of that is, in itself,

-a glorious reward for toil, danger, and suffering.

-But thou shalt have one as dear, if not dearer than

-even this. Look where it comes.”</p>

-

-<p>Shearjashub looked, and beheld afar off a figure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>

-all in white coming towards him, at the entrance of

-the glen. It approached nearer, and it was a woman;

-nearer yet, and it was a young woman; still

-nearer, and Shearjashub rushed towards it, and

-kissed its blushing cheek. It was the girl of his

-heart, Miss Prudence Worthy.</p>

-

-<p>“This is thy other blessing,” exclaimed the

-mountain nymph, the sight of whom made Miss

-Prudence a little jealous; “a richer reward for

-noble exertions than a virtuous woman I know

-not of. Live free, live virtuous, and then thou

-wilt be happy. I shall be with thee an invisible

-witness, an invisible protector; but, in the mean

-while, should the spirit of the people ever flag, and

-their hearts fail them in time of peril, go forth among

-them as thou didst before, and rouse them with thy

-pipe and thy music. Farewell, and be happy!”</p>

-

-<p>The nymph disappeared, and the little jealous

-pang felt by Miss Prudence melted away in measureless

-confidence and love. The tune of the

-mountain nymph was played over and over again at

-Shearjashub's wedding, and ever afterwards became

-known by the name of YANKEE DOODLE.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2>

-<small>THE</small><br>

-RIDE OF SAINT NICHOLAS<br>

-<small>ON</small><br>

-NEWYEAR'S EVE.</h2>

-

-</div>

-

-

-<p>Of all the cities in this New World, that which

-once bore the name of Fort Orange, but now bears

-it no more, is the favourite of the good St. Nicholas.

-It is there that he hears the sound of his native

-language, and sees the honest Dutch pipe in

-the mouths of a few portly burghers, who, disdaining

-the pestilent innovations of modern times, still

-cling with honest obstinacy to the dress, the manners,

-and customs of old faderland. It is there, too

-that they have instituted a society in honour of

-the excellent saint, whose birthday they celebrate

-in a manner worthy of all commendation.</p>

-

-<p>True it is, that the city of his affections has from

-time to time committed divers great offences

-which sorely wounded the feelings of St. Nicholas,

-and almost caused him to withdraw his patronage

-from its backsliding citizens. First, by adopting

-the newfangled style of beginning the year at the

-bidding of the old lady of Babylon, whereby the

-jolly Newyear was so jostled out of place that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>

-good saint scarcely knew where to look for it.

-Next, they essayed themselves to learn outlandish

-tongues, whereby they gradually sophisticated

-their own, insomuch that he could hardly understand

-them. Thirdly, they did, from time to

-time, admit into their churches preachings and singings

-in the upstart English language, until by degrees

-the ancient worship became adulterated in

-such a manner that the indignant St. Nicholas,

-when he first witnessed it, did, for the only time in

-his life, come near to uttering a great oath, by exclaiming,

-“Wat donderdag is dat?” Now be it

-known that had he said, “Wat donder is dat,” it

-would have been downright swearing; so you see

-what a narrow escape he had.</p>

-

-<p>Not content with these backslidings, the burghers

-of Fort Orange—a pestilence on all new names!—suffered

-themselves by degrees to be corrupted by

-various modern innovations, under the mischievous

-disguise of improvements. Forgetting the reverence

-due to their ancestors, who eschewed all internal

-improvement, except that of the mind and

-heart, they departed from the venerable customs

-of the faderland, and pulling down the old houses

-that, scorning all appearance of ostentation, modestly

-presented the little end to the street, began

-to erect in their places certain indescribable buildings,

-with the broadsides as it were turned frontwise,

-by which strange contortion the comeliness

-of Fort Orange was utterly destroyed. It is on

-record that a heavy judgment fell upon the head<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>

-of the first man who adventured on this daring innovation.

-His money gave out before this monstrous

-novelty was completed, and he invented the

-pernicious system of borrowing and mortgaging,

-before happily unknown among these worthy citizens,

-who were utterly confounded, not long afterwards,

-at seeing the house change its owner—a

-thing that had never happened before in that goodly

-community, save when the son entered on the inheritance

-of his father.</p>

-

-<p>Becoming gradually more incorrigible in their

-backslidings, they were seduced into opening, widening,

-and regulating the streets; making the

-crooked straight and the narrow wide, thereby causing

-sad inroads into the strong boxes of divers of

-the honest burghers, who became all at once very

-rich, saving that they had no money to go to market.

-To cap the climax of their enormities, they

-at last committed the egregious sacrilege of pulling

-down the ancient and honourable Dutch church,

-which stood right in the middle of State-street, or

-Staats-street, being so called after the family of

-that name, from which I am lineally descended.</p>

-

-<p>At this the good St. Nicholas was exceedingly

-grieved; and when, by degrees, his favourite burghers

-left off eating sturgeon, being thereto instigated

-by divers scurvy jests of certain silly strangers,

-that knew not the excellence of that savoury fish,

-he cried out in the bitterness of his soul, “Onbegrypelyk!”—“Incredible!”

-meaning thereby that he

-could scarcely believe his eyes. In the bitterness of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>

-his soul he had resolved to return to faderland, and

-leave his beloved city to be swallowed up in the

-vortex of improvement. He was making his progress

-through the streets, to take his last farewell,

-in melancholy mood, when he came to the outlet of

-the Grand Canal, just then completed. “Is het mogelyk?”—which

-means, is it possible—exclaimed

-St. Nicholas; and thereupon he was so delighted

-with this proof that his beloved people had not altogether

-degenerated from their ancestors, that he

-determined not to leave them to strange saints, outlandish

-tongues, and modern innovations. He took

-a sail on the canal, and returned in such measureless

-content, that he blessed the good city of Fort

-Orange, as he evermore called it, and resolved to

-distribute a more than usual store of his Newyear

-cookies, at the Christmas holydays. That jovial

-season was now fast approaching. The autumn

-frosts had already invested the forests with a mantle

-of glory; the farmers were in their fields and

-orchards, gathering in the corn and apples, or

-making cider, the wholesome beverage of virtuous

-simplicity; the robins, blackbirds, and all the annual

-emigrants to southern climes, had passed

-away in flocks, like the adventurers to the far West;

-the bluebird alone lingered last of all to sing his

-parting song; and sometimes of a morning, the

-river showed a little fretted border of ice, looking

-like a fringe of lace on the garment of some decayed

-dowager. At length the liquid glass of the

-river cooled into a wide, immoveable mirror, glistening<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>

-in the sun; the trees, all save the evergreens,

-stood bare to the keen cold winds; the fields were

-covered with snow, affording no lures to tempt to

-rural wanderings; the enjoyments of life gradually

-centred themselves at the cheerful fireside—it was

-winter, and Newyear's eve was come again!</p>

-

-<p>The night was clear, calm, and cold, and the

-bright stars glittered in the heavens in such multitudes,

-that every man might have had a star to

-himself. The worthy patriarchs of Fort Orange,

-having gathered around them their children, and

-children's children, even unto the third and fourth

-generation, were enjoying themselves in innocent

-revelry at the cheerful fireside. All the enjoyments

-of life had contracted themselves into the domestic

-circle; the streets were as quiet as a churchyard,

-and not even the stroke of the watchman was heard

-on the curbstone. Gradually it waxed late, and

-the city clocks rang, in the silence of night, the

-hour which not one of the orderly citizens had

-heard, except at midday, since the last anniversary

-of the happy Newyear, save peradventure troubled

-with a toothache, or some such unseemly irritation.</p>

-

-<p>The doleful warning, which broke upon the

-frosty air like the tolling of a funeral bell, roused

-the sober devotees of St. Nicholas to a sense of

-their trespasses on the waning night, and after one

-good, smoking draught of spiced Jamaica to the

-patron saint, they, one and all, young and old, hied

-them to bed, that he might have a fair opportunity

-to bestow his favours without being seen by mortal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>

-eye. For be it known, that St. Nicholas, like

-all really heart-whole generous fellows, loves to do

-good in secret, and eschews those pompous benefactions

-which are duly recorded in the newspapers,

-being of opinion they only prove that the vanity

-of man is sometimes an overmatch for his avarice.</p>

-

-<p>Having allowed them fifteen minutes, which is

-as much as a sober burgher of good morals and

-habits requires, to get as fast asleep as a church,

-St. Nicholas, having harnessed his pony, and loaded

-his little wagon with a store of good things for well-behaved,

-diligent children, together with whips and

-other mementoes for undutiful varlets, did set forth

-gayly on his errand of benevolence.</p>

-

-<p>_Vuur en vlammen!_ how the good saint did hurry

-through the streets, up one chimney and down another;

-for be it known, they are not such miserable

-narrow things as those of other cities, where the

-claims of ostentation are so voracious that people

-can't afford to keep up good fires, and the chimneys

-are so narrow that the little sweeps of seven

-years old often get themselves stuck fast, to the

-imminent peril of their lives. You may think he

-had a good deal of business on hand, being obliged

-to visit every house in Fort Orange, between twelve

-o'clock and daylight, with the exception of some

-few would-be fashionable upstarts, who had mortally

-offended him, by turning up their noses at the

-simple jollifications and friendly greetings of the

-merry Newyear. Accordingly, he rides like the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>

-wind, scarcely touching the ground; and this is the

-reason that he is never seen, except by a rare

-chance, which is the cause why certain unbelieving

-sinners, who scoff at old customs and notions, either

-really do, or pretend to doubt, whether the good

-things found on Christmas and Newyear mornings

-in the stockings of the little varlets of Fort

-Orange and New-Amsterdam, are put there by the

-jolly St. Nicholas or not. Beshrew them, say I—and

-may they never taste the blessing of his bounty!

-Goeden Hemel! as if I myself, being a kinsman

-of the saint, don't know him as well as a debtor

-does his creditor! But people are grown so wise

-nowadays, that they believe in nothing but the increased

-value of property.</p>

-

-<p>Be this as it may, St. Nicholas went forth blithely

-on his goodly errand, without minding the intense

-cold, for he was kept right warm by the benevolence

-of his heart, and when that failed, he ever and anon

-addressed himself to a snug little pottle, the contents

-of which did smoke lustily when he pulled

-out the stopper, a piece of snow-white corn cob.</p>

-

-<p>It is impossible for me to specify one by one the

-visits paid that night by the good saint, or the various

-adventures which he encountered. I therefore

-content myself, and I trust my worthy and excellent

-readers, with dwelling briefly on those which

-appear to me most worthy of descending to posterity,

-and withal convey excellent moral lessons, without

-which history is naught, whether it be true or

-false.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p>

-

-<p>After visiting various honest little Dutch houses,

-with notched roofs, and the gable ends to the street,

-leaving his benedictions, St. Nicholas at length

-came to a goodly mansion bearing strong marks of

-being sophisticated by modern fantastic innovations.

-He would have passed it by in scorn, had he not

-remembered that it belonged to a descendant of one

-of his favoured votaries, who had passed away to

-his long home without being once backslided from

-the customs of his ancestors. Respect for the memory

-of this worthy man wrought upon his feelings,

-and he forthwith dashed down the chimney, where

-he stuck fast in the middle, and came nigh being

-suffocated with the fumes of anthracite coal, which

-this degenerate descendant of a pious ancestor,

-who spent thousands in useless and unseemly ostentation,

-burned by way of economy.</p>

-

-<p>If the excellent saint had not been enveloped, as

-it were, in the odour of sanctity, which in some

-measure protected him from the poison of this pestilent

-vapour, it might have gone hard with him;

-as it was, he was sadly bewildered, when his little

-pony, which liked the predicament no better than

-his master, made a violent plunge, drew the wagon

-through the narrow passage, and down they came

-plump into a magnificent bedchamber, filled with

-all sorts of finery, such as wardrobes, bedizened

-with tawdry ornaments; satin chairs too good to be

-looked at or sat upon, and therefore covered with

-brown linen; a bedstead of varnished mahogany,

-with a canopy over it somewhat like a cocked hat,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>

-with a plume of ostrich feathers instead of orthodox

-valances and the like; and a looking-glass large

-enough to reflect a Dutch city.</p>

-

-<p>St. Nicholas contemplated the pair who slept

-in this newfangled abomination with a mingled

-feeling of pity and indignation, though I must say

-the wife looked very pretty in her lace nightcap,

-with one arm as white as snow partly uncovered.

-But he soon turned away, being a devout and self-denying

-saint, to seek for the stockings of the little

-children, who were innocent of these unseemly innovations.

-But what was his horror at finding that,

-instead of being hung up in the chimney corner,

-they were thrown carelessly on the floor, and that

-the little souls, who lay asleep in each other's arms

-in another room, lest they should disturb their parents,

-were thus deprived of all the pleasant anticipations

-accompanying the approaching jolly Newyear.</p>

-

-<p>“Een vervlocte jonge,” said he to himself, for he

-never uttered his maledictions aloud, “to rob their

-little ones of such wholesome and innocent delights!

-But they shall not be disappointed.” So he sought

-the cold and distant chamber of the children, who

-were virtuous and dutiful, who, when they waked

-in the morning, found the bed covered with good

-things, and were as happy as the day is long.

-When St, Nicholas returned to the splendid chamber,

-which, be it known, was furnished with the

-spoils of industrious unfortunate people, to whom

-the owner lent money, charging them so much the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>

-more in proportion to their necessities. It is true

-that he gave some of the wealth he thus got over

-the duyvel's back, as it were, to public charities,

-and sometimes churches, when he knew it would

-get into the newspapers, by which he obtained the

-credit of being very pious and charitable. But St.

-Nicholas was too sensible and judicious not to know

-that the only charitable and pious donations agreeable

-to the Giver of good, are those which are

-honestly come by. The alms which are got by ill

-means can never come to good, and it is better to

-give back to those from whom we have taken it

-dishonestly even one fourth, yea, one tenth, than to

-bestow ten times as much on those who have no

-such claim. The true atonement for injuries is

-that made to the injured alone. All other is a cheat

-in the eye of Heaven. You cannot settle the account

-by giving to Peter what you have filched from

-Paul.</p>

-

-<p>So thought the good St. Nicholas, as he revolved

-in his mind a plan for punishing this degenerate

-caitiff, who despised his ordinances and customs,

-and was moreover one who, in dealing with borrowers,

-not only shaved but skinned them. Remembering

-not the perils of the chimney, he was

-about departing the same way he came, but the

-little pony obstinately refused; and the good saint,

-having first taken off the lace nightcap, and put a

-foolscap in its place, and given the money lender a

-tweak of the nose that made him roar, whipped

-instantly through the keyhole to pursue his benevolent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>

-tour through the ancient city of Fort Orange.</p>

-

-<p>Gliding through the streets unheard and unseen,

-he at length came to a little winding lane, from

-which his quick ear caught the sound of obstreperous

-revelry. Stopping his pony, and listening

-more attentively,— he distinguished the words, “Ich

-ben Liederich,” roared out in a chorus of mingled

-voices seemingly issuing from a little low house of

-the true orthodox construction, standing on the

-right-hand side, at a distance of a hundred yards,

-or thereabout.</p>

-

-<p>“Wat donderdag!” exclaimed St. Nicholas, “is

-mine old friend, Baltus Van Loon, keeping it up at

-this time of the morning? The old rogue! but I'll

-punish him for this breach of the good customs of

-Fort Orange.” So he halted on the top of Baltus's

-chimney, to consider the best way of bringing it

-about, and was, all at once, saluted in the nostrils

-by such a delectable perfume, arising from a certain

-spiced beverage, with which the substantial

-burghers were wont to recreate themselves at this

-season of the year, that he was sorely tempted to

-join a little in the revelry below, and punish the

-merry caitiffs afterwards. Presently he heard honest

-Baltus propose—“The jolly St. Nicholas,” as a

-toast, which was drunk in a full bumper, with great

-rejoicing and acclamation.</p>

-

-<p>St. Nicholas could stand it no longer, but descended

-forthwith into the little parlour of old Baltus,

-thinking, by-the-way, that, just to preserve appearances,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>

-he would lecture the roistering rogues

-a little for keeping such late hours, and, provided

-Baltus could give a good reason, or indeed any reason

-at all, for such an unseemly transgression, he

-would then sit down with them, and take some of

-the savoury beverage that had regaled his nostrils

-while waiting at the top of the chimney.</p>

-

-<p>The roistering rogues were so busy roaring out,

-“Ich ben Liederich,” that they did not take note of

-the presence of the saint, until he cried out with a

-loud and angry voice, “Wat blikslager is dat?”—he

-did not say blixem, because that would have been

-little better than swearing. “Ben je be dondered,

-to be carousing here at this time of night, ye ancient,

-and not venerable sinners?”</p>

-

-<p>Old Baltus was not a little startled at the intrusion

-of the strangers—for, if the truth must out, he

-was a little in for it, and saw double, as is usual

-at such times. This caused such a confusion in

-his head that he forgot to rise from his seat, and

-pay due honour to his visiter, as did the rest of the

-company.</p>

-

-<p>“Are you not ashamed of yourselves,” continued

-the saint, “to set such a bad example to the neighbourhood,

-by carousing at this time of the morning,

-contrary to good old customs, known and accepted

-by all, except such noisy splutterkins as yourselves?”</p>

-

-<p>“This time of the morning,” replied old Baltus,

-who had his full portion of Dutch courage—”this

-time of the morning, did you say? Look yonder,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>

-and see with your own eyes whether it is morning

-or not.</p>

-

-<p>The cunning rogue, in order to have a good excuse

-for transgressing the canons of St. Nicholas,

-had so managed it, that the old clock in the corner

-had run down, and now pointed to the hour of eleven,

-where it remained stationary, like a rusty weathercock.

-St. Nicholas knew this as well as old

-Baltus himself, and could not help being mightily

-tickled at this device. He told Baltus that this

-being the case, with permission of his host he

-would sit down by the fire and warm himself, till

-it was time to set forth again, seeing he had mistaken

-the hour.</p>

-

-<p>Baltus, who by this time began to perceive that

-there was but one visiter instead of two, now rose

-from the table with much ado, and approaching the

-stranger, besought him to take a seat among the

-jolly revellers, seeing they were there assembled

-in honour of St. Nicholas, and not out of any regard

-to the lusts of the flesh. In this he was joined

-by the rest of the company, so that St. Nicholas,

-being a good-natured fellow, at length suffered

-himself to be persuaded, whereto he was mightily

-incited by the savoury fumes issuing from a huge

-pitcher standing smoking in the chimney corner.

-So he sat down with old Baltus, and being called on

-for a toast, gave them “Old Faderland” in a bumper.</p>

-

-<p>Then they had a high time of it you may be sure.

-Old Baltus sang a famous song celebrating the

-valour of our Dutch ancestors, and their triumph<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>

-over the mighty power of Spain after a struggle of

-more than a generation, in which the meads of Holland

-smoked, and her canals were red with blood.

-Goeden Hemel! but I should like to have been

-there, for I hope it would have been nothing unseemly

-for one of my cloth to have joined in chorus

-with the excellent St. Nicholas. Then they talked

-about the good old times when the son who departed

-from the customs of his ancestors was considered

-little better than misbegotten; lamented over the

-interloping of such multitudes of idle flaunting men

-and women in their way to and from the springs;

-the increase of taverns, the high price of everything,

-and the manifold backslidings of the rising generation.

-Ever and anon, old Baltus would observe

-that sorrow was as dry as a corn cob, and pour out

-a full bumper of the smoking beverage, until at last

-it came to pass that honest Baltus and his worthy

-companions, being not used to such late hours, fell

-fast a sleep in their goodly armchairs, and snored

-lustily in concert. Whereupon St. Nicholas, feeling

-a little waggish, after putting their wigs the

-hinder part before, and placing a great China bowl

-upside down on the head of old Baltus, who sat

-nodding like a mandarin, departed laughing ready

-to split his sides. In the morning, when Baltus

-and his companions awoke, and saw what a figure

-they cut, they laid all the trick to the door of the

-stranger, and never knew to the last day of their

-lives who it was that caroused with them so lustily

-on Newyear's morning.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span></p>

-

-<p>Pursuing his way in high good humour, being

-somewhat exhilarated by the stout carousal with old

-Baltus and his roistering companions, St. Nicholas

-in good time came into the ancient _Colonie_, which

-being, as it were, at the outskirts of Fort Orange,

-was inhabited by many people not well to do in

-the world. He descended the chimney of an old

-weatherworn house that bore evident marks of poverty,

-for he is not one of those saints that hanker

-after palaces and turn their backs on their friends.

-It is his pleasure to seek out and administer to

-the innocent gratifications of those who are obliged

-to labour all the year round, and can only spare

-time to be merry at Christmas and Newyear. He

-is indeed the poor man's saint.</p>

-

-<p>On entering the room, he was struck with the

-appearance of poverty and desolation that reigned

-all around. A number of little children of different

-ages, but none more than ten years old, lay huddled

-close together on a straw bed, which was

-on the floor, their limbs intertwined to keep themselves

-warm, for their covering was scant and miserable.

-Yet they slept in peace, for they had quiet

-countenances, and hunger seeks refuge in the oblivion

-of repose. In a corner of the room stood a

-miserable bed, on which lay a female, whose

-face, as the moonbeams fell upon it through a

-window without shutters, many panes of which

-were stuffed with old rags to keep out the nipping

-air of the winter night, bore evidence of

-long and painful suffering. It looked like death<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>

-rather than sleep. A little pine table, a few broken

-chairs, and a dresser, whose shelves were ill supplied,

-constituted the remainder of the furniture

-of this mansion of poverty.</p>

-

-<p>As he stood contemplating the scene, his honest

-old heart swelled with sorrowful compassion, saying

-to himself, “God bewaar ous, but this is pitiful.”

-At that moment, a little child on the straw bed cried

-out in a weak voice that went to the heart of the

-saint, “Mother, mother, give me to eat—I am

-hungry.” St. Nicholas went to the child, but she

-was fast asleep, and hunger had infected her very

-dreams. The mother did not hear, for long-continued

-sorrow and suffering sleep sounder than

-happiness, as the waters lie stillest when the tempest

-is past.</p>

-

-<p>Again the little child cried out, “Mother, mother,

-I am freezing—give me some more covering.”

-“Be quiet, Blandina,” answered a voice deep and

-hoarse, yet not unkind; and St. Nicholas, looking

-around to see whence it came, beheld a man sitting

-close in the chimney corner, though there was no

-fire burning, his arms folded close around him, and

-his head drooping on his bosom. He was clad like

-one of the children of poverty, and his teeth chattered

-with cold. St. Nicholas wiped his eyes, for

-he was a good-hearted saint, and coming close up

-to the miserable man, said to him kindly, “How

-do ye, my good friend?”</p>

-

-<p>“Friend,” said the other, “I have no friend but

-God, and he seems to have deserted me.” As he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>

-said this, he raised his saddened eyes to the good

-saint, and after looking at him a little while, as if

-he was not conscious of his presence, dropped them

-again, even without asking who he was, or whence

-he came, or what he wanted. Despair had deadened

-his faculties, and nothing remained in his

-mind but the consciousness of suffering.</p>

-

-<p>“_Het is jammer, het is jammer_—it is a pity, it

-is a pity!” quoth the kind-hearted saint, as he

-passed his sleeve across his eyes. “But something

-must be done, and that quickly too.” So he

-shook the poor man somewhat roughly by the

-shoulder, and cried out, “Ho! ho! what aileth thee,

-son of my good old friend, honest Johannes Garrebrantze?”</p>

-

-<p>This salutation seemed to rouse the poor man,

-who arose upon his seat, and essaying to stand upright,

-fell into the arms of St. Nicholas, who almost

-believed it was a lump of ice, so cold and stiff did

-it seem. Now, be it known that Providence, as a

-reward for his benevolent disposition, has bestowed

-on St. Nicholas the privilege of doing good without

-measure to all who are deserving of his

-bounty, and that by such means as he thinks proper

-to the purpose. It is a power he seldom exerts

-to the uttermost, except on pressing occasions,

-and this he believed one of them.</p>

-

-<p>Perceiving that the poor man was wellnigh frozen

-to death, he called into action the supernatural

-faculties which had been committed to him, and

-lo! in an instant a rousing fire blazed on the hearth,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>

-towards which the poor man, instinctively as it

-were, edged his chair, and stretched out one of his

-bony hands, that was as stiff as an icicle. The

-light flashed so brightly in the face of the little

-ones and their mother, that they awoke, and seeing

-the cheerful blaze, arose in their miserable

-clothing, which they had worn to aid in keeping

-them warm, and hied as fast as they could to bask

-in its blessed warmth. So eager were they, that

-for a while they were unconscious of the presence

-of a stranger, although St. Nicholas had now assumed

-his proper person, that he might not be

-taken for some one of those diabolical wizards

-who, being always in mischief, are ashamed to

-show their faces among honest people.</p>

-

-<p>At length the poor man, who was called after his

-father Johannes Garrebrantze, being somewhat revived

-by the genial warmth of the fire, looked

-around, and became aware of the presence of the

-stranger, which inspired him with a secret awe, for

-which he could not account, insomuch that his

-voice trembled, though now he was not cold, when,

-after some hesitation, he said,</p>

-

-<p>“Stranger, thou art welcome to this poor house.

-I would I were better able to offer thee the hospitalities

-of the season, but I will wish thee a happy

-Newyear, and that is all I can bestow.” The good

-yffrouw, his wife, repeated the wish, and straightway

-began to apologize for the untidy state of her

-apartment.</p>

-

-<p>“Make no apologies,” replied the excellent saint;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>

-“I come to give, not to receive. To-night I treat,

-to-morrow you may return the kindness to others.”</p>

-

-<p>“I?” said Johannes Garrebrantze; “I have nothing

-to bestow but good wishes, and nothing to receive

-but the scorn and neglect of the world. If I

-had anything to give thee to eat or drink, thou

-shouldst have it with all my heart. But the newyear,

-<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">which brings jollity to the hearts of others,</span><br>

-brings nothing but hunger and despair to me and

-mine.”</p>

-

-<p>“Thou hast seen better days, I warrant thee,”

-answered the saint; “for thou speakest like a

-scholar of Leyden. Tell me thy story, Johannes,

-my son, and we shall see whether in good time

-thou wilt not hold up thy head as high as a church

-steeple.”</p>

-

-<p>“Alas! to what purpose, since man assuredly

-has, and Heaven seems to have forsaken me.”</p>

-

-<p>“Hush!” cried St. Nicholas, “Heaven never

-forsakes the broken spirit, or turns a deaf ear to the

-cries of innocent children. It is for the wicked

-never to hope, the virtuous never to despair. I predict

-thou shalt live to see better days.”</p>

-

-<p>“I must see them soon then, for neither I, my

-wife, nor my children have tasted food since twenty-four

-hours past.”</p>

-

-<p>“What! God be with us! is there such lack of

-charity in the burghers of the Colonie, that they

-will suffer a neighbour to starve under their very

-noses? Onbegrypelik—I'll not believe it.”</p>

-

-<p>“They know not my necessities.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span></p>

-

-<p>“No? What! hast thou no tongue to speak

-them?”</p>

-

-<p>“I am too proud to beg.”</p>

-

-<p>“And too lazy to work,” cried St. Nicholas, in a

-severe tone.</p>

-

-<p>“Look you,” answered the other, holding up his

-right arm with his left, and showing that the sinews

-were stiffened by rheumatism.</p>

-

-<p>“Is it so, my friend? Well, but thou mightst

-still have bent thy spirit to ask charity for thy

-starving wife and children, though, in truth, begging

-is the last thing an honest man ought to stoop to.

-But Goeden Hemel! here am I talking while thou

-and thine are perishing with hunger.”</p>

-

-<p>Saying which, St. Nicholas straightway bade the

-good yffrouw to bring forth the little pine table,

-which she did, making divers apologies for the

-want of a tablecloth; and when she had done so,

-he incontinently spread out upon it such store of

-good things from his little cart, as made the hungry

-childrens' mouths to water, and smote the hearts

-of their parents with joyful thanksgivings. “Eat,

-drink, and be merry,” said St. Nicholas, “for to-morrow

-thou shalt not die, but live.”</p>

-

-<p>The heart of the good saint expanded, like as the

-morning-glory does to the first rays of the sun,

-while he sat rubbing his hands at seeing them eat

-with such a zest, as made him almost think it was

-worth while to be hungry in order to enjoy such

-triumphant satisfaction. When they had done, and

-returned their pious thanks to Heaven and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>

-good stranger, St. Nicholas willed the honest man

-to expound the causes which had brought him to

-his present deplorable condition. “My own folly,”

-said he; and the other sagely replied, “I thought

-as much. Beshrew me, friend, if in all my experience,

-and I have lived long, and seen much, I ever

-encountered distress and poverty that could not be

-traced to its source in folly or vice. Heaven is too

-bountiful to entail misery on its creatures, save

-through their own transgressions. But I pray thee,

-go on with thy story.”</p>

-

-<p>The good man then went on to relate that his

-father, old Johannes Garrebrantze—</p>

-

-<p>“Ah!” quoth St. Nicholas, “I knew him well.

-He was an honest man, and that, in these times of

-all sorts of improvements, except in mind and morals,

-is little less than miraculous. But I interrupt

-thee, friend—proceed with thy story, once more.”</p>

-

-<p>The son of Johannes again resumed his story,

-and related how his father had left him a competent

-estate in the _Colonie_, on which he lived in good

-credit, and in the enjoyment of a reasonable competency,

-with his wife and children, until within a

-few years past, when seeing a vast number of

-three-story houses, with folding doors and marble

-mantelpieces rising up all around him, he began to

-be ashamed of his little one-story house with the

-gable end to the street, and—</p>

-

-<p>“Ah! Johannes,” interrupted the pale wife, “do

-not spare me. It was I that in the vanity of my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>

-heart put such notions in thy head. It was I that

-tempted thee.”</p>

-

-<p>“It was the duyvel,” muttered St.Nicholas, “in

-the shape of a pretty wife.”</p>

-

-<p>Johannes gave his helpmate a look of affectionate

-forgiveness, and went on to tell St. Nicholas how,

-finally egged on by the evil example of his neighbours,

-he had at last committed sacrilege against

-his household gods, and pulled down the home of

-his fathers, commencing a new one on its ruins.</p>

-

-<p>“Donderdag!” quoth the saint to himself; “and

-the bricks came from faderland too!”</p>

-

-<p>When Johannes had about half finished his new

-house, he discovered one day, to his great astonishment

-and dismay, that all his money, which he had

-been saving for his children, was gone. His strong

-box was empty, and his house but half finished,

-although, after estimating the cost, he had allowed

-one third more in order to be sure in the business.</p>

-

-<p>Johannes was now at a dead stand. The idea

-of borrowing money and running in debt never entered

-his head before, and probably would not

-now, had it not been suggested to him by a

-neighbour, a great speculator, who had lately built a

-whole street of houses, not a single brick of which

-belonged to him in reality. He had borrowed the

-money, mortgaged the property, and expected to

-grow rich by a sudden rise. Poor Johannes

-may be excused for listening to the seductions of

-this losel varlet, seeing he had a house half finished

-on his hands; but whether so or not, he did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>

-listen and was betrayed into borrowing money of

-a bank just then established in the _Colonie_ on a

-capital paid in according to law—that is, not paid at

-all—the directors of which were very anxious to

-exchange their rags for lands and houses.</p>

-

-<p>Johannes finished his house in glorious style,

-and having opened this new mine of wealth, furnished

-it still more gloriously; and as it would

-have been sheer nonsense not to live gloriously in

-such a glorious establishment, spent thrice his income

-in order to keep up his respectability. He

-was going on swimmingly, when what is called a

-reaction took place; which means, as far as I can

-understand, that the bank directors, having been

-pleased to make money plenty to increase their

-dividends, are pleased thereafter to make it scarce

-for the same purpose. Instead of lending it in the

-name of the bank, it is credibly reported they do

-it through certain brokers, who charge lawful interest

-and unlawful commission, and thus cheat

-the law with a clear conscience. But I thank

-Heaven devoutly that I know nothing of their

-wicked mysteries, and therefore will say no more

-about them.</p>

-

-<p>Be this as it may, Johannes was called upon all

-of a sudden to pay his notes to the bank, for the

-reaction had commenced, and there was no more

-renewals. The directors wanted all the money to

-lend out at three per cent. a month. It became

-necessary to raise the wind, as they say in Wall-street,

-and Johannes, by the advice of his good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>

-friend the speculative genius, went with him to a

-certain money lender of his acquaintance, who was

-reckoned a good Christian, because he always

-charged most usury where there was the greatest

-necessity for a loan. To a rich man he would lend

-at something like a reasonable interest, but to a man

-in great distress for money he showed about as

-much mercy as a weazel does to a chicken. He

-sucked their blood till there was not a drop left in

-their bodies. This he did six days in the week,

-and on the seventh went three times to church, to

-enable him to begin the next week with a clear conscience.

-Beshrew such varlets, I say; they bring

-religion itself into disrepute, and add the sin of hypocrisy

-to men to that of insult to Heaven.</p>

-

-<p>Suffice it to say, that poor Johannes Garrebrantze

-the younger went down hill faster than he ever went

-up in his life; and inasmuch as I scorn these details

-of petty roguery as unworthy of my cloth and calling,

-I shall content myself with merely premising, that

-by a process very common nowadays, the poor

-man was speedily bereft of all the patrimony left

-him by his worthy father in paying commission to

-the money lender. He finally became bankrupt;

-and inasmuch as he was unacquainted with the

-mystery of getting rich by such a manœuvre, was

-left without a shilling in the world. He retired

-from his fine house, which was forthwith occupied

-by his good friend the money lender, whose nose

-had been tweaked by St. Nicholas, as heretofore

-recorded, and took refuge in the wretched building<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>

-where he was found by that benevolent worthy.

-Destitute of resources, and entirely unacquainted

-with the art of living by his wits or his labours,

-though he tried hard both ways, poor Johannes became

-gradually steeped in poverty to the very lips,

-and being totally disabled by rheumatism, might,

-peradventure, with all his family, have perished that

-very night, had not Providence mercifully sent the

-good St. Nicholas to their relief.</p>

-

-<p>“_Wat donderdag!_” exclaimed the saint, when he

-had done—”_wat donderdag!_—was that your house

-down yonder, with the fine bedroom, the wardrobes,

-the looking-glass as big as the moon, and the bedstead

-with a cocked hat and feathers?”</p>

-

-<p>“Even so,” replied the other, hanging down his

-head.</p>

-

-<p>“_Is het mogelyk!_” And after considering a little

-while, the good saint slapped his hand on the table,

-broke forth again—“By donderdag, but I'll soon

-settle this business.”</p>

-

-<p>He then began to hum an old Dutch hymn, which

-by its soothing and wholesome monotony so operated

-upon Johannes and his family, that one and

-all fell fast asleep in their chairs.</p>

-

-<p>The good St. Nicholas then lighted his pipe, and

-seating himself by the fire, revolved in his mind

-the best mode of proceeding on this occasion. At

-first he determined to divest the rich money lender

-of all his ill-gotten gains, and bestow them on poor

-Johannes and his family. But when he considered

-that the losel caitiff was already sufficiently punished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>

-in being condemned to the sordid toils of

-money making, and in the privation of all those

-social and benevolent feelings which, while they

-contribute to our own happiness, administer to that

-of others; that he was for ever beset with the consuming

-cares of avarice, the hope of gain, and the

-fear of losses; and that, rich as he was, he suffered

-all the gnawing pangs of an insatiable desire for

-more—when he considered all this, St. Nicholas

-decided to leave him to the certain punishment of

-ill-gotten wealth, and the chances of losing it by an

-over craving appetite for its increase, which sooner

-or later produces all the consequences of reckless

-imprudence.</p>

-

-<p>“Let the splutterkin alone,” thought St. Nicholas,

-“and he will become the instrument of his

-own punishment.”</p>

-

-<p>Then he went on to think what he should do for

-poor Johannes and his little children. Though he

-had been severely punished for his folly, yet did

-the good saint, who in his nightly holyday peregrinations

-had seen more of human life and human

-passions than the sun ever shone upon, very well

-know that sudden wealth, or sudden poverty, is a

-sore trial of the heart of man, in like manner as the

-sudden transition from light to darkness, or darkness

-to light, produces a temporary blindness. It

-was true that Johannes had received a severe lesson,

-but the great mass of mankind are prone to

-forget the chastening rod of experience, as they do

-the pangs of sickness when they are past. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>

-therefore settled in his mind, that the return of Johannes

-to competence and prosperity should be by

-the salutary process of his own exertions, and that

-he should learn their value by the pains it cost to

-attain them. “_Het is goed visschen in troebel

-water_,” quoth he, “for then a man knows the value

-of what he catches.”</p>

-

-<p>It was broad daylight before he had finished his

-pipe and his cogitations, and placing his old polished

-delft pipe carefully in his buttonhole, the good

-saint sallied forth, leaving Johannes and his family

-still fast asleep in their chairs. Directly opposite

-the miserable abode of Johannes there dwelt a little

-fat Dutchman, of a reasonable competency,

-who had all his life manfully stemmed the torrent

-of modern innovation. He eschewed all sorts of

-paper money as an invention of people without

-property to get hold of those that had it; abhorred

-the practice of widening streets; and despised in

-his heart all public improvements except canals,

-a sneaking notion for which he inherited from

-old faderland. He was honest as the light of the

-blessed sun; and though he opened his best parlour

-but twice a year to have it cleaned and put

-to rights, yet this I will say of him, that the poor

-man who wanted a dinner was never turned away

-from his table. The worthy burgher was standing

-at the street door, which opened in the middle, and

-leaning over the lower half, so that the smoke of

-his pipe ascended in the clear frosty morning in a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>

-little white column far into the sky before it was

-dissipated.</p>

-

-<p>St. Nicholas stopped his wagon right before his

-door, and cried out in a clear hearty voice,</p>

-

-<p>“Good-morning, good-morning, mynheer; and a

-happy Newyear to you.”</p>

-

-<p>“Good-morning,” cried the hale old burgher,

-“and many happy Newyears to _you_. Hast got

-any good fat hen turkies to sell?” for he took him

-for a countryman coming in to market. St. Nicholas

-answered and said that he had been on a different

-errand that morning; and the other cordially

-invited him to alight, come in, and take a glass

-of hot spiced rum, with the which it was his custom

-to regale all comers at the jolly Newyear.

-The invitation was frankly accepted, for the worthy

-St. Nicholas, though no toper, was never a

-member of the temperance society. He chose

-to be keeper of his own conscience, and was of

-opinion that a man who is obliged to sign an obligation

-not to drink, will be very likely to break it

-the first convenient opportunity.</p>

-

-<p>As they sat cozily together, by a rousing fire of

-wholesome and enlivening hickory, the little plump

-Dutchman occasionally inveighing stoutly against

-paper money, railroads, improving streets, and the

-like, the compassionate saint took occasion to utter

-a wish that the poor man over the way and his

-starving family had some of the good things that

-were so rife on Newyear's day, for he had occasion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>

-to know that they were suffering all the evils of

-the most abject poverty.</p>

-

-<p>“The splutterkin,” exclaimed the little fat burgher—”he

-is as proud as Lucifer himself. I had a

-suspicion of this, and sought divers occasions to get

-acquainted with him, that I might have some excuse

-for prying into his necessities, and take the privilege

-of an old neighbour to relieve them. But _vuur en

-vlammen_! would you believe it—he avoided me

-just as if he owed me money, and couldn't pay.”</p>

-

-<p>St. Nicholas observed that if it was ever excusable

-for a man to be proud, it was when he fell into

-a state where every one, high and low, worthless

-and honourable, looked down upon him with contempt.

-Then he related to him the story of poor

-Johannes, and taking from his pocket a heavy purse,

-he offered it to the worthy old burgher, who swore

-he would be dondered if he wanted any of his

-money.</p>

-

-<p>“But hearken to me,” said the saint; “yon foolish

-lad is the son of an old friend of mine, who did me

-many a kindness in his day, for which I am willing

-to requite his posterity. Thou shalt take this purse

-and bestow a small portion of it, as from thyself,

-as a loan from time to time, as thou seest he deserves

-it by his exertions. It may happen, as I hope

-it will, that in good time he will acquire again the

-competency he hath lost by his own folly and inexperience;

-and as he began the world a worthy, respectable

-citizen, I beseech thee to do this—to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>

-his friend, and to watch over him and his little ones,

-in the name of St. Nicholas.”</p>

-

-<p>The portly Burgher promised that he would,

-and they parted with marvellous civility, St. Nicholas

-having promised to visit him again should his

-life be spared. He then mounted his little wagon,

-and the little Dutchman having turned his head for

-an instant, when he looked again could see nothing

-of the saint or his equipage. “_Is het mogelyk!_”

-exclaimed he, and his mind misgave him that there

-was something unaccountable in the matter.</p>

-

-<p>My story is already too long, peradventure, else

-would I describe the astonishment of Johannes and

-his wife when they awoke and found the benevolent

-stranger had departed without bidding them farewell.

-They would have thought all that had passed

-was but a dream, had not the fragments of the good

-things on which they regaled during the night bore

-testimony to its reality. Neither will I detail how,

-step by step, aided by the advice and countenance

-of the worthy little Dutchman, and the judicious

-manner of his dispensing the bounty of St. Nicholas,

-Johannes Garrebrantze, by a course of industry,

-economy, and integrity, at length attained once again

-the station he had lost by his follies and extravagance.

-Suffice it to say, that though he practised

-a rational self-denial in all his outlayings, he neither

-became a miser, nor did he value money except as

-the means of obtaining the comforts of life, and

-administering to the happiness of others.</p>

-

-<p>In the mean time, the money lender, not being<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>

-content with the wealth he had obtained by taking

-undue advantage of the distresses of others, and

-becoming every day more greedy, launched out into

-mighty speculations. He founded a score of towns

-without any houses in them; dealt by hundreds of

-thousands in fancy stocks; and finally became the

-victim of one of his own speculations, by in time

-coming to believe in the very deceptions he had

-practised upon others. It is an old saying, that the

-greatest rogue in the world, sooner or latter, meets

-with his match, and so it happened with the money

-lender. He was seduced into the purchase of a

-town without any houses in it, at an expense of

-millions; was met by one of those reactions that

-play the mischief with honest labourers, and thus

-finally perished in a bottomless pit of his own digging.

-Finding himself sinking, he resorted to forgeries,

-and had by this means raised money to such

-an amount, that his villany almost approached to

-sublimity. His property, as the phrase is, came

-under the hammer, and Johannes purchased his

-own house at half the price it cost him in building.</p>

-

-<p>The good St. Nicholas trembled at the new ordeal

-to which Johannes had subjected himself; but

-finding, when he visited him, as he did regularly

-every Newyear's eve, that he was cured of his foolish

-vanities, and that his wife was one of the best

-housekeepers in all Fort Orange, he discarded his

-apprehensions, and rejoiced in the prosperity that

-was borne so meekly and wisely. The little fat

-Dutchman lived a long time in expectation that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>

-stranger in the one-horse wagon would come for

-the payment of his purse of money; but finding that

-year after year rolled away without his appearing,

-often said to himself, as he sat on his stoop with a

-pipe in his mouth,</p>

-

-<p>“I'll be dondered if I don't believe it was the

-good St. Nicholas.”</p>

-

-

-<p class="center">THE END.</p>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p>

-

-<h3 class="nobreak" id="INTERESTING_WORKS">INTERESTING WORKS<br>

-

-<small>PUBLISHED BY</small><br>

-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

-

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-

-<p class="center">ANCIENT AND MODERN EGYPT.</p>

-

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-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

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-

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-

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-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">PALESTINE, OR THE HOLY LAND,</p>

-

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-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

-

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-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>

-

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-

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-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Portraits,</p>

-

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-EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.</p>

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-

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-in the South Sea, and the History

-of the Bucaniers.</p>

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-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

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-AND ITS INHABITANTS.</p>

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-Bounty, and of the subsequent Fortunes of

-the Mutineers.</p>

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-<p class="center">By J. BARROW, Esq.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

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-Series of Letters to a Son.</p>

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-

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-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo.,</p>

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-

-<p class="center">CELEBRATED FEMALE SOVEREIGNS.</p>

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-

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-

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-to its Termination.</p>

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-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo.,</p>

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-<p class="center">LIVES OF CELEBRATED TRAVELLERS.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By JAMES AUGUSTUS ST. JOHN.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">INDIAN BIOGRAPHY,</p>

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-<p class="center">

-or, an Historical Account of those individuals who have<br>

-been distinguished among the North American<br>

-Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen,<br>

-and other Remarkable<br>

-Characters.<br>

-</p>

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-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">

-Including a Narrative of the early Portuguese and English<br>

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-<br>

-By HUGH MURRAY, Esq., JAMES WILSON, Esq., R. K.<br>

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-Professor WALLACE, and Captain<br>

-CLARENCE DALRYMPLE.<br>

-</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Addressed to Sir Walter Scott.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By Dr. BREWSTER.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">HISTORY OF IRELAND.</p>

-

-<p class="center">From the Anglo-Norman Invasion till the Union of the

-Country with Great Britain.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By W. C. TAYLOR, Esq.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With Additions, by WILLIAM SAMPSON, Esq.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF

-DISCOVERY ON THE NORTHERN COASTS OF

-NORTH AMERICA.</p>

-

-<p class="center">From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By P. F. TYTLER, Esq.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With Descriptive Sketches of the Natural History of

-the North American Regions.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By Professor WILSON.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

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-

-<p class="center">

-being a condensed Narrative of his Journeys in the<br>

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-Russia: together with Analyses of his<br>

-more important Investigations.<br>

-</p>

-

-<p class="center">By W. MACGILLIVRAY, A. M.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with numerous Engravings,</p>

-

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-<p class="center">ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS OF NATURAL

-PHILOSOPHY.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Addressed to a German Princess.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by HUNTER.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With Notes, and a Life of Euler, by Sir DAVID BREWSTER

-and Additional Notes, by JOHN GRISCOM, LL.D.</p>

-

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-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

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-

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-and Appearances, in their Connexions

-and Relations.</p>

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-<hr class="tb">

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-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>

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-

-<hr class="tb">

-

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-BY THE DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.</p>

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-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

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-History of France from the Earliest Period

-to the Birth of Charlemagne.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

-

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

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-

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-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>

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-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

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-

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-With a Detailed View of its Resources, Government,<br>

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-a Description of Afghanistan.<br>

-</p>

-

-<p class="center">By JAMES B. FRASER, Esq.</p>

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-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">THE HISTORY OF ARABIA.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Ancient and Modern.</p>

-

-<p class="center">

-Containing a Description of the Country—An Account<br>

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-of the Wahabees—The Institutions,<br>

-Character, Manners, and<br>

-Customs of the Bedouins; and<br>

-a Comprehensive View of<br>

-its Natural History.<br>

-</p>

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-<p class="center">By ANDREW CRICHTON.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>

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-

-<hr class="tb">

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-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

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-<p class="center">HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF</p>

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-

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-Arts, Religion, Literature, Commerce,

-Agriculture, and Natural Productions.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with beautiful Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">A LIFE OF WASHINGTON.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By J. K. PAULDING, Esq.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">The Philosophy of Living;</p>

-

-<p class="center">OR, THE WAY TO ENJOY LIFE

-AND ITS COMFORTS.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By CALEB TICKNOR, A.M., M.D.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">THE EARTH.</p>

-

-<p class="center">ITS PHYSICAL CONDITION,

-AND MOST REMARKABLE PHENOMENA.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By W. MULLINGER HIGGINS.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">XENOPHON.</p>

-

-<p class="center">(Anabasis, translated by EDWARD SPELMAN, Esq.,

-Cyropædia, by the Hon. M. A. COOPER.)</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">THE ORATIONS OF DEMOSTHENES.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by THOMAS LELAND, D.D.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">SALLUST.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by WILLIAM ROSE, M.A.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With Improvements and Notes.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">CAESAR.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by WILLIAM DUNCAN.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">CICERO.</p>

-

-<p class="center">The Orations translated by DUNCAN, the Offices by COCKMAN,

-and the Cato and Lælius by MELMOTH.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">VIRGIL.</p>

-

-<p class="center">The Eclogues translated by WRANGHAM, the Georgics by

-SOTHEBY, and the Æneid by DRYDEN.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">ÆSCHYLUS.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">SOPHOCLES.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by THOMAS FRANCKLIN, D.D.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">EURIPIDES.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">HORACE.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by PHILIP FRANCIS, D.D.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With an Appendix, containing translations of various Odes, &amp;c.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By BEN JONSON, COWLEY, MILTON, DRYDEN, POPE, ADDISON, SWIFT,

-BENTLEY, CHATTERTON, G. WAKEFIELD, PORSON, BYRON, &amp;c.</p>

-

-<p class="center">And by some of the most eminent Poets of the present day.</p>

-

-<p class="center">PHÆDRUS.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With the Appendix of Gudius.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by CHRISTOPHER SMART, A.M.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">OVID.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by DRYDEN, POPE, CONGREVE, ADDISON,

-and others.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">HERODOTUS.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by the Rev. WILLIAM BELOE.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">HOMER.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by ALEXANDER POPE, Esq.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 5 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">LIVY.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by GEORGE BAKER, A.M.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">THUCYDIDES.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated by WILLIAM SMITH, A.M.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo., with Plates,</p>

-

-<p class="center">PLUTARCH'S LIVES.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated from the original Greek, with Notes, Critical

-and Historical, and a Life of Plutarch.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By JOHN LANGHORNE, D.D., and WM. LANGHORNE, A.M.</p>

-

-<p class="center">A New Edition, carefully revised and corrected.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 12mo., with a Portrait,</p>

-

-<p class="center">A LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.</p>

-

-<p class="center">In Latin Prose.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By FRANCIS GLASS, A.M., of Ohio.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Edited by J. N. Reynolds.</p>

-

-<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span></p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">A TREATISE ON LANGUAGE,</p>

-

-<p class="center">or the Relation which Words bear to Things.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By A. B. JOHNSON.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,</p>

-

-<p class="center">THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SURVEYING;</p>

-

-<p class="center">containing all the Instructions requisite for the skilful practice

-of this art.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With a new set of accurate Mathematical Tables.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By ROBERT GIBSON.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Newly arranged, improved, and enlarged, with useful selections,

-by JAMES RYAN.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON MECHANICS.</p>

-

-<p class="center">Translated from the French of M. Boucharlat.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With additions and emendations, designed to adapt it to the use of

-the Cadets of the U. S. Military Academy.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By EDWARD H. COURTENAY.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 48mo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">The Reticule and Pocket Companion;</p>

-

-<p class="center">OR,</p>

-

-<p class="center">MINIATURE LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE</p>

-

-<p class="center">By LYMAN COBB.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo.,</p>

-

-<p class="center">ENGLISH SYNONYMES.</p>

-

-<p class="center">With copious Illustrations and Explanations, drawn from the

-best Writers.</p>

-

-<p class="center">By GEORGE CRABB, M.A.

-</p>

-

-<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'></div>

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+<section class='pg-boilerplate pgheader' id='pg-header' lang='en'>
+<h2 id='pg-header-heading' title=''>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Book of Saint Nicholas by Dominie Nicholas Ægedius Oudenarde</h2>
+
+<div>This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and 
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions 
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms 
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online 
+at <a class="reference external" href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not located in the United States, 
+you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located 
+before using this eBook.</div>
+
+
+<div class='container' id='pg-machine-header'>
+<p><strong>Title:</strong> The Book of Saint Nicholas</p>
+<div id='pg-header-authlist'>
+<p><strong>Author:</strong> Dominie Nicholas Ægedius Oudenarde</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><strong>Release Date:</strong> August 14, 2023 [eBook #71404]</p>
+<p><strong>Language:</strong> English</p>
+<p><strong>Credits:</strong> Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p>
+</div>
+<div id='pg-start-separator'>
+<span>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK OF SAINT NICHOLAS ***</span>
+</div>
+</section>
+
+<div class="transnote">
+<h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3>
+
+<p>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</p>
+<p>The cover was prepared by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h1>THE  BOOK<br>
+
+<small>OF</small><br>
+
+SAINT NICHOLAS.</h1>
+
+
+<p class="center"><small>TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL DUTCH</small></p>
+
+<p class="center"><small>OF</small></p>
+
+<p class="center">DOMINIE NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.</p>
+
+
+<p class="center pspaced">NEW-YORK:<br>
+
+HARPER &amp; BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.<br>
+
+1836.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="center pspaced">
+<small>[Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by<br>
+JAMES K. PAULDING,<br>
+in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.]</small>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<table class="autotable">
+<tr>
+<td></td>
+<td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Dedication</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Author's Advertisement</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Legend of Saint Nicholas</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Little Dutch Sentinel of the Manhadoes</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Cobus Yerks</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">A Strange Bird in Nieuw-Amsterdam</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Claas Schlaschenschlinger</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Revenge of Saint Nicholas</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Origin of the Bakers' Dozen</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Ghost</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Nymph of the Mountain</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The Ride of Saint Nicholas on Newyear's Eve</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="TO"><small>TO</small><br>
+
+
+THE SOCIETIES OF SAINT NICHOLAS<br>
+
+<small>IN THE<br>
+
+NEW NETHERLANDS,<br>
+
+COMMONLY CALLED<br>
+
+NEW-YORK.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+<p class="center">
+MOST DEAR AND WORTHY ASSOCIATES,</p>
+
+<p>In obedience to the command of the good saint
+who is equally an object of affectionate reverence
+to us all, as well as in due deference to the feelings
+of brotherhood which attach us irrevocably to those
+who honour his name, his virtues, and his country,
+I dedicate this work to you all without discrimination
+or exception. As descendants, in whole or
+in part, from that illustrious people who, after conquering
+nature by their industry and perseverance,
+achieved liberty by their determined valour, and
+learning and science by their intellectual vigour,
+I rejoice to see you instituting bonds of union, for
+the purpose of preserving the remembrance of such
+an honourable lineage, and the ties of a common
+origin. While we recollect with honest pride the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>
+industry, the integrity, the enterprise, the love of
+liberty, and the heroism of old “_faderland_,” let us
+not forget that the truest way to honour worthy ancestors
+is to emulate their example.</p>
+
+<p>That you may long live to cherish the memory
+of so excellent a saint, and such venerable forefathers
+is the earnest wish of</p>
+
+<p class="psig">
+<span class="gap5r">Your associate and friend,</span><br>
+NICHOLAS ÆGIDIUS OUDENARDE.</p>
+
+<p><small>Nieuw-Amsterdam, July, 1827.</small></p>
+
+
+<div class="chap">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p>
+
+
+<h2>THE<br>
+
+AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT,</h2>
+
+<p class="center">WHICH IS EARNESTLY RECOMMENDED TO THE<br>
+ATTENTIVE PERUSAL OF THE JUDICIOUS<br>
+READER.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>You will please to understand, gentle reader, that
+being a true descendant of the adventurous Hollanders
+who first discovered the renowned island
+of Manhattan—which is every day becoming more
+and more worth its weight in paper money—I have
+all my life been a sincere and fervent follower of the
+right reverend and jolly St. Nicholas, the only tutelary
+of this mighty state. I have never, on any
+proper occasion, omitted doing honour to his memory
+by keeping his birthday with all due observances,
+and paying him my respectful devoirs on
+Christmas and Newyear's eve.</p>
+
+<p>From my youth upward I have been always
+careful to hang up my stocking in the chimney
+corner, on both these memorable anniversaries; and
+this I hope I may say without any unbecoming ebullition
+of vanity, that on no occasion did I ever fail
+to receive glorious remembrances of his favour and
+countenance, always saving two exceptions. Once<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>
+when the good saint signified his displeasure at my
+tearing up a Dutch almanac, and again on occasion
+of my going to a Presbyterian meeting house with
+a certain little Dutch damsel, by filling my stockings
+with snow balls, instead savoury oily cookies.</p>
+
+<p>Saving these manifestations of his displeasure, I
+can safely boast of having been always a special
+favourite of the good St. Nicholas, who hath ever
+shown a singular kindness and suavity towards me
+in all seasons of my life, wherein he hath at divers
+times and seasons of sore perplexity, more than
+once vouchsafed to appear to me in dreams and
+visions, always giving me sage advice and goodly
+admonition. The which never failed of being of
+great service to me in my progress through life,
+seeing I was not only his namesake, but always
+reverently honoured his name to the best of my
+poor abilities.</p>
+
+<p>From my youth upward I have, moreover, been
+accustomed to call upon him in time of need; and
+this I will say for him, that he always came
+promptly whenever he was within hearing. I will
+not detain the expectant reader with the relation of
+these special instances, touching the years of my
+juvenility, but straightway proceed to that which is
+material to my present purpose.</p>
+
+<p>The reader will please to comprehend that after
+I had, with the labour and research of many years,
+completed the tales which I now, with an humble
+deference, offer to his acceptance, I was all at once
+struck dumb, with the unparalleled difficulty of finding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>
+a name for my work, seeing that every title
+appertinent to such divertisements hath been applied
+over and over again, long and merry agone.
+Now, as before intimated to the judicious reader,
+whenever I am in sore perplexity of mind, as not
+unfrequently happens to such as (as it were) cudgel
+their brains for the benefit of their fellow-creatures—I
+say, when thus beleaguered, I always shut my
+eyes, lean back in my chair, which is furnished
+with a goodly stuffed back and arms, and grope for
+that which I require in the profound depths of abstraction.</p>
+
+<p>It was thus I comported myself on this trying
+occasion, when, lo! and behold! I incontinently fell
+asleep, as it were, in the midst of my cogitations,
+and while I was fervently praying to the good-hearted
+St. Nicholas to inspire me with a proper
+and significant name for this my mental offspring.
+I cannot with certainty say how long I had remained
+in the bonds of abstraction, before I was
+favoured with the appearance of a vision, which, at
+first sight, I knew to be that of the excellent St.
+Nicholas, who scorns to follow the pestilent fashions
+of modern times, but ever appears in the ancient
+dress of the old patriarchs of Holland. And
+here I will describe the good saint, that peradventure
+all those to whom he may, in time to come,
+vouchsafe his presence, may know him at first
+sight, even as they know the father that begot
+them.</p>
+
+<p>He is a right fat, jolly, roistering little fellow—<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>
+if I may make bold to call him so familiarly—and
+had I not known him of old for a veritable saint, I
+might, of a truth, have taken him, on this occasion,
+for little better than a sinner. He was dressed in a
+snuff-coloured coat of goodly conceited dimensions,
+having broad skirts, cuffs mighty to behold, and
+buttons about the size of a moderate Newyear
+cooky. His waistcoat and breeches, of which he
+had a proper number, were of the same cloth and
+colour; his hose of gray worsted; his shoes high-quartered,
+even up to the instep, ornamented with
+a pair of silver buckles, exceedingly bright; his hat
+was of a low crown and right broad brim, cocked
+up on one side; and in the buttonholes of his coat
+was ensconced a long delft pipe, almost as black as
+ebony. His visage was the picture of good-humoured
+benevolence; and by these marks I knew
+him as well as I know the nose on my own face.</p>
+
+<p>The good saint, being always in a hurry on errands
+of good fellowship, and especially about the
+time of the holydays of Paas and Pinxster; and
+being withal a person of little ceremony, addressed
+me without delay, and with much frankness, which
+was all exceedingly proper, as we were such old
+friends. He spoke to me in Dutch, which is now
+a learned language, understood only by erudite
+scholars.</p>
+
+<p>“What aileth thee, my Godson Nicholas?” quoth
+he.</p>
+
+<p>I was about to say I was in sore perplexity concerning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>
+the matter aforesaid, when he courteously
+interrupted me, saying,</p>
+
+<p>“Be quiet, I know it, and therefore there is no
+special occasion for thee to tell me. Thou shalt
+call thy work ‘THE BOOK OF ST. NICHOLAS,’ in
+honour of thy _patroon_; and here are the materials
+of my biography, which I charge thee, on pain of
+empty pockets from this time forward, to dilate and
+adorn in such a manner, as that, foreseeing, as I do,
+thy work will go down to the latest posterity, it
+may do honour to my name, and rescue it from that
+obscurity in which it hath been enveloped through
+the crying ignorance of past generations, who have
+been seduced into a veneration for St. George, St.
+Dennis, St. David, and other doughty dragon-slaying
+saints, who were little better than roistering
+bullies. Moreover, I charge thee, as thou valuest
+my blessing and protection, to dedicate thy work
+unto the worthy and respectable societies of St.
+Nicholas in this my stronghold in the New World.
+Thou mightst, perhaps, as well have left out that
+prank of mine at the carousing of old Baltus, but
+verily it matters not. Let the truth be told.”</p>
+
+<p>Saying this, he handed me a roll of ancient vellum,
+containing, as I afterwards found, the particulars
+which, in conformity with his solemn command,
+I have dilated into the only veritable biography
+of my patron saint which hath ever been given
+to the world. The one hitherto received as orthodox
+is, according to the declaration of the saint<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>
+himself, little better than a collection of legends,
+written under the express inspection of the old lady
+of Babylon.</p>
+
+<p>I reverently received the precious deposite, and
+faithfully promised obedience to his commands;
+whereupon the good St. Nicholas, puffing in my
+face a whiff of tobacco smoke more fragrant than
+all the spices of the East, blessed me, and departed
+in haste, to be present at a wedding in Communipaw.
+Hereupon I awoke, and should have thought
+all that had passed but a dream, arising out of the
+distempered state of my mind, had I not held in my
+hand the identical roll of vellum, presented in the
+manner just related. On examination, it proved to
+contain the matter which is incorporated in the first
+story of this collection, under the title of “The
+Legend of St. Nicholas,” not only in due obedience
+to his command, but in order that henceforward
+no one may pretend ignorance concerning
+this illustrious and benevolent saint, seeing they
+have now a biography under his own hand.</p>
+
+<p>Thus much have I deemed it proper to preface
+to the reader, as some excuse for the freedom of
+having honoured my poor fictions with the title of
+The Book of St. Nicholas, which might otherwise
+have been deemed a piece of unchristian presumption.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter"></div>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p>
+
+<p class="half-title">THE STORY BOOK<br>
+
+<small>OF</small><br>
+
+SAINT NICHOLAS.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_LEGEND_OF_ST_NICHOLAS">THE LEGEND OF ST. NICHOLAS.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Everybody has heard of St. Nicholas, that
+honest Dutch saint, whom I look upon as having
+been one of the most liberal, good-natured little
+fat fellows in the world. But, strange as it may
+seem, though everybody has heard, nobody seems
+to know anything about him. The place of his
+birth, the history of his life, and the manner in
+which he came to be the dispenser of Newyear
+cakes, and the patron of good boys, are matters
+that have hitherto not been investigated, as they
+ought to have been long and long ago. I am about
+to supply this deficiency, and pay a debt of honour
+which is due to this illustrious and obscure tutelary
+genius of the jolly Newyear.</p>
+
+<p>It hath often been justly remarked that the birth,
+parentage, and education of the most illustrious
+personages of antiquity, are usually enveloped in
+the depths of obscurity. And this obscurity, so far<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>
+from being injurious to their dignity and fame, has
+proved highly beneficial; for as no one could tell
+who were their fathers and mothers on earth, they
+could the more easily claim kindred with the skies,
+and trace their descent from the immortals. Such
+was the case with Saturn, Hercules, Bacchus, and
+others among the heathens; and of St. George,
+St. Dennis, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and the rest
+of the tutelaries, of whom—I speak it with great
+respect and reverence—it may justly be said, that
+nobody would ever have heard of their progenitors
+but for the renown of their descendants. It is,
+therefore, no reflection on the respectable St.
+Nicholas, that his history has hitherto remained a
+secret, and his origin unknown.</p>
+
+<p>In prosecuting this biography, and thus striving
+to repay my obligations for divers, and I must say
+unmerited favours received from this good saint,
+after whom I was christened, I shall refrain from
+all invention or hyperbole, seeking the truth industriously,
+and telling it simply and without reserve
+or embellishment. I scorn to impose on my readers
+with cock and bull stories of his killing dragons,
+slaughtering giants, or defeating whole armies of
+pagans with his single arm. St. Nicholas was a
+peaceful, quiet, orderly saint, who, so far as I have
+been able to learn, never shed a drop of blood in
+his whole life, except, peradventure, it may be possible
+he sometimes cut his finger, of which I profess
+to know nothing, and, therefore, contrary to
+the custom of biographers, shall say nothing.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p>
+
+<p>St. Nicholas was born—and that is all I can tell
+of the matter—on the first of January; but in what
+year or at what place, are facts which I have not
+been able to ascertain, although I have investigated
+them with the most scrupulous accuracy. His obscurity
+would enable me to give him a king and
+queen for his parents, whereby he might be able
+to hold up his head with the best of them all; but,
+as I before observed, I scorn to impose such doubtful,
+to say no worse, legends upon my readers.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing is known of his early youth, except that
+it hath come down to us that his mother dreamed,
+the night before his birth, that the sun was changed
+into a vast Newyear cake and the stars into _oily
+cooks_—which she concluded was the reason they
+burned so bright. It hath been shrewdly intimated
+by certain would-be antiquaries, who doubtless
+wanted to appear wiser than they really were, that
+because our worthy saint was called Nicholas, that
+must of course have been the name of his father.
+But I set such conjectures at naught, seeing that if
+all the sons were called after their fathers, the distinction
+of senior and junior would no longer be
+sufficient, and they would be obliged to number
+them as they do in the famous island of Nantucket,
+where I hear there are thirty-six Isaac Coffins and
+sixteen Pelegs.</p>
+
+<p>Now, of the first years of the life of good St.
+Nicholas, in like manner, we have been able to
+learn nothing until he was apprenticed to a baker
+in the famous city of Amsterdam, after which this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>
+metropolis was once called, but which my readers
+doubtless know was christened over again when
+the English usurped possession, in the teeth of the
+great right of discovery derived from the illustrious
+navigator, Henricus Hudson, who was no more an
+Englishman than I am.</p>
+
+<p>“Whether the youth Nicholas was thus apprenticed
+to a baker on account of his mother's dream,
+or from his great devotion to Newyear cakes, which
+may be inferred from the bias of his after life, it is
+impossible to tell at this distant period. It is certain,
+however, that he was so apprenticed, and that
+is sufficient to satisfy all reasonable readers. As
+for those pestilent, curious, prying people, who
+want to know the why and wherefore of everything
+we refer them to the lives of certain famous persons,
+which are so intermingled and confounded
+with the lives of their contemporaries, and the
+events, great and small, which happened in all
+parts of the world during their sojourn on the earth,
+that it is utterly impossible to say whose life it is
+we are reading. Many people of little experience
+take the title page for a guide, not knowing, peradventure,
+they might almost as safely rely upon history
+for a knowledge of the events of past ages.</p>
+
+<p>Little Nicholas, our hero, was a merry, sweet-tempered
+caitiff, which was, doubtless, somewhat
+owing to his living almost altogether upon sweet
+things. He was marvellously devoted to cakes,
+and ate up numberless gingerbread alphabets before
+he knew a single letter.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p>
+
+<p>Passing over the intermediate years, of which,
+indeed, I know no more than the man in the moon,
+I come to the period when, being twenty-four, and
+the term of his apprenticeship almost out, he fell
+desperately in love with the daughter of his worthy
+master, who was a burgomaster of forty years
+standing. In those unprecocious times, the boys
+did not grow to be men and the girls women, so
+soon as they do now. It would have been considered
+highly indecent for the former to think of falling
+in love before they were out of their time, or
+the latter to set up for young women before they
+knew how to be anything else. But as soon as
+the worthy Nicholas arrived at the age of twenty-four,
+being, as I said, within a year of the expiration
+of his time, he thought to himself that Katrinchee,
+or Catharine, as the English call it, was a
+clever, notable little soul, and eminently calculated
+to make him a good wife. This was the main
+point in the times of which I am speaking, when
+people actually married without first running mad
+either for love or money.</p>
+
+<p>Katrinchee was the toast of all the young bakers
+of Amsterdam, and honest Nicholas had as many
+rivals as there were loaves of bread in that renowned
+city. But he was as gallant a little Dutchman
+as ever smoked his way through the world
+pipe foremost, and did not despair of getting the
+better of his rivals, especially as he was a great
+favourite with the burgomaster, as, indeed, his conduct
+merited. Instead of going the vulgar way to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>
+work, and sighing and whining out romance in her
+ear, he cunningly, being doubtless inspired by
+Cupid himself, proceeded to insinuate his passion,
+and make it known by degrees, to the pretty little
+Katrinchee, who was as plump as a partridge, and
+had eyes of the colour of a clear sky.</p>
+
+<p>First did he bake a cake in the shape of a heart
+pierced half through by a toasting fork, the which
+he presented her smoking hot, which she received
+with a blush and did eat, to the great encouragement
+of the worthy Nicholas. A month after, for
+he did not wish to alarm the delicacy of the pretty
+Katrinchee, he did bake another cake in the shape
+of two hearts, entwined prettily with a true lover's
+knot. This, too, she received with a blush, and
+did eat with marvellous content. After the expiration
+of a like period, he did contrive another cake
+in the shape of a letter, on which he had ingeniously
+engraven the following couplet:—</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“Wer diesen glauben wöhlt hat die vernanft verschworen,</div>
+    <div class="verse indent0">Dem denken abgesaght sein eigentham verlohren.”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The meaning of which, if the reader doth not comprehend,
+I do hereby earnestly advise him to set
+about studying the Dutch language forthwith, that
+he may properly appreciate its hidden beauties.</p>
+
+<p>Little Katrinchee read this poesy with a sigh,
+and rewarded the good Nicholas with a look which,
+as he afterward affirmed, would have heated an
+oven.</p>
+
+<p>Thus did the sly youth gradually advance himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>
+in the good graces of the little damsel, until at
+length he ventured a downright declaration, in the
+shape of a cake made in the exact likeness of a
+little Dutch Cupid. The acceptance of this was
+conclusive, and was followed by permission to address
+the matter to the decision of the worthy burgomaster,
+whose name I regret hath not come
+down to the present time.</p>
+
+<p>The good man consulted his pipe, and after six
+months' hard smoking, came to the conclusion that
+the thing was feasible. Nicholas was a well-behaved,
+industrious lad, and the burgomaster justly
+concluded that the possession of virtuous and industrious
+habits without houses and lands, was
+better than houses and lands without them. So he
+gave his consent like an honest and ever to be
+respected magistrate.</p>
+
+<p>The news of the intended marriage spoiled all
+the bread baked in Amsterdam that day. The
+young bakers were so put out that they forgot to
+put yeast in their bread, and it was all heavy. But
+the hearts of the good Nicholas and his bride were
+as light as a feather notwithstanding, and when
+they were married it was truly said there was not
+a handsomer couple in all Amsterdam.</p>
+
+<p>They lived together happily many years, and
+nothing was wanting to their felicity but a family
+of little chubby boys and girls. But it was ordained
+that he never should be blessed with any
+offspring, seeing that he was predestined to be the
+patron and benefactor of the children of others, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>
+of his own. In good time, and in the fullness of
+years, the burgomaster died, leaving his fortune
+and his business to Nicholas, who had ever been a
+kind husband to his daughter, and a dutiful son to
+himself. Rich and liberal, it was one of the chief
+pleasures of the good Nicholas to distribute his
+cakes, of which he baked the best in all Amsterdam,
+to the children of the neighbourhood, who
+came every morning, and sometimes in the evening;
+and Nicholas felt his heart warm within his bosom
+when he saw how they ate and laughed, and were
+as happy, ay, and happier, too, than so many little
+kings. The children all loved him, and so did their
+fathers and mothers, so that in process of time he
+was made a burgomaster, like his father-in-law
+before him.</p>
+
+<p>Not only did he entertain the jolly little folk of
+the city in the manner heretofore described, but
+his home was open to all travellers and sojourners
+who had no other home, as well as those who came
+recommended from afar off. In particular the
+good pilgrims of the church, who went about
+preaching and propagating the true faith, by the
+which I mean the doctrines of the illustrious reformers
+in all time past.</p>
+
+<p>The good Nicholas had, in the latter part of his
+life, embraced these doctrines with great peril to
+himself, for sore were the persecutions they underwent
+in those days who departed from the crying
+abominations of the ancient church; and had it not
+been for the good name he had established in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>
+city of Amsterdam, among all classes, high and
+low, rich and poor, he might, peradventure, have
+suffered at the stake. But he escaped, as it were,
+by a miracle, and lived to see the truth triumph at
+last even throughout all the land.</p>
+
+<p>But before this came to pass his faithful and
+affectionate helpmate had been taken from him by
+death, sorely to his grief; and he would have stood
+alone in the world had it not been for the little
+children, now grown up to be men and women,
+who remembered his former kindness, and did all
+they could to console him—for such is ever the
+reward of kindness to our fellow-creatures.</p>
+
+<p>One night as he was sitting disconsolate at home,
+thinking of poor Katrinchee, and wishing that
+either she was with him or he with her, he heard a
+distant uproar in the street, which seemed approaching
+nearer and nearer. He was about to
+rise and go to the door to see what was the occasion,
+when suddenly it was pushed open with some
+violence, and a man rushed past him with very
+little ceremony. He seemed in a great hurry, for
+he panted for breath, and it was some time before
+he could say,</p>
+
+<p>“I beseech thee to shut the door and hide me,
+for my life is in danger.”</p>
+
+<p>Nicholas, who never refused to do a good-natured
+act, did as he was desired, so far as shutting and
+barring the door. He then asked,</p>
+
+<p>“What hath endangered thy life, and who art
+thou, friend, that thou art thus afraid?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Ask me not now, I beseech thee, Nicholas—”</p>
+
+<p>“Thou knowest my name then?” said the other,
+interrupting him.</p>
+
+<p>“I do—everybody knows thee, and thy kindness
+of heart. But ask me nothing now—only hide me
+for the present, and when the danger is past I will
+tell thee all.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thou art no murderer or fugitive from justice?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, on my faith. I am sinned against, but I
+never injured but one man, and I was sorry for
+that. But hark, I hear them coming—wilt thou
+or wilt thou not protect me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I will,” said the good Nicholas, who saw in
+the dignified air and open countenance of the stranger
+something that inspired both confidence and
+awe. Accordingly he hastily led him into a remote
+apartment, where he secreted him in a closet,
+the door of which could not be distinguished, and
+in which he kept his money and valuables, for he
+said to himself, I will trust this man, he does not
+look as if he would abuse my confidence.</p>
+
+<p>“Take this key and lock thyself in, that thou
+mayst be able to get out in case they take me
+away.”</p>
+
+<p>Presently there was heard a great hallooing and
+banging at the outward door, with a cry of “Open!
+open!” and Nicholas went to the door and opened it.
+A flood of people rushed in helter-skelter, demanding
+the body of an arch heretic, who, they said, had
+been seen to take refuge in the house. But with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>
+all their rage and eagerness, they begged his excuse
+for this unceremonious proceeding, for Nicholas
+was beloved and respected by all, though he
+was a heretic himself.</p>
+
+<p>“He's here—we saw him enter!” they cried.</p>
+
+<p>“If he is here, find him,” quoth Nicholas, quietly.
+“I will not say he is not here, neither would I betray
+him if he were.”</p>
+
+<p>The interlopers then proceeded to search all
+parts of the house, except the secret closet, which
+escaped their attention. When they had done this,
+one of them said.</p>
+
+<p>“We have heard of thy having a secret place in
+thy house where thy money and papers are secured.
+Open it to us—we swear not to molest or take
+away aught that is thine.”</p>
+
+<p>The good Nicholas was confounded at this
+demand, and stood for a moment not knowing
+what to say or what to do. The stranger in the
+closet heard it too; but he was a stout-hearted man,
+and trusted in the Lord.</p>
+
+<p>“Where is thy strong closet?” cried one of the
+fiercest and most forward of the intruders. “We
+must and will find it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, then, find it,” quoth Nicholas, quietly.</p>
+
+<p>They inspected the room narrowly, and knocked
+against the walls in hopes the hollow sound would
+betray the secret of the place. But they were
+disappointed, for the door was so thick that it returned
+no hollow sound.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p>
+
+<p>They now began to be impatient, and savage
+withal, and the ferocious leader exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p>“Let us take this fellow then. One heretic is
+as good as another—as bad I mean.”</p>
+
+<p>“Seize him!” cried one.</p>
+
+<p>“Away with him!” cried another.</p>
+
+<p>“To the stake!” cried a third.</p>
+
+<p>They forgot the ancient kindness of the good
+man; for bigotry and over-heated zeal remember
+not benefits, and pay no respect to the obligations
+of gratitude. The good Nicholas was violently
+seized, his hands tied behind him, and he was
+about to be carried away a sacrifice to the demon
+of religious discord, when the door of the closet
+flew open, and the stranger came forth with a step
+so firm, a look so lofty and inspired, that the rabble
+quailed, and were silent before him.</p>
+
+<p>“Unbind this man,” said he, in a voice of authority,
+“and bind me in his stead.”</p>
+
+<p>Not a man stirred. They seemed spell bound,
+and stood looking at each other in silent embarrassment.</p>
+
+<p>“Unbind this man, I say!”</p>
+
+<p>Still they remained, as it were, petrified with
+awe and astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, then, I shall do it myself,” and he proceeded
+to release the good Nicholas from his bonds,
+while the interlopers remained silent and motionless.</p>
+
+<p>“Mistaken men!” then said he, looking at them
+with pity, mingled with indignation, “you believe<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>
+yourselves fulfilling the duties of your faith when
+you chase those who differ from you about the
+world, as if they were wild beasts, and drag them
+to the stake, like malefactors who have committed
+the worst crimes against society. You think that
+the blood of human victims is the most acceptable
+offering to your Maker, and worse than the ignorant
+pagans, who made martyrs of the blessed
+saints, sacrifice them on the altar of a religion
+which is all charity, meekness, and forgiveness.
+But I see you are ashamed of yourselves. Go,
+and do so no more.”</p>
+
+<p>The spirit of intolerance quailed before the majesty
+of truth and genius. The poor deluded men,
+whose passions had been stimulated by mistaken
+notions of religious duty, bowed their heads and
+departed, rebuked and ashamed.</p>
+
+<p>“Who art thou?” asked Nicholas, when they
+were gone.</p>
+
+<p>“Thou shalt soon know,” replied the stranger.
+“In the mean time listen to me. I must be gone
+before the fiend, which I have, perhaps, only laid
+for a few moments, again awakens in the bosoms
+of these deluded men, or some others like them
+get on the scent of their prey, and track their victim
+hither. Listen to me, Nicholas, kind and good
+Nicholas. Thou wouldst have endangered thy
+own life for the safety of a stranger—one who had
+no claim on thee save that of hospitality—nay, not
+even that, for I was not thy guest by invitation, but
+intrusion. Blessed be thee and thine, thy house,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>
+thy memory when thou art dead, and thy lot hereafter.
+Thou art worthy to know who I am.”</p>
+
+<p>He then disclosed to him a name with which
+the world hath since rung, from clime to clime,
+from country to country. A name incorporated inseparably
+with the interests of truth and the progress
+of learning.</p>
+
+<p>“Tell it not in Gath—proclaim it not in the
+streets of Askalon,” continued he, “for it is a name
+which carries with it the sentence of death in this
+yet benighted city. Interests of the deepest nature—interests
+vitally connected with the progress of
+truth—the temporal and eternal happiness of millions
+living, of millions yet unborn, brought me
+hither. The business I came upon is in part performed;
+but it is now known to some that I am, or
+have been in the city, who will never rest till they
+run me down and tear me in pieces. Farewell,
+and look for thy reward, if not here, hereafter—for,
+sure as thou livest and breathest, a good action,
+done with a pure and honest motive, is twice
+blessed—once to the doer and once to him to whom
+it is done.</p>
+
+<p>The good Nicholas would have knelt to the
+mighty genius that stood before him, but he prevented
+him.</p>
+
+<p>“I am no graven image, nor art thou an idolater
+that thou shouldst kneel to me. Farewell! Let
+me have thy prayers, for the prayers of a good man
+are indeed blessings.”</p>
+
+<p>Saying this, the illustrious stranger departed in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>
+haste, and Nicholas never saw him more for a long
+time. But he said to himself,</p>
+
+<p>“Blessed is my house, for it hath sheltered the
+bright light of the universe.”</p>
+
+<p>From that time forward, he devoted himself to
+the good cause of the reformation with heart and
+soul. His house was ever the refuge of the persecuted;
+his purse the never-failing resource of
+the distressed; and many were the victims of
+bigotry and intolerance whom his influence and
+entreaties saved from the stake and the torture.
+He lived a blessing to all within the sphere of his
+influence, and was blessed in living to see the faith
+which he loved and cherished at length triumph
+over the efforts of power, the arts of intrigue, and
+the fire of bigotry.</p>
+
+<p>Neither did he forget or neglect the customary
+offices of kindness and good will to the little children
+of the city, who continued still to come and
+share his goodly cakes, which he gave with the
+smile and the open hand of kind and unaffected
+benignity. It must have been delightful to see the
+aged patriarch sitting at his door, while the little
+boys and girls gathered together from all parts to
+share his smiles, to be patted on the head, and
+kissed, and laden with his bounties.</p>
+
+<p>Every Newyear's day especially, being his birthday,
+as it came round, was a festival, not only to
+all the children, but to all that chose to come and
+see him. It seemed that he grew younger instead
+of older on each return of the season; for he received<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>
+every one with smiles, and even his enemies
+were welcome to his good cheer. He had
+not the heart to hate anybody on the day which
+he had consecrated to innocent gayety, liberal hospitality,
+and universal benevolence. In process of
+time, his example spread among the whole city, and
+from thence through the country, until every village
+and town, nay, every house, adopted the good
+custom of setting apart the first day of the year to
+be gay and happy, to exchange visits, and shake
+hands with friends and to forgive enemies.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the good Nicholas lived, blessing all and
+blessed by all, until he arrived at a happy old age.
+When he had reached fourscore years, he was sitting
+by himself late in the evening of the first of
+January, old style, which is the only true and genuine
+era after all—the new style being a pestilent
+popish innovation—he was sitting, I say, alone, the
+visiters having all departed, laden with gifts and
+good wishes. A knock was heard at the door,
+which always opened of itself, like the heart of its
+owner, not only on Newyear's day, but every day
+in the year.</p>
+
+<p>A stately figure entered and sat down by him,
+after shaking his hand right heartily. The good
+Nicholas was now old, and his eyesight had somewhat
+failed him, particularly at night.</p>
+
+<p>“Thou art welcome,” quoth the old man.</p>
+
+<p>“I know it,” replied the other, “every one is
+welcome to the house of the good Nicholas, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>
+only on this, but every other day. I have heard of
+thee in my travels.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thou knowest my name—may I not know
+thine?”</p>
+
+<p>The stranger whispered a name in his ear, which
+made the heart of the good Nicholas leap in his
+bosom.</p>
+
+<p>“Dost thou remember the adventure of the
+closet?” said the stranger.</p>
+
+<p>“Yea—blessed be the day and the hour,” said
+the old man.</p>
+
+<p>And now they had a long conversation, which
+pertained to high matters, not according with the
+nature of my story, and therefore I pass them by,
+more especially as I do not exactly know what
+they were.</p>
+
+<p>“I almost fear to ask thee,” at length said Nicholas;
+“but thou wilt partake of my cheer, on this
+the day of my birth. I shall not live to see another.”</p>
+
+<p>Old people are often prophetic on the duration
+of their lives.</p>
+
+<p>“Assuredly,” replied the other, “for it is neither
+beneath my character nor calling to share the good
+man's feast, and to be happy when I can.”</p>
+
+<p>So they sat down together and talked of old
+times, and how much better the new times were
+than the old, inasmuch as the truth had triumphed,
+and they could now enjoy their consciences in
+peace.</p>
+
+<p>The illustrious visiter staid all night; and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>
+next morning, as he was about to depart, the aged
+Nicholas said to him,</p>
+
+<p>“Farewell—I shall never see thee again. Thou
+art going a long journey, thou sayst, but I am
+about venturing on one yet longer.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, be it so,” said the other. “But those
+who remain behind will bless thy name and thy
+memory. The little children will love thee, and
+so long as thy countrymen cherish their ancient
+customs, thou wilt not be forgotten.”</p>
+
+<p>They parted, and the prediction of the good
+Nicholas was fulfilled. He fell asleep in the arms
+of death, who called him so softly, and received
+him so gently in his embrace, that though his
+family knew he slept, they little thought it was for
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>When this news went abroad into the city, you
+might see the worthy burgomasters and citizens
+knocking the ashes out of their pipes, and putting
+them quietly by in their buttonholes; and the good
+housewives, ever and anon lifting their clean white
+aprons to their eyes, that they might see to thread
+their needles or find the stitches, as they sat knitting
+their stockings. The shops and schools were
+all shut the day he was buried; and it was remarked
+that the men neglected their usual amusements,
+and the little children had no heart to play.</p>
+
+<p>When the whole city had gathered together at
+the side of his grave, there suddenly appeared
+among them a remarkable and goodly-looking man,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>
+of most reverent demeanour. Every one bowed
+their bodies, in respectful devotion, for they knew
+the man, and what they owed him. All was silent
+as the grave, just about to receive the body of
+Nicholas, when he I have just spoken of lifted his
+head, and said as follows:—</p>
+
+<p>“The good man just about to enter the narrow
+house never defrauded his neighbour, never shut
+his door on the stranger, never did an unkind action,
+nor ever refused a kind one either to friend or
+foe. His heart was all goodness, his faith all purity,
+his morals all blameless, yea, all praiseworthy.
+Such a man deserves the highest title that can be
+bestowed on man. Join me then, my friends, old
+and young—men, women, and children, in blessing
+his memory as _the good Saint Nicholas_; for I
+know no better title to such a distinction than pure
+faith, inflexible integrity, and active benevolence.”
+Thus spake the great reformer, John Calvin.</p>
+
+<p>The whole assembled multitude, with one voice
+and one heart, cried out, “Long live the blessed
+memory of the good St. Nicholas!” as they piously
+consigned him to the bosom of his mother
+earth.</p>
+
+<p>Thus did he come to be called St. Nicholas;
+and the people, not content with this, as it were by
+a mutual sympathy, and without coming to any
+understanding on the subject, have ever since set
+apart the birthday of the good man, for the exercise
+of hospitality to men, and gifts to little children.
+From the Old World they carried the custom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>
+to the New, where their posterity still hold it
+in reverence, and where I hope it will long continue
+to flourish, in spite of the cold heartless forms, unmeaning
+ceremonies, and upstart pretensions of
+certain vulgar people, who don't know any better,
+and therefore ought to be pitied for their ignorance,
+rather than contemned for their presumption.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_C1"><small>THE</small><br>
+
+
+LITTLE DUTCH SENTINEL<br>
+
+<small>OF THE</small>
+
+MANHADOES.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>“How times change in this world, and especially
+in this New World!” exclaimed old Aurie Doremus,
+as he sat at the door of his domicil—the last
+of the little Dutch houses, built of little Dutch
+bricks, with gable end turned to the street—on a
+sultry summer evening, in the year so many honest
+people found out that paper money was not silver
+or gold. Half a dozen of his grown-up grandchildren
+were gathered about him, on the seats of
+the little porch, the top of which was shaped something
+like an old revolutionary cocked hat, as the
+good patriarch made this sage observation. He
+was in fine talking humour, and after a little while,
+went on amid frequent pauses, as if taxing his
+memory to make up his chronicle.</p>
+
+<p>“It was the twenty-fourth—no, the twenty-fifth
+of March, 1609, that Hendrick Hudson sailed from
+Amsterdam. On the fourth of September, after
+coasting along Newfoundland to Cape Cod, from
+Cape Cod to Chesapeake Bay, and thence back<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>
+again along the Jersey coast, he came in sight of
+the Highlands of Neversink, and anchored in the
+evening inside of Sandy Hook. This was in 1609—how
+long ago is that, Egbert?” said the good man,
+turning to me.</p>
+
+<p>“Two hundred and sixteen years,” replied I,
+after sore tribulation, for I never was good at ciphering.</p>
+
+<p>“Two hundred and sixteen years—well, at that
+time there was not a single white man, or white
+man's habitation, in sight of where we are now sitting,
+in the midst of thousands, ten of thousands—I
+might almost say hundreds of thousands. Ah!
+boys, 'tis a rapid growth, and Heaven grant it may
+not afford another proof, that the quick of growth
+are quick of decay.” After musing a little he proceeded,
+as if speaking to himself rather than to us.</p>
+
+<p>“If it were possible that an Indian, who had
+lived on this spot at the time of Hudson's first visit,
+could rise from the dead, with all his recollections
+of the past about him, what would he think at beholding
+the changes that have taken place. Nothing
+that he had ever seen, nothing that he had
+ever known, would he recognise; for even the face
+of the earth has passed away, and the course of the
+mighty rivers intruded upon by the labours of the
+white strangers. No vestiges, not even the roots
+of the woods where he hunted his game—no landmarks
+familiar to his early recollections—no ruins
+of his ancient habitations—no traces to guide him
+to the spot where once reposed the remains of his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>
+fathers—nothing to tell him that his eyes had
+opened on the very spot where they closed two
+hundred years ago.” Again he paused a few moments,
+and then resumed his cogitations.</p>
+
+<p>“And this is not all, its name and destinies, as
+well as its nature, are changed. From the Manhadoes
+of the ancient proprietors, it passed into the
+New-Amsterdam of the Dutch, and the New-York
+of the English; and now,” continued he, his eyes
+sparkling with exultation—” now it is the possession
+of a free and sovereign people. The sandy
+barren which formed the projecting point of our
+isle, and where a few Indian canoes were hauled up,
+is now the resort of thousands of stately ships, coming
+from the farthest parts of the earth, and bearing
+the rich products of the New World into every
+corner of the Old. Their masts bristle around the
+city, like the leafless trees of a wintry forest. The
+rugged island, to which nature had granted nothing
+but its noble situation, and which seemed condemned
+to perpetual sterility, is now become a region
+of rich gardens and white groups of houses—the
+very rocks are turned to beds of flowers, and
+the tangled swamps of ivy clinging about the stinted
+shrubbery, into smooth lawns, embellishing and
+embellished by the sprightly forms of playful lads
+and lasses, escaped from the city to enjoy a summer
+afternoon of rural happiness. All, all is
+changed—and man the most of all. Simplicity has
+given place to the ostentatious, vulgar pride of
+purse-proud ignorance—the wild Indian to the idle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>
+and effeminate beau—politeness to ceremony—comfort
+to splendour—honest mechanics to knavish
+brokers—morals to manners—wampum to paper
+money—and the fear of ghosts to the horror of
+poverty.” Here again the old man paused, and
+seemed to retire within himself for a minute or two;
+after which I observed him begin to chuckle and
+rub his hands, while his mischievous old eye assumed
+a new vivacity.</p>
+
+<p>“I wonder what figure our Dutch belles or beaux
+of 1700, or thereabout, would make at a rout, or
+the Italian opera? I'faith I believe they would be
+more out of their element than the Indian I spoke
+of just now. They would certainly make rare sport
+in a cotillon, and I doubt would never arrive at
+that acme of modern refinement, which enables
+people to prefer sounds without sense, to sense
+without sound—and to expire with ecstasy at sentiments
+expressed in a language of which they
+don't comprehend a word.”</p>
+
+<p>“But did they believe in ghosts, grandfather?”
+asked the youngest little granddaughter, who was
+just beginning to dip in the modern wonders of romance,
+and had been caught by the word ghost in
+the old gentleman's harangue.</p>
+
+<p>“Ay, that they did, and in everything else. Now
+people believe in nothing except what they see in
+the newspapers—and the only exercise of their
+faith appears, not indeed in believing a crust of
+bread is a shoulder of mutton, but that a greasy rag
+of paper is a guinea. I have heard my grandfather<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>
+tell fifty stories of ghosts and witches; but they
+have all passed from my memory, except one about
+a little Dutch sentinel, which he used to repeat so
+often, that I have never forgotten it to this day.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, tell us the story,” cried the little romance
+reader, who was the old gentleman's prime favourite,
+and to whom he never thought of denying anything,
+either in or out of reason. “I'll give you
+two kisses if you will.”</p>
+
+<p>“A bargain,” cried the good Aurie; “come hither,
+baggage.” The little girl presented first one rosy
+cheek and then the other, which he kissed affectionately,
+and began as follows, while we all gathered
+about him, and listened like so many Schahriars.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>“Once upon a time, then, to use the words of a
+pleasant and instructive historian, the governors of
+New-Amsterdam were little kings, and the burgomasters
+such great men, that whoever spoke ill of
+one of them, had a bridle put into his mouth, rods
+under his arms, and a label on his breast recording
+his crime. In this trim he was led by the sheriff
+and tied to a post, where he remained a spectacle
+to the public, and an example to all evil doers—or
+rather evil sayers. I wonder how such a custom
+would go down nowadays, with the great champions
+of the liberty of the press? Then, too, instead
+of street inspectors, whose duty it is to take
+care of one side of a street and let the other take
+care of itself, there were roy meesters to look to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>
+the fences, and keep the cows from trespassing on
+their neighbour's pastures—then the houses were
+covered with reeds and straw, and the chimneys
+were made of wood—then all matrimonial disputes
+were settled by ‘a commissary of marriage affairs,’
+and no man could eat a loaf of bread, except the
+flour had been inspected by the ‘comptroller general
+of the company's windmill,’ who could be no
+other than the sage Don Quixote himself—then,
+the distinction of ranks, instead of being designated
+by great and little barons, was signified by great
+and little burghers, who danced hipsey-saw and
+reels—plucked the goose—rambled on the commons,
+now the park, for nuts and strawberries—made
+parties of pleasure to enjoy the retired shades
+of the Ladies' Valley, since metamorphosed into
+Maiden Lane—shot bears in the impenetrable forests
+of Harlem Heights—hunted the deer along
+the Bloomingdale road—and erected Maypoles on
+the first of May, in the great meadow where the
+college now stands.”</p>
+
+<p>“In what year of our Lord was that?” asked the
+little pet lady.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, in the year 1670, or thereabout, you baggage.”</p>
+
+<p>“I declare I thought it must have been somewhere
+about the year one,” said she, laughing.
+The old man patted her cheek, and went on.</p>
+
+<p>“About this time the good citizens of New-Amsterdam
+were most especially afraid of three things—Indians,
+ghosts, and witches. For the first, they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>
+had good reason, for the Indians inhabited the
+country around them in all directions, and though
+the honest Amsterdamers could beat them at a
+bargain, there was another game at which they had
+rather the advantage. In regard to ghosts and
+witches, I cannot say as much in justification of
+their fears. But that is neither here nor there.
+Some people that will run like a deer from real
+danger, defy ghosts and witches, and all their
+works; while the fearless soldier who faces death
+without shrinking in a hundred battles, trembles
+and flees from a white cow in a churchyard, or a
+white sheet on a clothes line, of a moonlight night.
+It was thus with honest JAN SOL, the little Dutch
+sentinel of the Manhadoes.</p>
+
+<p>“Jan was a short, square-built, bandy-legged,
+broad-faced, snub-nosed little fellow, who valued
+himself upon being an old soldier; a species of
+men that, with the exception of travellers, are the
+most given to telling what are called tough stories,
+of any people in the world. According to his own
+account, he had been in more pitched battles than
+Henry the Lion, or Julius Cæsar; and made more
+lucky escapes than any knight-errant on record.
+The most miraculous one of all, was at some battle—I
+forget the name—where he would certainly
+have been killed, if he had not very opportunely arrived
+just after it was over. But though one of the
+most communicative persons in the world, he never
+gave any tolerable reason for visiting New-Amsterdam.
+He hinted, indeed, that he had been invited<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>
+over to discipline the raw provincials; but there was
+a counter story abroad, that he was drummed out of
+the regiment for walking in his sleep, and emptying
+the canteens of the whole mess. Indeed, he
+did not positively deny that he was apt to be a
+rogue in his sleep; but then he made it up by being
+as honest as the day when he was awake.</p>
+
+<p>“However this may be, at the time I speak of,
+Jan Sol figured as corporal in the trusty city guard,
+whose business it was to watch during the night,
+to guard against the inroads of the savages, and to
+enforce, in the daytime, the military code established
+for the good order and well being of the metropolis.
+This code consisted of nineteen articles,
+every one of which was a perfect blue law. Bread
+and water, boring tongues with a red-hot iron,
+hanging, and such like trifles, were the least a man
+had to expect in those days. The mildest infliction
+of the whole code, was that of riding a wooden
+horse, for not appearing on parade at the ringing of
+a bell. This town was always famous for bellringing.
+Jan had many a ride in this way for nothing.
+Among the most rigid of these regulations, was one
+which denounced death for going in and out of the
+fort, except through the gate; and another, ordaining
+a similar punishment for entering or leaving
+the city by any other way but the land poort, after
+the mayor had gone his rounds in the evening, and
+received the keys from the guard.</p>
+
+<p>“The state of society, and the neighbourhood of
+the Indians, I suppose, made these severe restrictions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>
+necessary; and we are not, while sitting quietly
+at our firesides, out of their reach, to set ourselves
+in judgment upon our ancestors, who planted
+the seeds of this empire in the midst of dangers.
+In the little sketch of New-Amsterdam to which I
+have before referred, and which is well worth your
+reading, it is stated that the gate was shut in the
+evening before dark, and opened at daylight. At
+nine o'clock the tattoo was beat, as the signal for
+the honest folks to go to sleep as quick as possible,
+and it is recorded they all obeyed the summons in
+the most exemplary manner. The sentinels were
+placed at different points considered the most accessible,
+and changed every half hour, that being
+the limit of a quiet, orderly Dutchman's capacity
+for keeping awake after nine o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>“One bright moonlight night, in the month of
+August, it fell to the lot of Jan Sol to mount guard,
+not a hundred yards from the great gate, or land
+poort, which was situated in Broadway, near where
+Trinity Church now stands. Beyond this, between
+Liberty and Courtlandt streets, stood the company's
+windmill, where nearly all the flour was made
+for the consumption of the little metropolis. The
+place where he took his rounds was a sand bank,
+elevated above the surrounding objects, and whence
+he could see the river, the opposite shore of New-Jersey,
+then called Pavonia, the capacious bay, and
+the distant hills of Staten Island. The night was
+calm, and the cloudless sky showed thousands of
+wandering glories overhead, whose bright twinklings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>
+danced on the slow undulating surface of the
+glassy mirror. All round there was perfect silence
+and repose, nothing moved upon the land or the waters,
+neither lights were burning nor dogs barking;
+these sagacious animals having been taught, by a
+most infallible way of appealing to their instincts,
+that it was unlawful to disturb the somniferous indulgences
+of their masters. It was a scene for poetic
+inspiration, but Jan Sol was no poet, although
+he often availed himself of the poetic license in his
+stories. He was thinking of something else, besides
+the beauty of the night and the scene. The
+truth is, his nerves were very much out of order at
+that moment.</p>
+
+<p>“It was about the time that witches made their
+first appearance in the New World, whither they
+came, I suppose, to escape the pleasant alternative
+of being either drowned or hanged, proffered to
+them in those days by the good people of England.
+But they got out of the frying pan into the fire, as
+history records, particularly to the eastward of the
+Manhadoes, where some of them underwent the ordeal
+of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Others
+fled to New-Amsterdam, greatly to the discomfort
+of the good citizens, who took such umbrage at
+broomsticks, that the industrious and cleanly housewife's
+vocation of sweeping the parlour twelve times
+a day was considered as naught. It is affirmed,
+that instead of a broom, they used the broad-brimmed
+Sunday hats of their husbands in blowing
+away the dust, for fear of being taken for witches.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>
+There was a universal panic, and a universal dust
+throughout all the city.</p>
+
+<p>“But this was not the worst of it either. Just
+about this time Dominie Egidius Luyck prophesied
+the world was coming speedily to an end, as plainly
+appeared from the great quantity of toad stools,
+which made their appearance in the Ladies' Valley
+and Windmill Meadow after a heavy rain. This
+prophecy was followed up by the appearance of
+the northern lights, falling stars, and mysterious
+rattlings of invisible carriages through the streets
+at midnight. To crown all, an inspired fanatic had
+passed through the Broadway, crying out 'Wo,
+wo to the crown of pride, and the drunkards of
+Ephraim. Two woes past, and the third coming,
+except ye repent—repent—repent.' All these horrors
+now encompassed the imagination of Jan Sol,
+as he paced the little sand hillock with slow steps,
+and from time to time started at his shadow. The
+half hour seemed an age, and never did anybody
+long so much for the appearance of a corporal's
+guard to relieve him.</p>
+
+<p>“He had not been on his watch more than ten
+minutes, or so, when, happening to look towards
+the opposite shore of Pavonia, he saw something
+moving on the waters like a canoe shooting across
+the river. Five hundred Indians with tomahawks
+and scalping knives all at once stood before the
+little sentinel, whose imagination was ready cocked
+and primed for the reception of all sorts of horrors.
+He had a great mind to fire his gun, and alarm the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>
+garrison, but a little of the fear of his companions'
+jokes restrained him for that time. However, he
+drew a pistol, and refreshed his courage with a little
+of the genuine Schiedam, after which he ventured
+to look that way again. But the canoe had
+disappeared in a most miraculous manner, and Jan
+was satisfied in his own mind, that it was neither
+more nor less than the ghost of a canoe. There
+was not much consolation in this; but it was better
+than the five hundred Indians, with their tomahawks
+and scalping knives.</p>
+
+<p>“The night breeze now sprung up with its chilling
+dews, and cooled Jan's courage till it nearly
+fell down to the freezing point. The wind, or
+some other cause, produced a sort of creaking and
+moaning in the old crazy windmill, which drew the
+eyes of the little sentinel in that direction. At that
+moment, Jan saw a head slowly rising and peeping
+over the wall, directly in a line with the windmill.
+His eyes became riveted to the spot, with
+the irresistible fascination of overwhelming terror.
+Gradually the head was followed by shoulders,
+body and legs, which Jan swore belonged to a giant
+at least sixteen ells high. After sitting a moment
+upon the wall, the figure, according to Jan's
+relation before the governor next morning, put forth
+a pair of enormous wings, and whirling itself round
+and round in a circle—while its eyes flashed fire,
+and its teeth appeared like live coals—actually flew
+down from the wall towards the governor's garden,
+where it disappeared, or rather sank into the ground,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>
+close by the garden gate. Jan fired his gun, and
+one might have supposed he killed himself, for he
+fell flat on his face, apparently as dead as a door
+nail.</p>
+
+<p>“Here he was found by the relief guard, about
+five minutes afterwards, with his face buried in the
+sand hill. The moment they touched him, he began
+to roar out with awful vociferation, ‘Wo, wo to
+the crown of pride, and the drunkards of Ephraim.’
+They could make nothing of Jan or his story, and
+forthwith carried him to the ‘big house,’ as it was
+called, where the governor resided, and who, together
+with the whole corporation and city, had
+been waked by the discharge of the gun. Such a
+thing had not happened within the memory of man.
+Jan told his story, and swore to it afterwards; but
+all he got by it, was a ride on the wooden horse
+the next morning. The story, however, took wind,
+and there was more liquor sold that day at the
+Stadt Herberg, or city tavern, than for a whole
+week before. Coming upon the back of the dominie's
+toad stools, the northern lights, the rumbling
+of the invisible wheels, and the mysterious
+denunciation of the drunkards of Ephraim, it made
+a great impression; and many, not to say all, believed
+there must be something in it. Several
+people went to church the next day, who had not
+been there since they were christened.</p>
+
+<p>“Measures were taken the following night, and
+for several nights afterwards, to detect this gigantic
+spectre, but in vain. Nothing appeared to disturb<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>
+the quiet repose of the guard and the city, till the
+next Saturday night, when it came to Jan Sol's
+turn to take his watch upon the sand hill, about the
+same hour as before. They say Jan fortified himself
+with a double allowance of Schiedam, and put
+a little Dutch Bible in the pocket of one of his
+breeches. But all would not do, for many people
+were ready to swear afterwards, that his hair stood
+on end so sturdily that he could hardly keep his tin
+cap upon it. Ghosts, hobgoblins, and all that sort
+of thing, have not only a propensity to visit some
+one particular person, but are likewise extremely
+regular in their habits, as well as in their hours of
+appearing. Exactly at the same hour the little
+canoe shot from Pavonia—the night breeze sprang
+up as before—the old windmill began to creak and
+moan—the gigantic spectre peered over the wall
+at the same spot as before, and cautiously glaring
+round with his fiery eyes, unfurled his mighty
+wings, and after turning a few somersets, flew towards
+the gate of the governor's garden, where he
+disappeared as before. This time Jan was too far
+gone to fire his matchlock, but a few minutes after
+he was found almost insensible with fright, by the
+relief guard, who carried him before the governor
+next morning, where he swore to the same story,
+and was complimented with another ride on the
+wooden horse.</p>
+
+<p>“But the repetition of a miracle is sure to make
+it less miraculous; and a wonder twice told is
+almost half proved. People began to believe, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>
+from believing, to be sure there was something out
+of the way, at least, in this affair. Miracles, like
+misfortunes, never come single; and almost every
+one had a wonder of his own to reinforce that of
+the little Dutch sentinel. At least fifty of them
+happened within less than a week, each more
+alarming than the other. Doors opened at midnight,
+by invisible hands—strange black cats with
+green eyes, and sparks of fire flying out of their
+backs, appeared at different times—the old mahogany
+chests of drawers made divers strange
+noises, and sometimes went off with a report almost
+as loud as a pistol—and an old woman coming into
+market with cabbages before daylight in the morning,
+met a black figure, she could almost swear had
+a tail and a cloven foot. A horseman was heard
+in the middle of the night galloping furiously towards
+the land poort, crying ‘Whoa! whoa!’ with
+a hollow voice; and what was very singular,
+though several persons got up to look out of the
+windows, not one could see the least sign of horse
+or horseman. In short, the whole city of New-Amsterdam
+was in a panic, and he was a bold man
+that did not run away from his own shadow. Even
+the ‘big house’ where the governor dwelt, was infected,
+insomuch that his excellency doubled his
+guards, and slept with loaded pistols at his bedside.
+One of these made a voluntary discharge
+one night, and the bullet passed right through the
+picture of Admiral Van Tromp, which hung up in
+the chamber. If it had been the admiral himself<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>
+he would have been killed as sure as a gun. This
+accident was considered as very remarkable, as
+there were no hair triggers in those days, to go off
+of themselves.</p>
+
+<p>“There was at that time a public-spirited little
+magistrate in office, by the name of DIRCK SMET,
+a pipemaker by trade, who was the father of more
+laws than all the lawyers before or after him, from
+Moses down to the present time. He had the itch
+of legislation to a most alarming degree, and like
+Titus, considered he had lost a day when he had
+not begotten at least one law. A single circumstance
+or event, no matter how insignificant, was
+enough for him. If a little boy happened to frighten
+a sober Dutch horse, which, by-the-way, was no
+such easy matter, by flying his kite, the worshipful
+Dirck Smet would forthwith call a meeting of
+the common council, and, after declaiming a full
+hour upon the dangers of kiteflying, get a law
+passed, denouncing a penalty upon all wicked parents
+who allowed their children to indulge in that
+pestilent amusement. If there happened a rumour
+of a man, a horse, a cow, or any other animal being
+bitten by a mad dog, in some remote part of
+New-England, or elsewhere, Dirck Smet would
+spout a speech enough to make one's hair stand on
+end, about the horrors of hydrophobia, and get a
+law passed against all the honest mastiffs of New-Amsterdam,
+who had no more idea of running mad
+than I have at this moment. Owing to the number
+of little creeks intersecting the city, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>
+quantity of grass growing in the streets at that time,
+there was never a finer city for raising flocks of
+geese than New-Amsterdam—in fact, there were as
+many geese as inhabitants. Dirck declared war
+against these in a speech of three hours, which so
+overpowered the council, that they all fell asleep,
+and passed a law banishing the geese from the
+city; although one of the members, who had the
+finest goose pond in the place, talked very learnedly
+about the famous goose that saved the capitol.
+It is said that Dirck's antipathy to these honest
+birds arose from having been attacked and sorely
+buffeted by a valiant old gander, whose premises he
+had chanced to invade on some occasion. He was,
+indeed, the most arrant meddler and busybody of
+his day, always poking his nose into holes and corners,
+ferreting out nuisances, and seeking pretexts
+for new laws; so that if the people had paid any
+attention to them they would have been under a
+worse tyranny than that of the Turk or the Spaniard.
+But they were saved from this by a lucky circumstance—the
+council thinking they did enough by
+making the laws, let them take care of themselves
+afterwards; and honest Dirck Smet was too busy
+begetting new laws, to mind what became of the
+old ones. Nevertheless, he got the reputation of a
+most vigilant magistrate, which means a pestilent
+intermeddler with people's domestic sports and occupations,
+and a most industrious busybody in attempting
+impossibilities.</p>
+
+<p>“As soon as Dirck Smet heard the story of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>
+inroads of the winged monster, he fell into a fever
+of anxiety to do something for the good of the community.
+He was on the point of proposing a severe
+law against winged monsters, but from this he
+was dissuaded by a judicious friend, who represented
+the difficulty of catching this sort of delinquents,
+and that this was absolutely necessary, before he
+could punish them. Baffled in this point, he fumed
+about from one place to another, insisting that
+something must be done for the quiet and security
+of the city, and that a law of some kind or other
+was absolutely necessary on the occasion, if it
+were only to show their zeal for the public good.
+It was his opinion that a bad law was better than no
+law at all, and that it would be an inexcusable piece
+of negligence to let these interloping monsters fly
+over the wall with impunity.</p>
+
+<p>“All this while his excellency the governor of
+New-Amsterdam said nothing, but thought a great
+deal. He was a little jealous of the popularity of
+Dirck Smet, who had got the title of Father of the
+City, on account of having saved it from the horrors
+of flying kites, mad dogs, and hissing ganders. In
+fact, they were two such great men, that the city
+was not half large enough for them both, and the
+consequence was, that instead of assisting, they
+only stood in each other's way, like two carts in a
+narrow lane. We can have too much of a good
+thing, even as regards laws and rulers. The governor
+was determined to do nothing, for no other
+reason that could ever be discovered than because<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>
+his rival was so busy. The fears of the good citizens,
+however, and their increasing clamours
+against the negligence of their rulers, at length
+roused the activity of the governor, who forthwith
+convened his council, to deliberate upon the best
+means of saving the city of New-Amsterdam.</p>
+
+<p>“Dirck Smet, who was ex-officio a member, was
+in his glory on this occasion, and talked so much
+that there was no time for acting. At length, however,
+the inward man gave out, and he had not
+breath to say anything more. It was then, tradition
+says, that a silent old member, who never
+made a set speech in his life, proposed, in as few
+words as possible, and in a quiet colloquial manner,
+that measures should be first taken to ascertain
+the truth of the story, after which means might
+be found to detect the miracle or the impostor,
+whatever it might be. It is affirmed the whole
+council was astonished that a man should be able
+to say so much in so few words, and that henceforth
+the silent member was considered the wisest of
+them all. Even Dirck Smet held his tongue for the
+rest of the sitting, thus furnishing another striking
+proof, my children, that good sense is an overmatch
+for the most confirmed garrulity. The same old
+gentleman suggested, that as Saturday night seemed
+to be the period chosen for his two visits by the
+winged monster, it would be advisable to place
+some of the most trusty of the city guard in ambush
+in the vicinity of the spot where, according
+to the testimony of Jan Sol, he had flown over the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>
+wall, to intercept him there, or at least overtake
+him in his progress to the governor's garden. Everybody
+wondered at the wisdom of this proposal,
+which was adopted with only one dissenting voice.
+Dirck Smet moved, as an amendment, that the
+word ‘progress’ should be changed to ‘flight,’ but
+it was negatived, greatly to his mortification, and
+therefore he voted against the whole proposition,
+declaring it went against his conscience.</p>
+
+<p>“Accordingly, the next Saturday night a party
+was got in readiness, of six picked men of the city
+guard, under the command of Captain Balthaser
+Knyff, of immortal memory, who had faced more
+ghosts in his generation than any man living. The
+whole band was equipped with an extraordinary
+number of nether garments for defence, and fortified
+with double allowance of Schiedam, to keep up
+their courage in this arduous service. The captain
+was considered a person of the greatest weight
+in all the city; and in addition to this, he added to
+his specific gravity, by stuffing into his pocket all
+the leaden weights he could borrow of a neighbouring
+grocer, for he did not know but the monster
+might fly away with him. His comrades remonstrated
+that this additional weight would impede
+his pursuit of the foe; but the captain nobly replied,
+‘it was beneath a soldier to run, either from
+or after an enemy.’ The most perfect secrecy
+was preserved in all these arrangements.</p>
+
+<p>“Thus equipped, they took their station, about
+eleven o'clock on the Saturday night following the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>
+last appearance of the winged monster, under cover
+of one of the neighbouring houses, and there waited
+the coming of the mysterious visiter. Twelve
+o'clock, the favourite hour of spectres of all sorts,
+came and passed, yet no spectre appeared peeping
+over the wall. By this time they began to be
+wearied with long watching, and it was proposed
+that they should take turns, one at a time, while
+the others slept off the fatigue of such unheard-of
+service. The lot fell upon Jan Sol, who being, as
+it were, a sort of old acquaintance of the spectre,
+was supposed to be particularly qualified for this
+honour. Jan forthwith posted himself at the corner
+of the house, upon one leg, to make sure of
+keeping awake, as he had whilome seen the New-Amsterdam
+geese do, ere they were banished from
+the city, by the inflexible patriotism of Dirck Smet,
+the great lawgiver.</p>
+
+<p>“The little Dutch sentinel stood for about half
+an hour, sometimes on one leg, sometimes on the
+other, with his head full of hobgoblins and his
+heart full of fears. All was silent as the grave,
+save the sonorous music of the captain's vocal nose,
+or, as it might be poetically expressed, ‘living lyre,’
+which ever and anon snorted a low requiem to the
+waning night. The moon was on the swift decrease,
+and now exhibited an arch not unlike a
+bright Indian bow, suspended in the west, a little
+above the distant horizon. Gradually it sank
+behind the hills, leaving the world to the guardianship
+of the watchmen of the night, the twinkling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>
+stars. Scarcely a minute after, the heart of honest
+Jan was sent bumping against his trusty ribs, by
+the appearance of something slowly rising above
+the indistinct line of the city wall, which I ought
+to observe was made of wood. The spectre gradually
+mounted higher and higher, and rested on
+the very spot where he had seen it twice before.
+The teeth of Jan Sol chattered, and his knees
+knocked against each other—but he stood his
+ground manfully, and either would not or could
+not run away. This time the spectre, though he
+appeared with two enormous wings projecting from
+his shoulders, did not whirl them round, or expand
+them in the manner he had done before. After
+sitting perched for a few moments on the wall, he
+flew down to the ground, and crept cautiously
+along, under cover of the wall, in a direction towards
+the big house. At this moment, the trusty
+Jan with some difficulty roused his companions,
+and silently pointed to the spectre gliding along as
+before related. Whether it was that it saw or
+heard something to alarm it, I cannot say; but
+scarcely had the redoubtable Captain Knyff risen,
+and shaken from his valiant spirit the fumes of
+sleep and Schiedam, when the spirit took as it
+were to itself wings, and sped rapidly towards the
+gate of the governor's garden. The party pursued,
+with the exception of the captain, who carried too
+much weight for a race, and arrived within sight
+of the gate just in time to see the spectre vanish,
+either under, over, or inside of it, they could not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>
+tell which. When they got to the gate, they found
+it fast locked, a proof, if any had been wanting,
+that it must have been something supernatural.</p>
+
+<p>“In pursuance of their instructions, the guard
+roused the governor, his household, and his troops,
+with the intention of searching the garden, and, if
+necessary, every part of his house, for the purpose
+of detecting this mysterious intruder. The garden
+was surrounded by a high brick wall, the top of
+which bristled with iron spikes and pieces of bottles
+set in mortar. It was worth a man's life to
+get over it. There was no getting in or out except
+by the gate, on the outside of which the governor
+stationed two trusty fellows, with orders to stand
+a little apart, and perfectly quiet. Now all the
+governor's household was wide awake, and in a
+rustle of anxiety and trepidation, except one alone,
+who did not make her appearance. This was the
+governor's only daughter, as pretty a little Dutch
+damsel as ever crossed Kissing Bridge, or rambled
+over the green fields of the Manhadoes. Compared
+to the queer little bodies that figure nowadays
+in the Broadway, seemingly composed of
+nothing but hats, feathers, and flounces, she was a
+composition of real flesh and blood, which is better
+than all the gauze, silk, tulle, and gros de Naples
+in the world. “A man marries a milliner's shop
+instead of a woman nowadays,” said the old gentleman,
+glancing a little archly at the fashionable
+paraphernalia of his pretty pet granddaughter.
+“Her face and form was all unsophisticated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>
+native beauty, and her dress all simplicity and
+grace.”</p>
+
+<p>“Is that her picture hanging in the back parlour?”
+asked the little girl, in a sly way.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; but the picture does not do justice either
+to the beauty or the dress of the original.”</p>
+
+<p>“I hope not,” said the other; “for if it does, I
+am sure I would not be like her for the world.”</p>
+
+<p>“Pshaw, you baggage,” replied the old gentleman,
+“you'll never be fit to hold a candle to her.”</p>
+
+<p>“The search now commenced with great vigour
+in the garden, although Jan Sol openly declared it
+as his opinion, that they might look themselves
+blind before they found the spectre, who could fly
+over a wall as easy as a grasshopper. He accordingly
+kept aloof from the retired part of the garden,
+and stuck close to his noble commander, Captain
+Knyff, who by this time had come up with
+the pursuers. All search, however, proved vain;
+for after a close investigation of more than an hour,
+it was unanimously agreed that the intruder, whether
+man, monster, or ghost, could not possibly be
+hid in the garden. The governor then determined
+to have the house searched, and accordingly the
+whole party entered for that purpose, with the exception
+of the two sentinels without the gate.
+Here, while rummaging in closets, peering under
+beds, and looking up chimneys in vain, they were
+alarmed by a sudden shout from the garden, which
+made their hearts quake with exceeding apprehension.
+The shout was succeeded by loud talking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>
+and apparent tugging and struggling, as if between
+persons engaged in hot contention. At the same
+moment the governor's daughter rushed into her
+chamber, and throwing herself on the bed with a
+loud shriek, remained insensible for some time.
+Everybody was sure she had seen the spectre.</p>
+
+<p>“It appears that while the search was going on
+in the big house, and the attention of everybody
+employed in that direction, the sentinels outside the
+gate heard the key cautiously turned inside, then,
+after a little pause, slowly open. A face then
+peeped out as if to take an observation, and the
+owner, apparently satisfied that the coast was
+clear, darted forward. The first step, he unluckily
+tripped over a rope which these trusty fellows had
+drawn across the gate, and fell full length on the
+ground. Before he could recover his feet the two
+sentinels were upon him, and in spite of his exertions
+kept him down, until their shouts drew the
+rest of the guard to their assistance. The spectre
+was then secured with ropes, and safely lodged in
+the cellar under a strong escort, to await his examination
+the next morning. Jan Sol was one of the
+band, though he insisted it was all nonsense to
+mount guard over a spectre.</p>
+
+<p>“The council met betimes at the sound of a bell,
+rung by a worthy citizen, who, in addition to his
+vocation of bellringer, was crier of the court, messenger
+to the governor, sexton, clerk, and gravedigger
+to the whole city of New-Amsterdam. It
+was something to be a man in those days, before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>
+the invention of steam engines, spinning jennies,
+and chessplaying automatons caused such a superfluity
+of human beings, that it is much if they
+can now earn salt to their porridge. At that time,
+men were so scarce, that there were at least half
+a dozen offices to one man; now there are half a
+dozen men to one office; all which is owing to
+machinery. This accumulation of honours in the
+person of the bellringer, made him a man of considerable
+consequence, insomuch, that the little
+boys about Flattenbarrack Hill chalked his name
+upon their sleighs, and it is even asserted that he
+had an Albany sloop called after him. I could,
+therefore, do no less than make honourable mention
+of a person of his dignity.</p>
+
+<p>“After the council met, and everything was ready,
+the door of the cellar was cautiously opened, and
+Jan Sol, at the head, that is to say, in the rear of
+a file of soldiers, descended for the purpose of
+bringing forth this daring interloper, who had thus,
+from time to time, disturbed the sleep of the sober
+citizens of New-Amsterdam. Jan offered to bet
+a canteen of Schiedam, that they would find nobody
+in the cellar; but, contrary to all expectation, they
+presently came forth with the body of a comely
+youth, apparently about the age of five-and-twenty,
+which was considered very young in those days.
+Nothing was more customary there, than for a
+sturdy mother to bastinado her boys, as she called
+them, after they had grown to be six feet high.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>
+They were all the better for it, and made excellent
+husbands.</p>
+
+<p>“When the young man came into the presence
+of the puissant governor of the New Netherlands,
+he appeared a comely person, tall, fair complexioned,
+and pleasant of feature. He was asked
+whence he came, and not having a lawyer at his
+elbow to teach him the noble art of prevarication,
+replied without hesitation,</p>
+
+<p>“‘From Pavonia.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘How did you get into the city?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I climbed the wall, near the company's windmill.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘And how did you get into the governor's
+garden?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘The same way I got out.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘How was that?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Through the gate.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘How did you get through the gate?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘By unlocking it.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘With what?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘With a key.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Whence came that key?’</p>
+
+<p>“No answer.</p>
+
+<p>“‘Whence came that key?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I shall not tell.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘What induced you to scale the wall and intrude
+into the garden?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I shall not tell.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Not if you are hanged for not telling?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Not if I am hanged for not telling.’</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p>
+
+<p>“‘What have you done with the wings with
+which, according to the testimony of Jan Sol, you
+flew from the wall, and through the street to the
+governor's garden?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I never had any wings, and never flew in the
+whole course of my life.’</p>
+
+<p>“Here Jan Sol was called up, and testified positively
+to the wings and the flying. There was now
+great perplexity in the council, when the keeper of
+the windmill demanded to be heard. He stated he
+remembered perfectly well, that on the two nights
+referred to, he had set his windmill going about the
+hour in which Jan Sol saw the spectre whirl round
+and fly from the wall. There had been a calm for
+several days previous, and the citizens began to be
+in want of flour. He had therefore taken advantage
+of the rising of the wind at the time, to set his
+mill going. A little further inquiry led to the fact,
+that the place where the spectre scaled the wall
+was exactly in a line with the windmill and the spot
+where Jan held his watch. It was thus that the
+spectre became identified with the wings of the mill.
+This exposition marvellously quieted the fears of
+the good people; but there were a number of stern
+believers who stuck by the little sentinel, and continued
+to believe in the winged monster. As for
+poor Jan, he looked ten times more foolish than
+when he used to be caught emptying the canteens
+of his comrades in his sleep. This elucidation
+being over, the examination proceeded.</p>
+
+<p>“‘Did you know of the law making it death for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>
+any one to enter or depart from the city between
+sunset and sunrise, except through the gate?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I did.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘What induced you to violate it?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I shall not tell.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Was it plunder?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I am no thief.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Was it treason against the state?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I am no traitor.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Was it mischief?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I am not a child.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Was it to frighten people?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I am no fool.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘What is your name?’</p>
+
+<p>“'My name is of no consequence—a man can
+be hanged without a name.'</p>
+
+<p>“And this was all they could get out of him.
+Various cross-questions were put to entrap him.
+He replied to them all with perfect freedom and
+promptitude, until they came to his name, and his
+motives for intruding into the city in violation of a
+law so severe, that none as yet had ever been
+known to transgress it. Then, as before, he declined
+answering.</p>
+
+<p>“In those early days, under the Dutch dynasty,
+trial by jury was not in fashion. People were too
+busy to serve as jurymen, if they had been wanted;
+and the decision of most cases was left either to the
+burgomasters, or if of great consequence, to the
+governor and council. Justice was severe and
+prompt, in proportion to the dangers which surrounded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>
+the early colonists, and the spirit of the
+times in which they flourished. They lived in perpetual
+apprehension; and fear is the father of cruelty.
+The law denouncing death to any person
+who should enter the city between sunset and sunrise,
+except by the gate, was considered as too essential
+to the security of the citizens to be relaxed
+in favour of any one, especially of a person who
+refused to tell either his name or the motive for
+his intrusion. By his own admission, he was
+guilty of the offence, and but one course remained
+for the council. The young man was sentenced
+to be hanged that day week, and sent to the fort
+for safe keeping till the period arrived.</p>
+
+<p>“That day the daughter of the governor did not
+appear to grace the table of his excellency, nor in
+the management of those little household affairs,
+that are not beneath the dignity of the daughters of
+kings. She was ill with a headache, and kept her
+bed. The governor had no child but her, and
+though without any great portion of sensibility,
+was capable of all the warmth of parental affection.
+Indeed, all his affections were centred in this little
+blooming offspring, who was the only being in all
+the New World that carried a drop of his blood
+coursing in her blue veins. He was also proud of
+her—so proud, that his pride often got the better of
+his affection. She had many admirers—for she
+was fair, wealthy, and the daughter of the greatest
+governor in the New World, not excepting him of
+Virginia. It followed, as a matter of course, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>
+she was admired, but it was at an awful distance.
+The honest Dutch swains, who had not pursued
+the female sprite through all the mazes of romance,
+and learned how ofttimes highborn ladies stooped
+to lads of low degree, gaped at her at church, as if
+she had been a sea serpent. They would as soon
+have thought of aspiring to the governor's dignity,
+as to the governor's daughter. Besides, he was
+one of those absurd old blockheads, who consider
+nobody good enough for their daughters at home,
+and hawk them about Europe, in search of some
+needy sprig of nobility, who will exchange his
+mighty honours for bags of gold, and a fair, blooming,
+virtuous virgin into the bargain. He had sworn
+a thousand times, that his Blandina should never
+marry anything below a Dutch baron.”</p>
+
+<p>“Was her name Blandina—was she my namesake?”
+interrupted the little granddaughter.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, girl, she was your great great grandmother,
+and you were christened after her,” said the old
+man, and proceeded.</p>
+
+<p>“This fear on the part of the young fellows of
+New-Amsterdam, and this well-known determination
+of the governor, kept all admirers at an awful
+distance from the young lady, who grew up to the
+age of eighteen, loving no one save her father, now
+that her mother was no more; and an old black
+woman, who had taken care of her ever since she
+was a child. The throne of her innocent bosom
+had remained till then quite vacant, nor did she
+know for certain what it was that made her sometimes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>
+so weary of the world, and so tired of the
+length of the livelong sultry summer hours. She
+walked into the garden to pluck the flowers, until
+she became tired of that. She strolled with her old
+nurse into the rural retirement of Ladies' Valley,
+and the shady paths which coursed the wood where
+the Park is now, until she became tired of these.
+In short, she became tired of everything, and so
+spiritless, that her father was not a little alarmed
+for her health.</p>
+
+<p>“About this time the governor was called by important
+political business to the eastern frontier,
+and the journey was expected to take up several
+days. During his absence, a party was formed to
+cross the river, and spend the day in rambling about
+the romantic solitudes of Weehawk, then a sort of
+frontier between the white man and the Indian.
+Blandina was pressed to accompany them, and at
+last consented, although against the will, not only
+of the governor's deputy, but of the governor himself,
+who would certainly have forbidden it, had he
+been present; but he was a hundred miles off, and
+in the absence of the governor there was nobody
+equal to the governor's daughter. The morning
+was fine, and the party set out as happy as youthful
+spirits and youthful anticipations could make
+them. Here they rambled at will and at random,
+in groups, in pairs, and alone, just as it suited them;
+gathering together to take their refreshments, and
+again separating, as chance or will directed them.</p>
+
+<p>“Blandina had separated from the others, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>
+wandered, almost unconsciously, half a mile from
+the landing place by herself. Perhaps when she
+set out, she expected some of the beaux to follow,
+but they stood in such awe of her, that not one had
+the temerity to offer his attendance. Each being
+occupied with his own pursuits and reflections, no
+one missed the young madam for some time, until
+their attention was roused by a shriek at a distance
+in the wood. After a momentary pause, the shrieks
+were repeated in quick succession, and almost immediately
+succeeded by the report of a gun. The
+little group of young people was struck with dismay,
+and the first impulse was to run to the boats, and
+escape into the stream. But to do them justice,
+this was but an involuntary selfishness, for the moment
+they missed Blandina, the young men prepared
+to pursue in the direction of the shrieks and
+the gun. At this crisis, a figure darted swiftly
+from the wood, bearing the young lady insensible
+in his arms, and approaching the group, placed her
+with her head in the lap of one of the girls, while
+he ran to the river, and returned with some water
+in his hat.</p>
+
+<p>“Blandina soon came to herself, and related that
+she had been seized by an Indian, and rescued by
+the young man, who, all the young damsels presently
+discovered, was very handsome. He wore
+the dress of a gentleman of that day, which, sooth
+to say, would not cut much of a figure just now.
+He was accoutred as a sportsman, and had in his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>
+bag sufficient evidence of his skill. It was decided
+on all hands that the stranger, having saved the life
+of Blandina, or at least rescued her from captivity,
+was destined to be her future husband, and that her
+time was now come. Such prophecies are very
+apt to be fulfilled. The stranger announced himself
+as the son of the ancient and honourable Lord
+of Pavonia, and was blushingly invited by Blandina
+to come and receive the thanks of her father,
+when he should return from the eastern frontier.
+But he only shook his head, and replied with
+a dubious smile, ‘Are you sure I shall be welcome?’</p>
+
+<p>“From this time Blandina became more languid
+and thoughtful than ever. When the father returned,
+and heard the story of her straying into the woods,
+and of her deliverance, he swore he would reward
+the gallant young man, like a most liberal and puissant
+governor. But when afterwards, on inquiring
+his name, he found that he was the son of the Lord
+of Pavonia, he retracted his promise, and swore that
+the son was no better than the father, who was an
+arrant splutterkin. They had quarrelled about
+boundaries; his excellency claiming the whole of
+the river on the west side, up to the high-water
+mark, while the Lord of Pavonia, whose territories
+lay exactly opposite the city of New-Amsterdam,
+had the temerity to set nets, and catch shad in the
+very middle of the stream. The feud was bitter
+in proportion to the dignity of the parties and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>
+the importance of the point at issue. The governor
+commanded his daughter never to mention
+the name of the splutterkin, on pain of his displeasure.</p>
+
+<p>“Rumour, however, says that the young man
+found means to renew his acquaintance with Blandina,
+and that though she might never mention his
+name to her father, she thought of him all day, and
+dreamed about him all night. After a while the rumour
+died away, and the people began to think and
+talk of something else. Some of the young men,
+however, who happened to see the culprit that had
+dared to leap over the wall against the statute,
+thought he had a strong resemblance to the youth
+who had rescued Blandina from the Indian. The
+young lady, as I said before, continued ill all day,
+and for several days after the condemnation of the
+spectre youth, who persevered in obstinately refusing
+any disclosure of his name, or his motives for
+scaling the walls of New-Amsterdam. In the
+mean time the period of his execution approached;
+only two days of life now remained to him, when
+Blandina, with an effort, determined to bring her fate
+to a crisis at once. She rose from her bed, pale
+and drooping like a lily, and tottering to her father's
+study, sank at his feet.</p>
+
+<p>“‘Father,’ said she, ‘will you forgive him and
+me?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Forgive thee, my daughter; I have nothing to
+forgive, so that is settled. But who is the other?’</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span></p>
+
+<p>“‘My husband.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Thy husband!’ exclaimed the puissant governor,
+starting up in dismay; ‘and who is he?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘The youth who is sentenced to die the day
+after the morrow.’</p>
+
+<p>“'And who is he—in the d—l's name, I had
+almost said,' exclaimed his excellency, in wrathful
+amazement.</p>
+
+<p>“‘He is the son of the Lord of Pavonia,’ replied
+she, hiding her face with her hands.</p>
+
+<p>“‘And thou art married to that splutterkin?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Yes, father.’</p>
+
+<p>“'Then I shall take care to unmarry thee—the
+knot the parson tied the hangman shall untie the
+day after the morrow, or I'm no governor. But
+who dared to marry thee against my will?'</p>
+
+<p>“‘Dominie Curtenius.’</p>
+
+<p>“'He did—then the dominie shall hang by the
+side of the splutterkin. Go to thy chamber, to thy
+bed, to thy grave, thou art no daughter of mine.'</p>
+
+<p>“Poor Blandina crawled to her bed, and wept
+herself into a temporary forgetfulness. The next
+day she was so much worse, that the old nurse
+declared she would die before her husband. The
+governor kept up a good countenance, but his
+heart was sorely beset by pity and forgiveness,
+which both clung weeping about him. He went so
+far as to sound some of the council about pardoning
+the young man; but one of them, who was suspected
+of looking up to the fair Blandina, talked so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>
+eloquently about the safety of the city and the public
+good, that he was fain to hold his tongue, and
+shut himself up, for he could not bear to see his
+daughter.</p>
+
+<p>“At length the day arrived, big with the fate of
+poor Blandina and her unhappy husband. She
+sent to her father for permission to see him before
+he died, but the governor, after a sore struggle, denied
+her request.</p>
+
+<p>“‘Then, indeed, he is no longer my father,’
+cried Blandina, and sinking upon her bed, covered
+her head, as if to shut out the world. Presently
+the bell tolled the hour of the sacrifice, and its hollow
+vibrations penetrated the ears of the mourning
+wife. In spite of her weakness, and the endeavours
+of the old nurse, she started up, and rushing
+towards the door of her chamber, exclaimed, wildly,
+'I will see him—I will go and see him die.' But
+her strength failed her, and she sank on the floor.
+In the mean time a scene, peculiarly interesting to
+the fortunes of Blandina, was passing below. The
+proud, obdurate, rich old Lord of Pavonia, had
+heard of the capture, the condemnation of his only
+son. For a while his pride and hatred of the
+Governor of New-Amsterdam almost choked the
+thought of entreaty or concession to his ancient enemy.
+But as the time approached, and he heard
+of the situation of his son, and of his unfortunate
+wife, who had never offended him, his heart gradually
+relented. When the morning arrived, and he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>
+looked across the smooth river, from the long porch
+fronting his stately mansion, towards the spot where
+his son was about suffering an ignominious death,
+he could restrain his feelings no longer.</p>
+
+<p>“Calling for his boatmen and his barge, and
+hastily putting on his cocked hat and sword, he
+embarked, crossed swiftly over the river, and landing,
+proceeded directly to the big house. He demanded
+an audience of the governor.</p>
+
+<p>“'The splutterkin is here too—but let him come
+in, that I may be satisfied the old dog is as miserable
+as myself,' said the governor, with tears in his
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>“The Lord of Pavonia entered with a stately
+bow, which was returned in as stately a manner
+by the governor.</p>
+
+<p>“‘I come,’ said Pavonia, ‘I come,’ and his
+voice became choked, ‘to ask the life of my son
+at your hands.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘Thy son has broken the laws, and the laws
+have condemned him to death, justly.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I know it,’ said the other; ‘but what if I pay
+the price of his ransom?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘I am no money higgler.’</p>
+
+<p>“‘But if I surrender the right of the river to
+high-water mark?’</p>
+
+<p>“‘What!’ said his excellency, pricking up his
+ears, ‘wilt thou? And the shad fishery, and the
+diabolical gill nets?’</p>
+
+<p>“'Yea—all—all,‘ said the other, 'to save the life
+of my only son.’</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p>
+
+<p>“‘Wilt thou sign, seal, and deliver?’</p>
+
+<p>“'This instant—so I receive back my boy
+alive.'</p>
+
+<p>“‘Stay, then, a moment.’</p>
+
+<p>“The governor then hastily directed his bellringer
+to call the council together, and laid the proposition
+before them. The concession was irresistible, and
+the council decided to pardon the son, on condition
+that the father executed the deed of relinquishment.
+He did so, and the young man was forthwith set at
+liberty. It is time for me to retire,” said our good
+grandfather, “so I must cut short my story. The
+meeting of the husband and his faithful wife took
+place without witnesses, and none was ever able to
+describe it. Blandina speedily recovered, and lived
+to see her children's children play about the room
+by dozens. The Lord of Pavonia and the Governor
+of New-Amsterdam continued a sort of grumbling
+acquaintance, and dined together once a year,
+when they always quarrelled about the fishery and
+high-water mark. In process of time, their respective
+fortunes became united in the person of the
+winged monster, and formed a noble patrimony,
+some of which I inherited with your grandmother.</p>
+
+<p>“Jan Sol underwent many a joke, good, bad, and
+indifferent, about the winged monster. But he continued
+to his dying day to assert his solemn belief,
+that the young Lord of Pavonia and the spectre
+were two different persons. Many a time and oft
+did he frighten his wife and children with the story,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>
+which he improved every time he told it, till he
+was at length gathered to his fathers, as his fathers
+had been gathered before him. He had enough
+people to keep him in countenance, for there were
+hundreds of discreet citizens, who treated all doubts
+concerning the appearance of the winged monster
+with as little toleration as do the good folks of the
+town of Salem the wicked unbelievers in the existence
+of the great sea serpent.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="COBUS_YERKS">COBUS YERKS.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Little Cobus Yerks—his name was Jacob, but
+being a Dutchman, if not a double Dutchman, it
+was rendered in English Cobus—little Cobus, I
+say, lived on the banks of Sawmill River, where it
+winds close under the brow of the Raven Rock, an
+enormous precipice jutting out of the side of the
+famous Buttermilk Hill, of which the reader has
+doubtless often heard. It was a rude, romantic
+spot, distant from the high road, which, however,
+could be seen winding up the hill about three
+miles off. His nearest neighbours were at the
+same distance, and he seldom saw company except
+at night, when the fox and the weasel sometimes
+beat up his quarters, and caused a horrible cackling
+among the poultry.</p>
+
+<p>One Tuesday, in the month of November, 1793,
+Cobus had gone in his wagon to the little market
+town on the river, from whence the boats plied
+weekly to New-York, with the produce of the
+neighbouring farmers. It was then a pestilent
+little place for running races, pitching quoits, and
+wrestling for gin slings; but I must do it the credit
+to say, that it is now a very orderly town, sober<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>
+and quiet, save when Parson Mathias, who calls
+himself a son of thunder, is praying in secret, so
+as to be heard across the river. It so happened,
+that of all the days in the year, this was the very
+day a rumour had got into town, that I myself—the
+veritable writer of this true story—had been
+poisoned by a dish of Souchong tea, which was
+bought a great bargain of a pedler. There was
+not a stroke of work done in the village that day.
+The shoemaker abandoned his awl; the tailor his
+goose; the hatter his bowstring; and the forge of
+the blacksmith was cool from dawn till nightfall.
+Silent was the sonorous harmony of the big spinning
+wheel; silent the village song, and silent the
+fiddle of Master Timothy Canty, who passed his
+livelong time in playing tuneful measures, and
+catching bugs and butterflies. I must say something
+of Tim before I go on with my tale.</p>
+
+<p>Master Timothy was first seen in the village,
+one foggy morning, after a drizzling, warm, showery
+night, when he was detected in a garret, at the
+extremity of the suburbs; and it was the general
+supposition that he had rained down in company
+with a store of little toads that were seen hopping
+about, as is usual after a shower. Around his
+garret were disposed a number of unframed pictures,
+painted on glass, as in the olden time, representing
+the Four Seasons, the old King of Prussia,
+and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in their sharp-pointed
+cocked hats; the fat, bald-pated Marquis
+of Granby, the beautiful Constantia Phillips, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>
+divers others, not forgetting the renowned Kitty
+Fisher, who, I honestly confess, was my favourite
+among them all. The whole village poured into
+the garret to gaze at these chef d'œuvres; and it is
+my confirmed opinion, which I shall carry to the
+grave, that neither the gallery of Florence, Dresden,
+nor the Louvre, was ever visited by so many
+real amateurs. Besides the pictures, there were a
+great many other curiosities, at least curiosities to
+the simple villagers, who were always sure of being
+welcomed by Master Tim with a jest and a tune.</p>
+
+<p>Master Tim, as they came to call him when
+they got to be a little acquainted, was a rare
+fellow, such as seldom rains down anywhere,
+much less on a country village. He was of
+“merry England,” as they call it—lucus a non
+lucendo—at least so he said and I believe, although
+he belied his nativity, by being the merriest rogue
+in the world, even when the fog was at the thickest.
+In truth, he was ever in a good humour, unless
+it might be when a rare bug or gorgeous butterfly,
+that he had followed through thick and thin,
+escaped his net at last. Then, to be sure, he was
+apt to call the recreant all the “vagabonds” he
+could think of. He was a middle-sized man, whose
+person decreased regularly, from the crown of his
+head to the—I was going to say, sole of his foot—but
+it was only to the commencement of the
+foot, to speak by the card. The top of his head
+was broad and flat, and so was his forehead, which
+took up at least two thirds of his face, that tapered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>
+off suddenly to a chin, as sharp as the point of a
+triangle. His forehead was indeed a large field,
+diversified like the country into which he had
+rained down, with singular varieties of hill and
+dale, meadow and plough land, hedge and ditch,
+ravine and watercourse. It had as many points
+as a periwinkle. The brow projected exuberantly,
+though not heavily, over a pair of rascally little
+cross-firing, twinkling eyes, that, as the country
+people said, looked at least nine ways from Sunday.
+His teeth were white enough, but no two of
+them were fellows. But his head would have
+turned the brains of a phrenologist, in exploring
+the mysteries of its development; it was shaped
+somewhat like Stony Point—which everybody
+knows as the scene of a gallant exploit of Pennsylvanian
+Wayne—and had quite as many abruptnesses
+and quizzical protuberances to brag about.
+At the upper extremity of his forehead, as he assured
+us, he carried his money, in the shape of a
+piece of silver, three inches long and two wide,
+inserted there in consequence of a fracture he got
+by falling down a precipice in hot chase of a “vagabond
+of a beetle,” as he was pleased to call him.
+Descending towards terra firma, to wit, his feet,
+we find his body gradually diminishing to his legs,
+which were so thin, everybody wondered how they
+could carry the great head. But, like Captain
+Wattle, each had a foot at the end of it, full as
+large as the Black Dwarf. It is so long ago that
+I almost forget his costume. All I recollect is,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>
+that he never wore boots or pantaloons, but exhibited
+his spindles in all weathers in worsted stockings,
+and his feet in shoes, gorgeously caparisoned
+in a pair of square silver buckles, the only pieces
+of finery he ever displayed.</p>
+
+<p>In the merry months of spring and summer, and
+early in autumn, Master Timothy was most of his
+time chasing bugs and butterflies about the fields,
+to the utter confusion of the people, who wondered
+what he could want with such trumpery. Being
+a genius and an idler by profession, I used to
+accompany him frequently in these excursions, for
+he was fond of me, and called me vagabond oftener
+than he did anybody else. He had a little net of
+green gauze, so constructed as to open and shut as
+occasion required, to entrap the small fry, and a
+box with a cork bottom, upon which he impaled
+his prisoners with true scientific barbarity, by sticking
+a pin in them. Thus equipped, this Don
+Quixote of butterfly catchers, with myself his
+faithful esquire, would sally out of a morning into
+the clovered meadows and flower-dotted fields, over
+brook, through tangled copse and briery dell, in
+chase of these gentlemen commoners of nature.
+Ever and anon, as he came upon some little retired
+nook, where nature, like a modest virgin, shrouded
+her beauties from the common view—a rocky glen,
+romantic cottage, rustic bridge, or brawling stream,
+he would take out his little portfolio, and pointing
+me to some conspicuous station to animate his
+little landscape, sketch it and me together, with a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>
+mingled taste and skill I have never since seen surpassed.
+I figure in all his landscapes, although he
+often called me a vagabond, because he could not
+drill me into picturesque attitudes. But the finest
+sport for me, was to watch him creeping slily after
+a humming bird, the object of his most intense desires,
+half buried in the bliss of the dewy honeysuckle,
+and just as he was on the point of covering
+it with his net, to see the little vagrant flit away
+with a swiftness that made it invisible. It was an
+invaluable sight to behold Master Timothy stand
+wiping his continent of a forehead, and blessing the
+bird for a “little vagabond.” These were happy
+times, and at this moment I recall them, I hardly
+know why, with a melancholy yet pleasing delight.</p>
+
+<p>During the winter season, Master Timothy was
+usually employed in the daytime painting pleasure
+sleighs, which, at that period, it was the fashion
+among the farmers to have as fine as fiddles. Timothy
+was a desperate hand at a true lover's knot, a
+cipher, or a wreath of flowers; and as for a blazing
+sun! he painted one for the squire, that was seriously
+suspected of melting all the snow in ten
+leagues round. He would go ten or a dozen miles
+to paint a sleigh, and always carried his materials
+on a board upon the top of his head—it was before
+the invention of high-crowned hats. Destiny had
+decreed he should follow this trade, and nature had
+provided him a head on purpose. It was as flat
+as a pancake. In the long winter evenings it was
+his pleasure to sit by the fireside, and tell enormous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>
+stories to groups of horrorstruck listeners.
+I never knew a man that had been so often robbed
+on Hounslow Heath, or had seen so many ghosts
+in his day, as Master Tim Canty. Peace to his
+ashes! he is dead, and, if report is to be credited,
+is sometimes seen on moonlight nights in the churchyard,
+with his little green gauze net, chasing the
+ghosts of moths and beetles, as he was wont in
+past times.</p>
+
+<p>But it is high time to return to my story; for I
+candidly confess I never think of honest Tim that
+I don't grow as garrulous as an old lady, talking
+about the revolution and the Yagers. In all country
+villages I ever saw or heard of, whenever anything
+strange, new, horrible, or delightful happens,
+or is supposed to have happened, all the male inhabitants,
+not to say female, make for the tavern
+as fast as possible, to hear the news, or tell the
+news, and get at the bottom of the affair. I don't
+deny that truth is sometimes to be found at the
+bottom of a well; but in these cases she is generally
+found at the bottom of the glass. Be this as
+it may—when Cobus Yerks looked into the village
+inn, just to say How d'ye do to the landlady, he
+beheld a party of some ten or a dozen people, discussing
+the affair of my being poisoned with Souchong
+tea, which by this time had been extended
+to the whole family, not one of whom had been
+left alive by the bloody-minded damsel, Rumour.</p>
+
+<p>Cobus could not resist the fascination of these
+horrors. He edged himself in among them, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>
+after a little while they were joined by Master
+Timothy, who, on hearing of the catastrophe of his
+old fellow-labourer in butterfly catching, had strode
+over a distance of two miles to our house to ascertain
+the truth of the story. He of course found it
+was a mistake, and had now returned with a nefarious
+design of frightening them all out of their
+wits by a story of more than modern horrors. By
+this time it was the dusk of the evening, and Cobus
+had a long way to travel before he could reach
+home. He had been so fascinated with the story,
+and the additions every moment furnished by
+various new comers, that he forgot the time till it
+began to grow quite dark; and then he was so
+horrorstruck at what he had heard, that he grew
+fast to his chair in the chimney corner, where he
+had intrenched himself. It was at this moment
+Master Timothy came in with the design aforesaid.</p>
+
+<p>The whole party gathered round him to know if
+the story of the poisoning was true. Tim shook
+his head, and the shaking of such a head was
+awful. “What! all the family?” cried they, with
+one voice. “Every soul of them,” cried Tim, in
+a hollow tone—“every soul of them, poor creatures;
+and not only they, but all the cattle, horses,
+pigs, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs, and guinea hens,
+are poisoned.” “What! with Souchong tea?”
+“No—with coloquintida.” Coloquintida! the very
+name was enough to poison a whole generation of
+Christian people. “But the black bulldog!” cried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>
+Timothy, in a sepulchral voice, that curdled the
+very marrow of their innermost bones. “What
+of the black bulldog?” quoth little Cobus. “Why,
+they do say that he came to life again after laying
+six hours stone dead, and ran away howling like a
+d—l incarnate.” “A d—l incarnate!” quoth Cobus,
+who knew no more about the meaning of that
+fell word than if it had been Greek. He only
+knew it was something very terrible. “Yes,” replied
+Timothy; “and what's more, I saw where
+he jumped over the barnyard gate, and there was
+the print of a cloven foot, as plain as the daylight
+this blessed minute.” It was as dark as pitch, but
+the comparison was considered proof positive. “A
+cloven foot!” quoth Cobus, who squeezed himself
+almost into the oven, while the thought of going
+home all alone in the dark, past the churchyard,
+the old grave at the cross roads, and, above all, the
+spot where John Ryer was hanged for shooting the
+sheriff, smote upon his heart, and beat it into a
+jelly—at least it shook like one. What if he
+should meet the big black dog, with his cloven
+foot, who howled like a d—l incarnate! The
+thought was enough to wither the heart of a stone.</p>
+
+<p>Cobus was a little, knock-kneed, broad-faced,
+and broad-shouldered Dutchman, who believed all
+things, past, present, and to come, concerning
+spooks, goblins, and fiends of all sorts and sizes,
+from a fairy to a giant. Tim Canty knew him of
+old, for he had once painted a sleigh for him, and
+frightened Cobus out of six nights' sleep, by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>
+story of a man that he once saw murdered by a
+highwayman on Hounslow Heath. Tim followed
+up the story of the black dog with several others,
+each more appalling than the first, till he fairly
+lifted Cobus's wits off the hinges, aided as he was
+by certain huge draughts upon a pewter mug, with
+which the little man reinforced his courage at short
+intervals. He was a true disciple of the doctrine
+that spirit and courage, that is to say, whiskey and
+valour were synonymous.</p>
+
+<p>It now began to wax late in the evening, and the
+company departed, not one by one, but in pairs, to
+their respective homes. The landlady, a bitter
+root of a woman, and more than a match for half
+the men in the village, began to grow sleepy, as it
+was now no longer worth her while to keep awake.
+Gradually all became quiet within and without the
+house, except now and then the howling of a wandering
+cur, and the still more doleful moaning of
+the winds, accompanied by the hollow thumpings
+of the waves, as they dashed on the rocky shores
+of the river that ran hard by. Once, and once
+only, the cat mewed in the garret, and almost
+caused Cobus to jump out of his skin. The landlady
+began to complain that it grew late, and she
+was very sleepy; but Cobus would take no hints,
+manfully keeping his post in the chimney corner,
+till at last the good woman threatened to call up
+her two negroes, and have him turned neck and
+heels out of doors. For a moment the fear of the
+big black dog with the cloven foot was mastered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>
+by the fear of the two stout black men, and the
+spirit moved Cobus towards the door, lovingly
+hugging the stone jug, which he had taken care to
+have plentifully replenished with the creature. He
+sallied forth in those graceful curves, which are
+affirmed to constitute the true lines of beauty; and
+report says that he made a copious libation of the
+contents of the stone jug outside the door, ere the
+landlady, after assisting to untie his patient team,
+had tumbled him into his wagon. This was the
+last that was seen of Cobus Yerks.</p>
+
+<p>That night his faithful, though not very obedient
+little wife, whom he had wedded at Tappan, on the
+famous sea of that name, and who wore a cap
+trimmed with pink ribands when she went to
+church on Sundays, fell asleep in her chair, as she
+sat anxiously watching his return. About midnight
+she waked, but she saw not her beloved Cobus,
+nor heard his voice calling her to open the
+door. But she heard the raven, or something very
+like it, screaming from the Raven Rock, the foxes
+barking about the house, the wind whistling and
+moaning among the rocks and trees of the mountain
+side, and a terrible commotion among the poultry,
+Cobus having taken the great house dog with
+him that day. Again she fell asleep, and waked
+not until the day was dawning. She opened the
+window, and looked forth upon as beautiful an autumnal
+morning as ever blessed this blessed country.
+The yellow sun threw a golden lustre over
+the many-tinted woods, painted by the cunning<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>
+hand of Nature with a thousand varied dies; the
+smoke of the neighbouring farmhouses rose straight
+upward to heaven in the pure atmosphere, and the
+breath of the cattle mingled its warm vapour with
+the invisible clearness of the morning air. But
+what were all these beauties of delicious nature to
+the eye and the heart of the anxious wife, who saw
+that Cobus was not there?</p>
+
+<p>She went forth to the neighbours to know if they
+had seen him, and they good-naturedly sallied out
+to seek him on the road that led from the village to
+his home. But no traces of him could be found,
+and they were returning with bad news for his anxious
+wife, when they bethought themselves of turning
+into a byroad that led to a tavern, that used
+whilome to attract the affections of honest Cobus,
+and where he was sometimes wont to stop and wet
+his whistle.</p>
+
+<p>They had not gone far, when they began to perceive
+traces of the lost traveller. First his broad-brimmed
+hat, which he had inherited through divers
+generations, and which he always wore when
+he went to the village, lay grovelling in the dirt,
+crushed out of all goodly shape by the wheel of his
+wagon, which had passed over it. Next, they encountered
+the backboard of the wagon, ornamented
+with C. Y. in a true lover's knot, painted by Tim
+Canty, in his best style—and anon a little farther,
+a shoe, that was identified as having belonged to
+our hero, by having upward of three hundred hobnails
+in the sole, for he was a saving little fellow,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>
+though he would wet his whistle sometimes, in
+spite of all his wife and the minister could say.
+Proceeding about a hundred rods farther, to a sudden
+turn of the road, they encountered the wagon,
+or rather the fragments of it, scattered about and
+along in the highway, and the horses standing quietly
+against a fence, into which they had run the
+pole of the wagon.</p>
+
+<p>But what was become of the unfortunate driver,
+no one could discover. At length, after searching
+some time, they found him lying in a tuft of blackberry
+briars, amid the fragments of the stone jug,
+lifeless and motionless. His face was turned upward,
+and streaked with seams of blood; his clothes
+torn, bloody, and disfigured with dirt; and his pipe,
+that he carried in the buttonholes of his waistcoat,
+shivered all to naught. They made their way to
+the body, full of sad forebodings, and shook it, to see
+if any life remained. But it was all in vain—there
+seemed neither sense nor motion there. “Maybe,
+after all,” said one, “he is only in a swound—here
+is a little drop of the spirits left in the bottom
+of the jug—let us hold it to his nose, it may bring
+him to life.”</p>
+
+<p>The experiment was tried, and wonderful to tell,
+in a moment or two, Cobus, opening his eyes, and
+smacking his lips with peculiar satisfaction, exclaimed,
+“Some o' that, boys!” A little shaking
+brought him to himself, when being asked to give
+an account of the disaster of his wagon and his
+stone jug, he at first shook his head mysteriously, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>
+demurred. Being, however taken to the neighbouring
+tavern, and comforted a little with divers refreshments,
+he was again pressed for his story,
+when, assuming a face of awful mystification, he
+began as follows:—</p>
+
+<p>“You must know,” said Cobus, “I started
+rather late from town, for I had been kept there by—by
+business; and because, you see, I was waiting
+for the moon to rise, that I might find my way
+home in the dark night. But it grew darker and
+darker, until you could not see your hand before
+your face, and at last I concluded to set out, considering
+I was as sober as a deacon, and my horses
+could see their way blindfold. I had not gone quite
+round the corner, where John Ryer was hung for
+shooting Sheriff Smith, when I heard somebody
+coming, pat, pat, pat, close behind my wagon. I
+looked back, but I could see nothing, it was so
+dark. By-and-by, I heard it again, louder and
+louder, and then I confess I began to be a little
+afeard. So I whipped up my horses a quarter of a
+mile or so, and then let them walk on. I listened,
+and pat, pat, pat, went the noise again. I began to
+be a good deal frightened, but considering it could
+be nothing at all, I thought I might as well take a
+small dram, as the night was rather chilly, and I
+began to tremble a little with the cold. I took but
+a drop, as I am a living sinner, and then went on
+quite gayly; but pat, pat, pat, went the footsteps
+ten times louder and faster than ever. And then!
+then I looked back, and saw a pair of saucer eyes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>
+just at the tail of my wagon, as big and as bright as
+the mouths of a fiery furnace, dancing up and down
+in the air like two stage lamps in a rough road.</p>
+
+<p>“By gosh, boys, but you may depend I was
+scared now! I took another little dram, and then
+made the whip fly about the ears of old Pepper and
+Billy, who cantered away at a wonderful rate,
+considering. Presently, bang! something heavy
+jumped into the wagon, as if heaven and earth were
+coming together. I looked over my shoulder, and
+the great burning eyes were within half a yard of
+my back. The creature was so close that I felt its
+breath blowing upon me, and it smelled for all one
+exactly like brimstone. I should have jumped out
+of the wagon, but, somehow or other, I could not
+stir, for I was bewitched as sure as you live. All
+I could do was to bang away upon Pepper and
+Billy, who rattled along at a great rate up hill and
+down, over the rough roads, so that if I had not
+been bewitched, I must have tumbled out to a certainty.
+When I came to the bridge, at old Mangham's,
+the black dog, for I could see something
+black and shaggy under the goggle eyes, all at once
+jumped up, and seated himself close by me on the
+bench, snatched the whip and reins out of my hands
+like lightning. Then looking me in the face, and
+nodding, he whispered something in my ear, and
+lashed away upon Pepper and Billy, till they
+seemed to fly through the air. From that time I
+began to lose my wits by degrees, till at last the
+smell of brimstone overpowered me, and I remember<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>
+nothing till you found me this morning in the
+briars.”</p>
+
+<p>Here little Cobus concluded his story, which he
+repeated with several variations and additions to
+his wife, when he got home. That good woman,
+who, on most occasions, took the liberty of lecturing
+her good man, whenever he used to be belated
+in his excursions to the village, was so struck with
+this adventure, that she omitted her usual exhortation,
+and ever afterwards viewed him as one ennobled
+by supernatural communication, submitting to
+him as her veritable lord and master. Some
+people, who pretend to be so wise that they
+won't believe the evidence of their senses when it
+contradicts their reason, affected to be incredulous,
+and hinted that the goggle eyes, and the brimstone
+breath, appertained to Cobus Yerks's great house-dog,
+which had certainly followed him that day to
+the village, and was found quietly reposing by his
+master, in the tuft of briars. But Cobus was ever
+exceedingly wroth at this suggestion, and being a
+sturdy little brusier, had knocked down one or two
+of these unbelieving sinners, for venturing to assert
+that the contents of the stone jug were at the bottom
+of the whole business. After that, everybody
+believed it, and it is now for ever incorporated with
+the marvellous legends of the renowned Buttermilk
+Hill.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_STRANGE_BIRD">A STRANGE BIRD<br>
+
+
+<small>IN</small><br>
+
+NIEUW-AMSTERDAM.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>In the year of the building of the city (which
+in Latin is called _Anno Urba Conditur_) fifty-five,
+to wit, the year of our Lord 1678, there appeared
+a phenomenon in the street of Nieuw-Amsterdam
+called Garden-street. This was a youthful stranger,
+dressed in the outlandish garb of the English
+beyond the Varsche river, towards the east, where
+those interlopers have grievously trespassed on
+the territories of their high mightinesses, the states
+general. Now, be it known that this was the first
+stranger from foreign parts that ever showed himself
+in the streets of Nieuw-Amsterdam, which had
+never been before invaded in like manner. Whereat
+the good people were strangely perplexed and
+confounded, seeing they could by no means divine
+his business. The good yffrouws did gaze at him
+as he passed along by their stoops, and the idle
+boys followed him wheresoever he went, shouting
+and hallooing, to the great disturbance of the
+peaceable and orderly citizens, of whom it was
+once said that the barking of a cur disturbed the
+whole city.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p>
+
+<p>But the stranger took not the least heed of the
+boys or their hallooings, but passed straight onward,
+looking neither to the right nor to the left,
+which circumstance seemed exceedingly perplexing
+to the good yffrouws, seeing it savoured of
+having no curiosity to see or be seen, which to
+them appeared altogether out of nature. The
+stranger proceeded in a sort of rigmarole way,
+seeming little to care whither he went, all along
+by the Stadt Huys, the East and West Docks, the
+Bendeel or Battery, the Rondeels, and I can't tell
+where else. All the while he seemed to take
+no notice of anything, which everybody thought
+strange, since he appeared as if he had no other
+business than to see the city.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of his marvellous peregrinations, he
+at length came to the great building, which, being
+the only house of public resort, was called, by way
+of eminence, the City Tavern. Here he stopped
+all of a sudden, so abruptly, that little Brom, son of
+Alderman Botherwick, who was close at his heels,
+did run right upon his hinder parts, and almost
+knocked him down, before he could stop himself.
+Whereupon the stranger turned round and gave him
+a look, whether of menace or good will, was long
+after disputed by divers people that saw him. Be
+this as it may, the stranger, on seeing the tavern,
+nodded his head, and went straight up the steps
+into the bar-room, where he courteously saluted
+the landlord, good Mynheer Swighauser, by pulling
+off his hat, saying, at the same time, nothing; which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>
+mynheer thought rather mighty particular. He
+asked the interloping stranger what he would
+please to have; for he was a polite man enough,
+except to losel beggars, and that sort of vermin.
+The stranger hereupon said nothing, but addressed
+Mynheer Swighauser in a figurative style, which
+all landlords comprehend. He pulled out a purse,
+and showed him the money, at the sight of which
+mynheer made him a reverend bow, and ushered
+him into the Half Moon, so called from being ornamented
+with a gallant picture of the vessel of that
+name, in which good Master Hendrick Hudson did
+first adventure to the discovery of the Manhadoes.
+It was the best room in the house, and always
+reserved by Mynheer Swighauser for guests that
+carried full purses.</p>
+
+<p>Having so done, mynheer courteously asked the
+stranger what he would please to have for dinner,
+it being now past eleven o'clock, and the dinner
+hour nigh. Whereat the stranger looked hard at
+him, and said not a word. Mynheer thereupon
+raised his voice so loud, that he frightened divers
+tame pigeons, sitting on their coop in the yard, who
+rose into the air out of sight, and, it is affirmed,
+never returned again. The stranger answered not
+a word, as before.</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat donder is dat?_” exclaimed mynheer; “a
+man with such a full purse might venture to call
+for his dinner, I think.”</p>
+
+<p>However, when Mynheer Swighauser and his
+family sat down to their dinner at twelve o'clock,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>
+the stranger, without any ceremony, sat down with
+them, taking the chair from time immemorial appropriated
+to mynheer's youngest child, who was
+thereat so mortally offended, that she set up a great
+cry, and refused to eat any dinner. Yffrouw Swighauser
+looked hard and angry at the stranger, who
+continued to eat as if it were his last, saying nothing
+all the while, and paying no more heed to the
+little child than he did to the hallooing of the boys
+or mynheer's courteous interrogatories.</p>
+
+<p>When he had finished, he took up his hat, and
+went forth on a peregrination, from which he did
+not return until it was nigh dusk. Mynheer was
+in tribulation lest he should lose the price of his
+dinner, but the Yffrouw said she did not care if she
+never saw such a dumb noddy again. The stranger
+ate a huge supper in silence, smoked his pipe,
+and went to bed at eight o'clock, at which hour
+mynheer always shut up the front of his house,
+leaving the back door open to the roistering younkers,
+who came there to carouse every night, and
+play at all-fours. Soon after the stranger retired,
+there was heard a great noise in his room, which
+so excited the curiosity of Yffrouw Swighauser,
+that she took a landlady's liberty, and went and
+listened at the door. It proved only the stranger
+playing a concert with Morpheus, on the nasal
+trumpet, whereupon the yffrouw went away, exclaiming,</p>
+
+<p>“The splutterkin! he makes noise enough in his
+sleep, if he can't when he is awake.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p>
+
+<p>That night the good city of Nieuw-Amsterdam
+was impestered with divers strange noises, grievous
+mishaps, and unaccountable appearances. The
+noises were such as those who heard them could
+not describe, and, for that reason, I hope the courteous
+reader will excuse me, if I say nothing more
+about them; the mishaps were of certain mysterious
+broken heads, black eyes, and sore bruises received,
+as was affirmed, from unknown assailants;
+and the mysterious appearances consisted in lights
+moving about, at midnight, in the Ladies' Valley,
+since called Maiden Lane, which might have
+passed for lightning bugs, only people that saw
+them said they were as big as jack-a-lanterns. Besides
+these, there were seen divers stars shooting
+about in the sky, and an old yffrouw, being called
+out after midnight on a special occasion, did certify
+that she saw two stars fighting with each other,
+and making the sparks fly at every blow. Other
+strange things happened on that memorable night,
+which alarmed the good citizens, and excited the
+vigilance of the magistrates.</p>
+
+<p>The next night, matters were still worse. The
+lights in the Ladies' Valley were larger and more
+numerous; the noises waxed more alarming and
+unaccountable; and the stranger, while he continued
+to act and say nothing all day, snored louder
+than ever. At length, Yffrouw Swighauser, being
+thereunto, as I suspect, instigated by a stomachful
+feeling, on account of the stranger's having got possession
+of her favourite's seat, and set her a crying,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>
+did prevail, by divers means, of which, thank Heaven,
+I have little experience, being a bachelor, to
+have her husband go and make a complaint against
+the stranger, as having some diabolical agency in
+these matters.</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat donner meen je_, wife?” quoth mynheer;
+“what have I to say against the man? He is a
+very civil, good sort of a body, and never makes
+any disturbance except in his sleep.”</p>
+
+<p>“Ay, there it is,” replied the yffrouw. “I never
+heard such a snore in all my life. Why, it's no
+more like yours than the grunt of a pig is to the
+roar of a lion. It's unnatural.”</p>
+
+<p>Mynheer did not like this comparison, and answered
+and said, “By St. Johannes de Dooper,
+whoever says I snore like a pig is no better than a
+goose.”</p>
+
+<p>The yffrouw had a point to gain, or mynheer
+Swighauser would have repented this rejoinder.</p>
+
+<p>“My duck-a-deary,” said she, “whoever says
+you don't snore like a fiddle has no more ear for
+music than a mole—I mean a squeaking fiddle,”
+quoth she, aside.</p>
+
+<p>Without further prosecuting this dialogue, let it
+suffice to say that the yffrouw at length wrought
+upon mynheer to present the stranger unto Alderman
+Schlepevalcker as a mysterious person, who
+came from—nobody knew where, for—nobody knew
+what; and for aught he knew to the contrary, was
+at the bottom of all the disturbances that had beset
+the good people of Nieuw-Amsterdam for the last<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>
+two nights. Accordingly, the honest man went on his
+way to the Stadt Huys, where the excellent magistrate
+was taking his turn in presiding over the peace
+of the city of Nieuw-Amsterdam, and told all he
+knew, together with much more besides.</p>
+
+<p>During this communication, the worthy alderman
+exclaimed, from time to time, “Indeedaad!” “Onbegrypelyk!”
+“Goeden Hemel!” “Is het mogelyk!”
+“Vuur envlammen!” and finally dismissed
+Mynheer Swighauser, desiring him to watch the
+stranger, and come next day with the result of his
+observations. After which he went home to consult
+his pillow, which he considered worth all the
+law books in the world.</p>
+
+<p>The honest publican returned to the City Tavern,
+where he found supper all ready; and the
+stranger, sitting down as usual in the old place, ate
+a hearty meal without uttering one word. The
+yffrouw was out of all patience with him, seeing she
+never before had a guest in the house four-and-twenty
+hours, without knowing all about him.
+The upshot of the interview with the worthy magistrate
+being disclosed to the yffrouw, it was
+agreed in secret to set old Quashee, the black
+hostler, to watch the stranger; though the yffrouw
+told her husband he might as well set a wooden
+image to do it, for Quashee was the most notorious
+sleepyhead in all Nieuw-Amsterdam, not excepting
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, well,” quoth mynheer, “_men weet niet
+hoe een koe een haas vangan kan_;” which means,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>
+“There is no saying that a cow won't catch a
+hare,” and so the matter was settled.</p>
+
+<p>When the stranger retired to his room after
+supper, the old negro was accordingly stationed
+outside the door, with strict injunctions to keep
+himself awake, on pain of losing his Newyear
+present, and being shut up in the stable all Newyear's
+day. But it is recorded of Quashee, that
+the flesh was too strong for the spirit, though he
+had a noggin of genuine Holland to comfort him,
+and that he fell into a profound nap, which lasted
+till after sunrise next day, when he was found sitting
+bolt upright on a three-legged stool, with his
+little black stump of a pipe declining from the
+dexter corner of his mouth. Mynheer was exceeding
+wroth, and did accommodate old Quashee
+with such a hearty cuff on the side of his head,
+that he fell from the stool, and did incontinently
+roll down the stairs and so into the kitchen, where
+he was arrested by the great Dutch andirons.
+“_Een vervlockte jonge_,” exclaimed Mynheer Swighauser,
+“_men weet niet, hoe een dubbeltje rollen
+kan_”—in English, “There is no saying which way
+a sixpence will roll.”</p>
+
+<p>At breakfast, the stranger was for the first time
+missing from his meals, and this excited no small
+wonder in the family, which was marvellously aggravated,
+when, after knocking some time and
+receiving no answer, the door was opened, and the
+stranger found wanting.</p>
+
+<p>“_Is het mogelyk!_” exclaimed the yffrouw, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>
+“_Wat blixen!_” cried mynheer. But their exclamations
+were speedily arrested by the arrival of the
+reverend schout, Master Roelif, as he was commonly
+called, who summoned them both forthwith
+to the Stadt Huys, at the command of his worship
+Alderman Schlepevalker.</p>
+
+<p>“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried mynheer; “what
+can his worship want of my wife now?”</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind,” replied the good yffrouw, “_het is
+goed visschen in troebel water_,” and so they followed
+Master Roelif to the Stadt House, according
+to the behest of Alderman Schlepevalker, as aforesaid.
+When they arrived there, whom should
+they see, in the middle of a great crowd in the hall
+of justice, but that “_vervlocte hond_,” the stranger,
+as the yffrouw was wont to call him, when he
+would not answer her questions.</p>
+
+<p>The stranger was standing with his hands tied
+behind, and apparently unconscious, or indifferent
+to what was going forward around him. It appears
+he had been detected very early in the morning in
+a remote part of the King's Farm, as it was afterwards
+called, but which was then a great forest full
+of rabbits and other game, standing over the dead
+body of a man, whose name and person were
+equally unknown, no one recollecting ever to have
+seen him before. On being interrogated on the
+subject, he had not only declined answering, but
+affected to take not the least heed of what they said
+to him. Under these suspicious circumstances he
+was brought before the magistrate, charged with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>
+the murder of the unknown person, whose body
+was also produced in proof of the fact. No marks
+of violence were found on the body, but all agreed
+that the man was dead, and that there must have
+been some cause for his death. The vulgar are
+ever prone to suspicions, and albeit, are so fond of
+seeing a man hanged, that they care little to inquire
+whether he is guilty or not.</p>
+
+<p>The worthy alderman, after ordering Master
+Roelif to call the people to order, proceeded to
+interrogate the prisoner as followeth:—</p>
+
+<p>“What is thy name?”</p>
+
+<p>The stranger took not the least notice of him.</p>
+
+<p>“What is thy name, _ben je bedonnered_?” repeated
+the worthy magistrate, in a loud voice, and
+somewhat of a violent gesture of impatience.</p>
+
+<p>The stranger looked him in the face and nodded
+his head.</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat donner is dat?_” cried the magistrate.</p>
+
+<p>The stranger nodded as before.</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat donner meen je?_”</p>
+
+<p>Another nod. The worthy magistrate began, as
+it were, to wax wroth, and demanded of the prisoner
+whence he came; but he had relapsed into his
+usual indifference, and paid not the least attention,
+as before. Whereupon the angry alderman committed
+him for trial, on the day but one following,
+as the witnesses were all on the spot, and the prisoner
+contumacious. In the interim, the body of
+the dead man had been examined by the only two
+doctors of Nieuw-Amsterdam, Mynheer Van Dosum<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>
+and Mynheer Vander Cureum, who being rival
+practitioners, of course differed entirely on the
+matter. Mynheer Van Dosum decided that the
+unknown died by the hand of man, and Mynheer
+Vander Cureum, by the hand of his Maker.</p>
+
+<p>When the cause came to be tried, the stranger,
+as before, replied to all questions, either by taking
+not the least notice, or nodding his head. The
+worthy magistrate hereupon was sorely puzzled,
+whether this ought to be construed into pleading
+guilty or not pleading at all. In the former case
+his course was quite clear; in the latter, he did not
+exactly know which way to steer his doubts. But
+fortunately having no lawyers to confound him, he
+finally decided, after consulting the ceiling of the
+courtroom, that as it was so easy for a man to say
+not guilty, the omission or refusal to say it was
+tantamount to a confession of guilt. Accordingly
+he condemned the prisoner to be hanged, in spite
+of the declaration of Doctor Vander Cureum, that
+the murdered man died of apoplexy.</p>
+
+<p>The prisoner received the sentence, and was
+conducted to prison without saying a word in his
+defence, and without discovering the least emotion
+on the occasion. He merely looked wistfully, first
+on the worthy magistrate, then on his bonds, and
+then at Master Roelif, who, according to the custom
+of such losel varlets in office, rudely pushed
+him out of the court and dragged him to prison.</p>
+
+<p>On the fourteenth day after his condemnation, it
+being considered that sufficient time had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>
+allowed him to repent of his sins, the poor stranger
+was brought forth to execution. He was accompanied
+by the good dominie, who had prepared his
+last dying speech and confession, and certified that
+he died a repentant sinner. His face was pale
+and sad, and his whole appearance bespoke weakness
+and suffering. He still persisted in his obstinate
+silence, and seemed unconscious of what was
+going forward; whether from indifference or despair,
+it was impossible to decide. When placed
+on a coffin in the cart, and driven under the gallows,
+he seemed for a moment to be aware of his situation,
+and the bitter tears coursed one by one down
+his pallid cheeks. But he remained silent as before;
+and when the rope was tied round his neck,
+only looked wistfully with a sort of innocent wonder
+in the face of the executioner.</p>
+
+<p>All being now ready, and the gaping crowd on
+the tiptoe of expectation, the dominie sang a devout
+hymn, and shaking hands for the last time with the
+poor stranger, descended from the cart. The bell
+tolled the signal for launching him into the illimitable
+ocean of eternity, when, all at once, its dismal
+moanings were, as it were, hushed into silence by
+the piercing shrieks of a female which seemed
+approaching from a distance. Anon a voice was
+heard crying out, “Stop, stop, for the love of
+Heaven stop; he is innocent!”</p>
+
+<p>The crowd opened, and a woman of good appearance,
+seemingly about forty-five years old,
+rushed forward, and throwing herself at the feet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>
+of the worthy alderman, whose duty it was to preside
+at the execution and maintain due order among
+the crowd, cried out aloud,</p>
+
+<p>“Spare him, he is my son—he is innocent!“</p>
+
+<p>“_Ben je bedonnered?_” cried the magistrate,
+“_he is een verdoemde schurk_, and has confessed
+his crime by not denying it.”</p>
+
+<p>“He cannot confess or deny it—he was born
+deaf and dumb!”</p>
+
+<p>“_Goeden Hemel!_” exclaimed Alderman Schlepevalcker;
+“that accounts for his not pleading guilty
+or not guilty. But art thou sure of it, good
+woman?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure of it! Did not I give him birth, and did
+I not watch like one hanging over the deathbed of
+an only child, year after year, to catch some token
+that he could hear what I said? Did I not try and
+try, day after day, month after month, year after
+year, to teach him only to name the name of mother?
+and when at last I lost all hope that I should
+ever hear the sound of his voice, did I not still bless
+Heaven that I was not childless, though my son
+could not call me mother?”</p>
+
+<p>“_Het is jammer!_” exclaimed the worthy magistrate,
+wiping his eyes. “But still a dumb man
+may kill another, for all this. What have you to
+say against that?”</p>
+
+<p>At this moment the poor speechless youth recognised
+his mother, and uttering a strange inarticulate
+scream, burst away from the executioner,
+leaped from the cart, and throwing himself on her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>
+bosom, sobbed as if his heart was breaking. The
+mother pressed him to her heart in silent agony,
+and the absence of words only added to the deep
+pathos of the meeting.</p>
+
+<p>Alderman Schlepevalcker was sorely puzzled as
+well as affected on this occasion, and after wiping
+his eyes, addressed the weeping mother.</p>
+
+<p>“How came thy son hither?”</p>
+
+<p>“He is accustomed to ramble about the country,
+sometimes all day, alone; and one day having
+strayed farther than usual, lost his way, and being
+unable to ask any information, wandered we knew
+not whither, until a neighbour told us a rumour of
+a poor youth, who was about to be executed at
+Nieuw-Amsterdam for refusing to answer questions.
+I thought it might be my son, and came in time, I
+hope, to save him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why did not thy husband come with thee?”</p>
+
+<p>“He is dead.”</p>
+
+<p>“And thy father?”</p>
+
+<p>“He died when I was a child.”</p>
+
+<p>“And thy other relatives?”</p>
+
+<p>“I have none but him,” pointing to the dumb
+youth.</p>
+
+<p>“_Het is jammer!_ but how will he get rid of the
+charge of this foul murder?”</p>
+
+<p>“I will question him,” said the mother, who now
+made various signs, which were replied to by the
+youth in the same way.</p>
+
+<p>“What does he say?” asked the worthy magistrate.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p>
+
+<p>“He says that he went forth early in the morning
+of the day; he was found standing over the
+dead body, as soon as the gate was opened to admit
+the country people, where he saw the dead man
+lying under a tree, and was seized while thus occupied.
+He knows nothing more.”</p>
+
+<p>“_Onbegrypelik!_ how can you understand all
+this?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, sir, I have been used to study every look
+and action of his life since he was a child, and can
+comprehend his inmost thoughts.”</p>
+
+<p>“_Goeden Hemel!_ is all this true? but he must
+go back to prison, while I wait on the governor to
+solicit his pardon. Wilt thou accompany him?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh yes!—but no. I will go with thee to the
+governor. He will not deny the petition of a mother
+for the life of her only child.”</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, the worthy magistrate calling on
+Doctor Vander Cureum on his way, proceeded to
+the governor's house, accompanied by the mother
+of the youth, who repeated what he had told her
+by signs. The doctor also again certified, in the
+most positive manner, that the supposed murdered
+man had died of apoplexy, brought on, as he supposed,
+by excessive drinking; and the good governor,
+moved by the benevolence of his heart, did
+thereupon grant the poor youth an unconditional
+pardon. He was rewarded by the tears, the
+thanks, and the blessings of the now happy
+mother.</p>
+
+<p>“Where dost thou abide?” asked the governor.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>
+“If it is at a distance, I will send some one to
+protect thee.”</p>
+
+<p>“My home is beyond the fresh water river.”</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat blikslager!_ thou belongest to the Splutterkins,
+who—but no matter, thou shalt have protection
+in thy journey home.“ The governor, being
+somewhat of a conscientious man, instead of
+swearing by the lightning, did piously asseverate
+by the tinman.</p>
+
+<p>The young man was forthwith released, to the
+unutterable joy of the mother, and the infinite content
+of the Yffrouw Swighauser, who, now that she
+knew the cause of his silence, forgave him with
+all her heart. The next day the mother and son
+departed towards home, accompanied by an escort
+provided by the good governor, the commander of
+which carried a stout defiance to the Yankees;
+and the last words of that upright and excellent
+magistrate, Alderman Schlepevalcker, as he looked
+kindly at the youth, were,</p>
+
+<p>”_Het is jammer_—it is a pity.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="CLAAS_SCHLASCHENSCHLINGER">CLAAS SCHLASCHENSCHLINGER.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Thrice blessed St. Nicholas! may thy memory
+and thine honours endure for ever and a day! It
+is true that certain arch calumniators, such as
+Romish priests, and the like, have claimed thee as
+a Catholic saint, affirming, with unparalleled insolence,
+that ever since the pestilent heresy of the illustrious
+John Calvin, there hath not been so much
+as a single saint in the Reformed Dutch Church.
+But beshrew these keepers of fasts, and other
+abominations, the truth is not, never was, nor ever
+will be in their mouths, or their hearts! Doth
+not everybody know that the blessed St. Nicholas
+was of the Reformed Dutch Church, and that the
+cunning Romanists did incontinently filch him
+from us to keep their own calendar in countenance?
+The splutterkins! But I will restrain the outpourings
+of my wrath, and contenting myself with having
+proved that the good saint was of the true faith,
+proceed with my story, which is of undoubted authority,
+since I had it from a descendant of Claas
+Schlaschenschlinger himself, who lives in great
+honour and glory at the Waalboght on Long Island,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>
+and is moreover a justice of the peace and deacon
+of the church.</p>
+
+<p>Nicholas, or, according to the true orthography,
+Claas Schlaschenschlinger, was of a respectable
+parentage, being born at Saardam, in our good
+faderland, where his ancestors had been proprietors
+of the greatest windmill in all the country round,
+ever since the period when that bloody tyrant,
+Philip of Spain, was driven from the Low Countries
+the invincible valour of the Dutch, under the
+good Prince of Orange. It is said in a certain
+credible tradition, that one of the family had done
+a good turn to the worshipful St. Nicholas, in secreting
+him from the persecutions of the Romanists,
+who now, forsooth, claim him to themselves! and
+that ever afterwards the saint took special interest
+and cognizance in their affairs.</p>
+
+<p>While at Saardam, little Claas, who was the
+youngest of a goodly family of seventeen children,
+was observed to be a great favourite of St. Nicholas,
+whose namesake he was, who always brought
+him a cake or two extra at his Christmas visits, and
+otherwise distinguished him above his brothers and
+sisters; whereat they were not a little jealous, and
+did sometimes slyly abstract some of the little
+rogue's benefactions, converting them to their own
+comfort and recreation.</p>
+
+<p>In the process of time, Claas grew to be a stout
+lad, and withal a little wild, as he did sometimes
+neglect the great windmill, the which he had charge
+of in turn with the rest of his brothers, whereby<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>
+it more than once came to serious damage. Upon
+these occasions, the worthy father, who had a reverend
+care of the morals of his children, was accustomed
+to give him the bastinado; but as Claas
+wore a competent outfit of breeches, he did not
+much mind it, not he; only it made him a little angry,
+for he was a boy of great spirit. About the
+time, I say, that Claas had arrived at the years of
+two or three and twenty, and was considered a stout
+boy for his age, there was great talk of settling a
+colony at the Manhadoes, which the famous Heinrick
+Hudson had discovered long years before.
+Many people of good name and substance were
+preparing to emigrate there, seeing it was described
+as a land flowing with milk and honey—that is to
+say, abounding in shad and herrings—and affording
+mighty bargains of beaver and other skins.</p>
+
+<p>Now Claas began to cherish an earnest longing
+to visit these parts, for he was tired of tending the
+windmill, and besides he had a natural love for
+marshes and creeks, and being a shrewd lad, concluded
+that there must be plenty of these where
+beavers and such like abounded. But his father
+and the Vrouw Schlaschenschlinger did eschew and
+anathematize this notion of Claas's, and placed him
+apprentice to an eminent shoemaker, to learn that
+useful art and mystery. Claas considered it derogatory
+to the son of the proprietor of the greatest
+windmill in all Saardam to carry the lapstone, and
+wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, or some such
+thing. But his father told him in so many words,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>
+that there were more lawyers than clients in the
+town already, and that a good cobbler saved more
+people from being sick, than all the doctors cured.
+So Claas became apprentice to the shoemaking
+business, and served out his time, after which he
+got to be his own master, and determined to put
+in practice his design of visiting the Manhadoes, of
+which he had never lost sight.</p>
+
+<p>After much ado, Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger,
+and the good vrouw, consented unwillingly to let
+him follow the bent of his inclinations, and accordingly
+all things were got ready for his departure
+for the New World, in company with a party which
+was going out under that renowned Lord Michael
+Paauw, who was proceeding to settle his domain
+of Pavonia, which lieth directly opposite to New-Amsterdam.
+Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger fitted
+out his son nobly, and becoming the owner of the
+largest windmill in all Saardam, equipping him
+with awls, and knives, and wax, and thread, together
+with a bench, and a goodly lapstone, considering
+in his own mind that the great scarcity of
+stones in Holland might, peradventure, extend to
+the Manhadoes. Now all being prepared, it was
+settled that Claas should depart on the next day
+but one, the next being St. Nicholas his day, and
+a great festival among the people of Holland.</p>
+
+<p>According to custom, ever since the days of the
+blessed saint, they had a plentiful supper of waffles
+and chocolate—that pestilent beverage tea not
+having yet come into fashion—and sat up talking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>
+of Claas, his adventures, and what he would see
+and hear in the Manhadoes, till it was almost nine
+o'clock. Upon this, mynheer ordered them all to
+bed, being scandalized at such unseasonable hours.
+In the morning when Claas got up, and went to
+put on his stocking, he felt something hard at the
+toe, and turning it inside out, there fell on the floor
+the bowl of a pipe of the genuine _Meershaum_,
+which seemed to have been used beyond memory
+since its polish was a thousand times more soft
+and delightsome than ivory or tortoise shell, and
+its lustre past all price. Would that the blessed
+saint would bestow such a one on me!</p>
+
+<p>Claas was delighted; he kissed it as if he had
+been an idolatrous Romanist—which, by the blessing
+of Saint Nicholas, he was not—and bestowing it
+in the bottom of his strong oaken chest, resolved
+like unto a prudent Dutchman, never to use it
+for fear of accidents. In a few hours afterwards,
+he parted from his parents, his family, and his
+home; his father gave him a history of the bloody
+wars and persecutions of Philip of Spain; a small
+purse of guilders, and abundance of advice for the
+government of his future life; but his mother gave
+him what was more precious than all these—her
+tears, her blessing, and a little Dutch Bible with
+silver clasps. Bibles were not so plenty then as
+they are now, and were considered as the greatest
+treasures of the household. His brothers and sisters
+took an affectionate farewell of him, and asked
+his pardon for stealing his Newyear cookies. So<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>
+Claas kissed his mother, promising, if it pleased
+Heaven, to send her stores of herrings and beaver
+skins, whereat she was marvellously comforted;
+and he went on his way, as it were sorrowfully
+rejoicing.</p>
+
+<p>I shall pass over the journey, and the voyage to
+the Manhadoes, saving the relation of a curious
+matter that occurred after the ship had been about
+ninety days at sea, and they were supposed to be
+well on their way to the port of New-Amsterdam.
+It came into the heads of the passengers to while
+away the time as they were lying to one day with
+the sails all furled, except one or two, which I name
+not, for a special reason, contrary to the practice
+of most writers—namely, because I am ignorant
+thereof—having the sails thus furled, I say, on
+account of certain suspicious-looking clouds, the
+which the captain, who kept a bright lookout day
+and night, had seen hovering overhead, with no
+good intentions, it came into the noddles of divers
+of the passengers to pass the time by opening their
+chests, and comparing their respective outfits, for
+they were an honest set of people, and not afraid
+of being robbed.</p>
+
+<p>When Claas showed his lapstone, most of the
+company, on being told the reasons for bringing it
+such a long distance, held up their hands, and admired
+the foresight of his father, considering him an
+exceeding prudent and wise man to think of such
+matters. Some of them wanted to buy it on speculation,
+but Claas was too well acquainted with its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>
+value to set a price on it. While they were thus
+chaffering, an old sailor, who had accompanied the
+renowned Heinrick Hudson as cabin boy, in his
+first voyage to the Manhadoes, happening to come
+by and hear them, swore a great Dutch oath, and
+called Claas a splutterkin for bringing stones all
+the way from Holland, saying that there were
+enough at the Manhadoes to furnish lapstones for
+the whole universe. Whereupon Claas thought to
+himself, “What a fine country it must be, where
+stones are so plenty.”</p>
+
+<p>In process of time, as all things, and especially
+voyagings by sea, have an end, the vessel came in
+sight of the highlands of Neversink—vulgarly called
+by would-be learned writers, Navesink—and Claas
+and the rest, who had never seen such vast mountains
+before, did think that it was a wall, built up
+from the earth to the sky, and that there was no
+world beyond.</p>
+
+<p>Favoured by a fine south wind, whose balmy
+freshness had awakened the young spring into
+early life and beauty, they shot like an arrow from
+a bow through the Narrows, and sailing along the
+heights of Staaten Island, came in sight of the illustrious
+city of New-Amsterdam, which, though at
+that period containing but a few hundred people, I
+shall venture to predict, in some future time, may
+actually number its tens of thousands.</p>
+
+<p>Truly it was a beautiful city, and a beautiful
+sight as might be seen of a spring morning. As
+they came through Buttermilk Channel, they beheld<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>
+with delighted astonishment the fort, the
+church, the governor's house, the great dock jutting
+out into the salt river, the Stadt Huys, the rondeel,
+and a goodly assemblage of houses, with the gable
+ends to the street, as before the villanous introduction
+of new fashions, and at the extremity of the
+city, the gate and wall, from whence Wall-street
+deriveth its name. But what above all gloriously
+delighted Claas, was a great windmill, towering in
+the air, and spreading its vast wings on the rising
+ground along the Broadway, between Liberty and
+Courtlandt streets, the which reminded him of home
+and his parents. The prospect rejoiced them all
+mightily, for they thought to themselves, “We have
+come to a little Holland far over the sea.”</p>
+
+<p>So far as I know, it was somewhere about the
+year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and
+sixty, or thereabout, and in the month of May,
+that Claas landed in the New World; but of the
+precise day of the month I cannot be certain, seeing
+what confusion of dates hath been caused by
+that idolatrous device of Pope Gregory, called the
+New Style, whereby events that really happened in
+one year are falsely put down to another, by which
+means history becomes naught. The first thing
+he thought of, was to provide himself a home, for
+be it known it was not then the fashion to live in
+taverns and boarding houses, and the man who thus
+demeaned himself was considered no better than
+he should be; nobody would trust or employ him,
+and he might consider it a special bounty of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>
+good St. Nicholas, if he escaped a ride on the
+wooden horse provided for the punishment of delinquents.
+So Claas looked out for a pleasant
+place whereon to pitch his tent. As he walked
+forth for this end, his bowels yearned exceedingly
+for a lot on the Broad-street, through which ran a
+delightful creek, crooked like unto a ram's horn,
+the sides of which were low, and, as it were, juicy
+with the salt water which did sometimes overflow
+them at spring tides, and the full of the moon.
+More especially the ferry house, with its never to
+be forgotten weathercock, did incite him sorely to
+come and set himself down thereabout. But he
+was deterred by the high price of lots in that favoured
+region, seeing they asked him as much as
+five guilders for the one at the corner of the Broad
+and Wall streets, a most unheard-of price, and not
+to be thought of by a prudent man like Claas
+Schlaschenschlinger.</p>
+
+<p>So he sought about elsewhere, though he often
+looked wistfully at the fair meads of the Broad-street,
+and nothing deterred him from ruining himself
+by gratifying his longings, but the truly excellent
+expedient of counting his money, which I recommend
+to all honest people, before they make a
+bargain. But though he could not settle in Broad-street,
+he resolved in his mind to get as nigh as
+possible, and finding a lot with a little puddle of
+brackish water in it large enough for a goose pond,
+nigh unto the wall and gate of the city, and just at
+the head of what hath lately been called Newstreet—then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>
+the region of unsettled lands—he procured
+a grant thereof from the schout, scheepens,
+and burgomasters, who then ruled the city, for five
+stivers, being the amount of fees for writing and
+recording the deed by the Geheim Schryver.</p>
+
+<p>Having built himself a comfortable house, with
+a little stoop to it, he purchased a pair of geese, or,
+to be correct and particular, as becometh a conscientious
+historian, a goose and gander, that he might
+recreate himself with their gambols in the salt puddle,
+and quietly sat himself down to the making and
+mending of shoes. In this he prospered at first
+indifferently well, and thereafter mightily, when
+the people found that he made shoes, some of
+which were reported never to wear out; but this
+was, as it were, but a sort of figure of speech to express
+their excellent qualities.</p>
+
+<p>Every Sunday, after church, in pleasant weather,
+Claas, instead of putting off his Sunday suit, as
+was the wont of the times, used to go and take a
+walk in the Ladies' Valley, since called Maiden
+Lane, for everything has changed under those arch
+intruders, the English, who, I believe, in their
+hearts, are half Papists. This valley was an exceeding
+cool, retired, and pleasant place, being bordered
+by a wood, in the which was plenty of pinkster
+blossoms in the season. Being a likely young fellow,
+and dressed in a goodly array of breeches and
+what not, he was much noticed, and many a little
+damsel cast a sheep's eye upon him as he sat smoking
+his pipe of a summer afternoon under the shade<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>
+of the trees which grew plentifully in that quarter.
+I don't know how it was, but so it happened, that in
+process of time he made acquaintance with one of
+these, a buxom creature of rare and unmatchable
+lineaments and dimensions, insomuch that she was
+considered the beauty of New-Amsterdam, and had
+refused even the burgomaster, Barendt Roeloffsen,
+who was taxed three guilders, being the richest man
+of the city. But Aintjie was not to be bought with
+gold; she loved Claas because he was a solid young
+fellow, who plucked for her the most beautiful pinkster
+blossoms, and was the most pleasant companion
+in the world, for a ramble in the Ladies'
+Valley.</p>
+
+<p>Report says, but I believe there was no great
+truth in the story, that they sometimes QUEESTED<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>
+together, but of that I profess myself doubtful.
+Certain it is, however, that in good time they were
+married, to the great content of both, and the great
+discontent of the burgomaster, Barendt Roeloffsen.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> This word is untranslatable.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>In those days young people did not marry to set
+up a coach, live in fine houses filled with rich furniture,
+for which they had no use, and become
+bankrupt in a few years. They began in a small
+way, and increased their comforts with their means.
+It was thus with Claas and his wife, who were
+always employed in some useful business, and
+never ran into extravagance, except it may be on
+holydays. In particular Claas always feasted lustily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>
+on St. Nicholas his day, because, he was his
+patron saint, and he remembered his kindness in
+faderland.</p>
+
+<p>Thus they went on prospering as folks always do
+that are industrious and prudent, every year laying
+up money, and every year increasing their family;
+for be it known, those who are of the true Dutch
+blood, always apportion the number of children to
+the means of providing for them. They never are
+caught having children for other people to take
+care of. But be this as it may, about this time began
+the mischievous and oppressive practice of improving
+the city, draining the marshes, cutting
+down hills, and straightening streets, which hath
+since grown to great enormity in this city, insomuch
+that a man may be said to be actually impoverished
+by his property.</p>
+
+<p>Barendt Roeloffsen, who was at the head of the
+reformers, having a great estate in vacant lands,
+which he wanted to make productive at the expense
+of his neighbours—Barendt Roeloffsen, I
+say, bestirred himself lustily to bring about what
+he called, in outlandish English, the era of improvement,
+and forthwith looked around to see
+where he should begin. I have always believed,
+and so did the people at that time, that Barendt
+singled out Claas his goose pond for the first experiment,
+being thereunto impelled by an old grudge
+against Claas, on account of his having cut him out
+with the damsel he wished to marry, as before related.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p>
+
+<p>But, however, Barendt Roeloffsen, who bore a
+great sway among the burgomasters, on account of
+his riches, got a law passed, by hook or by crook,
+for draining Claas his pond, at his own expense,
+making him pay at the same time for the rise in
+the value of his property, of which they did not permit
+him to be the judge, but took upon themselves
+to say what it was. The ancestors of Claas had
+fought valiantly against Philip of Spain, in defence
+of their religion and liberty, and he had kept up his
+detestation of oppression by frequently reading the
+account of the cruelties committed in the Low Countries
+by the Spaniard, in the book which his father
+had given him on his departure from home. Besides,
+he had a great admiration, I might almost say
+affection, for his goose pond, as is becoming in every
+true Dutchman. In it he was accustomed to
+see, with singular delight, his geese, now increased
+to a goodly flock, sailing about majestically, flapping
+their wings, dipping their necks into the water,
+and making a noise exceedingly tuneful and
+melodious. Here, too, his little children were wont
+to paddle in the summer days, up to their knees in
+the water, to their great contentment as well as recreation,
+thereby strengthening themselves exceedingly.
+Such being the case, Claas resisted the
+behest of the burgomasters, declaring that he would
+appeal to the laws for redress if they persisted in
+trespassing on his premises. But what can a man
+get by the law at any time, much less when the
+defendant, as in this case, was judge as well as a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>
+party in the business? After losing a vast deal of
+time, which was as money to him, and spending a
+good portion of what he had saved for his children,
+Claas was at length cast in his suit, and the downfall
+of his goose pond irrevocably decreed.</p>
+
+<p>It was a long time before he recovered this blow,
+and when he did, Fortune, as if determined to persevere
+in her ill offices, sent a blacksmith from Holland,
+who brought over with him the new and diabolical
+invention of hobnails, the which he so strenuously
+recommended to the foolish people, who are
+prone to run after novelties, that they, one and all,
+had their shoes stuck full of nails, whereby they
+did clatter about the streets like unto a horse newly
+shod. As might be expected, the business of shoemaking
+decreased mightily upon this, insomuch
+that the shoes might be said to last for ever; and I
+myself have seen a pair that have descended
+through three generations, the nails of which shone
+like unto silver sixpences. Some people supposed
+this was a plot of Barendt Roeloffsen, to complete the
+ruin of poor Claas; but whether it was or not, it is
+certain that such was the falling off in his trade, on
+account of the pestilent introduction of hobnails,
+that, at the end of the year, Claas found that he
+had gone down hill at a great rate. The next year
+it was still worse, and thus, in the course of a few
+more, from bad to worse, he at last found himself
+without the means of support for himself, his wife,
+and his little children. But what shows the goodness
+of Providence, it is worthy of record, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>
+from this time his family, miraculously as it were,
+ceased to increase.</p>
+
+<p>Neither begging nor running in debt without the
+prospect of paying was in fashion in those days,
+nor were there any societies to invite people to
+idleness and improvidence by the certainty of being
+relieved from their consequences without the trouble
+of asking. Claas tried what labouring day and
+night would do, but there was no use in making
+shoes when there was nobody to buy them. His
+good wife tried the magic of saving; but where
+there is nothing left to save, economy is to little
+purpose. He tried to get into some other business,
+but the wrath of Barendt Roeloffsen was upon
+him, and the whole influence of the burgomasters
+stood in his way on account of the opposition he
+had made to the march of improvement. He then
+offered his house and lot for sale; but here again
+his old enemy Barendt put a spoke in his wheel,
+going about among the people and insinuating that
+as Claas had paid nothing for his lot, the title was
+good for nothing. So one by one he tried all ways
+to keep want from his door; but it came at last,
+and one Newyear's eve, in the year of our Lord—I
+don't know what, the family was hovering round
+a miserable fire, not only without the customary
+means of enjoying the festivity of the season, but
+destitute of the very necessaries of life.</p>
+
+<p>The evening was cold and raw, and the heavy
+moanings of a keen northeast wind announced the
+approach of a snow storm. The little children<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>
+cowered over the almost expiring embers, shivering
+with cold and hunger; the old cat lay half buried
+in the ashes to keep herself warm; and the poor
+father and mother now looked at the little flock of
+ragged—no, not ragged—the mother took care of
+that; and industry can always ward off rags and
+dirt. But though not ragged or dirty, they were
+miserably clad and worse fed; and as the parents
+looked first at them and then at each other, the
+tears gathered in their eyes until they ran over.</p>
+
+<p>“We must sell the silver clasps of the Bible my
+mother gave me, wife,” said Claas, at last.</p>
+
+<p>“The Goodness forbid,” said she; “we should
+never prosper after it.”</p>
+
+<p>“We can't prosper worse than we do now,
+Aintjie.”</p>
+
+<p>“You had better sell the little book about the
+murders of the Spaniards, that you sometimes read
+to me.”</p>
+
+<p>“It has no silver clasps, and will bring nothing,”
+replied Claas, despondingly, covering his face with
+his hand, and seeming to think for a few moments.
+All at once he withdrew his hand, and cried,</p>
+
+<p>“The pipe! the meershaum pipe! it is worth a
+hundred guilders!” and he ran to the place where
+he had kept it so carefully that he never used it
+once in the whole time he had it in his possession.</p>
+
+<p>He looked at it wistfully, and it brought to his
+mind the time he found it in his stocking. He
+thought of his parents, his brothers, his sisters, and
+old faderland, and wished he had never parted from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>
+them to visit the New World. His wife saw what
+was passing in his heart, and said,</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind, dear Claas, with these hundred
+guilders we shall get on again by the blessing of
+the good St. Nicholas, whose namesake you are.”</p>
+
+<p>Claas shook his head, and looked at the meershaum,
+which he could not bear to part with, because,
+somehow or other, he could not help thinking
+it was the gift of St. Nicholas. The wind now
+freshened, and moaned more loudly than ever, and
+the snow began to come in through the crevices of
+the door and windows. The cold increased apace,
+and the last spark of fire was expiring in the chimney.
+There was darkness without and within, for
+the candle, the last they had, was just going out.</p>
+
+<p>Claas, without knowing what he was doing,
+rubbed the pipe against his sleeve, as it were mechanically.</p>
+
+<p>He had scarcely commenced rubbing, when the
+door suddenly opened, and without more ado, a little
+man, with a right ruddy good-humoured face, as
+round as an apple, and a cocked beaver, white with
+snow, walked in, without so much as saying, “By
+your leave,” and sitting himself by the side of the
+yffrouw, began to blow at the fire, and make as if
+he was warming his fingers, though there was no
+fire there, for that matter.</p>
+
+<p>Now Claas was a good-natured fellow, and
+though he had nothing to give, except a welcome,
+which is always in the power of everybody, yet he
+wished to himself he had more fire to warm people's<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>
+fingers. After a few moments, the little man
+rubbed his hands together, and looking around him,
+with a good-humoured smile, said,</p>
+
+<p>“Mynheer Schlaschenschlinger, methinks it
+might not be amiss to replenish this fire a little;
+'tis a bitter cold night, and my fingers are almost
+frostbitten.”</p>
+
+<p>“Alack, mynheer,” quoth Claas, “I would, with
+all my heart, but I have nothing wherewith to
+warm myself and my children, unless I set fire to
+my own house. I am sorry I cannot entertain thee
+better.”</p>
+
+<p>Upon this the little man broke the cane with
+which he walked into two pieces, which he threw
+in the chimney, and thereupon the fire began to
+blaze so cheerfully that they could see their shadows
+on the wall, and the old cat jumped out of the
+ashes, with her coat well singed, which made the
+little jolly fellow laugh heartily.</p>
+
+<p>The sticks burnt and burnt, without going out,
+and they were soon all as warm and comfortable
+as could be. Then the little man said,</p>
+
+<p>“Friend Claas, methinks it would not be much
+amiss if the good vrouw here would bestir herself
+to get something to eat. I have had no dinner to-day,
+and come hither on purpose to make merry
+with thee. Knowest thou not that this is Newyear's
+eve?”</p>
+
+<p>“Alack!” replied Claas, “I know it full well;
+but we have not wherewithal to keep away hunger,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>
+much less to make merry with. Thou art welcome
+to all we have, and that is nothing.”</p>
+
+<p>“Come, come, Friend Claas, thou art a prudent
+man, I know, but I never thought thou wert stingy
+before. Bestir thyself, good Aintjie, and see what
+thou canst find in that cupboard. I warrant there
+is plenty of good fare in it.”</p>
+
+<p>The worthy yffrouw looked rather foolish at this
+proposal, for she knew she would find nothing
+there if she went; but the little man threatened her,
+in a good-humoured way, to break the long pipe he
+carried stuck in his cocked hat, over her nightcap,
+if she didn't do as he bid her. So she went to the
+cupboard, resolved to bring him out the empty pewter
+dishes, to show they had nothing to give him.
+But when she opened the cupboard, she started
+back, and cried out aloud, so that Claas ran to see
+what was the matter; and what was his astonishment
+to find the cupboard full of all sorts of good
+things for a notable jollification.</p>
+
+<p>“Aha!” cried the merry little man, “you're
+caught at last. I knew thou hadst plenty to entertain
+a stranger withal; but I suppose thou
+wantedst to keep it all to thyself. Come, come!
+bestir thyself, Aintjie, for I am as hungry as a
+schoolboy.”</p>
+
+<p>Aintjie did as she was bid, wondering all the
+time who this familiar little man could be; for the
+city was not so big, but that she knew by sight
+everybody that lived in it, and she was sure she
+had never seen him before.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p>
+
+<p>In a short time there was a glorious array of
+good things set out before them, and they proceeded
+to enjoy themselves right lustily in keeping of
+the merry Newyear's eve. The little man cracked
+his jokes, patted little Nicholas—Claas, his youngest
+son, who was called after his father—on the
+head; chucked Aintjie under the chin; said he was
+glad she did not wed the splutterkin Barendt Roeloffsen,
+and set them so good an example, that they
+all got as merry as crickets.</p>
+
+<p>By-and-by the little man inquired of Claas concerning
+his affairs, and he gave him an account of
+his early prosperity, and how he had declined, in
+spite of all he could do, into poverty and want; so
+that he had nothing left but his wife, his children,
+his Dutch Bible, his history of the Low Country
+wars, and his meershaum pipe.</p>
+
+<p>“Aha!” quoth the little man, “you've kept that,
+hey! Let me see it.”</p>
+
+<p>Claas gave it to him, while the tears came into
+is eyes, although he was so merry, to think that
+he must part with it on the morrow. It was the
+pride of his heart, and he set too great a value on
+it to make any use of it whatever.</p>
+
+<p>The little man took the pipe, and looking at it,
+said, as if to himself,</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; here it is! the very identical meershaum
+out of which the great Calvin used to smoke. Thou
+hast done well, Friend Claas, to preserve it; and
+thou must keep it as the apple of thine eye all thy
+life, and give it as an inheritance to thy children.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Alack!” cried Aintjie, “he must sell it to-morrow,
+or we shall want wherewithal for a dinner.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yea,” said Claas, “of a truth it must go to-morrow!”</p>
+
+<p>“Be quiet, splutterkin!” cried the little man,
+merrily; “give me some more of that spiced beverage,
+for I am as thirsty as a dry sponge. Come,
+let us drink to the Newyear, for it will be here in
+a few minutes.”</p>
+
+<p>So they drank a cup to the jolly Newyear, and
+at that moment the little boys and negroes, who
+didn't mind the snow any more than a miller does
+flour, began to fire their cannon at a great rate;
+whereupon the little man jumped up, and cried
+out,</p>
+
+<p>“My time is come! I must be off, for I have a
+great many visits to pay before sunrise.”</p>
+
+<p>Then he kissed the yffrouw with a hearty smack,
+just as doth the illustrious Rip Van Dam, on the
+like occasions; patted little Nicholas on the head,
+and gave him his blessing; after which he did incontinently
+leap up the chimney and disappear.
+Then they knew it was the good St. Nicholas, and
+rejoiced mightily in the visit he had paid them,
+looking upon it as an earnest that their troubles
+were over.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning the prudent housewife, according
+to custom, got up before the dawn of day
+to put her house in order, and when she came to
+sweep the floor, was surprised to hear something
+jingle just like money. Then opening the embers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>
+the sticks which the good saint had thrown upon
+the fire again blazed out, and she descried a large
+purse, which, on examination, was found filled with
+golden ducats. Whereupon she called out to
+Claas, and they examined the purse, and found
+fastened to it a paper bearing this legend:—</p>
+
+<p>
+“THE GIFT OF SAINT NICHOLAS.”<br>
+</p>
+
+<p>While they stood in joyful wonder, they heard a
+great knocking and confusion of tongues outside
+the door, and the people calling aloud upon Claas
+Schlaschenschlinger to come forth; whereupon he
+went forth, and, to his great astonishment, found
+that his little wooden house had disappeared in
+the night, and in its place was standing a gorgeous
+and magnificent mansion of Dutch bricks, two stories
+high, with three windows in front, all of a different
+size; and a door cut right out of the corner,
+just as it is seen at this blessed day.</p>
+
+<p>The neighbours wondered much, and it was
+whispered among them, that the fiend had helped
+Claas to this great domicil, which was one of the
+biggest in the city, and almost equal to that of Barendt
+Roeloffsen. But when Claas told them of
+the visit of St. Nicholas, and showed them the
+purse of golden ducats, with the legend upon it,
+they thought better of it, and contented themselves
+with envying him heartily his good fortune.</p>
+
+<p>I shall not relate how Claas prospered ever afterwards,
+in spite of his enemies the burgomasters,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>
+who, at last, were obliged to admit him as one of
+their number; or how little Aintjie held up her
+head among the highest; or how Claas ever after
+eschewed the lapstone, and, like a worshipful magistrate,
+took to bettering the condition of mankind,
+till at length he died, and was gathered to his forefathers,
+full of years and honours.</p>
+
+<p>All I shall say is, that the great house in New street
+continued in the family for several generations,
+until a degenerate descendant of Claas, being
+thereunto incited by the d—l, did sell it to another
+degenerate splutterkin, who essayed to pull it
+down. But mark what followed. No sooner had
+the workmen laid hands on it, than the brickbats
+began to fly about at such a rate, that they all came
+away faster than they went; some with broke
+heads, and others with broken bones, and not one
+could ever be persuaded to meddle with it afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>And let this be a warning to any one who shall
+attempt to lay their sacrilegious hands on the LAST
+OF THE DUTCH HOUSES, the gift of St. Nicholas,
+for whoever does so, may calculate, to a certainty
+on getting well peppered with brickbats, I can tell
+them.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE"><small>THE</small><br>
+REVENGE OF SAINT NICHOLAS.<br>
+
+
+<small>A TALE FOR THE HOLYDAYS.</small></h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Everybody knows that in the famous city of
+New-York, whose proper name is New-Amsterdam,
+the excellent St. Nicholas—who is worth a
+dozen St. Georges and dragons to boot, and who,
+if every tub stood on its right bottom, would be at
+the head of the Seven Champions of christendom—I
+say, everybody knows the excellent St. Nicholas,
+in holyday times, goes about among the people in
+the middle of the night, distributing all sorts of
+toothsome and becoming gifts to the good boys
+and girls in this his favourite city. Some say that
+he comes down the chimneys in a little Jersey
+wagon; others, that he wears a pair of Holland
+skates, with which he travels like the wind; and
+others, who pretend to have seen him, maintain
+that he has lately adopted a locomotive, and was
+once actually detected on the _Albany_ railroad.
+But this last assertion is looked upon to be entirely
+fabulous, because St. Nicholas has too much discretion
+to trust himself in such a newfangled jarvie;
+and so I leave this matter to be settled by whomsoever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>
+will take the trouble. My own opinion is,
+that his favourite mode of travelling is on a canal,
+the motion and speed of which aptly comport
+with the philosophic dignity of his character. But
+this is not material, and I will no longer detain my
+readers with extraneous and irrelevant matters, as
+is too much the fashion with our statesmen, orators,
+biographers, and story tellers.</p>
+
+<p>It was in the year one thousand seven hundred
+and sixty, or sixty-one, for the most orthodox
+chronicles differ in this respect; but it was a very
+remarkable year, and it was called _annus mirabilis_
+on that account. It was said that several people
+were detected in speaking the truth about that
+time; that nine staid, sober, and discreet widows,
+who had sworn on an anti-masonic almanac never
+to enter a second time into the holy state, were
+snapped up by young husbands before they knew
+what they were about; that six venerable bachelors
+wedded as many buxom young belles, and, it is reported,
+were afterwards sorry for what they had
+done; that many people actually went to church,
+from motives of piety; and that a great scholar,
+who had written a book in support of certain
+opinions, was not only convinced of his error,
+but acknowledged it publicly afterwards. No
+wonder the year one thousand seven hundred and
+sixty, if that was the year, was called _annus mirabilis_!</p>
+
+<p>What contributed to render this year still more
+remarkable, was the building of six new three-story<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>
+brick houses in the city, and three persons setting
+up equipages, who, I cannot find, ever failed in
+business afterwards, or compounded with their
+creditors at a pistareen in the pound. It is, moreover,
+recorded in the annals of the horticultural society
+of that day, which were written on a cabbage
+leaf, as is said, that a member produced a forked
+radish, of such vast dimensions, that being dressed
+up in fashionable male attire at the exhibition, it
+was actually mistaken for a travelled beau by several
+inexperienced young ladies, who pined away
+for love of its beautiful complexion, and were
+changed into daffadowndillies. Some maintained
+it was a mandrake, but it was finally detected by
+an inquest of experienced matrons. No wonder
+the year seventeen hundred and sixty was called
+_annus mirabilis_!</p>
+
+<p>But the most extraordinary thing of all, was the
+confident assertion that there was but one _gray
+mare_ within the bills of mortality; and, incredible
+as it may appear, she was the wife of a responsible
+citizen, who, it was affirmed, had grown rich by
+weaving velvet purses out of sows' ears. But this
+we look upon as being somewhat of the character
+of the predictions of almanac makers. Certain
+it is, however, that Amos Shuttle possessed the
+treasure of a wife who was shrewdly suspected of
+having established within doors a system of government
+not laid down in Aristotle or the Abbe
+Sièyes, who made a constitution for every day in
+the year, and two for the first of April.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p>
+
+<p>Amos Shuttle, though a mighty pompous little
+man out of doors, was the meekest of human creatures
+within. He belonged to that class of people
+who pass for great among the little, and little
+among the great; and he would certainly have
+been master in his own house had it not been for a
+woman! We have read somewhere that no wise
+woman ever thinks her husband a demigod. If
+so, it is a blessing that there are so few wise women
+in the world.</p>
+
+<p>Amos had grown rich, Heaven knows how—he
+did net know himself; but, what was somewhat extraordinary,
+he considered his wealth a signal proof
+of his talents and sagacity, and valued himself according
+to the infallible standard of pounds, shillings,
+and pence. But though he lorded it without, he
+was, as we have just said, the most gentle of men
+within doors. The moment he stepped inside of
+his own house, his spirit cowered down, like that
+of a pious man entering a church; he felt as if he
+was in the presence of a superior being—to wit,
+Mrs. Abigail Shuttle. He was, indeed, the meekest
+of beings at home, except Moses; and Sir Andrew
+Aguecheek's song, which Sir Toby Belch declared
+“would draw nine souls out of one weaver,”
+would have failed in drawing half a one out of
+Amos. The truth is, his wife, who ought to have
+known, affirmed he had no more soul than a monkey;
+but he was the only man in the city thus circumstanced
+at the time we speak of. No wonder,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>
+therefore, the year one thousand seven hundred and
+sixty was called _annus mirabilis_!</p>
+
+<p>Such as he was, Mr. Amos Shuttle waxed richer
+and richer every day, insomuch that those who envied
+his prosperity were wont to say, “that he had
+certainly been born with a dozen silver spoons in
+his mouth, or such a great blockhead would never
+have got together such a heap of money.” When
+he had become worth ten thousand pounds, he
+launched his shuttle magnanimously out of the
+window, ordered his weaver's beam to be split up
+for oven wood, and Mrs. Amos turned his weaver's
+shop into a _boudoir_. Fortune followed him faster
+than he ran away from her. In a few years the
+ten thousand doubled, and in a few more trebled,
+quadrupled—in short, Amos could hardly count his
+money.</p>
+
+<p>“What shall we do now, my dear?” asked Mrs.
+Shuttle, who never sought his opinion, that I can
+learn, except for the pleasure of contradicting him.</p>
+
+<p>“Let us go and live in the country, and enjoy
+ourselves,” quoth Amos.</p>
+
+<p>“Go into the country! go to—” I could never
+satisfy myself what Mrs. Shuttle meant; but she
+stopped short, and concluded the sentence with a
+withering look of scorn, that would have cowed the
+spirits of nineteen weavers.</p>
+
+<p>Amos named all sorts of places, enumerated all
+sorts of modes of life he could think of, and every
+pleasure that might enter into the imagination of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>
+man without a soul. His wife despised them all;
+she would not hear of them.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, my dear, suppose you suggest something;
+do now, Abby,” at length said Amos, in a
+coaxing whisper; “will you, my onydoney?”</p>
+
+<p>“Ony fiddlestick! I wonder you repeat such
+vulgarisms. But if I must say what I should like,
+I should like to travel.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, let us go and make a tour as far as Jamaica,
+or Hackensack, or Spiking-devil. There is
+excellent fishing for striped bass there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Spiking-devil!” screamed Mrs. Shuttle; “an't
+you ashamed to swear so, you wicked mortal! I
+won't go to Jamaica, nor Hackensack among the
+Dutch Hottentots, nor to Spiking-devil to catch
+striped bass. I'll go to Europe!”</p>
+
+<p>If Amos had possessed a soul it would have
+jumped out of its skin at the idea of going beyond
+seas. He had once been on the sea-bass banks,
+and got a seasoning there; the very thought of which
+made him sick. But, as he had no soul, there was
+no great harm done.</p>
+
+<p>When Mrs. Shuttle said a thing, it was settled.
+They went to Europe, taking their only son with
+them; the lady ransacked all the milliners' shops in
+Paris, and the gentleman visited all the restaurateurs.
+He became such a desperate connoisseur
+and gourmand, that he could almost tell an _omelette
+au jambon_ from a gammon of bacon. After consummating
+the polish, they came home, the lady
+with the newest old fashions, and the weaver with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>
+a confirmed preference of _potage à la Turque_ over
+pepper-pot. It is said the city trembled, as with an
+earthquake, when they landed; but the notion was
+probably superstitious.</p>
+
+<p>They arrived near the close of the year, the memorable
+year, the _annus mirabilis_, one thousand seven
+hundred and sixty. Everybody that had ever known
+the Shuttles flocked to see them, or rather to see
+what they had brought with them; and such was
+the magic of a voyage to Europe, that Mr. and Mrs.
+Amos Shuttle, who had been nobodies when they
+departed, became somebodies when they returned,
+and mounted at once to the summit of _ton_.</p>
+
+<p>“You have come in good time to enjoy the festivities
+of the holydays,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble,
+an old friend of Amos the weaver and his wife.</p>
+
+<p>“We shall have a merry Christmas and a happy
+Newyear,” exclaimed Mrs. Doubletrouble, another
+old acquaintance of old times.</p>
+
+<p>“The holydays,” drawled Mrs. Shuttle; “the
+holydays? Christmas and Newyear? Pray what
+are they?”</p>
+
+<p>It is astonishing to see how people lose their
+memories abroad sometimes. They often forget
+their old friends, old customs, and occasionally
+themselves.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, la! now, who'd have thought it?” cried
+Mrs. Doubletrouble; “why, sure you haven't forgot
+the oily cooks and the mince pies, the merry meetings
+of friends, the sleigh-rides, the Kissing Bridge,
+and the family parties?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Family parties!” shrieked Mrs. Shuttle, and
+held her salts to her nose; “family parties! I never
+heard of anything so Gothic in Paris or Rome; and
+oily cooks—oh shocking! and mince pies—detestable!
+and throwing open one's doors to all one's
+old friends, whom one wishes to forget as soon as
+possible. Oh! the idea is insupportable!” and again
+she held the salts to her nose.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble found
+they had exposed themselves sadly, and were quite
+ashamed. A real, genteel, well-bred, enlightened
+lady of fashion ought to have no rule of conduct—no
+conscience, but Paris—whatever is fashionable
+there is genteel—whatever is not fashionable is
+vulgar. There is no other standard of right, and
+no other eternal fitness of things. At least so thought
+Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble.</p>
+
+<p>“But is it possible that all these things are out
+of fashion abroad?” asked the latter, beseechingly.</p>
+
+<p>“They never were in,” said Mrs. Amos Shuttle.
+“For my part, I mean to close my doors and windows
+on Newyear's day—I'm determined.”</p>
+
+<p>“And so am I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble.</p>
+
+<p>“And so am I,” said Mrs. Doubletrouble.</p>
+
+<p>And it was settled that they should make a combination
+among themselves and their friends, to put
+down the ancient and good customs of the city, and
+abolish the sports and enjoyments of the jolly Newyear.
+The conspirators then separated, each to
+pursue her diabolical designs against oily cooks,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>
+mince pies, sleigh ridings, sociable visitings, and
+family parties.</p>
+
+<p>Now the excellent St. Nicholas, who knows well
+what is going on in every house in the city, though,
+like a good and honourable saint, he never betrays
+any family secrets, overheard these wicked women
+plotting against his favourite anniversary, and he
+said to himself,</p>
+
+<p>“_Vuur en Vlammen!_ but I'll be even with you,
+_mein vrouw_.” So he determined he would play
+these conceited and misled women a trick or two
+before he had done with them.</p>
+
+<p>It was now the first day of the new year, and
+Mrs. Amos Shuttle, and Mrs. Doubletrouble, and
+Mrs. Hubblebubble, and all their wicked abetters,
+had shut up their doors and windows, so that when
+their old friends called they could not get into their
+houses. Moreover, they had prepared neither mince
+pies, nor oily cooks, nor crullers, nor any of the
+good things consecrated to St. Nicholas by his pious
+and well-intentioned votaries, and they were mightily
+pleased at having been as dull and stupid as
+owls, while all the rest of the city were as merry
+as crickets, chirping and frisking in the warm chimney
+corner. Little did they think what horrible
+judgments were impending over them, prepared by
+the wrath of the excellent St. Nicholas, who was
+resolved to make an example of them for attempting
+to introduce their newfangled corruptions in place
+of the ancient customs of his favourite city. These<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>
+wicked women never had another comfortable sleep
+in their lives!</p>
+
+<p>The night was still, clear, and frosty—the earth
+was everywhere one carpet of snow, and looked
+just like the ghost of a dead world, wrapped in a
+white winding sheet; the moon was full, round, and
+of a silvery brightness, and by her discreet silence
+afforded an example to the rising generation of
+young damsels, while the myriads of stars that multiplied
+as you gazed at them, seemed as though they
+were frozen into icicles, they looked so cold, and
+sparkled with such a glorious lustre. The streets
+and roads leading from the city were all alive with
+sleighs, filled with jovial souls, whose echoing
+laughter and cheerful songs, mingled with a thousand
+merry bells, that jingled in harmonious dissonance,
+giving spirit to the horses and animation to
+the scene. In the license of the season, hallowed
+by long custom, each of the sleighs saluted the
+others in passing with a “Happy Newyear,” a
+merry jest, or mischievous gibe, exchanged from
+one gay party to another. All was life, motion, and
+merriment; and as old frostbitten Winter, aroused
+from his trance by the rout and revelry around,
+raised his weatherbeaten head to see what was
+passing, he felt his icy blood warming and coursing
+through his veins, and wished he could only overtake
+the laughing buxom Spring, that he might dance
+a jig with her, and be as frisky as the best of them.
+But as the old rogue could not bring this desirable
+matter about, he contented himself with calling for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>
+a jolly bumper of cocktail, and drinking a swinging
+draught to the health of the blessed St. Nicholas,
+and those who honour the memory of the president
+of good fellows.</p>
+
+<p>All this time the wicked women and their abetters
+lay under the malediction of the good saint, who
+caused them to be bewitched by an old lady from
+Salem. Mrs. Amos Shuttle could not sleep, because
+something had whispered in her apprehensive
+ear, that her son, her only son, whom she had engaged
+to the daughter of Count Grenouille, in Paris,
+then about three years old, was actually at that moment
+crossing Kissing Bridge, in company with little
+Susan Varian, and some others besides. Now
+Susan was the fairest little lady of all the land; she
+had a face and an eye just like the Widow Wadman,
+in Leslie's charming picture; a face and an
+eye which no reasonable man under Heaven could
+resist, except my Uncle Toby—beshrew him and
+his fortifications, I say! She was, moreover, a good
+little girl, and an accomplished little girl—but, alas!
+she had not mounted to the step in Jacob's ladder
+of fashion, which qualifies a person for the heaven
+of high ton, and Mrs. Shuttle had not been to Europe
+for nothing. She would rather have seen her son
+wedded to dissipation and profligacy than to Susan
+Varian; and the thought of his being out sleigh-riding
+with her, was worse than the toothache. It
+kept her awake all the livelong night; and the only
+consolation she had was scolding poor Amos, because
+the sleigh bells made such a noise.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p>
+
+<p>As for Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble,
+they neither of them got a wink of sleep
+during a whole week, for thinking of the beautiful
+French chairs and damask curtains Mrs. Shuttle had
+brought from Europe. They forthwith besieged
+their good men, leaving them no rest until they sent
+out orders to Paris for just such rich chairs and curtains
+as those of the thrice happy Mrs. Shuttle,
+from whom they kept the affair a profound secret,
+each meaning to treat her to an agreeable surprise.
+In the mean while they could not rest for fear the
+vessel which was to bring these treasures might be
+lost on her passage. Such was the dreadful judgment
+inflicted on them by the good St. Nicholas.</p>
+
+<p>The perplexities of Mrs. Shuttle increased daily.
+In the first place, do all she could, she could not
+make Amos a fine gentleman. This was a metamorphosis
+which Ovid would never have dreamed
+of. He would be telling the price of everything in
+his house, his furniture, his wines, and his dinners,
+insomuch that those who envied his prosperity, or,
+perhaps, only despised his pretensions, were wont
+to say, after eating his venison and drinking his
+old Madeira, “that he ought to have been a tavern
+keeper, he knew so well how to make out a bill.”
+Mrs. Shuttle once overheard a speech of this kind,
+and the good St. Nicholas himself, who had brought
+it about, almost felt sorry for the mortification she
+endured on the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had she got over this, when she was
+invited to a ball, by Mrs. Hubblebubble, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>
+first thing she saw on entering the drawing room,
+was a suit of damask curtains and chairs, as much
+like her own as two peas, only the curtains had far
+handsomer fringe. Mrs. Shuttle came very near
+fainting away, but escaped for that time, determining
+to mortify this impudent creature, by taking not
+the least notice of her finery. But St. Nicholas
+ordered it otherwise, so that she was at last obliged
+to acknowledge they were very elegant indeed.
+Nay, this was not the worst, for she overheard one
+lady whisper to another, that Mrs. Hubblebubble's
+curtains were much richer than Mrs. Shuttle's.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I dare say,” replied the other—”I dare say
+Mrs. Shuttle bought them second hand, for her husband
+is as mean as pursley.</p>
+
+<p>This was too much. The unfortunate woman
+was taken suddenly ill—called her carriage, and
+went home, where it is supposed she would have
+died that evening had she not wrought upon Amos
+to promise her an entire new suit of French furniture
+for her drawing room and parlour to boot, besides
+a new carriage. But for all this she could
+not close her eyes that night for thinking of the
+“second-hand curtains.”</p>
+
+<p>Nor was the wicked Mrs. Doubletrouble a whit
+better off, when her friend Mrs. Hubblebubble
+treated her to the agreeable surprise of the French
+window curtains and chairs. “It is too bad—too
+bad, I declare,” said she to herself; “but I'll pay
+her off soon.” Accordingly she issued invitations
+for a grand ball and supper, at which both Mrs.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>
+Shuttle and Mrs. Hubblebubble were struck dumb
+at beholding a suit of curtains and a set of chairs
+exactly of the same pattern with theirs. The shock
+was terrible, and it is impossible to say what might
+have been the consequences, had not the two ladies
+all at once thought of uniting in abusing Mrs. Doubletrouble
+for her extravagance.</p>
+
+<p>“I pity poor Mr. Doubletrouble,” said Mrs.
+Shuttle, shrugging her shoulders significantly, and
+glancing at the room.</p>
+
+<p>“And so do I,” said Mrs. Hubblebubble, doing
+the same.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Doubletrouble had her eye upon them, and
+enjoyed their mortification until her pride was
+brought to the ground by a dead shot from Mrs.
+Shuttle, who was heard to exclaim, in reply to a
+lady who observed the chairs and curtains were
+very handsome,</p>
+
+<p>“Why, yes; but they have been out of fashion
+in Paris a long time; and, besides, really they are
+getting so common, that I intend to have mine removed
+to the nursery.”</p>
+
+<p>Heavens! what a blow! Poor Mrs. Doubletrouble
+hardly survived it. Such a night of misery
+as the wicked woman endured almost made the
+good St. Nicholas regret the judgment he had
+passed upon these mischievous and conceited females.
+But he thought to himself he would persevere
+until he had made them a sad example to
+all innovators upon the ancient customs of our forefathers.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p>
+
+<p>Thus were these wicked and miserable women
+spurred on by witchcraft from one piece of extravagance
+to another, and a deadly rivalship grew up
+between them, which destroyed their own happiness
+and that of their husbands. Mrs. Shuttle's
+new carriage and drawing-room furniture in due
+time were followed by similar extravagances on the
+part of the two other wicked women, who had conspired
+against the hallowed institutions of St. Nicholas;
+and soon their rivalship came to such a height
+that neither of them had a moment's rest or comfort
+from that time forward. But they still shut
+their doors on the jolly anniversary of St. Nicholas,
+though the old respectable burghers and their
+wives, who had held up their heads time out of
+mind, continued the good custom, and laughed at
+the presumption of these upstart interlopers, who
+were followed only by a few people of silly pretensions,
+who had no more soul than Amos Shuttle
+himself. The three wicked women grew to be
+almost perfect skeletons, on account of the vehemence
+with which they strove to outdo each other,
+and the terrible exertions necessary to keep up the
+appearance of being the best friends in the world.
+In short, they became the laughingstock of the
+town; and sensible, well-bred folks cut their acquaintance,
+except when they sometimes accepted
+an invitation to a party, just to make merry with
+their folly and conceitedness.</p>
+
+<p>The excellent St. Nicholas, finding they still
+persisted in their opposition to his rites and ceremonies,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>
+determined to inflict on them the last and
+worst punishment that can befall the sex. He decreed
+that they should be deprived of all the delights
+springing from the domestic affections, and
+all taste for the innocent and virtuous enjoyments
+of a happy fireside. Accordingly, they lost all
+relish for home; were continually gadding about
+from one place to another in search of pleasure,
+and worried themselves to death to find happiness
+where it is never to be found. Their whole lives
+became one long series of disappointed hopes,
+galled pride, and gnawing envy. They lost their
+health, they lost their time, and their days became
+days of harassing impatience, their nights nights
+of sleepless, feverish excitement, ending in weariness
+and disappointment. The good saint sometimes
+felt sorry for them, but their continued obstinacy
+determined him to persevere in his plan to
+punish the upstart pride of these rebellious females.</p>
+
+<p>Young Shuttle, who had a soul, which I suppose
+he inherited from his mother, all this while continued
+his attentions to little Susan Varian, which
+added to the miseries inflicted on his wicked mother.
+Mrs. Shuttle insisted that Amos should
+threaten to disinherit his son, unless he gave up
+this attachment.</p>
+
+<p>“Lord bless your soul, Abby,” said Amos,
+“what's the use of my threatening, the boy knows
+as well as I do that I've no will of my own. Why,
+bless my soul, Abby—”</p>
+
+<p>“Bless your soul!” interrupted Mrs. Shuttle;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>
+“I wonder who'd take the trouble to bless it but
+yourself? However, if you don't I will.”</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, she threatened the young man
+with being disinherited unless he turned his back
+on little Susan Varian, which no man ever did
+without getting a heartache.</p>
+
+<p>“If my father goes on as he has done lately,”
+sighed the youth, “he won't have anything left to
+disinherit me of but his affection, I fear. But if he
+had millions I would not abandon Susan.”</p>
+
+<p>Are you not ashamed of such a lowlived attachment?
+You, that have been to Europe! But,
+once for all, remember this, renounce this lowborn
+upstart, or quit your father's home for ever.”</p>
+
+<p>“Upstart!” thought young Shuttle; “one of the
+oldest families in the city.” He made his mother
+a respectful bow, bade Heaven bless her, and left
+the house. He was, however, met by his father
+at the door, who said to him,</p>
+
+<p>“Johnny, I give my consent; but mind, don't
+tell your mother a word of the matter. I'll let her
+know I've a soul as well as other people;” and he
+tossed his head like a war horse.</p>
+
+<p>The night after this Johnny was married to little
+Susan, and the blessing of affection and beauty
+lighted upon his pillow. Her old father, who was
+in a respectable business, took his son-in-law into
+partnership, and they prospered so well that in a
+few years Johnny was independent of all the world,
+with the prettiest wife and children in the land.
+But Mrs. Shuttle was inexorable, while the knowledge<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>
+of his prosperity and happiness only worked
+her up to a higher pitch of anger, and added to the
+pangs of jealousy perpetually inflicted on her by
+the rivalry of Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble,
+who suffered under the like infliction from
+the wrathful St. Nicholas, who was resolved to
+make them an example to all posterity.</p>
+
+<p>No fortune, be it ever so great, can stand the
+eternal sapping of wasteful extravagance, engendered
+and stimulated by the baleful passion of envy.
+In less than ten years from the hatching of the diabolical
+conspiracy of these three wicked women
+against the supremacy of the excellent St. Nicholas,
+their spendthrift rivalship had ruined the fortunes
+of their husbands, and entailed upon themselves
+misery and remorse. Rich Amos Shuttle
+became at last as poor as a church mouse, and,
+would have been obliged to take to the loom again
+in his old age, had not Johnny, now rich, and a
+worshipful magistrate of the city, afforded him and
+his better half a generous shelter under his own
+happy roof. Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble
+had scarcely time to condole with Mrs.
+Shuttle, and congratulate each other, when their
+husbands went the way of all flesh, that is to say,
+failed for a few tens of thousands, and called their
+creditors together to hear the good news. The
+two wicked women lived long enough after this to
+repent of their offence against St. Nicholas; but
+they never imported any more French curtains, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>
+at last perished miserably in an attempt to set the
+fashions in Pennypot alley.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Abigail Shuttle might have lived happily
+the rest of her life with her children and grandchildren,
+who all treated her with reverent courtesy
+and affection, now that the wrath of the mighty St.
+Nicholas was appeased by her exemplary punishment.
+But she could not get over her bad habits
+and feelings, or forgive her lovely little daughter-in-law
+for treating her so kindly when she so little
+deserved it. She gradually pined away; and
+though she revived at hearing of the catastrophe of
+Mrs. Hubblebubble and Mrs. Doubletrouble, it was
+only for a moment. The remainder of the life of
+this wicked woman was a series of disappointments
+and heartburnings, and when she died, Amos
+tried to shed a few tears, but he found it impossible,
+I suppose, because, as his wife always said,
+“he had no soul.”</p>
+
+<p>Such was the terrible revenge of St. Nicholas,
+which ought to be a warning to all who attempt to
+set themselves up against the venerable customs
+of their ancestors, and backslide from the hallowed
+institutions of the blessed saint, to whose good
+offices, without doubt, it is owing that this his favourite
+city has transcended all others of the universe
+in beautiful damsels, valorous young men,
+mince pies, and Newyear cookies. The catastrophe
+of these three wicked women had a wonderful
+influence in the city, insomuch that from this time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>
+forward, no _gray mares_ were ever known, no
+French furniture was ever used, and no woman was
+hardy enough to set herself up in opposition to the
+good customs of St. Nicholas. And so, wishing
+many happy Newyears to all my dear countrywomen
+and countrymen, saving those who shut their
+doors to old friends, high or low, rich or poor, on
+that blessed anniversary, which makes more glad
+hearts than all others put together—I say, wishing
+a thousand happy Newyears to all, with this single
+exception, I lay down my pen, with a caution to
+all wicked women to beware of the revenge of St.
+Nicholas.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_ORIGIN">THE ORIGIN<br>
+
+
+<small>of</small><br>
+
+THE BAKERS' DOZEN.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>Little Brom Boomptie, or Boss Boomptie, as
+he was commonly called by his apprentices and
+neighbours, was the first man that ever baked Newyear
+cakes in the good city of New-Amsterdam.
+It is generally supposed that he was the inventor
+of those excellent and respectable articles. However
+this may be, he lived and prospered in the little
+Dutch house in William-street, called, time out
+of mind, Knickerbocker Hall, just at the outskirts
+of the good town of New-Amsterdam.</p>
+
+<p>Boomptie was a fat comfortable creature, with a
+capital pair of oldfashioned legs; a full, round,
+good-natured face; a corporation like unto one of
+his plump loaves; and as much honesty as a
+Turkish baker, who lives in the fear of having his
+ears nailed to his own door for retailing bad bread.
+He wore a low-crowned, broad-brimmed beaver;
+a gray bearskin cloth coat, waistcoat, and breeches,
+and gray woollen stockings, summer and winter, all
+the year round. The only language he spoke, understood,
+or had the least respect for, was Dutch—<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>
+and the only books he ever read or owned, were a
+Dutch Bible, with silver clasps and hinges, and a
+Dutch history of the Duke of Alva's bloody wars
+in the Low Countries. Boss Boomptie was a pious
+man, of simple habits and simple character; a believer
+in “demonology and witchcraft;” and as
+much afraid of _spooks_ as the mother that bore him.
+It ran in the family to be bewitched, and for three
+generations the Boompties had been very much
+pestered with supernatural visitations. But for all
+this they continued to prosper in the world, insomuch
+that Boss Boomptie daily added a piece of
+wampum or two to his strong box. He was
+blessed with a good wife, who saved the very parings
+of her nails, and three plump boys, after whom he
+modelled his gingerbread babies, and who were
+every Sunday zealously instructed never to pass a
+pin without picking it up and bringing it home to
+their mother.</p>
+
+<p>It was on Newyear's eve, in the year 1655, and
+the good city of New-Amsterdam, then under the
+special patronage of the blessed St. Nicholas, was
+as jovial and wanton as hot spiced rum and long
+abstinence from fun and frolic could make it. It
+is worth while to live soberly and mind our business
+all the rest of the year, if it be only to enjoy the
+holydays at the end with a true zest. St. Nicholas,
+thrice blessed soul! was riding up one chimney
+and down another like a locomotive engine in his
+little one-horse wagon, distributing cakes to the good
+boys, and whips to the bad ones; and the laugh of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>
+the good city, which had been pent up all the year,
+now burst forth with an explosion that echoed even
+unto Breuckelen and Communipaw.</p>
+
+<p>Boss Boomptie, who never forgot the main
+chance, and knew from experience that Newyear's
+eve was a shrewd time for selling cakes, joined
+profit and pleasure on this occasion. He was one
+minute in his shop, dealing out cakes to his customers,
+and the next laughing, and tippling, and jigging,
+and frisking it with his wife and children in
+the little back room, the door of which had a pane
+of glass that commanded a full view of the shop.
+Nobody, that is, no genuine disciple of jolly St.
+Nicholas, ever went to bed till twelve o'clock on
+Newyear's eve. The Dutch are eminently a sober,
+discreet folk; but somehow or other, no people
+frolic so like the very dickens, when they are once
+let loose, as your very sober and discreet bodies.</p>
+
+<p>By twelve o'clock the spicy beverage, sacred to
+holydays at that time, began to mount up into Boss
+Boomptie's head, and he was vociferating a Dutch
+ditty in praise of St. Nicholas with marvellous discordance,
+when just as the old clock in one corner
+of the room struck the hour that ushers in the new
+year, a loud knock was heard on the counter, which
+roused the dormant spirit of trade within his bosom.
+He went into the shop, where he found a
+little ugly old thing of a woman, with a sharp chin,
+resting on a crooked black stick, which had been
+burned in the fire and then polished; two high sharp
+cheek bones; two sharp black eyes; skinny lips,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>
+and a most diabolical pair of leather spectacles on
+a nose ten times sharper than her chin.</p>
+
+<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed
+she, in a voice sharper than her nose.</p>
+
+<p>“Vel, den, you needn't sbeak so loud,” replied
+Boss Boomptie, whose ear being just then attuned
+to the melody of his own song, was somewhat outraged
+by this shrill salutation.</p>
+
+<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed
+she again, ten times louder and shriller than ever.</p>
+
+<p>“Duyvel—I an't teaf den,” grumbled the worthy
+man, as he proceeded to count out the cakes, which
+the other very deliberately counted after him.</p>
+
+<p>“I want a dozen,” screamed the little woman;
+“here is only twelve.”</p>
+
+<p>“Vel, den, and what de duyvel is dwalf but a
+dozen?” said Boomptie.</p>
+
+<p>“I tell you I want one more,” screamed she, in a
+voice that roused Mrs. Boomptie in the back room,
+who came and peeped through the pane of glass,
+as she often did when she heard the boss talking to
+the ladies.</p>
+
+<p>Boss Boomptie waxed wroth, for he had a reasonable
+quantity of hot spiced rum in his noddle,
+which predisposes a man to valour.</p>
+
+<p>“Vel, den,” said he, “you may co to de duyvel
+and get anoder, for you won't get it here.”</p>
+
+<p>Boomptie was not a stingy man; on the contrary,
+he was very generous to the pretty young
+damsels who came to buy cakes, and often gave
+them two or three extra for a smack, which made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>
+Mrs. Boomptie peevish sometimes, and caused her
+to watch at the little pane of glass when she ought
+to have been minding her business like an honest
+woman.</p>
+
+<p>But this old hag was as ugly as sin, and the little
+baker never in his whole life could find in his heart
+to be generous to an ugly woman, old or young.</p>
+
+<p>“In my country they always give thirteen to the
+dozen,” screamed the ugly woman in the leather
+spectacles.</p>
+
+<p>“And where de duyvel is your gountry?” asked
+Boomptie.</p>
+
+<p>“It is nobody's business,” screeched the old woman.
+“But will you give me another cake, once
+for all?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not if it would save me and all my chineration
+from peing pewitched and pedemonologized dime
+out of mind,” cried he, in a great passion.</p>
+
+<p>What put it into his head to talk in this way I
+don't know, but he might better have held his
+tongue. The old woman gave him three stivers
+for his cakes, and went away, grumbling something
+about “living to repent it,” which Boss Boomptie
+didn't understand or care a fig about. He was
+chock full of Dutch courage, and defied all the ugly
+old women in Christendom. He put his three stivers
+in the till and shut up his shop, determined to enjoy
+the rest of the night without further molestation.</p>
+
+<p>While he was sitting smoking his pipe, and now
+and then sipping his beverage, all at once he heard
+a terrible jingling of money in his shop, whereupon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>
+he thought some losel caitiff was busy with his little
+till. Accordingly, priming himself with another
+reinforcement of Dutch courage, he took a pine
+knot, for he was too economical to burn candles at
+that late hour, and proceeded to investigate. His
+money was all safe, and the till appeared not to
+have been disturbed.</p>
+
+<p>“Duyvel,” quoth the little baker man, “I pelieve
+mine _vrouw_ and I have bote cot a zinging in
+our heads.”</p>
+
+<p>He had hardly turned his back when the same
+jingling began again, so much to the surprise of
+Boss Boomptie, that had it not been for his invincible
+Dutch courage, he would, as it were, have
+been a little frightened. But he was not in the
+least; and again went and unlocked the till, when
+what was his astonishment to see the three diabolical
+stivers, received from the old woman, dancing,
+and kicking up a dust among the coppers and wampum
+with wonderful agility.</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat donder is dat!_” exclaimed he, sorely perplexed;
+“de old duyvel has cot indo dat old sinner's
+stivers, I dink.” He had a great mind to
+throw them away, but he thought it a pity to waste
+so much money; so he kept them locked up all
+night, enjoining them to good behaviour, with a design
+to spend them the next day in another jollification.
+But the next day they were gone, and so
+was the broomstick with which it was the custom
+to sweep out the shop every morning. Some of
+the neighbours coming home late the night before,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>
+on being informed of the “abduction” of the broomstick,
+deposed and said, they had seen an old woman
+riding through the air upon just such another,
+right over the top of the little bakehouse; whereat
+Boss Boomptie, putting these odds and ends together,
+did tremble in his heart, and he wished to
+himself that he had given the ugly old woman thirteen
+to the dozen.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing particular came to pass the next day,
+except that now and then the little Boompties complained
+of having pins stuck in their backs, and that
+their cookies were snatched away by some one unknown.
+On examination it was found that no
+marks of the pins were to be seen; and as to the
+cookies, the old black woman of the kitchen declared
+she saw an invisible hand just as one of the
+children lost his commodity.</p>
+
+<p>“Den I am pewitched, zure enough!” cried
+Boomptie, in despair, for he had had too much of
+“demonology and witchcraft” in the family not to
+know when he saw them, just as well as he did his
+own face in the Collect.</p>
+
+<p>On the second day of the year, the 'prentice boys
+all returned to their business, and Boomptie once
+more solaced himself with the baking of the staff of
+life. The reader must know that it is the custom of
+bakers to knead a great batch at a time, in a mighty
+bread tray, into which they throw two or three little
+apprentice boys to paddle about, like ducks in a
+mill pond, whereby it is speedily amalgamated, and
+set to rising in due time. When the little caitiffs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>
+began their gambols in this matter they one and all
+stuck fast in the dough, as though it had been so
+much pitch, and, to the utter dismay of honest
+Boomptie, behold the whole batch rose up in a
+mighty mass, with the boys sticking fast on the
+top of it!</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat blikslager!_” exclaimed little Boomptie,
+as he witnessed this catastrophe; “de duyvel ish
+cot into de yeast dis dime, I dink.”</p>
+
+<p>The bread continued to rise till it lifted the roof
+off the bakehouse, with the little 'prentice boys on
+the top, and the bread tray following after. Boss
+Boomptie and his wife watched this wonderful rising
+of the bread in dismay, and in proof of the
+poor woman's being bewitched, it was afterwards
+recollected that she uttered not a single word on
+this extraordinary occasion. The bread rose and
+rose, until it finally disappeared, boys and all, behind
+the Jersey hills. If such things had been
+known of at that time, it would have been taken
+for a balloon; as it was, the people of Bergen and
+Communipaw thought that it was a water spout.</p>
+
+<p>Little Boss Boomptie was disconsolate at the
+loss of his bread and his 'prentice boys, whom he
+never expected to see again. However, he was a
+stirring body, and set himself to work to prepare
+another batch, seeing his customers must be supplied
+in spite of “witchcraft or demonology.” To
+guard against such another rebellious rising, he determined
+to go through the process down in the cellar,
+and turn his bread tray upside down. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>
+bread, instead of rising, began to sink into the earth
+so fast, that Boss Boomptie had just time to jump
+off before it entirely disappeared in the ground,
+which opened and shut just like a snuffbox.</p>
+
+<p>“Wat blikslager is dat!” exclaimed he, out
+of breath; “my pread rises downward dis dime, I
+dink. My customers must go widout to-day.”</p>
+
+<p>By-and-by his customers came for hot rolls and
+muffins, but some of them had gone up and some
+down, as little Boss Boomptie related after the
+manner just described. What is very remarkable,
+nobody believed him; and doubtless, if there had
+been any rival baker in New-Amsterdam, the boss
+would have lost all his customers. Among those
+that called on this occasion, was the ugly old woman
+with the sharp eyes, nose, chin, voice, and
+leather spectacles.</p>
+
+<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed
+she, as before.</p>
+
+<p>“Vuur en vlammen!” muttered he, as he counted
+out the twelve cakes.</p>
+
+<p>“I want one more!” screamed she.</p>
+
+<p>“Den you may co to de duyvel and kit it, I say,
+for not anoder shall you haf here, I dell you.”</p>
+
+<p>So the old woman took her twelve cakes, and
+went out grumbling, as before. All the time she
+staid, Boomptie's old dog, who followed him wherever
+he went, growled and whined, as it were, to
+himself, and seemed mightily relieved when she
+went away. That very night, as the little baker
+was going to see one of his old neighbours at the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>
+_Maiden's Valley_, then a little way out of town
+walking, as he always did, with his hands behind
+him, every now and then he felt something as cold
+as death against them, which he could never account
+for, seeing there was not a soul with him but
+his old dog. Moreover, Mrs. Boomptie, having
+bought half a pound of tea at a grocery store, and
+put it into her pocket, did feel a twitching and jerking
+of the paper of tea in her pocket, every step she
+went. The faster she ran the quicker and stronger
+was the twitching and jerking, so that when the
+good woman got home she was nigh fainting away.
+On her recovery she took courage, and pulled the
+tea out of her pocket, and laid it on the table, when
+behold it began to move by fits and starts, jumped
+off the table, hopped out of doors, all alone by itself,
+and jigged away to the place from whence it
+came. The grocer brought it back again, but Madam
+Boomptie looked upon the whole as a judgment
+for her extravagance, in laying out so much money
+for tea, and refused to receive it again. The grocer
+assured her that the strange capers of the bundle
+were owing to his having forgot to cut the twine
+with which he had tied it; but the good woman
+looked upon this as an ingenious subterfuge, and
+would take nothing but her money. When the
+husband and wife came to compare notes, they both
+agreed they were certainly bewitched. Had there
+been any doubt of the matter, subsequent events
+would soon have put it to rest.</p>
+
+<p>That very night Mrs. Boomptie was taken after<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>
+a strange way. Sometimes she would laugh
+about nothing, and then she would cry about nothing;
+then she would set to work and talk about
+nothing for a whole hour without stopping, in a language
+nobody could understand; and then, all at
+once, her tongue would cleave to the roof of her
+mouth, so that it was impossible to force it away.
+When this fit was over she would get up and dance
+double trouble, till she tired herself out, when she
+fell asleep, and waked up quite rational. It was
+particularly noticed that when she talked loudest
+and fastest, her lips remained perfectly closed, without
+motion, and her mouth wide open, so that the
+words seemed to come from down her throat. Her
+principal talk was railing against Dominie Laidlie,
+the good pastor of Garden-street Church, whence
+everybody concluded that she was possessed by a
+devil. Sometimes she got hold of a pen, and
+though she had never learned to write, would
+scratch and scrawl certain mysterious and diabolical
+figures, that nobody could understand, and
+everybody said must mean something.</p>
+
+<p>As for little Boss Boomptie, he was worse off than
+his wife. He was haunted by an invisible hand,
+which played him all sorts of scurvy tricks. Standing
+one morning at his counter, talking to one of
+the neighbours, he received a great box on the ear,
+whereat being exceeding wroth, he returned it with
+such interest on the cheek of his neighbour, that he
+laid him flat on the floor. His friend hereupon
+took the law of him, and proved, to the satisfaction<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>
+of the court, that he had both hands in his breeches
+pockets at the time Boss Boomptie said he gave
+him the box on the ear. The magistrate not being
+able to come at the truth of the matter, fined them
+each twenty-five guilders for the use of the dominie.</p>
+
+<p>A dried codfish was one day thrown at his head,
+and the next minute his walking stick fell to beating
+him, though nobody seemed to have hold of it
+A chair danced about the room, and at last alighted
+on the dinner table, and began to eat with such a
+good appetite, that had not the children snatched
+some of the dinner away, there would have been
+none left. The old cow one night jumped over the
+moon, and a pewter dish ran fairly off with a horn
+spoon, which seized a cat by the tail, and away they
+all went together, as merry as crickets. Sometimes,
+when Boss Boomptie had money, or cakes,
+or perhaps a loaf of bread in his hand, instead of
+putting them in their proper places, he would throw
+them into the fire, in spite of his teeth, and then
+the invisible hand would beat him with a bag of
+flour, till he was as white as a miller. As for keeping
+his accounts, that was out of the question;
+whenever he sat himself down to write his ink horn
+was snatched away by the invisible hand, and by-and-by
+it would come tumbling down the chimney.
+Sometimes an old dishcloth would be pinned to
+the skirt of his coat, and then a great diabolical
+laugh heard under the floor. At night he had a
+pretty time of it. His nightcap was torn off his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>
+head, his hair pulled out by handfuls, his face
+scratched, and his ears pinched as if with a red-hot
+pincers. If he went out in the yard at night, he
+was pelted with brickbats, sticks, stones, and all
+sorts of filthy missives; and if he staid at home, the
+ashes were blown upon his supper; and old shoes,
+instead of plates, seen on the table. One of the
+frying pans rang every night of itself for a whole
+hour, and a three-pronged fork stuck itself voluntarily
+into Boss Boomptie's back, without hurting
+him in the least. But what astonished the neighbours
+more than all, the little man, all at once, took
+to speaking in a barbarous and unknown jargon,
+which was afterwards found out to be English.</p>
+
+<p>These matters frightened some of the neighbours
+and scandalized others, until at length poor Boomptie's
+shop was almost deserted. People were jealous
+of eating his bread, for fear of being bewitched.
+Nay, more than one little urchin complained grievously
+of horrible, out of the way pains in the stomach,
+after eating two or three dozen of his Newyear cookies.</p>
+
+<p>Things went on in this way until Newyear's eve
+came round again, when Boss Boomptie was sitting
+behind his counter, which was wont to be thronged
+with customers on this occasion, but was now quite
+deserted. While thinking on his present miserable
+state and future prospects, all of a sudden the little
+ugly old woman, with a sharp nose, sharp chin,
+sharp eyes, sharp voice, and leather spectacles,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>
+again stood before him, leaning on her crooked black
+cane.</p>
+
+<p>“Ben je bedondered?” exclaimed Boss Boomptie,
+“what to you want now?”</p>
+
+<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies!” screamed
+the old creature.</p>
+
+<p>The little man counted out twelve, as before.</p>
+
+<p>“I want one more!” screamed she, louder than
+ever.</p>
+
+<p>“Men weet hoe een koe een haas vangen kan!”
+cried the boss, in a rage; “den want will pe your
+masder.”</p>
+
+<p>She offered him six stivers, which he indignantly
+rejected, saying,</p>
+
+<p>“I want none of your duyvel's stuyvers—begone,
+duyvel's huysvrouw!”</p>
+
+<p>The old woman went her way, mumbling and
+grumbling as usual.</p>
+
+<p>“By Saint Johannes de Dooper,” quoth Boss
+Boomptie, “put she's a peaudy!”</p>
+
+<p>That night, and all the week after, the brickbats
+flew about Knickerbocker Hall like hail, insomuch
+that Boss Boomptie marvelled where they could
+all come from, until one morning, after a terrible
+shower of bricks, he found, to his great grief
+and dismay, that his oven had disappeared; next
+went the top of his chimney; and when that was
+gone, these diabolical sinners began at the extreme
+point of the gable end, and so went on picking at
+the two edges downward, until they looked just<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>
+like the teeth of a saw, as may be still seen in some
+of our old Dutch houses.</p>
+
+<p>“Onbegrypelik!” cried Boss Boomptie, “put it's
+too pad to have my prains peat out wid my own
+prickpats.”</p>
+
+<p>About the same time a sober respectable cat,
+that for years had done nothing but sit purring in
+the chimney corner, all at once got the duyvel in
+her, and after scratching the poor man half to death,
+jumped out of the chimney and disappeared. A
+Whitehall boatman afterwards saw her in Buttermilk
+Channel, with nothing but the tail left, swimming
+against the tide as easy as kiss your hand.
+Poor Mrs. Boomptie had no peace of her life, what
+with pinchings, stickings of needles, and talking
+without opening her mouth. But the climax of the
+malice of the demon which beset her was in at last
+tying up her tongue, so that she could not speak at
+all, but did nothing but sit crying and wringing her
+hands in the chimney corner.</p>
+
+<p>These carryings on brought round Newyear's
+eve again, when Boss Boomptie thought he would
+have a frolic, “in spite of de duyvel,” as he said,
+which saying was, somehow or other, afterwards
+applied to the creek at Kingsbridge. So he commanded
+his wife to prepare him a swinging mug of
+hot spiced rum, to keep up his courage against the
+assaults of the brickbats. But what was the dismay
+of the little man when he found that every time
+he put the beverage to his lips he received a great
+box on the ear, the mug was snatched away by an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>
+invisible hand, and every single drop drank out of
+it before it came to Boss Boomptie's turn. Then
+as if it was an excellent joke, he heard a most diabolical
+laugh down in the cellar.</p>
+
+<p>“Goeden Hemel! Is het mogelyk!” exclaimed
+the little man in despair. This was attacking
+him in the very intrenchments of his heart. It was
+worse than the brickbats.</p>
+
+<p>“Saint Nicholas! Saint Nicholas! what will become
+of me—what sal ich doon, mynheer?”</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had he uttered this pathetic appeal,
+when there was a sound of horses' hoofs in the
+chimney, and presently a light wagon, drawn by a
+little, fat, gray 'Sopus pony, came trundling into the
+room, loaded with all sorts of knickknacks. It was
+driven by a jolly, fat, little rogue of a fellow, with
+a round sparkling eye, and a mouth which would
+certainly have been laughing had it not been for
+a glorious Meershaum pipe, which would have
+chanced to fall out in that case. The little rascal
+had on a three-cornered cocked hat, decked with old
+gold lace; a blue Dutch sort of a short pea jacket,
+red waistcoat, breeks of the same colour, yellow
+stockings, and honest thick-soled shoes, ornamented
+with a pair of skates. Altogether he was a queer
+figure—but there was something so irresistibly jolly
+and good-natured in his face, that Boss Boomptie
+felt his heart incline towards the stranger as soon
+as he saw him.</p>
+
+<p>“Orange Boven!” cried the good saint, pulling
+off his cocked hat, and making a low bow to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>
+Mrs. Boomptie, who sat tonguetied in the chimney
+corner.</p>
+
+<p>“Wat donderdag is dat?” said Boss Boomptie,
+speaking for his wife, which made the good woman
+very angry, that he should take the words out of her
+mouth.</p>
+
+<p>“You called on Saint Nicholas. Here am I,”
+quoth the jolly little saint. “In one word—for I
+am a saint of few words, and have my hands full
+of business to-night—in one word, tell me what
+you want.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am pewitched,” quoth Boss Boomptie. “The
+duyvel is in me, my house, my wife, my Newyear
+cookies, and my children. What shall I do?”</p>
+
+<p>“When you count a dozen you must count thirteen,”
+answered the wagon driver, at the same time
+cracking his whip, and clattering up the chimney,
+more like a little duyvel than a little saint.</p>
+
+<p>“Wat blixum!” muttered Boss Boomptie, “when
+you count a dozen you must count dirdeen! je mag
+even wel met un stokje in de goot roeron! I never
+heard of such counting. By Saint Johannes de
+Dooper, put Saint Nicholas is a great plockhead!”</p>
+
+<p>Just as he uttered this blasphemy against the
+excellent Saint Nicholas, he saw through the pane
+of glass, in the door leading from the spare room to
+the shop, the little ugly old woman, with the sharp
+eyes, sharp nose, sharp chin, sharp voice, and leather
+spectacles, alighting from a broomstick, at the
+street door.</p>
+
+<p>“Dere is de duyvel's kint come again,” quoth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>
+he, in one of his cross humours, which was aggravated
+by his getting just then a great box on the
+ear from the invisible hand. However, he went
+grumbling into the shop, for it was part of his religion
+never to neglect a customer, let the occasion
+be what it might.</p>
+
+<p>“I want a dozen Newyear cookies,” screamed
+the old beauty, as usual, and as usual Boss Boomptie
+counted out twelve.</p>
+
+<p>“I want another one,” screamed she still louder.</p>
+
+<p>“Aha!” thought Boss Boomptie, doubtless inspired
+by the jolly little caitiff, Saint Nicholas—”Aha!
+Het is goed visschen in troebel water—when
+you count dwalf, you must count dirdeen.
+Ha—ha! ho—ho—ho!” And he counted out the
+thirteenth cooky like a brave fellow.</p>
+
+<p>The old woman made him a low courtesy, and
+laughed till she might have shown her teeth, if she
+had had any.</p>
+
+<p>“Friend Boomptie,” said she, in a voice exhibiting
+the perfection of a nicely modulated scream—“Friend
+Boomptie, I love such generous little fellows
+as you, in my heart. I salute you,” and she
+advanced to kiss him. Boss Boomptie did not at
+all like the proposition; but, doubtless inspired by
+Saint Nicholas, he submitted with indescribable
+grace.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment, an explosion was heard inside
+the little glass pane, and the voice of Mrs. Boomptie
+crying out,</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p>
+
+<p>“You false-hearted villain, have I found out your
+tricks at last!”</p>
+
+<p>“De Philistyner Onweetende!” cried Boss
+Boomptie. “She's come to her speech now!”</p>
+
+<p>“The spell is broken!” screamed the old woman
+with the sharp eyes, nose, chin, and voice. “The
+spell is broken, and henceforward a dozen is thirteen,
+and thirteen is a dozen! There shall be thirteen
+Newyear cookies to the dozen, as a type of the
+thirteen mighty states that are to arise out of the
+ruins of the government of faderland!”</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon she took a Newyear cake bearing
+the effigy of the blessed St. Nicholas, and caused
+Boss Boomptie to swear upon it, that for ever afterwards
+twelve should be thirteen, and thirteen should
+be twelve. After which, she mounted her broomstick
+and disappeared, just as the little old Dutch
+clock struck twelve. From that time forward, the
+spell that hung over the fortunes of little Boss Boomptie
+was broken; and ever after he became illustrious
+for baking the most glorious Newyear cookies in
+our country. Everything became as before: the
+little 'prentice boys returned, mounted on the batch
+of bread, and their adventures may, peradventure,
+be told some other time. Finally, from that day
+forward no baker of New-Amsterdam was ever
+bewitched, at least by an ugly old woman, and a
+bakers dozen has been always counted as thirteen.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_GHOST">THE GHOST.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Some time in the year 1800 or 1801, I am not
+certain which, a man of the name of William Morgan—I
+don't mean the person whose “abduction”
+has made so much noise in the world—enlisted on
+board the United States frigate —— for a three
+years' cruise in the Mediterranean. He was an
+awful-looking person, six feet four inches high; a
+long pale visage deeply furrowed with wrinkles;
+sunken eyes far up towards his forehead; black
+exuberant hair standing on end as if he was always
+frightened at something; a sharp chin of a length
+proportioned to his height; teeth white, but very
+irregular; and the colour of his eyes what the
+writers on supernatural affairs call very singular
+and mysterious. Besides this, his voice was hollow
+and sepulchral; on his right arm were engraved
+certain mysterious devices, surmounted with the letters
+E. M.; and his tobacco box was of iron. His
+everyday dress was a canvass hat with a black
+riband band, a blue jacket, white trousers, and
+leather shoes. On Sundays he wore a white
+beaver, which, among sailors, bespoke something
+extraordinary, and on rainy days a pea jacket too<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>
+short by half a yard. It is worthy of remark that
+Morgan entered on Friday; that the frigate was
+launched on Friday; that the master carpenter who
+built her was born on Friday; and that the squadron
+went to sea on Friday. All these singular
+coincidences, combined with his mysterious appearance,
+caused the sailors to look upon Morgan
+with some little degree of wonder.</p>
+
+<p>During the voyage to Gibraltar, Morgan's conduct
+served to increase the impression his appearance
+had made on the crew. He sometimes went
+without eating for several days together, at least
+no one ever saw him eat; and, if he ever slept at
+all, it was without shutting his eyes or lying down,
+for his messmates, one and all, swore that, wake at
+what time of the night they would, Morgan was seen
+sitting upright in his hammock, with his eyes glaring
+wide open. When his turn came to take his
+watch upon deck, his conduct was equally strange.
+He would stand stock still in one place, gazing at
+the stars, or the ocean, apparently unconscious of
+his situation; and when roused by his companions,
+tumble on the deck in a swoon. When he revived,
+he would fall to preaching the most strange and
+incomprehensible rhapsodies that ever were heard.
+In their idle hours upon the forecastle, Morgan
+told such stories about himself, and his strange
+escapes by sea and land, as caused the sailors' hair
+to stand on end, and made the jolly fellows look
+upon him as a person gifted with the privilege of
+living for ever. He often indeed hinted that he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>
+had as many lives as a cat, and several times
+offered to let himself be hanged for the gratification
+of his messmates. On more than one occasion,
+he was found lying on his back in his hammock,
+apparently without life, his eyes fixed and
+glassy, his limbs stiff and rigid, his lower jaw sunk
+down, and his pulse motionless, at least so his
+messmates swore when they went to call the doctor;
+though when the latter came he always found
+Morgan as well as ever he was in his life, and apparently
+unconscious of all that had happened.</p>
+
+<p>As they proceeded on the voyage, which proved
+for the most part a succession of calms, the sailors
+having little else to do, either imagined or invented
+new wonders about Morgan. At one time a little
+Welsh foretopman swore that as he was going to
+sit down to dinner, his canteen was snatched from
+under him by an invisible hand, and he fell plump
+on the deck. A second had his allowance of grog
+“abducted” in a mysterious manner, although he
+was ready to make oath he never had his eyes off
+it for a moment. A third had his tobacco box rifled,
+though it had never been out of his pocket.
+A fourth had a crooked sixpence, with a hole by
+which it was suspended from his neck by a riband,
+taken away without his ever being the wiser for it.</p>
+
+<p>These things at length reached the ears of Captain
+R——, who, the next time Morgan got into one
+of his trances, had him confined for four-and-twenty
+hours; and otherwise punished him in various
+ways on the recurrence of any one of these wonderful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>
+reports. All this produced no effect whatever
+either on Morgan or the crew, which at length had
+its wonder stretched to the utmost bounds by a singular
+adventure of our hero.</p>
+
+<p>One day, the squadron being about halfway
+across the Atlantic, and the frigate several leagues
+ahead with a fine breeze, there was an alarm of the
+magazine being on fire. Morgan was just coming
+on deck with a spoon in his hand, for some purpose
+or other, when hearing the cry of “magazine on
+fire,” he made one spring overboard. The fire was
+extinguished by the daring gallantry of an officer,
+now living, and standing in the first rank of our
+naval heroes. In the confusion and alarm, it was
+impossible to make any efforts to save Morgan;
+and it was considered a matter of course that he
+had perished in the ocean. Two days after, one
+of the other vessels of the squadron came alongside
+the frigate, and sent a boat on board with Billy
+Morgan. Twelve hours from the time of his leaping
+overboard, he had been found swimming away
+gallantly, with the spoon in his hand. When asked
+why he did not let it go, he replied that he kept it
+to help himself to salt water when he was dry.
+This adventure fixed in the minds of the sailors an
+obstinate opinion, that Morgan was either a dead
+man come to life again, or one that was not very
+easy to be killed.</p>
+
+<p>After this, Morgan continued his mysterious
+pranks. The sailors talked and wondered, and
+Captain R—— punished him, until the squadron<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>
+was within two or three days' sail of Gibraltar, admitting
+the wind continued fair as it then was.
+Morgan had been punished pretty severely that
+morning for stargazing and falling into a swoon on
+his watch the night before, and had solemnly assured
+his messmates, that he intended to jump overboard
+and drown himself the first opportunity. He
+made his will, dressed himself in his best, and settled
+all his affairs. He also replenished his tobacco
+box, put his allowance of biscuit in his pocket,
+and filled a small canteen with water, which he
+strung about his neck; saying that perhaps he
+might take it into his head to live a day or two in
+the water, before he finally went to the bottom.</p>
+
+<p>Between twelve and one, the vessel being becalmed,
+the night a clear starlight, and the sentinels
+pacing their rounds, Morgan was distinctly
+seen to come up through the hatchway, walk forward,
+climb the bulwark, and let himself drop into
+the sea. A midshipman and two seamen testified
+to the facts; and Morgan being missing the next
+morning, there was no doubt of his having committed
+suicide by drowning himself. This affair occasioned
+much talk, and various were the opinions
+of the ship's crew on the subject. Some swore it
+was one Davy Jones who had been playing his
+pranks; others that it was no man, but a ghost or a
+devil that had got among them; and others were in
+daily expectation of seeing him come on board
+again, as much alive as ever he was.</p>
+
+<p>In the mean time, the squadron proceeded but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>
+slowly, being detained several days by calms and
+head winds, most of which were in some way or
+other laid to Billy Morgan by the gallant tars, who
+fear nothing but Fridays and men without heads.
+His fate, however, gradually ceased to be a subject
+of discussion, and the wonder was quickly passing
+away, when one night, about a week after his jumping
+overboard, the figure of Morgan, all pale and
+ghastly, his clothes hanging wet about him—with
+eyes more sunken, hair more upright, and face
+more thin and cadaverous than ever, was seen by
+one of his messmates, who happened to be lying
+awake, to emerge slowly from the forepart of the
+ship, approach one of the tables where there was a
+can of water, from which it took a hearty draught,
+and disappear in the direction whence it came.
+The sailor told the story next morning, but as yet
+very few believed him.</p>
+
+<p>The next night the same figure appeared, and
+was seen by a different person from him by whom
+it was first observed. It came from the same quarter
+again, helped itself to a drink, and disappeared
+in the same direction it had done before. The story
+of Morgan's ghost, in the course of a day or two,
+came to the ears of Captain R——, who caused a
+search to be made in that part of the vessel whence
+the ghost had come; under the impression that the
+jumping overboard of Morgan had been a deception,
+and that he was now secreted on board the
+ship. The search ended, however, without any discovery.
+The calms and head winds still continued,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>
+and not a sailor on board but ascribed them
+to Billy Morgan's mysterious influence. The ghost
+made its appearance again the following night after
+the search, when it was seen, by another of
+Morgan's messmates, to empty his tobacco box, and
+seize some of the fragments of supper, which had
+been accidentally left on a table, with which it again
+vanished in the manner before described. The
+sailor swore that when the ghost made free with
+his tobacco box, he attempted to lay hold of him, but
+felt nothing in his hand, except something exactly
+like cold water.</p>
+
+<p>Captain R—— was excessively provoked at
+these stories, and caused another and still more
+thorough search to be made, but without any discovery.
+He then directed a young midshipman to
+keep watch between decks. That night the ghost
+again made its appearance, and the courageous
+young officer sallied out upon it; but the figure
+darted away with inconceivable velocity, and disappeared.
+The midshipman, as directed, immediately
+informed Captain R——, who instituted an
+immediate search, but with as little success as before.
+By this time there was not a sailor on board
+that was not afraid of his shadow, and even the officers
+began to be infected with a superstitious
+dread. At length the squadron arrived at Gibraltar,
+and came to in the bay of Algesiras, where the
+ships remained some days waiting the arrival of
+those they had come to relieve. About the usual
+hour that night, the ghost of Billy Morgan again<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>
+appeared to one of his messmates, offered him its
+hand, and saying “Good-by, Tom,” disappeared
+as usual.</p>
+
+<p>It was a fortnight or more before the relief squadron
+sailed up the Mediterranean, during which time
+the crews of the ships were permitted to take their
+turn to go on shore. On one of these occasions,
+a messmate of Billy Morgan, named Tom Brown,
+was passing through a tolerably dark lane in the
+suburbs of Algesiras, when he heard a well-known
+voice call out, “Tom, Tom, d—n your eyes,
+don't you know your old messmate?” Tom knew
+the voice, and looking round, recognised his old
+messmate Morgan's ghost. But he had no inclination
+to renew the acquaintance; he took to his
+heels, and without looking behind him to see if the
+ghost followed, ran to the boat where his companions
+were waiting, and told the story as soon as he
+could find breath for the purpose. This reached
+the ear of Captain R——, who, being almost sure
+of the existence of Morgan, applied to the governor
+of the town, who caused search to be made everywhere
+without effect. No one had ever seen such
+a person. That very night the ghost made its appearance
+on board the frigate, and passed its cold
+wet hand over the face of Tom Brown, to whom
+Morgan had left his watch and chest of clothes.
+The poor fellow bawled out lustily; but before
+any pursuit could be made, the ghost had disappeared
+in the forward part of the ship as usual.
+After this Billy again appeared two or three times<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>
+alternately to some one of his old messmates;
+sometimes in the town, at others on board the
+frigate, but always in the dead of night. He
+seemed desirous to say something particular, but
+could never succeed in getting any of the sailors
+to listen quietly to the communication. The
+last time he made his appearance at Algesiras, on
+board the frigate, he was heard by one of the sailors
+to utter, in a low hollow whisper, “You shall
+see me at Malta;” after which he vanished as before.</p>
+
+<p>Caption R—— was excessively perplexed at
+these strange and unaccountable visitations, and
+instituted every possible inquiry into the circumstances
+in the hope of finding some clew to explain
+the mystery. He again caused the ship to be examined
+with a view to the discovery either of the
+place where Morgan secreted himself, or the means
+by which he escaped from the vessel. He questioned
+every man on board, and threatened the severest
+punishment, should he ever discover that
+they deceived him in their story, or were accomplices
+in the escape of Morgan. He even removed
+everything in the forward part of the ship, and rendered
+it impossible for any human being to be
+there without being detected. The whole resulted
+in leaving the affair involved in complete mystery,
+and the squadron proceeded up the Mediterranean,
+to cruise along the African coast, and rendezvous
+at Malta.</p>
+
+<p>It was some weeks before the frigate came to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>
+the latter place, and in the mean time, as nothing
+had been seen of the ghost, it was concluded that
+the shade of Billy Morgan was appeased, or rather
+the whole affair had been gradually forgotten. Two
+nights after her arrival, a party of sailors, being
+ashore at La Vallette, accidentally entered a small
+tavern in a remote part of the suburbs, where they
+commenced a frolic, after the manner of those amphibious
+bipeds. Among them was the heir of
+Billy Morgan, who about three or four in the morning
+went to bed, not quite as clear headed as he
+might have been. He could not tell how long he
+had been asleep, when he was awakened by a
+voice whispering in his ear, “Tom, Tom, wake
+up!” On opening his eyes, he beheld, by the pale
+light of the morning, the ghastly figure of Billy
+Morgan leaning over his bed and glaring at him
+with eyes like saucers. Tom cried, “Murder!
+ghost! Billy Morgan!” as loud as he could bawl,
+until he roused the landlord, who came to know
+what was the matter. Tom related the whole affair,
+and inquired if he had seen anything of the figure
+he described. Mine host utterly denied having
+seen or ever heard of such a figure as Billy Morgan,
+and so did all his family. The report was again
+alive on board the frigate, that Billy Morgan's ghost
+had taken the field once more. “Heaven and
+earth!” cried Captain R——, “is Billy Morgan's
+ghost come again? Shall I never get rid of this
+infernal spectre, or whatever else it may be?”</p>
+
+<p>Captain R—— immediately ordered his barge,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>
+waited on the governor, explained the situation of
+his crew, and begged his assistance in apprehending
+the ghost of Billy Morgan, or Billy himself, as
+the case might be. That night the governor caused
+the strictest search to be made in every hole and
+corner of the little town of La Vallette; but in
+vain. No one had seen that remarkable being,
+corporeal or spiritual; and the landlord of the house
+where the spectre appeared, together with all his
+family, utterly denied any knowledge of such a
+person or thing. It is little to be wondered at, that
+the search proved ineffectual, for that very night
+Billy took a fancy to appear on board the frigate,
+where he again accosted his old friend Tom, to
+whom he had bequeathed all his goods and chattels.
+But Tom had no mind for a confidential communication
+with the ghost, and roared out so lustily, as
+usual, that it glided away and disappeared as before,
+without being intercepted in the confusion
+which followed.</p>
+
+<p>Captain R—— was in despair; never was man
+so persecuted by a ghost in this world before. The
+ship's crew were in a state of terror and dismay,
+insomuch that had an Algerine come across them
+they might peradventure have surrendered at discretion.
+They signed a round robin, drawn up by
+one of Billy Morgan's old messmates, representing
+to Captain R—— the propriety of running the ship
+ashore, and abandoning her entirely to the ghost,
+which now appeared almost every night, sometimes
+between decks, at others on the end of the bowsprit,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>
+and at others cutting capers on the yards and topgallant
+mast. The story spread into the town of
+La Vallette, and nothing was talked of but the ghost
+of Billy Morgan, which now began to appear occasionally
+to the sentinels of the fort, one of whom
+had the courage to fire at it, by which he alarmed
+the whole island and made matters ten times worse
+than ever.</p>
+
+<p>From Malta the squadron, after making a cruise
+of a few weeks, proceeded to Syracuse, with the
+intention of remaining some time. They were
+obliged to perform a long quarantine; the ships
+were strictly examined by the health officers, and
+fumigated with brimstone, to the great satisfaction
+of the crew of the frigate, who were in great hopes
+this would drive away Billy Morgan's ghost. These
+hopes were strengthened by their seeing no more
+of that troublesome visiter during the whole time
+the quarantine continued. The very next night
+after the expiration of the quarantine, Billy again
+visited his old messmate and heir Tom Brown, lank,
+lean, and dripping wet, as usual, and after giving
+him a rousing shake, whispered, “Hush, Tom; I
+want to speak to you about my watch and chest of
+clothes.” But Tom had no inclination to converse
+with his old friend, and cried out “Murder” with
+all his might; when the ghost vanished as before,
+muttering, as Tom swore, “You bloody infernal
+lubber.”</p>
+
+<p>The reappearance of the ghost occasioned greater
+consternation than ever among the crew of the good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>
+ship, and it required all the influence of severe punishments
+to keep them from deserting on every
+occasion. Poor Tom Brown, to whom the devoirs
+of the spectre seemed most especially directed, left
+off swearing and chewing tobacco, and dwindled to
+a perfect shadow. He became very serious, and
+spent almost all his leisure time in reading chapters
+in the Bible or singing psalms. Captain R——
+now ordered a constant watch all night between
+decks, in hopes of detecting the intruder; but all
+in vain, although there was hardly a night passed
+without Tom's waking and crying out that the ghost
+had just paid him a visit. It was, however, thought
+very singular, and to afford additional proof of its
+being a ghost, that on all these occasions, except
+two, it was invisible to everybody but Tom Brown.</p>
+
+<p>In addition to the vexation arising from this persevering
+and diabolical persecution of Billy's ghost,
+various other strange and unaccountable things
+happened almost every day on board the frigate.
+Tobacco boxes were emptied in the most mysterious
+manner, and in the dead of the night; sailors
+would sometimes be missing a whole day, and return
+again without being able to give any account
+of themselves; and not a few of them were overtaken
+with liquor, without their being ever the wiser
+for it, for they all swore they had not drunk a drop
+beyond their allowance. Sometimes, on going
+ashore on leave for a limited time, the sailors would
+be decoyed, as they solemnly assured the captain,
+by some unaccountable influence into strange, out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>
+of the way places, where they could not find their
+road back, and where they were found by their
+officers in a state of mysterious stupefaction, though
+not one had tasted a drop of liquor. On these
+occasions, they always saw the ghost of Billy Morgan,
+either flying through the air, or dancing on the
+tops of the steeples, with a fiery tail like a comet.
+Wonder grew upon wonder every day, until the
+wonder transcended the bounds of human credulity.</p>
+
+<p>At length, Tom Brown, the night after receiving
+a visit from Billy Morgan's ghost, disappeared, and
+was never heard of afterwards. As the chest of
+clothes inherited from his deceased messmate was
+found entirely empty, it might have been surmised
+that Tom had deserted, had not a sailor, who was
+on the watch, solemnly declared that he saw the
+ghost of Billy Morgan jump overboard with him in
+a flame of fire, and that he hissed like a red-hot
+ploughshare in the water. After this bold feat, the
+spectre appeared no more. The squadron remained
+some time at Syracuse, and various adventures befell
+the officers and crews, which those remaining
+alive tell of to this day. How Macdonough, then a
+madcap midshipman, “licked” the high constable
+of the town; how Burroughs quizzed the governor;
+what rows they kicked up at masquerades; what
+a dust they raised among the antiquities; and
+what wonders they whispered in the ear of Dionysius.
+From thence, they again sailed on a cruise,
+and after teaching the Bey of Tripoli a new way<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>
+of paying tribute, and laying the foundation of that
+structure of imperishable glory which shall one day
+reach the highest heaven, returned home, after an
+absence of between two and three years. The
+crew of the frigate were paid off and discharged,
+and it is on record, as a wonder, that their three
+years' pay lasted some of them nearly three days.
+But though we believe in the ghost of Billy Morgan,
+we can scarcely credit this incredible wonder.
+Certain it is, that not a man of them ever doubted
+for a moment the reality of the spectre, or would
+have hesitated to make oath of having seen it more
+than once. Even Captain R—— spoke of it on
+his return, as one of those strange, inscrutable
+things, which baffle the efforts of human ingenuity,
+and seem to justify the most extraordinary relations
+of past and present times. His understanding revolted
+at the absurdity of a great part of the wonders
+ascribed to Billy Morgan's ghost; but some
+of the facts were so well attested, that a painful
+doubt would often pass over his mind, and dispose
+it to the reception of superstitious impressions.</p>
+
+<p>He remained in this state of mixed skepticism
+and credulity, when, some years after his return
+from the Mediterranean, being on a journey to the
+westward, he had occasion to halt at a log house, on
+the borders of the Tennessee, for refreshment. A
+man came forth to receive him, whom he at once
+recognised as his old acquaintance, Billy Morgan.
+“Heavens!” thought Captain R——, “here's Monsieur
+Tonson come again!” Billy, who had also<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>
+found out who his guest was, when too late to retreat,
+looked rather sheepish, and invited him in
+with little of the frank hospitality characteristic of a
+genuine backwoodsman. Captain R—— followed
+him into the house, where he found a comely good-natured
+dame, and two or three yellow-haired boys
+and girls, all in a fluster at the stranger. The
+house had an air of comfort, and the mistress, by
+her stirring activity, accompanied with smiling looks
+withal, seemed pleased at the rare incident of a
+stranger's entering their door.</p>
+
+<p>Bill Morgan was at first rather shy and awkward.
+But finding Captain R—— treated him
+with good-humoured frankness, he, in the course of
+the evening, when the children were gone to bed,
+and the wife busy in milking the cows, took occasion
+to accost his old commander.</p>
+
+<p>“Captain, I hope you don't mean to shoot me
+for a deserter?”</p>
+
+<p>“By no means,” said the captain, smiling; “there
+would be little use in shooting a ghost, or a man
+with as many lives as a cat.”</p>
+
+<p>Billy Morgan smiled rather a melancholy smile.
+“Ah! captain, you have not forgot the ghost, I see.
+But it is a long time to remember an old score, and
+I hope you'll forgive me.”</p>
+
+<p>“On one condition I will,” replied Captain
+R——; “that you tell me honestly how you managed
+to make all my sailors believe they saw you,
+night after night, on board the ship as well as on
+shore.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p>
+
+<p>“They did see me,” replied Billy, in his usual
+sepulchral voice.</p>
+
+<p>The captain began to be in some doubt whether
+he was talking to Billy Morgan or his ghost.</p>
+
+<p>“You don't pretend to say you were really on
+board my vessel all the time?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, not all the time, only at such times as the
+sailors saw me—except previous to our arrival at
+Gibraltar.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then their seeing you jump overboard was all
+a deception.”</p>
+
+<p>“By no means, sir; I did jump overboard—but
+then I climbed back again, directly after.”</p>
+
+<p>“The deuse you did—explain.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will, sir, as well as I am able. I was many
+years among the Sandwich Islanders, where the vessel
+in which I was a cabin boy was wrecked, a
+long time ago, and I can pass whole hours, I believe
+days, in the water, without being fatigued, except
+for want of sleep. I have also got some of
+their other habits, such as a great dislike to hard
+work, and a liking for going where I will, and doing
+just what I please. The discipline of a man-of-war
+did not suit me at all, and I grew tired after
+a few days. To pass the time, and to make fun
+for myself with the sailors, I told them stories of
+my adventures, and pretended that I could live in
+the water, and had as many lives as a cat. Besides
+this, as you know, I played them many other
+pranks, partly for amusement, and partly from a
+kind of pride I felt in making them believe I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>
+half a wizard. The punishment you gave me,
+though I own I deserved it, put me out of all patience,
+and I made up my mind to desert the very
+first opportunity. I had an old shipmate with me,
+whom I could trust, and we planned the whole
+thing together. I knew if I deserted at Gibraltar,
+or any of the ports of the Mediterranean, I should
+almost certainly be caught, and shot as an example;
+and for this reason we settled that I should
+jump overboard, return again, and hide myself in a
+coil of cable which was stowed away between
+decks, close to the bows, where it was dark even in
+the daytime. My messmate procured a piece of
+old canvass, with which I might cover myself if
+necessary. To make my jumping overboard have
+a greater effect on the crew, and to provide against
+accidents until the ship arrived at Gibraltar, I took
+care to fill my tobacco box with tobacco, my pockets
+with biscuits, and to sling a canteen of water
+round my neck, as I told them perhaps I might
+take it into my head not to go to the bottom for two
+or three days. I got Tom Brown to write my will,
+intending to leave my watch and chest to my messmate,
+who was to return them to me at Gibraltar,
+the first chance he could get. But Tom played us
+a trick, and put his own name in place of my
+friend's. Neither he nor I were any great scholars,
+and the trick was not found out till afterwards,
+when my friend was afraid of discovery, if he
+made any rout about the matter.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who was your friend?” asked Captain R——.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p>
+
+<p>“He is still alive, and in service. I had rather
+not mention his name.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very well,” replied Captain R——, “go on.”</p>
+
+<p>“That night I jumped overboard.”</p>
+
+<p>“How did you get back into the ship?” asked
+the captain, hastily.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, sir, the forward porthole, on the starboard
+side, was left open, with a bit of rope fastened
+to the gun, and hanging down so that I could catch
+it.”</p>
+
+<p>The captain struck his forehead with the palm
+of his hand, and said to himself,</p>
+
+<p>“What a set of blockheads we were!”</p>
+
+<p>“Not so great as might have been expected,” said
+honest Billy Morgan, intending to compliment the
+captain; but it sounded directly the contrary.</p>
+
+<p>“As soon as I had jumped overboard I swam to
+the rope, which I held fast, waiting the signal from
+my friend to climb up and hide myself in the coil of
+cable. In the bustle which followed it was easy
+enough to do this, and nobody saw me but my
+friend. Here I remained in my wet clothes, rather
+uncomfortably, as you may suppose, until my provision
+and water were expended, and my tobacco
+box empty. I calculated they would last till we
+arrived at Gibraltar, when nothing would have been
+easier for me than to jump out of the porthole and
+swim ashore. But the plaguy head winds and
+calms, which I dare say you remember, delayed
+the squadron several days longer than I expected,
+and left me without supply. I could have gone<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>
+without biscuit and water, but it was impossible to
+live without tobacco. My friend had promised to
+come near enough to hear signals of distress sometimes,
+but, as he told me afterwards, he was confined
+several days for picking a quarrel with Tom
+Brown, whom he longed to flog for forging the
+will.</p>
+
+<p>“I remained in this state until I was nearly
+starved, when, not being able to stand it any
+longer, I one night, when everybody between
+decks seemed fast asleep, crept out from my hiding
+place, where I was coiled up in the shape of a
+cable, and finding a pitcher of water, took a hearty
+drink out of it. This was as far as I dared go at
+that time, so I went back again as quietly as possible.
+But I was too hungry to remain quiet, though
+among the Sandwich Islanders I had been used to
+go without eating for days at a time. The next
+night I crept out again, and was lucky enough to
+get a pretty good supply of provisions, which happened
+to be left by some accident in the way.
+Two or three times I heard search making for me,
+and was very much frightened lest I should be found
+out in my hole.”</p>
+
+<p>“How was it possible for the blockheads to miss
+you?” asked Captain R——.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, sir, they did come to the cable tier
+where I was, but I believe they were too much
+frightened to look into it, or could not see me in the
+dark hole. They did not lift the canvass that
+covered me either of the times they came. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>
+night I found the officer on the watch, I gave myself
+up for gone; but as luck would have it, my
+friend was now out of limbo, and always took care
+to examine the coil of cable so carefully, that nobody
+thought of looking into it after him. When
+we arrived at the bay of Algesiras, I took an opportunity
+to frighten Tom Brown a little, by visiting
+him in the night and bidding him good-by,
+after which I slipped quietly out of the porthole,
+and swam ashore, while my friend pulled up the
+rope and shut the port after me as usual.”</p>
+
+<p>“But how did you manage to escape from the
+search made by the police at Algesiras?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, sir! I was on board the frigate all the time
+in my old hiding place.”</p>
+
+<p>“And when the ship was searched directly
+after?”</p>
+
+<p>“I was ashore at that time.”</p>
+
+<p>“And how did you manage at Malta?”</p>
+
+<p>“The landlord was my sworn brother, and
+wouldn't have blabbed for a thousand pounds.”</p>
+
+<p>“And the capers on the yardarm and topgallant,
+the visits paid to Tom Brown at Syracuse,
+and the wonderful stories told by the sailors of
+being robbed of their tobacco, getting tipsy upon
+nothing, and being led astray by nobody? What
+do you say to all this, Mr. Ghost?” said the captain,
+smiling.</p>
+
+<p>“I never paid but two visits to the ship, so far
+is I remember, sir, after she left Malta. One was
+the night I wanted to talk with Tom Brown, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>
+other when he disappeared the night afterwards.
+The rest of the stories were all owing to the jokes of
+some of the sailors, and the fears of the others.”</p>
+
+<p>“But you are sure you did not jump into the sea
+with Tom Brown, in a flame of fire?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, sir, as I am an honest man. Tom got
+away without any help of mine, and without my
+ever knowing how, until a long time afterwards,
+when I accidentally met him at Liverpool.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well?”</p>
+
+<p>“He was not to be convinced I was living, but
+ran away as hard as he could, and to this day believes
+in ghosts as much as he does in his being
+alive himself.”</p>
+
+<p>“So far all is clear enough,” said Captain
+R——; “but what could possibly induce you to
+put yourself in the way of being caught after escaping,
+by visiting the ship and letting yourself be
+seen?”</p>
+
+<p>“I wanted to see Tom Brown, sir.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why so?”</p>
+
+<p>“I wanted to get back my watch and clothes
+from him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh! I see it now. But had you no other object?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, I'll tell you, sir; besides that, I had a
+sort of foolish pride, all my life, in frightening people,
+and making them wonder at me, by telling
+tough stories, or doing strange things. I haven't
+got over it to this day, and have been well beaten
+two or three times, besides being put in jail, for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>
+playing the ghost hereabout, with the country
+people, at court time. I confess too, sir, that I
+have once or twice frightened my wife almost into
+fits, by way of a frolic; and for all the trouble it
+has brought upon me, I believe in my soul I shall
+play the ghost till I give up the ghost at last.
+Besides this, the truth is, sir, I had a little spite at
+you for having put me in the bilboes for some of
+these pranks, as I deserved, and had no objection
+to pay you off, by breeding trouble in the ship.”</p>
+
+<p>“Truly, you succeeded wonderfully; but what
+became of you afterwards?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why, sir, after Tom Brown deserted, and, to
+quiet his conscience, left my watch and clothes to
+my friend, I had no motive for playing the ghost
+any more. I shipped in an American merchantman
+for Smyrna—from thence I went to Gibraltar—and
+after voyaging a year or two, and saving a
+few hundred dollars, came to Boston at last. I did
+not dare to stay along shore, for fear of being
+known by some of the officers of the squadron, so
+I took my money and my bundle and went into
+the back country. I am a little of everything, a
+jack of all trades, and turned farmer, as sea captains
+often do when they are tired of ploughing the
+ocean. I get on pretty well now, and hope you
+won't have me shot by a court martial.”</p>
+
+<p>“No,” replied Captain R——, “I am out of the
+navy now. I have turned farmer too, and you are
+quite safe.”</p>
+
+<p>“I hope you prosper well, sir?”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Not quite as well as you, Billy—I have come
+into the backwoods to see if I can do better.”</p>
+
+<p>“Only serve under me,” said Billy,“ and I will
+repay all your good offices.”</p>
+
+<p>“What, the floggings, _et cetera_?”</p>
+
+<p>“By God's help, sir, I may,” said Billy. “Try
+me, sir.”</p>
+
+<p>“No—I am going on a little farther.”</p>
+
+<p>“You may go farther, and fare worse, sir.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps so—but I believe it is bedtime, and
+so good-night, Mr. Ghost.”</p>
+
+<p>Captain R—— retired very quietly to his room,
+went to bed, and slept like a top, till the broad sun
+shone over the summits of the trees into his face,
+as he lay under the window. He breakfasted sumptuously,
+and set out gallantly for the prairies of St.
+Louis.</p>
+
+<p>“Good-by, captain,” said Billy, leering, and
+lengthening his face to a supernatural degree. “I
+hope you won't meet any ghosts on your way.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-by, Billy,” replied Captain R——, a little
+nettled at this joke. “I hope you will not get
+into the state prison for playing the ghost.”</p>
+
+<p>“I'll take care of that, sir; I've been in the state
+prison already, and you won't catch me there again,
+I warrant you.”</p>
+
+<p>“What do you mean, Billy?”</p>
+
+<p>“I mean, that there is little or no odds between
+a state ship and a state prison,” said Billy, with a
+face longer than ever, and a most expressive shrug.</p>
+
+<p>Captain R—— proceeded on his way, reflecting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>
+on the singular story of Billy Morgan, whose pranks
+on board the frigate had convinced some hundreds
+of men of the existence of ghosts, and thrown the
+gloom of superstitious horror over the remainder of
+their existence. “Not a sailor,” thought he, “out
+of more than five hundred, with the exception of a
+single one, but will go to his grave in the full belief
+of the appearance of Billy Morgan's ghost.
+What an unlucky rencounter this of mine; it has
+spoiled one of the best-authenticated ghost stories
+of the age.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p>
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_C2"><small>THE</small><br>
+
+
+NYMPH OF THE MOUNTAIN.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<p>In a certain corner of the Bay State there once
+stood, and we hope will continue to nourish long
+and happily, a snug town, now promoted to be a
+city, the name of which is not material to our purpose.
+Here in a great shingle palace, which would
+have been a very comfortable edifice had it only
+been finished, lived a reputable widow, well to do
+in the world, and the happy mother of a promising
+lad, a wonderful clever boy, as might be expected.
+In fact, Shearjashub (that was his name) was no
+bad specimen of the country lad. He was hardy,
+abstemious, independent, and _cute_ withal; and before
+he was a man grown, made a great bargain
+once out of a travelling merchant, a Scotchman, who
+chanced that way. Besides this, he was a mechanical
+genius; and, though far from being lazy,
+delighted in the invention of labour-saving machines,
+some of which were odd enough. He peeled all
+his mother's pumpkins by water, and spun her flax
+with a windmill. Nay, it was reported of him,
+that he once invented a machine for digging graves
+upon speculation, by which he calculated he should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>
+certainly have made his fortune, had not the people
+of the village all with one accord taken it into their
+heads to live for ever. The name of the family
+was Yankee, they having been the first that had
+intercourse with the Indians, who called them
+Yankee, because they could not say English.</p>
+
+<p>The Widow Yankee was a right pious, meeting-going
+woman, who held it to be a great want of
+faith not to believe in everything; especially everything
+out of the way and impossible. She was
+a great amateur of demonology and witchcraft.
+Moreover, she was gifted with a reasonable share
+of curiosity, though it is recorded that once she
+came very near missing to get at the bottom of a
+secret. The story ran as follows:—</p>
+
+<p>One day, as she was sitting at her window,
+which had a happy aspect for overlooking the
+affairs of the village, she saw a mysterious-looking
+man, with a stick in his hand and a pipe in his
+mouth, walking exactly three feet behind a white
+cow. The same thing happened precisely at the
+same hour in the same manner the next day, and
+so continued for some time. The first week the
+widow began to think it rather odd; the second she
+began to think it quite strange; the third it became
+altogether mysterious; and the fourth the poor
+woman took to her bed, of the disease of the man
+and the cow.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Calomel undertook the cure in a new and
+original manner, to wit, without the use of medicine.
+He wrought upon the mysterious cowdriver<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>
+to come to the widow's house, and tell her the
+whole secret of the business. When he came into
+the room the sick woman raised herself up, and in
+a faint voice addressed him as follows:—</p>
+
+<p>“Mysterious man! I conjure thee to tell me what
+under the sun makes thee always follow that cow
+about every day at the same hour, and at the same
+distance from her tail?”</p>
+
+<p>“Because the cow always goes before me!” replied
+the mysterious man.</p>
+
+<p>Upon which the widow jumped out of her sick
+bed, seized an old shoe, fired it at the mysterious
+man's head, and was miraculously cured from that
+moment. Doctor Calomel got into great practice
+thereupon.</p>
+
+<p>Shearjashub inherited a considerable share of his
+mother's inquiring disposition, and was very inquisitive
+about the affairs of other people; but, to do
+him justice, he took pretty good care to keep his
+own to himself, like a discreet lad as he was. Having
+invented so many labour-saving machines, Jashub,
+as he was usually called by the neighbours,
+thought it was great nonsense to work himself; so
+he set his machines going, and took to the amusement
+of killing time, which, in a country village, is
+no such easy matter. It required a considerable
+share of ingenuity. His favourite mode of doing
+this was taking his gun on his shoulder, and sallying
+forth into the fields and woods, followed by a
+cur, whose genealogy was perfectly mysterious.
+Nobody could tell to what family he belonged;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>
+certain it was, that he was neither “mongrel, puppy,
+whelp, nor hound,” but a cur of low degree,
+whose delight was to bask in the sun when he was
+not out with his young master.</p>
+
+<p>In this way Jashub would pass day after day, in
+what he called sporting; that is to say, toiling
+through tangled woods and rough bog meadows and
+swamps, that quivered like a jelly at every step, and
+returning home at night hungry as well as tired.
+Report said that he never was known to shoot anything;
+and thus far his time was spent innocently, if
+not improvingly.</p>
+
+<p>One fast-day, early in the spring of 1776, Jashub
+went forth as usual, with his gun on his shoulder,
+and little Snap (such was the name of the dog) at his
+heels. The early May had put on all her charms;
+a thousand little patches of wild violets were peeping
+forth with deep blue eyes; a thousand, yea,
+tens of thousands of little buds were expanding into
+leaves apace; and crowds of chirping birds were
+singing a hymn to the jolly laughing spring. Jashub
+could not find it in his heart to fire at them; but if
+he had, there would have been no danger, except of
+frightening the little warblers, and arresting their
+song.</p>
+
+<p>Beguiled by the beauties of Nature and her charming
+music, Jashub almost unconsciously wandered
+on until he came to the opening of a deep glen in
+the mountain, which rose at some miles distance,
+west of the village. It was formed by the passage
+of a pure crystal stream, which, in the course of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>
+ages, or perhaps by a single effort, had divided the
+mountain about the space of twenty yards, ten of
+which were occupied by the brook, which silently
+wound its way along the edge of steep and rocky
+precipices several hundred feet high, that formed
+the barriers of the glen on either side. These towering
+perpendicular masses of gray eternity were
+here and there green with the adventurous laurel,
+which, fastening its roots in the crevices, nodded
+over the mighty steep in fearful dizziness. Here
+and there a little spring gushed forth high up among
+the graybeard rocks, and trickled down their sides
+in silvery brightness. In other places patches of
+isinglass appeared, sparkling against the sober
+masses, and communicating a singularly lustrous
+character to the scene, which had otherwise been
+all gloomy solitude.</p>
+
+<p>Jashub gazed a while in apprehensive wonder,
+as he stood at the entrance of these everlasting
+gates. Curiosity prompted him to enter, and explore
+the recesses within, while a certain vague
+unwillingness deterred him. At length curiosity,
+or perhaps fate, which had decreed that he should
+become the instrument of her great designs, prevailed
+against all opposition, and he entered the
+gates of this majestic palace of nature. He slowly
+advanced, sometimes arrested by a certain feeling
+of mysterious awe; at others driven on by the
+power which had assumed the direction of his conduct,
+until he arrived at the centre of the hallowed
+solitude. Not a living thing breathed around him,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>
+except his little dog, and his gun trembled in his
+hand. All was gloom, silence, solitude, deep and
+profound. The brook poured forth no murmurs,
+the birds and insects seemed to have shunned the unsunned
+region, where everlasting twilight reigned;
+and the scream of the hawks, pursuing their way
+across the deep chasm, was hushed as they passed.</p>
+
+<p>Jashub was arrested by the melancholy grandeur
+of the scene, and his dog looked wistfully in his
+face, as if he wanted to go home. As he stood
+thus lingering, leaning on his gun, a merry strain
+broke forth upon the terrible silence, and echoed
+through the glen. The sound made him suddenly
+start, in doing which his foot somehow or other
+caught in the lock of his gun, which he had forgot
+to uncock, as was usual with him, and caused
+it to go off. The explosion rang through the recesses
+of the glen in a hundred repetitions, which
+were answered by the howlings of the little dog.
+As the echoes gradually subsided, and the smoke
+cleared away, the music again commenced. It was
+a careless, lively air, such as suited the taste of the
+young man, and he forgot his fears in his love of
+music.</p>
+
+<p>As he stood thus entranced he heard a voice,
+sweet, yet animating as the clear sound of the trumpet,
+exclaim,</p>
+
+<p>“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”</p>
+
+<p>Jashub's heart bounded into his throat, and prevented
+his answering. He loaded his gun, and stood
+on the defensive.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p>
+
+<p>In a moment after the same trumpet voice repeated
+the same words,</p>
+
+<p>“Shearjashub! Shearjashub!”</p>
+
+<p>“What d'ye want, you tarnal kritter?” at length
+the young man answered, with a degree of courage
+that afterwards astonished him.</p>
+
+<p>“Listen—and look!”</p>
+
+<p>He listened and looked, but saw nothing, until a
+little flourish of the same sprightly tune directed
+his attention to the spot whence it came.</p>
+
+<p>High on the summit of the highest perpendicular
+cliff, which shone gorgeously with sparkling isinglass,
+seated under the shade of a tuft of laurels, he
+beheld a female figure, holding a little flageolet,
+and playing the sprightly air which he had just
+heard. Her height, notwithstanding the distance,
+appeared majestic; the flash of her bright beaming
+eye illumined the depths of the gloom, and her air
+seemed that of a goddess. She was dressed in
+simple robes of virgin white, and on her head she
+wore a cap, such as has since been consecrated to
+Liberty by my gallant countrymen.</p>
+
+<p>Shearjashub looked, trembled, and was silent.
+In a few minutes, however, his recollection returned.</p>
+
+<p>“Shearjashub!” exclaimed the lady of the rock,
+“listen!”</p>
+
+<p>But Shearjashub had given leg bail. Both he
+and his faithful squire, little Snap, had left the
+haunted glen as fast as their feet would carry
+them.</p>
+
+<p>He told the story when he got home, with some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>
+little exaggeration. Nobody believed him except
+the widow, his honoured mother, who had faith to
+swallow a camel. All the rest laughed at him, and
+the wicked damsels of the village were always
+joking about his mountain sweetheart.</p>
+
+<p>At last he got out of patience, and one day demanded
+of those who were bantering him what proof
+they would have of the truth of his story.</p>
+
+<p>“Why,” said old Deacon Mayhew, “I guess I
+should be considerably particular satisfied if you
+would bring us hum that same fife you heard the
+gal play on so finely.”</p>
+
+<p>“And I,” said another, “will believe the young
+squire if he'll play the same tune on it he heard
+yonder in the mountain.”</p>
+
+<p>Shearjashub was so pestered and provoked at
+last, that he determined to put his courage to the
+proof, and see whether it would bear him out in
+another visit to the chasm in the mountain. He
+thought he might as well be dead as have no comfort
+of his life.</p>
+
+<p>“I'll be darned if I don't go,” said he, and away
+he went, with no other company than his little dog.
+It was on the fourth day of July, 1776, that Shearjashub
+wrought himself up to a second visit.</p>
+
+<p>“I'm just come of age this very day,” said he,
+“and I'll show the kritters I'm not made a man for
+nothing.”</p>
+
+<p>He certainly felt, as he afterwards confessed, a
+little skittish on this occasion, and his dog seemed
+not much to relish the excursion. Shearjashub had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>
+his gun, but had not the heart to fire at any of the
+birds that flitted about, and seemed as if they were
+not afraid of coming nigh him. His mind ran upon
+other matters entirely. He was a long while getting
+to the chasm in the mountain. Sometimes he
+would stop to rest, as he said to himself, though he
+was not in the least tired; sometimes he found
+himself standing still, admiring nothing; and once
+or twice actually detected his feet moving on their
+way home, instead of towards the mountain.</p>
+
+<p>On arriving at the vast gates that, as it were,
+guarded the entrance to the glen, he halted to consider
+the matter. All was silence, repose, gloom,
+and sublimity. His spirit at first sunk under the
+majesty of nature, but at length became gradually inspired
+by the scene before him with something of
+a kindred dignity. He marched forward with a
+vigorous step and firm heart, rendered the more
+firm by hearing and seeing nothing of the white
+nymph of the rock or her sprightly music. He
+hardly knew whether he wished to see her or not,
+if she appeared he might be inspired to
+run away again; and if she did not, the deacon and
+the girls would laugh at him worse than ever.</p>
+
+<p>With these conflicting thoughts he arrived at the
+very centre of the gloomy solitude, where he stood
+a few moments, expecting to hear the music. All
+was loneliness; Repose lay sleeping on his bed of
+rocks, and Silence reigned alone in her chosen retreat.</p>
+
+<p>“Is it possible that I was dreaming the other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>
+day, when I was here, as these tarnal kritters twit
+me I was?” asked the young man of himself.</p>
+
+<p>He was answered by the voice of the white girl
+of the mountain, exclaiming, in the same sweet yet
+clear, animating, trumpet tones,</p>
+
+<p>“Shearjashub! Shearjashub! listen.”</p>
+
+<p>Jashub's legs felt some little inclination to run
+away; but this time he kept his ground like a brave
+fellow.</p>
+
+<p>Again the same sprightly air echoed through the
+silence of the deep profound, in strains of animating
+yet simple, careless vivacity. Shearjashub
+began to feel himself inspired. He bobbed his
+head from side to side to suit the air, and was once
+or twice on the point of cutting a caper.</p>
+
+<p>He felt his bosom thrill with unwonted energies,
+and a new vigour animated his frame as he contemplated
+the glorious figure of the mountain nymph,
+and listened to her sprightly flageolet.</p>
+
+<p>“Shearjashub!” cried the nymph, after finishing
+her strain of music, “listen!”</p>
+
+<p>“Speak—I hear,” said the young man.</p>
+
+<p>“My name is Liberty; dost thou know me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I have heard my father and grandfather speak
+of thee, and say they came to the New World to
+seek thee.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I am found at last. Listen to me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Speak on.”</p>
+
+<p>“Your country has just devoted herself forever
+to me and my glory. Your countrymen have this
+day pronounced themselves freemen, and they shall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>
+be what they have willed, in spite of fate or fortune.
+But my blessings are never thrown away on
+cowards; they are to be gained by toil, suffering,
+hunger, wounds, and death; by courage and perseverance;
+by virtue and patriotism. The wrath
+and the mighty energies of the oppressor are now
+directed against your people; hunger assails them;
+force overmatches them, and their spirits begin to
+fail. Take this pipe,” and she flung him the little
+flageolet, which he caught in his hand. “Canst
+thou play on it? Try.”</p>
+
+<p>He put it to his lips, and to his surprise, produced
+the same animating strain he had heard from
+the nymph of the mountain.</p>
+
+<p>“Now go forth among the people and their armies,
+and inspire them for battle. Wherever thou
+goest with thy pipe, and whenever thou playest
+that air, I will be with thee and thy countrymen.
+Go, fear not; those who deserve me shall always
+win me. Farewell—we shall meet again.” So
+saying, she vanished behind the tuft of laurels.</p>
+
+<p>Shearjashub marched straight home with his
+pipe, and somehow or other felt he did not quite
+know how; he felt as if he could eat gunpowder,
+and snap his fingers at the deacon.</p>
+
+<p>“What the dickens has got in the kritter?” said
+the deacon, when he saw him strutting along like a
+captain of militia.</p>
+
+<p>“I declare, Jashub looks like a continental,” exclaimed
+the girls.</p>
+
+<p>Just then Shearjashub put his pipe to his mouth,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>
+and played the tune he had learned, as if by magic,
+from the mountain nymph; whereat Deacon Mayhew
+made for the little white meeting house, whither
+all the villagers followed him, and preached a
+sermon, calling on the people to rise and fight for
+liberty, in such stirring strains that forthwith all the
+men, young and old, took their muskets and went
+out in defence of their country, under the command
+of Shearjashub. Wherever he came he played the
+magic tune on his pipe, and the men, like those of
+his native village, took to their arms, and went
+forth to meet the oppressor, like little David against
+Goliath, armed with a sling and a stone.</p>
+
+<p>They joined the army of Liberty, which they
+found dispirited with defeat, and weak with suffering
+and want. They scarcely dared hope for success
+to their cause, and a general gloom depressed
+the hearts of all the true friends of freedom. In
+this state the enemy attacked them, and threw
+them into confusion, when Shearjashub came on at
+the head of his troops, playing his inspiring music
+with might and main. Wherever he went the
+sounds seemed to awaken the spirit of heroism in
+every breast. Those who were retreating rallied;
+and those who stood their ground maintained it
+more stoutly than ever. The victory remained
+with the sons of Liberty, and Shearjashub celebrated
+it with a tune on his pipe, which echoed through
+the whole land, and wakened it to new triumphs.</p>
+
+<p>After a hard and bloody struggle, in which the
+pipe of Shearjashub animated the very clods of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>
+valley wherever he went, the promise of the nymph
+of the mountain was fulfilled. The countrymen of
+Shearjashub were free and independent. They
+were about to repose under the laurels they had
+reaped, and to wear what they had so dearly won.</p>
+
+<p>Shearjashub also departed for his native village
+with his pipe, which had so materially assisted in
+the attainment of the blessings of freedom. His
+way lay through the chasm in the mountain, where
+he first encountered the nymph with the cap and
+snow-white robe. He was anticipating the happiness
+of seeing his aged mother, who had lived
+through the long war, principally on the excitement
+of news, and the still more near and dear happiness
+of taking to his bosom the girl of his heart,
+Miss Prudence Worthy, as fair a maid as ever
+raised a sigh in the bosom of lusty youth.</p>
+
+<p>He had got to the centre of the glen when he was
+roused from his sweet anticipations by the well-remembered
+voice of the nymph of the mountain,
+who sat on the same inaccessible rock, under the
+same tuft of laurel, where he had first seen her,
+with an eagle at her side.</p>
+
+<p>“Shearjashub!” cried she, in a voice which made
+the echoes of the rocks mad with ecstasy—“Shearjashub!
+thou hast done well, and deserved nobly of
+thy country. The thought of that is, in itself,
+a glorious reward for toil, danger, and suffering.
+But thou shalt have one as dear, if not dearer than
+even this. Look where it comes.”</p>
+
+<p>Shearjashub looked, and beheld afar off a figure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>
+all in white coming towards him, at the entrance of
+the glen. It approached nearer, and it was a woman;
+nearer yet, and it was a young woman; still
+nearer, and Shearjashub rushed towards it, and
+kissed its blushing cheek. It was the girl of his
+heart, Miss Prudence Worthy.</p>
+
+<p>“This is thy other blessing,” exclaimed the
+mountain nymph, the sight of whom made Miss
+Prudence a little jealous; “a richer reward for
+noble exertions than a virtuous woman I know
+not of. Live free, live virtuous, and then thou
+wilt be happy. I shall be with thee an invisible
+witness, an invisible protector; but, in the mean
+while, should the spirit of the people ever flag, and
+their hearts fail them in time of peril, go forth among
+them as thou didst before, and rouse them with thy
+pipe and thy music. Farewell, and be happy!”</p>
+
+<p>The nymph disappeared, and the little jealous
+pang felt by Miss Prudence melted away in measureless
+confidence and love. The tune of the
+mountain nymph was played over and over again at
+Shearjashub's wedding, and ever afterwards became
+known by the name of YANKEE DOODLE.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2>
+<small>THE</small><br>
+RIDE OF SAINT NICHOLAS<br>
+<small>ON</small><br>
+NEWYEAR'S EVE.</h2>
+
+</div>
+
+
+<p>Of all the cities in this New World, that which
+once bore the name of Fort Orange, but now bears
+it no more, is the favourite of the good St. Nicholas.
+It is there that he hears the sound of his native
+language, and sees the honest Dutch pipe in
+the mouths of a few portly burghers, who, disdaining
+the pestilent innovations of modern times, still
+cling with honest obstinacy to the dress, the manners,
+and customs of old faderland. It is there, too
+that they have instituted a society in honour of
+the excellent saint, whose birthday they celebrate
+in a manner worthy of all commendation.</p>
+
+<p>True it is, that the city of his affections has from
+time to time committed divers great offences
+which sorely wounded the feelings of St. Nicholas,
+and almost caused him to withdraw his patronage
+from its backsliding citizens. First, by adopting
+the newfangled style of beginning the year at the
+bidding of the old lady of Babylon, whereby the
+jolly Newyear was so jostled out of place that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>
+good saint scarcely knew where to look for it.
+Next, they essayed themselves to learn outlandish
+tongues, whereby they gradually sophisticated
+their own, insomuch that he could hardly understand
+them. Thirdly, they did, from time to
+time, admit into their churches preachings and singings
+in the upstart English language, until by degrees
+the ancient worship became adulterated in
+such a manner that the indignant St. Nicholas,
+when he first witnessed it, did, for the only time in
+his life, come near to uttering a great oath, by exclaiming,
+“Wat donderdag is dat?” Now be it
+known that had he said, “Wat donder is dat,” it
+would have been downright swearing; so you see
+what a narrow escape he had.</p>
+
+<p>Not content with these backslidings, the burghers
+of Fort Orange—a pestilence on all new names!—suffered
+themselves by degrees to be corrupted by
+various modern innovations, under the mischievous
+disguise of improvements. Forgetting the reverence
+due to their ancestors, who eschewed all internal
+improvement, except that of the mind and
+heart, they departed from the venerable customs
+of the faderland, and pulling down the old houses
+that, scorning all appearance of ostentation, modestly
+presented the little end to the street, began
+to erect in their places certain indescribable buildings,
+with the broadsides as it were turned frontwise,
+by which strange contortion the comeliness
+of Fort Orange was utterly destroyed. It is on
+record that a heavy judgment fell upon the head<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>
+of the first man who adventured on this daring innovation.
+His money gave out before this monstrous
+novelty was completed, and he invented the
+pernicious system of borrowing and mortgaging,
+before happily unknown among these worthy citizens,
+who were utterly confounded, not long afterwards,
+at seeing the house change its owner—a
+thing that had never happened before in that goodly
+community, save when the son entered on the inheritance
+of his father.</p>
+
+<p>Becoming gradually more incorrigible in their
+backslidings, they were seduced into opening, widening,
+and regulating the streets; making the
+crooked straight and the narrow wide, thereby causing
+sad inroads into the strong boxes of divers of
+the honest burghers, who became all at once very
+rich, saving that they had no money to go to market.
+To cap the climax of their enormities, they
+at last committed the egregious sacrilege of pulling
+down the ancient and honourable Dutch church,
+which stood right in the middle of State-street, or
+Staats-street, being so called after the family of
+that name, from which I am lineally descended.</p>
+
+<p>At this the good St. Nicholas was exceedingly
+grieved; and when, by degrees, his favourite burghers
+left off eating sturgeon, being thereto instigated
+by divers scurvy jests of certain silly strangers,
+that knew not the excellence of that savoury fish,
+he cried out in the bitterness of his soul, “Onbegrypelyk!”—“Incredible!”
+meaning thereby that he
+could scarcely believe his eyes. In the bitterness of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>
+his soul he had resolved to return to faderland, and
+leave his beloved city to be swallowed up in the
+vortex of improvement. He was making his progress
+through the streets, to take his last farewell,
+in melancholy mood, when he came to the outlet of
+the Grand Canal, just then completed. “Is het mogelyk?”—which
+means, is it possible—exclaimed
+St. Nicholas; and thereupon he was so delighted
+with this proof that his beloved people had not altogether
+degenerated from their ancestors, that he
+determined not to leave them to strange saints, outlandish
+tongues, and modern innovations. He took
+a sail on the canal, and returned in such measureless
+content, that he blessed the good city of Fort
+Orange, as he evermore called it, and resolved to
+distribute a more than usual store of his Newyear
+cookies, at the Christmas holydays. That jovial
+season was now fast approaching. The autumn
+frosts had already invested the forests with a mantle
+of glory; the farmers were in their fields and
+orchards, gathering in the corn and apples, or
+making cider, the wholesome beverage of virtuous
+simplicity; the robins, blackbirds, and all the annual
+emigrants to southern climes, had passed
+away in flocks, like the adventurers to the far West;
+the bluebird alone lingered last of all to sing his
+parting song; and sometimes of a morning, the
+river showed a little fretted border of ice, looking
+like a fringe of lace on the garment of some decayed
+dowager. At length the liquid glass of the
+river cooled into a wide, immoveable mirror, glistening<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>
+in the sun; the trees, all save the evergreens,
+stood bare to the keen cold winds; the fields were
+covered with snow, affording no lures to tempt to
+rural wanderings; the enjoyments of life gradually
+centred themselves at the cheerful fireside—it was
+winter, and Newyear's eve was come again!</p>
+
+<p>The night was clear, calm, and cold, and the
+bright stars glittered in the heavens in such multitudes,
+that every man might have had a star to
+himself. The worthy patriarchs of Fort Orange,
+having gathered around them their children, and
+children's children, even unto the third and fourth
+generation, were enjoying themselves in innocent
+revelry at the cheerful fireside. All the enjoyments
+of life had contracted themselves into the domestic
+circle; the streets were as quiet as a churchyard,
+and not even the stroke of the watchman was heard
+on the curbstone. Gradually it waxed late, and
+the city clocks rang, in the silence of night, the
+hour which not one of the orderly citizens had
+heard, except at midday, since the last anniversary
+of the happy Newyear, save peradventure troubled
+with a toothache, or some such unseemly irritation.</p>
+
+<p>The doleful warning, which broke upon the
+frosty air like the tolling of a funeral bell, roused
+the sober devotees of St. Nicholas to a sense of
+their trespasses on the waning night, and after one
+good, smoking draught of spiced Jamaica to the
+patron saint, they, one and all, young and old, hied
+them to bed, that he might have a fair opportunity
+to bestow his favours without being seen by mortal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>
+eye. For be it known, that St. Nicholas, like
+all really heart-whole generous fellows, loves to do
+good in secret, and eschews those pompous benefactions
+which are duly recorded in the newspapers,
+being of opinion they only prove that the vanity
+of man is sometimes an overmatch for his avarice.</p>
+
+<p>Having allowed them fifteen minutes, which is
+as much as a sober burgher of good morals and
+habits requires, to get as fast asleep as a church,
+St. Nicholas, having harnessed his pony, and loaded
+his little wagon with a store of good things for well-behaved,
+diligent children, together with whips and
+other mementoes for undutiful varlets, did set forth
+gayly on his errand of benevolence.</p>
+
+<p>_Vuur en vlammen!_ how the good saint did hurry
+through the streets, up one chimney and down another;
+for be it known, they are not such miserable
+narrow things as those of other cities, where the
+claims of ostentation are so voracious that people
+can't afford to keep up good fires, and the chimneys
+are so narrow that the little sweeps of seven
+years old often get themselves stuck fast, to the
+imminent peril of their lives. You may think he
+had a good deal of business on hand, being obliged
+to visit every house in Fort Orange, between twelve
+o'clock and daylight, with the exception of some
+few would-be fashionable upstarts, who had mortally
+offended him, by turning up their noses at the
+simple jollifications and friendly greetings of the
+merry Newyear. Accordingly, he rides like the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>
+wind, scarcely touching the ground; and this is the
+reason that he is never seen, except by a rare
+chance, which is the cause why certain unbelieving
+sinners, who scoff at old customs and notions, either
+really do, or pretend to doubt, whether the good
+things found on Christmas and Newyear mornings
+in the stockings of the little varlets of Fort
+Orange and New-Amsterdam, are put there by the
+jolly St. Nicholas or not. Beshrew them, say I—and
+may they never taste the blessing of his bounty!
+Goeden Hemel! as if I myself, being a kinsman
+of the saint, don't know him as well as a debtor
+does his creditor! But people are grown so wise
+nowadays, that they believe in nothing but the increased
+value of property.</p>
+
+<p>Be this as it may, St. Nicholas went forth blithely
+on his goodly errand, without minding the intense
+cold, for he was kept right warm by the benevolence
+of his heart, and when that failed, he ever and anon
+addressed himself to a snug little pottle, the contents
+of which did smoke lustily when he pulled
+out the stopper, a piece of snow-white corn cob.</p>
+
+<p>It is impossible for me to specify one by one the
+visits paid that night by the good saint, or the various
+adventures which he encountered. I therefore
+content myself, and I trust my worthy and excellent
+readers, with dwelling briefly on those which
+appear to me most worthy of descending to posterity,
+and withal convey excellent moral lessons, without
+which history is naught, whether it be true or
+false.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p>
+
+<p>After visiting various honest little Dutch houses,
+with notched roofs, and the gable ends to the street,
+leaving his benedictions, St. Nicholas at length
+came to a goodly mansion bearing strong marks of
+being sophisticated by modern fantastic innovations.
+He would have passed it by in scorn, had he not
+remembered that it belonged to a descendant of one
+of his favoured votaries, who had passed away to
+his long home without being once backslided from
+the customs of his ancestors. Respect for the memory
+of this worthy man wrought upon his feelings,
+and he forthwith dashed down the chimney, where
+he stuck fast in the middle, and came nigh being
+suffocated with the fumes of anthracite coal, which
+this degenerate descendant of a pious ancestor,
+who spent thousands in useless and unseemly ostentation,
+burned by way of economy.</p>
+
+<p>If the excellent saint had not been enveloped, as
+it were, in the odour of sanctity, which in some
+measure protected him from the poison of this pestilent
+vapour, it might have gone hard with him;
+as it was, he was sadly bewildered, when his little
+pony, which liked the predicament no better than
+his master, made a violent plunge, drew the wagon
+through the narrow passage, and down they came
+plump into a magnificent bedchamber, filled with
+all sorts of finery, such as wardrobes, bedizened
+with tawdry ornaments; satin chairs too good to be
+looked at or sat upon, and therefore covered with
+brown linen; a bedstead of varnished mahogany,
+with a canopy over it somewhat like a cocked hat,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>
+with a plume of ostrich feathers instead of orthodox
+valances and the like; and a looking-glass large
+enough to reflect a Dutch city.</p>
+
+<p>St. Nicholas contemplated the pair who slept
+in this newfangled abomination with a mingled
+feeling of pity and indignation, though I must say
+the wife looked very pretty in her lace nightcap,
+with one arm as white as snow partly uncovered.
+But he soon turned away, being a devout and self-denying
+saint, to seek for the stockings of the little
+children, who were innocent of these unseemly innovations.
+But what was his horror at finding that,
+instead of being hung up in the chimney corner,
+they were thrown carelessly on the floor, and that
+the little souls, who lay asleep in each other's arms
+in another room, lest they should disturb their parents,
+were thus deprived of all the pleasant anticipations
+accompanying the approaching jolly Newyear.</p>
+
+<p>“Een vervlocte jonge,” said he to himself, for he
+never uttered his maledictions aloud, “to rob their
+little ones of such wholesome and innocent delights!
+But they shall not be disappointed.” So he sought
+the cold and distant chamber of the children, who
+were virtuous and dutiful, who, when they waked
+in the morning, found the bed covered with good
+things, and were as happy as the day is long.
+When St, Nicholas returned to the splendid chamber,
+which, be it known, was furnished with the
+spoils of industrious unfortunate people, to whom
+the owner lent money, charging them so much the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>
+more in proportion to their necessities. It is true
+that he gave some of the wealth he thus got over
+the duyvel's back, as it were, to public charities,
+and sometimes churches, when he knew it would
+get into the newspapers, by which he obtained the
+credit of being very pious and charitable. But St.
+Nicholas was too sensible and judicious not to know
+that the only charitable and pious donations agreeable
+to the Giver of good, are those which are
+honestly come by. The alms which are got by ill
+means can never come to good, and it is better to
+give back to those from whom we have taken it
+dishonestly even one fourth, yea, one tenth, than to
+bestow ten times as much on those who have no
+such claim. The true atonement for injuries is
+that made to the injured alone. All other is a cheat
+in the eye of Heaven. You cannot settle the account
+by giving to Peter what you have filched from
+Paul.</p>
+
+<p>So thought the good St. Nicholas, as he revolved
+in his mind a plan for punishing this degenerate
+caitiff, who despised his ordinances and customs,
+and was moreover one who, in dealing with borrowers,
+not only shaved but skinned them. Remembering
+not the perils of the chimney, he was
+about departing the same way he came, but the
+little pony obstinately refused; and the good saint,
+having first taken off the lace nightcap, and put a
+foolscap in its place, and given the money lender a
+tweak of the nose that made him roar, whipped
+instantly through the keyhole to pursue his benevolent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>
+tour through the ancient city of Fort Orange.</p>
+
+<p>Gliding through the streets unheard and unseen,
+he at length came to a little winding lane, from
+which his quick ear caught the sound of obstreperous
+revelry. Stopping his pony, and listening
+more attentively,— he distinguished the words, “Ich
+ben Liederich,” roared out in a chorus of mingled
+voices seemingly issuing from a little low house of
+the true orthodox construction, standing on the
+right-hand side, at a distance of a hundred yards,
+or thereabout.</p>
+
+<p>“Wat donderdag!” exclaimed St. Nicholas, “is
+mine old friend, Baltus Van Loon, keeping it up at
+this time of the morning? The old rogue! but I'll
+punish him for this breach of the good customs of
+Fort Orange.” So he halted on the top of Baltus's
+chimney, to consider the best way of bringing it
+about, and was, all at once, saluted in the nostrils
+by such a delectable perfume, arising from a certain
+spiced beverage, with which the substantial
+burghers were wont to recreate themselves at this
+season of the year, that he was sorely tempted to
+join a little in the revelry below, and punish the
+merry caitiffs afterwards. Presently he heard honest
+Baltus propose—“The jolly St. Nicholas,” as a
+toast, which was drunk in a full bumper, with great
+rejoicing and acclamation.</p>
+
+<p>St. Nicholas could stand it no longer, but descended
+forthwith into the little parlour of old Baltus,
+thinking, by-the-way, that, just to preserve appearances,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>
+he would lecture the roistering rogues
+a little for keeping such late hours, and, provided
+Baltus could give a good reason, or indeed any reason
+at all, for such an unseemly transgression, he
+would then sit down with them, and take some of
+the savoury beverage that had regaled his nostrils
+while waiting at the top of the chimney.</p>
+
+<p>The roistering rogues were so busy roaring out,
+“Ich ben Liederich,” that they did not take note of
+the presence of the saint, until he cried out with a
+loud and angry voice, “Wat blikslager is dat?”—he
+did not say blixem, because that would have been
+little better than swearing. “Ben je be dondered,
+to be carousing here at this time of night, ye ancient,
+and not venerable sinners?”</p>
+
+<p>Old Baltus was not a little startled at the intrusion
+of the strangers—for, if the truth must out, he
+was a little in for it, and saw double, as is usual
+at such times. This caused such a confusion in
+his head that he forgot to rise from his seat, and
+pay due honour to his visiter, as did the rest of the
+company.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you not ashamed of yourselves,” continued
+the saint, “to set such a bad example to the neighbourhood,
+by carousing at this time of the morning,
+contrary to good old customs, known and accepted
+by all, except such noisy splutterkins as yourselves?”</p>
+
+<p>“This time of the morning,” replied old Baltus,
+who had his full portion of Dutch courage—”this
+time of the morning, did you say? Look yonder,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>
+and see with your own eyes whether it is morning
+or not.</p>
+
+<p>The cunning rogue, in order to have a good excuse
+for transgressing the canons of St. Nicholas,
+had so managed it, that the old clock in the corner
+had run down, and now pointed to the hour of eleven,
+where it remained stationary, like a rusty weathercock.
+St. Nicholas knew this as well as old
+Baltus himself, and could not help being mightily
+tickled at this device. He told Baltus that this
+being the case, with permission of his host he
+would sit down by the fire and warm himself, till
+it was time to set forth again, seeing he had mistaken
+the hour.</p>
+
+<p>Baltus, who by this time began to perceive that
+there was but one visiter instead of two, now rose
+from the table with much ado, and approaching the
+stranger, besought him to take a seat among the
+jolly revellers, seeing they were there assembled
+in honour of St. Nicholas, and not out of any regard
+to the lusts of the flesh. In this he was joined
+by the rest of the company, so that St. Nicholas,
+being a good-natured fellow, at length suffered
+himself to be persuaded, whereto he was mightily
+incited by the savoury fumes issuing from a huge
+pitcher standing smoking in the chimney corner.
+So he sat down with old Baltus, and being called on
+for a toast, gave them “Old Faderland” in a bumper.</p>
+
+<p>Then they had a high time of it you may be sure.
+Old Baltus sang a famous song celebrating the
+valour of our Dutch ancestors, and their triumph<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>
+over the mighty power of Spain after a struggle of
+more than a generation, in which the meads of Holland
+smoked, and her canals were red with blood.
+Goeden Hemel! but I should like to have been
+there, for I hope it would have been nothing unseemly
+for one of my cloth to have joined in chorus
+with the excellent St. Nicholas. Then they talked
+about the good old times when the son who departed
+from the customs of his ancestors was considered
+little better than misbegotten; lamented over the
+interloping of such multitudes of idle flaunting men
+and women in their way to and from the springs;
+the increase of taverns, the high price of everything,
+and the manifold backslidings of the rising generation.
+Ever and anon, old Baltus would observe
+that sorrow was as dry as a corn cob, and pour out
+a full bumper of the smoking beverage, until at last
+it came to pass that honest Baltus and his worthy
+companions, being not used to such late hours, fell
+fast a sleep in their goodly armchairs, and snored
+lustily in concert. Whereupon St. Nicholas, feeling
+a little waggish, after putting their wigs the
+hinder part before, and placing a great China bowl
+upside down on the head of old Baltus, who sat
+nodding like a mandarin, departed laughing ready
+to split his sides. In the morning, when Baltus
+and his companions awoke, and saw what a figure
+they cut, they laid all the trick to the door of the
+stranger, and never knew to the last day of their
+lives who it was that caroused with them so lustily
+on Newyear's morning.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span></p>
+
+<p>Pursuing his way in high good humour, being
+somewhat exhilarated by the stout carousal with old
+Baltus and his roistering companions, St. Nicholas
+in good time came into the ancient _Colonie_, which
+being, as it were, at the outskirts of Fort Orange,
+was inhabited by many people not well to do in
+the world. He descended the chimney of an old
+weatherworn house that bore evident marks of poverty,
+for he is not one of those saints that hanker
+after palaces and turn their backs on their friends.
+It is his pleasure to seek out and administer to
+the innocent gratifications of those who are obliged
+to labour all the year round, and can only spare
+time to be merry at Christmas and Newyear. He
+is indeed the poor man's saint.</p>
+
+<p>On entering the room, he was struck with the
+appearance of poverty and desolation that reigned
+all around. A number of little children of different
+ages, but none more than ten years old, lay huddled
+close together on a straw bed, which was
+on the floor, their limbs intertwined to keep themselves
+warm, for their covering was scant and miserable.
+Yet they slept in peace, for they had quiet
+countenances, and hunger seeks refuge in the oblivion
+of repose. In a corner of the room stood a
+miserable bed, on which lay a female, whose
+face, as the moonbeams fell upon it through a
+window without shutters, many panes of which
+were stuffed with old rags to keep out the nipping
+air of the winter night, bore evidence of
+long and painful suffering. It looked like death<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>
+rather than sleep. A little pine table, a few broken
+chairs, and a dresser, whose shelves were ill supplied,
+constituted the remainder of the furniture
+of this mansion of poverty.</p>
+
+<p>As he stood contemplating the scene, his honest
+old heart swelled with sorrowful compassion, saying
+to himself, “God bewaar ous, but this is pitiful.”
+At that moment, a little child on the straw bed cried
+out in a weak voice that went to the heart of the
+saint, “Mother, mother, give me to eat—I am
+hungry.” St. Nicholas went to the child, but she
+was fast asleep, and hunger had infected her very
+dreams. The mother did not hear, for long-continued
+sorrow and suffering sleep sounder than
+happiness, as the waters lie stillest when the tempest
+is past.</p>
+
+<p>Again the little child cried out, “Mother, mother,
+I am freezing—give me some more covering.”
+“Be quiet, Blandina,” answered a voice deep and
+hoarse, yet not unkind; and St. Nicholas, looking
+around to see whence it came, beheld a man sitting
+close in the chimney corner, though there was no
+fire burning, his arms folded close around him, and
+his head drooping on his bosom. He was clad like
+one of the children of poverty, and his teeth chattered
+with cold. St. Nicholas wiped his eyes, for
+he was a good-hearted saint, and coming close up
+to the miserable man, said to him kindly, “How
+do ye, my good friend?”</p>
+
+<p>“Friend,” said the other, “I have no friend but
+God, and he seems to have deserted me.” As he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>
+said this, he raised his saddened eyes to the good
+saint, and after looking at him a little while, as if
+he was not conscious of his presence, dropped them
+again, even without asking who he was, or whence
+he came, or what he wanted. Despair had deadened
+his faculties, and nothing remained in his
+mind but the consciousness of suffering.</p>
+
+<p>“_Het is jammer, het is jammer_—it is a pity, it
+is a pity!” quoth the kind-hearted saint, as he
+passed his sleeve across his eyes. “But something
+must be done, and that quickly too.” So he
+shook the poor man somewhat roughly by the
+shoulder, and cried out, “Ho! ho! what aileth thee,
+son of my good old friend, honest Johannes Garrebrantze?”</p>
+
+<p>This salutation seemed to rouse the poor man,
+who arose upon his seat, and essaying to stand upright,
+fell into the arms of St. Nicholas, who almost
+believed it was a lump of ice, so cold and stiff did
+it seem. Now, be it known that Providence, as a
+reward for his benevolent disposition, has bestowed
+on St. Nicholas the privilege of doing good without
+measure to all who are deserving of his
+bounty, and that by such means as he thinks proper
+to the purpose. It is a power he seldom exerts
+to the uttermost, except on pressing occasions,
+and this he believed one of them.</p>
+
+<p>Perceiving that the poor man was wellnigh frozen
+to death, he called into action the supernatural
+faculties which had been committed to him, and
+lo! in an instant a rousing fire blazed on the hearth,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>
+towards which the poor man, instinctively as it
+were, edged his chair, and stretched out one of his
+bony hands, that was as stiff as an icicle. The
+light flashed so brightly in the face of the little
+ones and their mother, that they awoke, and seeing
+the cheerful blaze, arose in their miserable
+clothing, which they had worn to aid in keeping
+them warm, and hied as fast as they could to bask
+in its blessed warmth. So eager were they, that
+for a while they were unconscious of the presence
+of a stranger, although St. Nicholas had now assumed
+his proper person, that he might not be
+taken for some one of those diabolical wizards
+who, being always in mischief, are ashamed to
+show their faces among honest people.</p>
+
+<p>At length the poor man, who was called after his
+father Johannes Garrebrantze, being somewhat revived
+by the genial warmth of the fire, looked
+around, and became aware of the presence of the
+stranger, which inspired him with a secret awe, for
+which he could not account, insomuch that his
+voice trembled, though now he was not cold, when,
+after some hesitation, he said,</p>
+
+<p>“Stranger, thou art welcome to this poor house.
+I would I were better able to offer thee the hospitalities
+of the season, but I will wish thee a happy
+Newyear, and that is all I can bestow.” The good
+yffrouw, his wife, repeated the wish, and straightway
+began to apologize for the untidy state of her
+apartment.</p>
+
+<p>“Make no apologies,” replied the excellent saint;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>
+“I come to give, not to receive. To-night I treat,
+to-morrow you may return the kindness to others.”</p>
+
+<p>“I?” said Johannes Garrebrantze; “I have nothing
+to bestow but good wishes, and nothing to receive
+but the scorn and neglect of the world. If I
+had anything to give thee to eat or drink, thou
+shouldst have it with all my heart. But the newyear,
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">which brings jollity to the hearts of others,</span><br>
+brings nothing but hunger and despair to me and
+mine.”</p>
+
+<p>“Thou hast seen better days, I warrant thee,”
+answered the saint; “for thou speakest like a
+scholar of Leyden. Tell me thy story, Johannes,
+my son, and we shall see whether in good time
+thou wilt not hold up thy head as high as a church
+steeple.”</p>
+
+<p>“Alas! to what purpose, since man assuredly
+has, and Heaven seems to have forsaken me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hush!” cried St. Nicholas, “Heaven never
+forsakes the broken spirit, or turns a deaf ear to the
+cries of innocent children. It is for the wicked
+never to hope, the virtuous never to despair. I predict
+thou shalt live to see better days.”</p>
+
+<p>“I must see them soon then, for neither I, my
+wife, nor my children have tasted food since twenty-four
+hours past.”</p>
+
+<p>“What! God be with us! is there such lack of
+charity in the burghers of the Colonie, that they
+will suffer a neighbour to starve under their very
+noses? Onbegrypelik—I'll not believe it.”</p>
+
+<p>“They know not my necessities.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span></p>
+
+<p>“No? What! hast thou no tongue to speak
+them?”</p>
+
+<p>“I am too proud to beg.”</p>
+
+<p>“And too lazy to work,” cried St. Nicholas, in a
+severe tone.</p>
+
+<p>“Look you,” answered the other, holding up his
+right arm with his left, and showing that the sinews
+were stiffened by rheumatism.</p>
+
+<p>“Is it so, my friend? Well, but thou mightst
+still have bent thy spirit to ask charity for thy
+starving wife and children, though, in truth, begging
+is the last thing an honest man ought to stoop to.
+But Goeden Hemel! here am I talking while thou
+and thine are perishing with hunger.”</p>
+
+<p>Saying which, St. Nicholas straightway bade the
+good yffrouw to bring forth the little pine table,
+which she did, making divers apologies for the
+want of a tablecloth; and when she had done so,
+he incontinently spread out upon it such store of
+good things from his little cart, as made the hungry
+childrens' mouths to water, and smote the hearts
+of their parents with joyful thanksgivings. “Eat,
+drink, and be merry,” said St. Nicholas, “for to-morrow
+thou shalt not die, but live.”</p>
+
+<p>The heart of the good saint expanded, like as the
+morning-glory does to the first rays of the sun,
+while he sat rubbing his hands at seeing them eat
+with such a zest, as made him almost think it was
+worth while to be hungry in order to enjoy such
+triumphant satisfaction. When they had done, and
+returned their pious thanks to Heaven and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>
+good stranger, St. Nicholas willed the honest man
+to expound the causes which had brought him to
+his present deplorable condition. “My own folly,”
+said he; and the other sagely replied, “I thought
+as much. Beshrew me, friend, if in all my experience,
+and I have lived long, and seen much, I ever
+encountered distress and poverty that could not be
+traced to its source in folly or vice. Heaven is too
+bountiful to entail misery on its creatures, save
+through their own transgressions. But I pray thee,
+go on with thy story.”</p>
+
+<p>The good man then went on to relate that his
+father, old Johannes Garrebrantze—</p>
+
+<p>“Ah!” quoth St. Nicholas, “I knew him well.
+He was an honest man, and that, in these times of
+all sorts of improvements, except in mind and morals,
+is little less than miraculous. But I interrupt
+thee, friend—proceed with thy story, once more.”</p>
+
+<p>The son of Johannes again resumed his story,
+and related how his father had left him a competent
+estate in the _Colonie_, on which he lived in good
+credit, and in the enjoyment of a reasonable competency,
+with his wife and children, until within a
+few years past, when seeing a vast number of
+three-story houses, with folding doors and marble
+mantelpieces rising up all around him, he began to
+be ashamed of his little one-story house with the
+gable end to the street, and—</p>
+
+<p>“Ah! Johannes,” interrupted the pale wife, “do
+not spare me. It was I that in the vanity of my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>
+heart put such notions in thy head. It was I that
+tempted thee.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was the duyvel,” muttered St.Nicholas, “in
+the shape of a pretty wife.”</p>
+
+<p>Johannes gave his helpmate a look of affectionate
+forgiveness, and went on to tell St. Nicholas how,
+finally egged on by the evil example of his neighbours,
+he had at last committed sacrilege against
+his household gods, and pulled down the home of
+his fathers, commencing a new one on its ruins.</p>
+
+<p>“Donderdag!” quoth the saint to himself; “and
+the bricks came from faderland too!”</p>
+
+<p>When Johannes had about half finished his new
+house, he discovered one day, to his great astonishment
+and dismay, that all his money, which he had
+been saving for his children, was gone. His strong
+box was empty, and his house but half finished,
+although, after estimating the cost, he had allowed
+one third more in order to be sure in the business.</p>
+
+<p>Johannes was now at a dead stand. The idea
+of borrowing money and running in debt never entered
+his head before, and probably would not
+now, had it not been suggested to him by a
+neighbour, a great speculator, who had lately built a
+whole street of houses, not a single brick of which
+belonged to him in reality. He had borrowed the
+money, mortgaged the property, and expected to
+grow rich by a sudden rise. Poor Johannes
+may be excused for listening to the seductions of
+this losel varlet, seeing he had a house half finished
+on his hands; but whether so or not, he did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>
+listen and was betrayed into borrowing money of
+a bank just then established in the _Colonie_ on a
+capital paid in according to law—that is, not paid at
+all—the directors of which were very anxious to
+exchange their rags for lands and houses.</p>
+
+<p>Johannes finished his house in glorious style,
+and having opened this new mine of wealth, furnished
+it still more gloriously; and as it would
+have been sheer nonsense not to live gloriously in
+such a glorious establishment, spent thrice his income
+in order to keep up his respectability. He
+was going on swimmingly, when what is called a
+reaction took place; which means, as far as I can
+understand, that the bank directors, having been
+pleased to make money plenty to increase their
+dividends, are pleased thereafter to make it scarce
+for the same purpose. Instead of lending it in the
+name of the bank, it is credibly reported they do
+it through certain brokers, who charge lawful interest
+and unlawful commission, and thus cheat
+the law with a clear conscience. But I thank
+Heaven devoutly that I know nothing of their
+wicked mysteries, and therefore will say no more
+about them.</p>
+
+<p>Be this as it may, Johannes was called upon all
+of a sudden to pay his notes to the bank, for the
+reaction had commenced, and there was no more
+renewals. The directors wanted all the money to
+lend out at three per cent. a month. It became
+necessary to raise the wind, as they say in Wall-street,
+and Johannes, by the advice of his good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>
+friend the speculative genius, went with him to a
+certain money lender of his acquaintance, who was
+reckoned a good Christian, because he always
+charged most usury where there was the greatest
+necessity for a loan. To a rich man he would lend
+at something like a reasonable interest, but to a man
+in great distress for money he showed about as
+much mercy as a weazel does to a chicken. He
+sucked their blood till there was not a drop left in
+their bodies. This he did six days in the week,
+and on the seventh went three times to church, to
+enable him to begin the next week with a clear conscience.
+Beshrew such varlets, I say; they bring
+religion itself into disrepute, and add the sin of hypocrisy
+to men to that of insult to Heaven.</p>
+
+<p>Suffice it to say, that poor Johannes Garrebrantze
+the younger went down hill faster than he ever went
+up in his life; and inasmuch as I scorn these details
+of petty roguery as unworthy of my cloth and calling,
+I shall content myself with merely premising, that
+by a process very common nowadays, the poor
+man was speedily bereft of all the patrimony left
+him by his worthy father in paying commission to
+the money lender. He finally became bankrupt;
+and inasmuch as he was unacquainted with the
+mystery of getting rich by such a manœuvre, was
+left without a shilling in the world. He retired
+from his fine house, which was forthwith occupied
+by his good friend the money lender, whose nose
+had been tweaked by St. Nicholas, as heretofore
+recorded, and took refuge in the wretched building<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>
+where he was found by that benevolent worthy.
+Destitute of resources, and entirely unacquainted
+with the art of living by his wits or his labours,
+though he tried hard both ways, poor Johannes became
+gradually steeped in poverty to the very lips,
+and being totally disabled by rheumatism, might,
+peradventure, with all his family, have perished that
+very night, had not Providence mercifully sent the
+good St. Nicholas to their relief.</p>
+
+<p>“_Wat donderdag!_” exclaimed the saint, when he
+had done—”_wat donderdag!_—was that your house
+down yonder, with the fine bedroom, the wardrobes,
+the looking-glass as big as the moon, and the bedstead
+with a cocked hat and feathers?”</p>
+
+<p>“Even so,” replied the other, hanging down his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>“_Is het mogelyk!_” And after considering a little
+while, the good saint slapped his hand on the table,
+broke forth again—“By donderdag, but I'll soon
+settle this business.”</p>
+
+<p>He then began to hum an old Dutch hymn, which
+by its soothing and wholesome monotony so operated
+upon Johannes and his family, that one and
+all fell fast asleep in their chairs.</p>
+
+<p>The good St. Nicholas then lighted his pipe, and
+seating himself by the fire, revolved in his mind
+the best mode of proceeding on this occasion. At
+first he determined to divest the rich money lender
+of all his ill-gotten gains, and bestow them on poor
+Johannes and his family. But when he considered
+that the losel caitiff was already sufficiently punished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>
+in being condemned to the sordid toils of
+money making, and in the privation of all those
+social and benevolent feelings which, while they
+contribute to our own happiness, administer to that
+of others; that he was for ever beset with the consuming
+cares of avarice, the hope of gain, and the
+fear of losses; and that, rich as he was, he suffered
+all the gnawing pangs of an insatiable desire for
+more—when he considered all this, St. Nicholas
+decided to leave him to the certain punishment of
+ill-gotten wealth, and the chances of losing it by an
+over craving appetite for its increase, which sooner
+or later produces all the consequences of reckless
+imprudence.</p>
+
+<p>“Let the splutterkin alone,” thought St. Nicholas,
+“and he will become the instrument of his
+own punishment.”</p>
+
+<p>Then he went on to think what he should do for
+poor Johannes and his little children. Though he
+had been severely punished for his folly, yet did
+the good saint, who in his nightly holyday peregrinations
+had seen more of human life and human
+passions than the sun ever shone upon, very well
+know that sudden wealth, or sudden poverty, is a
+sore trial of the heart of man, in like manner as the
+sudden transition from light to darkness, or darkness
+to light, produces a temporary blindness. It
+was true that Johannes had received a severe lesson,
+but the great mass of mankind are prone to
+forget the chastening rod of experience, as they do
+the pangs of sickness when they are past. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>
+therefore settled in his mind, that the return of Johannes
+to competence and prosperity should be by
+the salutary process of his own exertions, and that
+he should learn their value by the pains it cost to
+attain them. “_Het is goed visschen in troebel
+water_,” quoth he, “for then a man knows the value
+of what he catches.”</p>
+
+<p>It was broad daylight before he had finished his
+pipe and his cogitations, and placing his old polished
+delft pipe carefully in his buttonhole, the good
+saint sallied forth, leaving Johannes and his family
+still fast asleep in their chairs. Directly opposite
+the miserable abode of Johannes there dwelt a little
+fat Dutchman, of a reasonable competency,
+who had all his life manfully stemmed the torrent
+of modern innovation. He eschewed all sorts of
+paper money as an invention of people without
+property to get hold of those that had it; abhorred
+the practice of widening streets; and despised in
+his heart all public improvements except canals,
+a sneaking notion for which he inherited from
+old faderland. He was honest as the light of the
+blessed sun; and though he opened his best parlour
+but twice a year to have it cleaned and put
+to rights, yet this I will say of him, that the poor
+man who wanted a dinner was never turned away
+from his table. The worthy burgher was standing
+at the street door, which opened in the middle, and
+leaning over the lower half, so that the smoke of
+his pipe ascended in the clear frosty morning in a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>
+little white column far into the sky before it was
+dissipated.</p>
+
+<p>St. Nicholas stopped his wagon right before his
+door, and cried out in a clear hearty voice,</p>
+
+<p>“Good-morning, good-morning, mynheer; and a
+happy Newyear to you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-morning,” cried the hale old burgher,
+“and many happy Newyears to _you_. Hast got
+any good fat hen turkies to sell?” for he took him
+for a countryman coming in to market. St. Nicholas
+answered and said that he had been on a different
+errand that morning; and the other cordially
+invited him to alight, come in, and take a glass
+of hot spiced rum, with the which it was his custom
+to regale all comers at the jolly Newyear.
+The invitation was frankly accepted, for the worthy
+St. Nicholas, though no toper, was never a
+member of the temperance society. He chose
+to be keeper of his own conscience, and was of
+opinion that a man who is obliged to sign an obligation
+not to drink, will be very likely to break it
+the first convenient opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>As they sat cozily together, by a rousing fire of
+wholesome and enlivening hickory, the little plump
+Dutchman occasionally inveighing stoutly against
+paper money, railroads, improving streets, and the
+like, the compassionate saint took occasion to utter
+a wish that the poor man over the way and his
+starving family had some of the good things that
+were so rife on Newyear's day, for he had occasion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>
+to know that they were suffering all the evils of
+the most abject poverty.</p>
+
+<p>“The splutterkin,” exclaimed the little fat burgher—”he
+is as proud as Lucifer himself. I had a
+suspicion of this, and sought divers occasions to get
+acquainted with him, that I might have some excuse
+for prying into his necessities, and take the privilege
+of an old neighbour to relieve them. But _vuur en
+vlammen_! would you believe it—he avoided me
+just as if he owed me money, and couldn't pay.”</p>
+
+<p>St. Nicholas observed that if it was ever excusable
+for a man to be proud, it was when he fell into
+a state where every one, high and low, worthless
+and honourable, looked down upon him with contempt.
+Then he related to him the story of poor
+Johannes, and taking from his pocket a heavy purse,
+he offered it to the worthy old burgher, who swore
+he would be dondered if he wanted any of his
+money.</p>
+
+<p>“But hearken to me,” said the saint; “yon foolish
+lad is the son of an old friend of mine, who did me
+many a kindness in his day, for which I am willing
+to requite his posterity. Thou shalt take this purse
+and bestow a small portion of it, as from thyself,
+as a loan from time to time, as thou seest he deserves
+it by his exertions. It may happen, as I hope
+it will, that in good time he will acquire again the
+competency he hath lost by his own folly and inexperience;
+and as he began the world a worthy, respectable
+citizen, I beseech thee to do this—to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>
+his friend, and to watch over him and his little ones,
+in the name of St. Nicholas.”</p>
+
+<p>The portly Burgher promised that he would,
+and they parted with marvellous civility, St. Nicholas
+having promised to visit him again should his
+life be spared. He then mounted his little wagon,
+and the little Dutchman having turned his head for
+an instant, when he looked again could see nothing
+of the saint or his equipage. “_Is het mogelyk!_”
+exclaimed he, and his mind misgave him that there
+was something unaccountable in the matter.</p>
+
+<p>My story is already too long, peradventure, else
+would I describe the astonishment of Johannes and
+his wife when they awoke and found the benevolent
+stranger had departed without bidding them farewell.
+They would have thought all that had passed
+was but a dream, had not the fragments of the good
+things on which they regaled during the night bore
+testimony to its reality. Neither will I detail how,
+step by step, aided by the advice and countenance
+of the worthy little Dutchman, and the judicious
+manner of his dispensing the bounty of St. Nicholas,
+Johannes Garrebrantze, by a course of industry,
+economy, and integrity, at length attained once again
+the station he had lost by his follies and extravagance.
+Suffice it to say, that though he practised
+a rational self-denial in all his outlayings, he neither
+became a miser, nor did he value money except as
+the means of obtaining the comforts of life, and
+administering to the happiness of others.</p>
+
+<p>In the mean time, the money lender, not being<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>
+content with the wealth he had obtained by taking
+undue advantage of the distresses of others, and
+becoming every day more greedy, launched out into
+mighty speculations. He founded a score of towns
+without any houses in them; dealt by hundreds of
+thousands in fancy stocks; and finally became the
+victim of one of his own speculations, by in time
+coming to believe in the very deceptions he had
+practised upon others. It is an old saying, that the
+greatest rogue in the world, sooner or latter, meets
+with his match, and so it happened with the money
+lender. He was seduced into the purchase of a
+town without any houses in it, at an expense of
+millions; was met by one of those reactions that
+play the mischief with honest labourers, and thus
+finally perished in a bottomless pit of his own digging.
+Finding himself sinking, he resorted to forgeries,
+and had by this means raised money to such
+an amount, that his villany almost approached to
+sublimity. His property, as the phrase is, came
+under the hammer, and Johannes purchased his
+own house at half the price it cost him in building.</p>
+
+<p>The good St. Nicholas trembled at the new ordeal
+to which Johannes had subjected himself; but
+finding, when he visited him, as he did regularly
+every Newyear's eve, that he was cured of his foolish
+vanities, and that his wife was one of the best
+housekeepers in all Fort Orange, he discarded his
+apprehensions, and rejoiced in the prosperity that
+was borne so meekly and wisely. The little fat
+Dutchman lived a long time in expectation that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>
+stranger in the one-horse wagon would come for
+the payment of his purse of money; but finding that
+year after year rolled away without his appearing,
+often said to himself, as he sat on his stoop with a
+pipe in his mouth,</p>
+
+<p>“I'll be dondered if I don't believe it was the
+good St. Nicholas.”</p>
+
+
+<p class="center">THE END.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p>
+
+<h3 class="nobreak" id="INTERESTING_WORKS">INTERESTING WORKS<br>
+
+<small>PUBLISHED BY</small><br>
+
+HARPER &amp; BROTHERS,<br>
+
+New-York.</h3>
+</div>
+<hr>
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with Engravings, Maps, &amp;c.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">=THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS=.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the earliest Period to the Present Time.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. H. H. MILMAN.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with Portraits,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By J. G. LOCKHART, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE OF NELSON.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By ROBERT SOUTHEY, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE AND ACTIONS OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">ALEXANDER THE GREAT.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Rev. J. WILLIAMS.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with numerous Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE NATURAL HISTORY OF INSECTS.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE OF LORD BYRON.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JOHN GALT.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE OF MOHAMMED.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Founder of the Religion of Islam, and of the Empire of
+the Saracens.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Rev. GEORGE BUSH.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with an Engraving</p>
+
+<p class="center">LETTERS ON DEMONOLOGY AND WITCHCRAFT.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Sir WALTER SCOTT, Bart.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. G. R. GLEIG.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Maps, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p class="center">NARRATIVE OF DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE IN</p>
+
+<p class="center">the Polar Seas and Regions.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Illustrations of their Climate, Geology, and
+Natural History, and an Account of the
+Whale-Fishery.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Professors LESLIE and JAMESON, and
+HUGH MURRAY, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
+GEORGE THE FOURTH.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons of the last
+Fifty years.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Rev. GEORGE CROLY.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">NARRATIVE OF DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE IN AFRICA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the Earliest Ages to the Present Time</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Illustrations of its Geology, Mineralogy, and
+Zoology.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Professor JAMESON, and JAMES WILSON and
+HUGH MURRAY, Esqrs.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 5 vols. 18mo., with Portraits,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIVES OF THE MOST EMINENT</p>
+
+<p class="center">PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORY OF CHIVALRY AND THE CRUSADES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIFE OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By HENRY GLASSFORD BELL, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">A VIEW OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">ANCIENT AND MODERN EGYPT.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With an Outline of its Natural History.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORY OF POLAND.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JAMES FLETCHER, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">PALESTINE, OR THE HOLY LAND,</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the Earliest Period to the Present Time</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">=LIFE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON=.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Sir DAVID BREWSTER, K.B., LL.D., F.R.S.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">FESTIVALS, GAMES, AND AMUSEMENTS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Ancient and Modern.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By HORATIO SMITH, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Additions, by SAMUEL WOODWORTH, Esq., of New-York.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Portraits,</p>
+
+<p class="center">MEMOIRS OF THE
+EMPRESS JOSEPHINE.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JOHN S. MEMES, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Portraits,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIVES AND VOYAGES OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">DRAKE, CAVENDISH, AND DAMPIER,</p>
+
+<p class="center">Including an Introductory View of the Earlier Discoveries
+in the South Sea, and the History
+of the Bucaniers.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">A. DESCRIPTION OF PITCAIRN'S ISLAND,
+AND ITS INHABITANTS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With an Authentic Account of the Mutiny of the Ship
+Bounty, and of the subsequent Fortunes of
+the Mutineers.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By J. BARROW, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">The Court and Camp of Bonaparte.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">Sacred History of the World,</p>
+
+<p class="center">as displayed in the Creation and Subsequent Events
+to the Deluge.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Attempted to be Philosophically considered in a
+Series of Letters to a Son.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By SHARON TURNER, F.S.A.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">MEMOIRS OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">CELEBRATED FEMALE SOVEREIGNS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Mrs. JAMESON.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Portraits, Maps, &amp;c.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">JOURNAL OF AN EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE COURSE AND TERMINATION OF THE NIGER.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With a Narrative of a Voyage down that River
+to its Termination.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By RICHARD and JOHN LANDER.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">INQUIRIES CONCERNING THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS,</p>
+
+<p class="center">and the Investigation of Truth.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M.D., F.R.S.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Questions.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIVES OF CELEBRATED TRAVELLERS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JAMES AUGUSTUS ST. JOHN.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIFE OF FREDERIC THE SECOND,</p>
+
+<p class="center">King of Prussia.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By LORD DOVER.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">SKETCHES FROM VENETIAN HISTORY.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. E. SMEDLEY, M.A.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">INDIAN BIOGRAPHY,</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+or, an Historical Account of those individuals who have<br>
+been distinguished among the North American<br>
+Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen,<br>
+and other Remarkable<br>
+Characters.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">By B. B. THATCHER, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">BRITISH INDIA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the most remote Period to the Present Time.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Including a Narrative of the early Portuguese and English<br>
+Voyages, the Revolutions in the Mogul Empire,<br>
+and the Origin, Progress, and Establishment<br>
+of the British Power; with Illustrations<br>
+of the Botany, Zoology, Climate,<br>
+Geology, and Mineralogy.<br>
+<br>
+By HUGH MURRAY, Esq., JAMES WILSON, Esq., R. K.<br>
+GREVILLE, LL.D., WHITELAW AINSLIE, M.D.,<br>
+WILLIAM RHIND, Esq., Professor JAMESON,<br>
+Professor WALLACE, and Captain<br>
+CLARENCE DALRYMPLE.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Addressed to Sir Walter Scott.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Dr. BREWSTER.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORY OF IRELAND.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the Anglo-Norman Invasion till the Union of the
+Country with Great Britain.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By W. C. TAYLOR, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Additions, by WILLIAM SAMPSON, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF
+DISCOVERY ON THE NORTHERN COASTS OF
+NORTH AMERICA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By P. F. TYTLER, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Descriptive Sketches of the Natural History of
+the North American Regions.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By Professor WILSON.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE TRAVELS AND RESEARCHES OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT;</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+being a condensed Narrative of his Journeys in the<br>
+Equinoctial Regions of America, and in Asiatic<br>
+Russia: together with Analyses of his<br>
+more important Investigations.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">By W. MACGILLIVRAY, A. M.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with numerous Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LETTERS OF EULER</p>
+
+<p class="center">ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS OF NATURAL
+PHILOSOPHY.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Addressed to a German Princess.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by HUNTER.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Notes, and a Life of Euler, by Sir DAVID BREWSTER
+and Additional Notes, by JOHN GRISCOM, LL.D.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With a Glossary of Scientific Terms.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">A POPULAR GUIDE TO</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE OBSERVATION OF NATURE;</p>
+
+<p class="center">or, Hints of Inducement to the Study of Natural Productions
+and Appearances, in their Connexions
+and Relations.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By ROBERT MUDIE.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE MORAL FEELINGS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M.D., F.R.S.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Questions.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY
+BY THE DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By THOMAS DICK, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORY OF CHARLEMAGNE.</p>
+
+<p class="center">To which is prefixed an Introduction, comprising the
+History of France from the Earliest Period
+to the Birth of Charlemagne.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">NUBIA AND ABYSSINIA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Comprehending their Civil History, Antiquities, Arts,
+Religion, Literature, and Natural History.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIFE OF OLIVER CROMWELL.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LECTURES ON GENERAL LITERATURE,
+POETRY, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Delivered at the Royal Institute in 1830 and 1831.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JAMES MONTGOMERY.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">MEMOIR OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE LIFE OF PETER THE GREAT.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JOHN BARROW, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">PERSIA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">From the Earliest Period to the Present Time.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+With a Detailed View of its Resources, Government,<br>
+Population, Natural History, and the Character<br>
+of its Inhabitants, particularly of the<br>
+Wandering Tribes: including<br>
+a Description of Afghanistan.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JAMES B. FRASER, Esq.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Map and Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE HISTORY OF ARABIA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Ancient and Modern.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+Containing a Description of the Country—An Account<br>
+of its Inhabitants, Antiquities, Political Condition,<br>
+and Early Commerce—The Life and Religion of<br>
+Mohammed—The Conquests, Arts, and Literature<br>
+of the Saracens—The Caliphs of Damascus,<br>
+Bagdad, Africa, and Spain—The Civil<br>
+Government and Religious Ceremonies of<br>
+the Modern Arabs—Origin and Suppression<br>
+of the Wahabees—The Institutions,<br>
+Character, Manners, and<br>
+Customs of the Bedouins; and<br>
+a Comprehensive View of<br>
+its Natural History.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">By ANDREW CRICHTON.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE PRINCIPLES OF PHYSIOLOGY,</p>
+
+<p class="center">APPLIED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH,
+AND TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF
+PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
+EDUCATION.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By ANDREW COMBE, M.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE BARBARY STATES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Comprehending a View of their Civil Institutions, Antiquities,
+Arts, Religion, Literature, Commerce,
+Agriculture, and Natural Productions.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By the Rev. M. RUSSELL, LL.D.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with beautiful Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">A LIFE OF WASHINGTON.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By J. K. PAULDING, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">The Philosophy of Living;</p>
+
+<p class="center">OR, THE WAY TO ENJOY LIFE
+AND ITS COMFORTS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By CALEB TICKNOR, A.M., M.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE EARTH.</p>
+
+<p class="center">ITS PHYSICAL CONDITION,
+AND MOST REMARKABLE PHENOMENA.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By W. MULLINGER HIGGINS.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">XENOPHON.</p>
+
+<p class="center">(Anabasis, translated by EDWARD SPELMAN, Esq.,
+Cyropædia, by the Hon. M. A. COOPER.)</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE ORATIONS OF DEMOSTHENES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by THOMAS LELAND, D.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">SALLUST.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by WILLIAM ROSE, M.A.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With Improvements and Notes.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">CAESAR.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by WILLIAM DUNCAN.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">CICERO.</p>
+
+<p class="center">The Orations translated by DUNCAN, the Offices by COCKMAN,
+and the Cato and Lælius by MELMOTH.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">VIRGIL.</p>
+
+<p class="center">The Eclogues translated by WRANGHAM, the Georgics by
+SOTHEBY, and the Æneid by DRYDEN.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">ÆSCHYLUS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">SOPHOCLES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by THOMAS FRANCKLIN, D.D.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">EURIPIDES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by the Rev. R. POTTER, M.A.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HORACE.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by PHILIP FRANCIS, D.D.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With an Appendix, containing translations of various Odes, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By BEN JONSON, COWLEY, MILTON, DRYDEN, POPE, ADDISON, SWIFT,
+BENTLEY, CHATTERTON, G. WAKEFIELD, PORSON, BYRON, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p class="center">And by some of the most eminent Poets of the present day.</p>
+
+<p class="center">PHÆDRUS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With the Appendix of Gudius.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by CHRISTOPHER SMART, A.M.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">OVID.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by DRYDEN, POPE, CONGREVE, ADDISON,
+and others.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HERODOTUS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by the Rev. WILLIAM BELOE.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 3 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">HOMER.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by ALEXANDER POPE, Esq.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 5 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">LIVY.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by GEORGE BAKER, A.M.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In 2 vols. 18mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THUCYDIDES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated by WILLIAM SMITH, A.M.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo., with Plates,</p>
+
+<p class="center">PLUTARCH'S LIVES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated from the original Greek, with Notes, Critical
+and Historical, and a Life of Plutarch.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By JOHN LANGHORNE, D.D., and WM. LANGHORNE, A.M.</p>
+
+<p class="center">A New Edition, carefully revised and corrected.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 12mo., with a Portrait,</p>
+
+<p class="center">A LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.</p>
+
+<p class="center">In Latin Prose.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By FRANCIS GLASS, A.M., of Ohio.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Edited by J. N. Reynolds.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span></p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">A TREATISE ON LANGUAGE,</p>
+
+<p class="center">or the Relation which Words bear to Things.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By A. B. JOHNSON.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo., with numerous Illustrative Engravings,</p>
+
+<p class="center">THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SURVEYING;</p>
+
+<p class="center">containing all the Instructions requisite for the skilful practice
+of this art.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With a new set of accurate Mathematical Tables.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By ROBERT GIBSON.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Newly arranged, improved, and enlarged, with useful selections,
+by JAMES RYAN.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON MECHANICS.</p>
+
+<p class="center">Translated from the French of M. Boucharlat.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With additions and emendations, designed to adapt it to the use of
+the Cadets of the U. S. Military Academy.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By EDWARD H. COURTENAY.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 48mo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">The Reticule and Pocket Companion;</p>
+
+<p class="center">OR,</p>
+
+<p class="center">MINIATURE LEXICON OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE</p>
+
+<p class="center">By LYMAN COBB.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p class="center">In one vol. 8vo.,</p>
+
+<p class="center">ENGLISH SYNONYMES.</p>
+
+<p class="center">With copious Illustrations and Explanations, drawn from the
+best Writers.</p>
+
+<p class="center">By GEORGE CRABB, M.A.
+</p>
+
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'></div>
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