The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-02-12
KATRINA SCHUYL ER.

"KArRINA, my dear, come and sit on this
stool by my side have something to say to thee
"Wuit a moment father, till have tuned my
guitar, and then can practice this sweet air while
you are talking"
The old merchant though an austere man in his
warehouse, was, like many of his class, indulgent
to a fault to the members of his family. So he sat
quietly in his armchair, with an open letter IN his
hand, while his daughter, Kate, the spoiled dar-
ling of his widowed heart, went on screwins the
keys of her guitar, trying the strings with her slen-
der white fingers, and humming snalches of Nea-
politan boat song, if utterly iorgetiul that her
father had spoken TO her. .
Make haste, child am waiting said the old
merchant.
One moment, father, while shorten this band;
there now il Just fits and finging the black ribbon
over the whest and most beautiful neck III all Am
sterdam she seated hersefa her fathers feet, and
raising her smiling face to his, said We'll, now,
what do you want TO say? BE quick, Tor have
not half got my lesson
The old man had scarcely commenced the sub
iect, which, from the gravity OF his face seemed 10
be somewhat important, when Kate struck up
lively air, and completely overwhelmed his voice.
| Even his habits of indulgence could not withstand
this. lie impalienty grasped the little hand which
wandered like restless bird over the strings, ex-
claiming
Listen to me, Kate, this subject is Of impor-
lance
Il beg ten thousand pardons, my dear father!
Pray what were you talking about !"
This letter has just arrived from Paris, said the
old man. raising the open sheet in his hand.
| Kate caught a glance at the seal. She new the
crest; that careless, hafprovoking smile instantly
vanished from her face, and her voice faltered as
she said
| sWe. father where is he now,'
In Paris, dear, on his way to claim his be-
trohed.'
For moment Ka,rna's face wore Thoughtful
expression She turned away her eyes, and alter
little hesitation, sad
Il have made up my mlnd-that Is, had rainier
not marry Lord Gilbert
Nonsense not marry Lord Gilbert! Fray,
what has given rise to this new caprice
ooh! I've a thousand reasons. dare say he 10
abominably ugy and as proud as Luciier.''
sOn the contrary, child, he is deemed one oil the
handsomest men in all England; and as TO prlde'
methnks his willingness to take TO wife the daush-
ter of humble Dutch merchant is sufficient proof
against that. Nay, start not up and look so proud
", child: tell thee this same English Lord might
have his choice among the airest and highest OF his
own proud land and humble maiden like thee
Kate should deem it high honor when he casts his
thoughts so much beneath his own level
But Katrina Schuyler, merchants daughter
tbouph she be- deems il no honor TO be bartered oil
unseen. and certainly unlovcd, like an article OF
merchandise | say again, viii not marry lhis
Lord, who thinks to drag me from my own dear
home at moments warning and to install me M
10 his proud dwelling, like Dutch toy, only lone
, endured for its gIdingfor conceal 1t as You wilI,
father, know that this coronet is to be purchased
with dowry, such as no English noble can count
down to his titled daughters -,
sThou hast nothing to do with that, child, said
the old man with some degree of conusion' ANA
if thou hast no better reason to give
But have better reason-l will not wed Lora
, Observation-Disclosures intend TO marry
somebody else
Marry somebody else and the asionished mer-
chant started up as if bullet had passed through
f his heart MAY ! be permitted TO ask what hlsh
parsonage has been selected for my son-ln- law''
Certainly, faiher--it is the musc-master you
7 have been so .ood as to allow me-.
| "A music-niser! My daughter marry poor'
r bcgarly, ,rampng fdder!-o-'
sDon't get IN u passion-dont father, entreat
you!' exclaimed the malicious girl, trembling al
over and yet half laughing at the storm she had
, raised. -,
a passion! passion. Bymy fathers SOUL i'll
thought, child, that this were not bandmge-inero
idle sport, would turn thee into the street 'h's
u instant
raj than Napoleon Bonnparte for she knew Just
how far to extend her power; so, instead oil BRAY
Ing her fathers anger, ms the naughty lnperiais'
did the Russian winter she threw her arm over mo
/ guitar, and reteated into the garden. =,
Though Mynhcer Schuyler was, as have said,
nv no means remarkable for mildness OF temper,
Il he never INDUCED in the luxury Of anger beyond
!, the precincts of his countng-rcom ana always re-
i, served the highest ebullitions of his wrath Tor mo
t.r oil lie and H
! was therefore with no little astonlshment, that mo
II nnssers by saw him issue from his house win
i face as red as peony and ouiishlngan open let.
j., ter in his hand with the most startling ierocNy OF
v manner. Had il been drawn sword they would
n have run for their lives; but being only piece OF
harmless paper they stood still opened their mouths
If and wondered what on eart! could have come over
n Mynheer.
e cond nature If this be true, 1t had been inc mer
ID chants nature for twenty years, to descend Tue
\, stems Of his dwelling about ten o'clock each morn.
mo with his dress arranged in the extremity oil
!" neo,ness. After gazing for moment up and down
tho street, he would fold his hands under his coat
bcb;nd. and thus walk eisurely TO his warehouse,
bovinc praciously to the acquain,ances whom no
passed on his way, and in every manner depori'ng
III himself with the s,ad dignity betting man oil
r. trus, and substance. But this morning the mer-
ri chant outraged his hablls lenio'y; us W -:
- ovry. his coat unbrushcd and his shoes, win 'her
broad silver buckles, lacked their usual exquisite
n polsh Without stopping for moment on the
ID steps he cappcd hi. hands under hi, coat, for i !,
= IA no doub,ed if he could walk with them IN any
other position. and hurried along the pavement az
u # propelled bv double power locomotive.
H. Mynheer Schuyler's warehouse stood on one OF
k, the numerous. canals, which carry the commercs
,o If ,,,;ons into the heart Of Amsterdam. He was
hurryng along the bring of this canal, in the sua.
,on we have described, when he came IN CONTACT
with a porter. who was running at the top Of MS
in sneeJ 10 oyerake boat which lay little ahead
ce The conclusion was fatal to the angry merchant
, lie los, hi. equilibrium, and the next moment
found his polished shoes, with their SILVER pucn'es
"e pan,ed ,hree inches deep in the mud at The SouCh
in pr Tho canal Here was n prcdicament Tor ih'
on richest merchant in Amsterdam TO find hmseh III
r. I'm 10 his chin in water, his feet sticking IN 'n'
=" bn,,om Of canal. his bald head just rising above