Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-07-12

Al what price' asked his friend.
Ten gnldens per ihousand.'
! Ten gudens repeated the other musingly you
shall have Them
Draw ont the contract, them said Woerden,
and when IT is signed shall be happy to partake
o. yonr hospitality, for my ride has given me an
Appetite Then looking ~ Cotilde, he continued
Il have come TO arrange another matter, too which
we can discuss after dinner
| 1t was in vain that during the evening, Woer
den tried every argument TO change his friends
resolution respecting his daughters fortune After
q warm discussion he was obliged to give up the
point, and the marriOge was at last fixed for the
following week.
Next day, Wilheln and his father returned
home, the Former could No. refrain from expressing
some curiosity concerning the cause of this happy
change IN his prospects
hat do you, mean !? asked tho old man.
Have you not given mp the point concerning his
daughters fnriune?
i should have thought YOU knew me better re-
Piled v oer''en, looking syly at his SON. But
no motier--it is sufficient that you marry the girl
you ike
Once more at home, The merchant shut himself
! in his office until evening" wuen he appeared with
packet Of letters which were Immediately sent to
the post.
| On the day appointed for the marriage, Wilhelm
and lns father arrived at Brock where they found
a large party Of friends aud relations assembled
| w llCSt liIri' al IIlDulp NeICOleu IltIn WIN
cordaliiy, but there an expression of care aud
embarrassment on his face. that at first made the
Bridegroom ie1r flesh obstacle to their happi-
ness. 1be elder Woerdrn, however, in no way
shared in his sons ahxlety for he could give toll
cradle good guess at the Of his hosts uneasi-
ness.
'Mynheer Van E'burgr he exclaimed swhat
can be the matter? Are yousnweil"
No. my dear FRIEND replied The other, not ill.,
but in the most unpleasant dilemma possible--I
must speak with you inn ediately in private
| Is it any thing respecting the marriage% asked
| Woerden. If you wish to be OFF your word it is
still time
| MOI for the world
In that case we will proceed to the church at
once.-You know like to do things regularly ;
md as came here to see my son married. we will
tinsh that business first, and then shall be happy
to hear what you have to say.
There was no remedy; and it was not until after
the happy pair h I'd been made man and wife that
Van Elburg could succeed in catching his friend
alone.
! i am bound to deliver you four hundred thou.
sand behring's in fourteen days said he, and not
single fish can get at any price,.
Woerden could not restiain his laughter Il
dare say not lie replied, Il bought them !; II up
long ago.
In that case of course contract is at an end'
said Van Elburg, looking duubtiully at his friend
dtions. We have this day united our children,
Van Elbnrg and shall leave them handsome for
tune when we die. But as regards the present,
matters are less fairly arranged My son receives
a capital business, while YOU only give your
daughter four thousand ducats Now as did not
like to make the young people unhappy by refusing
my consent to their marriage, thought you and
would settle the matter another way. You have to
deliver me four hundred thousand behring's at ten
gulldens per thousand; you can get them from no
one but me, ana | must have fifty guildens per
thoils md, or ] don't part with single tail. The
difference is exactly sixteen thousand guildens,
which intend you to pay over to my son as his
wiie's dowry.
Van Elburg looked rather foolish during this
explanation, but at the end he gained his self pos
session, and even smiled as he said, clappng the
other on the oulder You have outwltted ne,
Mynheer Woerden, and must pay the penalty, so
say no more about 1t. And now let US join our
friends agDn'
Eight days afterwards Van Elburg went to visit
his daughter at Amsterdam. and in his turn found
Woerden in the greatest perpleXty.
You are the very person | wanted' said he,
Selling his hand Unless you can assist me | am
ruined man. The herrings are all ready, but
! high or low, not barrel is to be found
Van Elburgs little grey eyes twinked cunning
| ly. Every man for himself, Wuerden,-you
bought the fish and bought the barrels. But as
an old friend won't take advantage OF you, and
you shall have AS many you want for eX city
sixteen thousand guildens above the cost price,
/ Worrden looked rather blank, but did his best to
conceal his vexuton. The trick is not bad one.
said he, with forced smile, but you must confess
that taught it you
'Ay, ayr returned the other, you are clever
fellows in Amsterdam, but we are no fools in
Brock