New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-26

sun was still marking the passage Of the arst
bright hour in a history that was not dettined 70
be all 90 bright AL sroaDd were scattered
vbsvipgs chips, shingles, and broken halves OF
bricks, these, together with the stely turned
earth, on which the grass bad not begun 10 grow,
contributed 70 the impression OF strAngeuesa snd
novelty proper 20 3 house that had yet its place
20 make AmODs meus daily interests
TIE principal entrance, which had almost me
breadth Of church door, vas 10 the angle Dc
tween the two front gables, aud was covered by
On omen porch with benches beneath lts shelter.
Under this arched door way, scrsping Their feet
on the unvorn threshold, nov trod the cier-
gymen, the tlders, the Magistrates, the oea'
cons and whatever Of sristOc-scy there vas 10
town or county. Thither, too thro0sed the pie
beam classes, as freely as their besters, and 70
larger number. Just within toe entrance. how
ever, stood rvO serving DeD pointing some OF IN
guests 70 the eiebborhoOd Of the kitchen, ana
uthe III 2 others into the ststelier rooms-hospta
be slhe 70 all, but stiA with scrutniz'ns regard
70 the high or low degree OF each Velvet gar.
menis sombre but rich, stit1y plated runs ana
banos, embroidered gloves, venerable bear1t' toe
rien and countensnce Of authority. made II easy
10 distinguish the gentleman Of worship at that
period, from the trGdesmsn. with his Flooding ar
o. the labOrer in bis stbern jsrkin, stealing Se
stricken into the house which be had perhaps
helped 70 build
Oueinaufpicious Circumstance there was, which
awakened hardly .conceaed Glspless0re ID the
breasts Of few Of the more punctiilOus vsiters.
| TIE founder Of this stately mansion-a gentleman
| noted for the square and poDGerous courtesy OF
| bia deneenor-ought surely 20 have stood In his
| own ball. and TO have offered the first welcome 20
| 20 many eminent personeges as here presented
/ themselves in honor OF his solemn festival He
| was a. yet invisible; the most favored OF the
| guests had not beheld him. This slugsshness on
| Col Pypcheon's part became sill more unaccouDt-
able, when the second dignitary of the province
made his appearance, and found no more ceremo-
| NOUS reception. The Lieutenant Governor a.
though hs vlsli wss one Of the ANTICIPATED glofiea
OF the day bad sghted from bis horse, and assist.
ed his LADY from her side saddle, and creased the
! colonel's threshold, without other greeting than
that Of the principal domestic
This person-a gray-hesded man, Of quiet and
! most respectful depOrtmeDt-found II necessary
70 explain that bis master still remained IN his
study. or private apartment, on entering which,
al hour before, be bad expressed WISH on 20
| account to be disturbed 80
"Do not you see fellow said the High Sheriff
Of the county, taking the servant aside, that this
isIo less man than the LleuteneHtG Governor
Summon Col Pyncheon at oncel knox that he
received letters from England, this morning. and
in the perusAl and consideration OF them, an h0ur
NAV have passed away without his noticing Il.
BuS be will be i'll pleased, Judge, if you suffer
him TO neglect the courtesy due 20 one OF our chief
rulers and who may be said 10 represent King
William, in the absence OF the Governor himself
Call your master instantly
NAY please your worship, answered the
man, in much perpexity, but with backward
ness that ltrikingly indicated the hard and severe
character OF Colonel PyncheoDs domestic rule
"my masters orders were exceedingly strict :
and as YOUR worship knows be permits OF no DIS
erection in the obedience Of those who owe MIN
service. Let who list open yonder door, dare
not, though the Governors own voice should OLD
me do II!
Pooh. pooh, master High Sheriff. cried the
Lieutenant. Governor who had overheard the fore.
going discussion, and felt himself high enough 10
station 20 play little with his dignity " viii
take the matter into my own hands. IL IS time
that the good Colonel came forth 10 greet his
friends; else we shall be apt to suspect that he
has taken n sip too much of his Canary wine, In
his extreme deliberstion which cask it were best
10 breach in honor Of the day Bat since he 10
40 much behindhsnd, will give him remem-
brbncer myself!
| Accordingly, with such a tramp Of his ponder
ous riding boots might OF Itself have been audi
bio in the remotest Of the seven gables, he adj
vanced 10 the door, which the servant pointed out,
and made its new panels reecbo with loud, free
knock. Then, looking round, with smile, to the
spectators, be awaited response. As none
came however he knocked again, but with the
same unsatisfactory result as at hrst And now,
being q triAe cholerlc in bis temperament, the
Lientenant. Governor uphfted the heavy hllt OF
his sword Wberewith he 30 beat aud banged
upon the door, thst, As some OF the oystsnders
WHISPERED the racket might have disturbed the
dead. Be that as It might 1t seemed 70 produce
no awakening elect on Colonel Pyncheon. W hen
the sound subsided, the silence through she house
= was deep dreary and oppressive, notWithstand'
ing that the tongues OF many OF the guests had
already been looseued by surreptitiOui cup or
two OF wine or splrts
"strsDge iorsoo,hl-very strsnge!' cried the
lieutenant governor. whose smile was changed TO
afrown 4" But seeing that our host sets us the
good example OF forgetting ceremony, shall
likewise throw it aside, and make free to intrude
on his privacy
, He tried the door, which yielded to his hand,
and was fang wide open by sudden gust OF wind
that passed, as with loud sigh, from the outer
most portal through all the passages aud apart
ments Of the new house. II rusted the siiken
garments Of the ladies, and waved she long curls
OF the gentlemens wigs, and shook the window
hanginss and the curtains OF the oedchanoers
causing everywhere a singular stir, which yet
was more like a hush. shadow Of awe and
; halfiearful anticipation nobody knew wherefore
nor of what-had all At once fallen over the com
psny.
They thronged, however. to the now open door,
pressing the lie teDsnt governor, In the eagerness
of their curiosity, into the room in advance OF
them. At the fret glimpse, they beheld nothing
extraordinary handsomely furnished room. OF
moderate size, somewhat dsrkened BY curtains
books arranged on shelves a large map on the
= wall, and likewise portrait OF Col. Pyncheon,
beneath which sat the original colonel himself In
an osken elbow chair with e pen in his hand.
Letters, parchment. and blank sheets Of paper,
} were on the table before him. He appeared TO
gaze st the curious crowd in front Of which stood
the lieutenant governor; and there was frown
on his dark and massive counteRsnoe, az II stern.
ly resentful Of the holiness that had imPelled
them into bis private retirement
A little boy-the colouels grandchild and the
only human being that ever dared 70 be familiar
with him-nov made his way among the guests,
and ran toward the seated figure then pAu'ing
half way, be began 70 shrek with terror. The
company tremulous as the leaves Of a tree, when
} all are shaking together, drew nearer and per
Ceived that there was an unnatural distortion in