The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-08-12

share the inquietude of his son, for the
malicious old man knew better than any
body else to what the affiiction of his
host was owing. However he dressed
his face in a hypocritical smile, and ex-
claimed, in a voice of sympathy and
alarm
"My dear friend, what is the matter
with you? Are you i'll 7"
{" All, my good Wooden, I am glad to
see you. l am in a cruel embarrass-
ment."
" Them" replied the merchant Of
Amsterdam, who forcsaw that the ap-
preaching explanation might cause some
embarrassment, " then let us proceed at
once to the marriage; 1 can never
change the order of my ideas, and have
come here to-day to see wedding /;
after that is over l shall be at your SER
vice."
Master Van Elburg would willingly
have eased himself at once of the load
which weighed upon his mind, but cast.
ing glance at the man before him, he
saw logged obstinacy so visibly portray
ed in his physiognomy that he shut bis
mouth without speaking.
They proceeded to the church, and in
Q few moments the two were made ire
vocably one. They returned to the
house, and as they mounted the stairs
Van Elburg whispered,
Snow, brother, come with me to my
cabinet"
I" Willingly" replied the other.
They seated themselves, and there
ensued a silence broken by Van Elburg.
"Master Woeden," said he, "you
have my written engagement to supply
you with four hundred thousand hcrrings
in five days fiom this !; I have not been
able to procure one thousand-they are
all Sold"
81 can well believe it," returned him
of Amsterdam, bursting into laughter,
" for it is I who have bought them"
At these words, Van Elburg stared at
his friend with a stupefed air.
"Well," cried he at length, "then
what will you do with my promise ~
"Master, 1 expect you to fulfill it
Listen, Van Elburg: you will some time
or other leave to your daughter spen-
did fortune. l hope to do as much for
my son. We will then say their future
prospects arc equal, but as regards pre-
sent arrangements, it is very different
1 shall soon give up my whole business
to my son, but you give the young
couple nothing but beggardly four
thousand ducats. You see that the bar.
gain was decidedly on your side. 1 was
not however willing for such a cause to
oppose the marriage, but l have con-
trived to restore the equilibrium and to
force you to be just in spite ofyoursclf''
As Wooden proceeded, Van Elburg
opened his eyes wider and wider.
Behold, then," continued the first,
"my scheme. You have engageded to
sell me four hundred thousand herrings,
at the rate of ten forins the thousand !;
but / hold them-that is tho herrings.
How to honor your signature, you must
purchase these herrings of me; will
sell them to you for fifty forms, and We
shall be even."
During this lucid explanation, Van
Elburg gradually recovered his coolness
and self possession. j..
cit is just, Master Woeden," said
he, calmly. " You are finished mer-
chant, and have caught me in net,
from which / must find some means of
oxtricating myself. :,
So saying, he opened the door, and
they went down stairs together. While
the proceedings of Master Wooden oc
cupicd all his thoughts, he took good
care not to allow his chagrin to be per-
cieved. His countenance resumed all
its accustomed serenity, and seemed to
think of nothing but the feast which was
to conclude this happy day.
A week passed, and Master Van, Ell
burg set out on journey to Amster-
dam under the pretext of visiting his
daughter, who was staying with her
father-in-law. This time the roles were
changed. It was Wooden who looked
alarmed
"Oh, my dear friend," cried he, as
soon as they were alone you behold
an unfortunate man. The fishermen
have brought all my herrings, but can
not get one single barrel in which to
salt them. They will all be spoiled"
every WE'LL" responded Van Elburg|
coldly, @You have bought all the her
rings, l have bought all the barrels. II
,,.;eLt asL n very bigh price for them,