Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-06
CHAPTER I.

THE oLp TAVERN AND a -U-PIcIoS FOR It's INMATES
At ih" tac of ~hch write, this Island Met.opols
the foremost city Oi America in it, swaddng cthes
"a Dutch bab,, small aud weak but OF great PROMISE
aud boie the good old name ot New Amsterdam The
Dutch West lna Company held the charter and William
kieft the Governor Of the Cuuuy The Indian. x.,
settled on all hands OF the Dutch adventures. and under
all the circumstances oi the tn, il IL wonder that there
~ere not more troubles than there were. In the dark
night the waichmen OF the pale-faces Who Glanced to
stand upon emnence. could his gaze in no drcc
ton without meeting the dim light OF the Indians camp
hre And soon all hands. the sea-board the fires
stretched sway-irom vale To vale aud from hill hill
like beaconghts of nation bounded ouly by the
wsve-lashei shores Of the continent.
Thus the affairs OF New Amsterdam at the time
when story opens. Some noble men had settled tb.r
and they had brought their virtues with them but bad
men had come too and vice and reared their
hydra heads ~ contrast
1t a calm, pleasant day in July in the wear $40
Close by the head Of what is known As Coenties slim
stood the city tavern of New Amsterdam 1t was plain
wooden building, rooted with bark straw with sort
OF garden in 'front.' within which Nannette INV good hos
tess had supposed only flowers would spring up; but At
the present time -he not little surprised 10 observe
that where she had planted l Queens daisy a huge
pumpkin vine had made its appearance and the pretty
beds where she had her peonaroos she had the mor
hcaon to young cabbages springrg up on all hands
Ahthe good old burgher aud host Jacob Van der Douck
had All eye TO the profits of that bit OF ground And
there he stood hi- pleasant July day With his hands
clasped behind him, and his pipe in bis mouth compla-
Gently viewing the result of isgardenng He short
round bodied man. some forty OF age with broad
humorous face, and calm sly twinkle OF the small grey
eve which denoted shire sdness and good natnre ba,
needed and which the time seemed 10 indicate
that he could be If occasion should require
Jacob Van der Douck uttered his wife approaching
him uno6served, aren't pattern Of sweetness and
loves"
Good Nannette," returned Jacob, with a smile at
gives pleasure TO such questions when nut by
your sweet lips. am"
"Yes-you are o-yes- OF course you are. 1t was
very kind OF you to pull up my flowers and plant these
cabbages, and pumpkins, and tuInips wasn't itg Very
kind"
Certainly What do We keep tavern fors Its to see
hoNersr No its 10 feed the hungry-and what better
gn thar food growing directly in front our house
Plant thy flowers in pots and them the window and
thou shalt them often, for thou oener at
the window than here else"
Saunette did not reply immediately for she could not
quickly make up her mind whether to be angry or to
laugh at her husbands wit She Flemish Dorn and
OF exceeding good nature and moreover loved her LEG.
lord with strong affection However she had lust made
up her mind to SMILE aud her turn to put back the
joke, when person in the attracted her attention
70 such degree that she once forgot the cause of dis
pute with her husband
Look jacob" she whispered starting close TO her
comPanions side There Casper Gedorp again. watch
ing our house. What he waats lie was here yes-
erlAy 10 tue same way, and So too on the day before
don't like IT,"
The host turned his wife spoke and he saw Geldorp
standing upon the opposite side of the street. and
g intent upon gazing into the second story windows OF
the tavern; but the latter he that he was
noticed moved quickly away and lost TO sight
10y the turn of the street.
Nannee spoke Jacob after some moment Is of thought
that looks suspicious What We have to call him
watching around heresn
That's what I'd ike to know" responded the good
~e with shad OF doubt her features. "If the
did his duty he wouldn't be peeping around
est peoples houses"
After this the worthy couple turned the mselves to
thinking, and at length Jacob said
casper Geldorp doesn't come here for nothng-that's
certain"
'Ahl what it be, Jacob: He was watching the
chamber windows" added the wife with touch of new
Intelligence in her tone. And / remember" she
continued With her head bent in thought that he
looking in the same direction yesterday"
Then he may be watching guests.n
Il think So Jacob"
And he is watching them, it can't be for any good"
continued the host, thoughtiully.
Nobody ever heard of Casper Geldorp's doing any
good yet" the wife returned, quite emphaticaly.
True-true" uttered the host the time think
ing hard True, Nanette. He is only up to crime and
mischief always and he has his eve fixed particularly
upon anybody it be for evil He's surely got eye
fixed now upon Van der Neer Van der Veer guest
and must him. Ill guests at once and ii
there is danger they shall know it
Within OF the chambers OF the City Tavern-for 50
the humble inn caled-sat Peter Van der Veer He
well formed man. with frame OF medium size aud
dressed in garb which betrayed both wealth and good
TASTE In years he past the first half century OF lite
and the silver touches thcky sprinkled upon his
head His features regular aud well defined mark
ed by strong cast OF intelligence and soitened by the
light Of kindness and humanity. lie had been for some
years engaged in the Dutch East India trade and had
amassed much wealth. Close by him at one Of the win
doWs which overlooked the perverted garden and the
street sat his wife, Theodore. She small in frame
with light hair and blue eyes and retained much of the
beauty OF her youth She had Of the most beau
ufu mAidens of Amsterdam, and she Of the
handsOmest matrons ofthe town. She was not far
from fifty years Of age though people thought her
younger She a warm hearted, generous woman and
needed only TO be known 10 be loved Though she had
only been a month in New Amsterdam vet she had made
some warm friends where people readily make
enemies She had taken sick Indians to her own a.
Pariments and nursed them, and bestowed upon them
food and clothing and the result that all Of the red
men OF the same tribe knew her and loved her.
There other person IN the chamber preparing
to leave it-Wilem Van der Veer-the only child the
old merchant and his wife had left to love and for
Tie 81 years Of age-ta, stout, and we'll built
with light brown hair aud deep blue eyes and well verscd
IN a the athletic sports of the time And his mental
education good, too e had learned all the mystic
res OF trade aud made much proficiency IN scholastic
lore, aud had thought Of accepting place in the
University OF Amsterdam, wheu his parents concluded to
to America.
door behind him, aud then stood for moments "
undecided what next to DO. lie twired his huge hat
upon his hand, and gzed first upon the merchant and
then upon the lady.
You will pardon me-" he said At length turning To-
wards the old man. but thought ought to come aud
acquat you with circumstance which my wife and my
self have noticed Perhaps you have seen man stand
ing on the opposite side Of the street. Who seemed 20 be
Watching your vind1ws"
my son noticed man" retained Van der veer but
before reached the window he gone; and he told
day"
Yes Sir" resumed the host speaking more freely
COS hat he observed bic guest interested my wife
saw him Yesterday and the day before, too"
How WAS he vatching my sindows on both those
occasionsf"
Yes, Sir and Nsnnete didn't like the looks ofit nor
did either. The fellow isn't Who would be likely 10
be after much good, and thought t right you should
knoW."
"Of course-of course" said Van der veer And
vet don't hardly think that any one would mean any
harm 70 me. unless they Imagine have considerable
money by me, aud wish % steal H."
"Ah' ddnt think Of that uttered the host Eyes
yes, he's just the for that work n any man In New
Amsterdam soud rob helpless traveller steal the last
silver from IT, sleeping owner then do really believe
Casper Gcldorp is that man"
"Gsidorp '-Caspcr Gsid0rpm exclaimed the ner
chant starting 70 bis feet aud moving nearer his host
"tafper Godorp /" gasped Madame Van der Veer
turning pale as death and trembling iearfully
"1es-l said Casper Geldotp" returned jacob gazing
With asOushment upon the old merchant aud his wife
How old man l. he ?" the guest asked.
~ should say not far from fifty"
"And how looks he ?"
"He looks villainously cir. His frame is stout: bis
face dark aud ugly and his eyes like snakes eyea~