New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-10


There was little hostelry at the point where we
hnded and row Of abOrers' cottages ranged along
the inner wall Of the embank ment, and two farm
houses With their multifariOus outbuildings made
quite little hamlet. They call it Belouck. In
the hosiery, wine was demanded, of course. Some
one desired buttermilk; this must be procured at
the farm- house, a quarter Of q mile distant; and
the landlords daughter Katrina pretty girl in the
long tabled lace cap, invited Madame" through
an interpreter, to 20 with her and the premises.
Twas very glad TO accept the offer, and made up
an intimate acquaintance shortly; for, although
spoke in German, Of which she understood only an
casioDal word, and she replied in Dutch, which
understood no better, we seemed at once TO cOmpre
bend each other. She had never seen an American
before and looked upon me as an interesting speei'
men of foreign curiOsities am sure she was 80 10
me- She was perfectly devoid Of ahectation or
guile, ard years acquaintance would not add to
the mutual confidence which grew up between us in
that halfm walk.
The farmhouse was Of brick, low and broad, the
roof of earthen tiles, the floors paved with stone.
wide hall extended through it, from front to rear
paved with stone; large rooms opened from either
side; the floors Of some were two or three steps
higher than that Of the hall. In the kitchen depart
ment, the number, variety and brightness Of cOppsr
cooking utensils were quite amazing to Inc, and the
cupboards and shelves Of deli, in queer, old pat
terms, set out in array. On the hearth, fire of
peat was burning. thought ruefully Of our herrid
ca.t.iron stoves, and the atmosphere which sur
rounds them. The people appeared to know in.
.tinctiyely what would be most pleasing to me, as
they Showed me through the house and grounds with
out an attempt to express such desire on my part,
even to the apartment Of the mstress-a young
woman Of interesting appearance, i'll and in bed ct
the time. though cOnvalcscent. She extended her
hnnd with emile of welcome. clasped it with an
answering smile; it was all We could say directly;
but when the interpreter came, she invited me to
stay with them while, to take refreshments, wine
or beer From the house we went through the gar
den, which was in front, and rich in flowers and
vegetables. and the laundry.yard, with its neat
hedge The yard, the ways to the dairy, garden
and stables, were all paved with yellow brick, very
clean. The old barn was also Of brick, with stone
hssr; the tiled roof covered with a straw thatch
six inches Deep and over this again time had planted
grewth of moss-gving the whole such an ex.
preston of Permanence, / almost fanced it had
grown there of ITSELF having come up, at first
very small barn, and only attaining its present size
after two hundred years, which they said was its
age. There were twelve horses in the stalls; i'm
mense creatures, and SO round and shining that the
sight of any one of them, am sure, would make q
New.York drayman cOvetOus. Sixteen cows stssd
below them, much larger than most of ours; they
were taking a lunch Of chopped carrots, and, from
the quality of milk produced at the dairy, judged
women were at work about the floor and stable
Such specimens Of wOmanhOOd as these and others
were, who came from the fields with hoes II /
had not seen, could not conceive human form 80
utterly devoid of grace and beauty as were some of
tbem-so coarse, so heavy and spiritless. The
clumsy wooden khoes they wear are type of them
selves. There were exceptions, however; some
were not aPpoHingly ugly. Poor creatures. !
could not answer their stupid gaze with smile OF
/
turned them away
Having procured the buttemilk, and taken leave
of the household, We walked back tn the hOstelry
along the summit of the dyke, gathering shells on
the carpcted beach. (By the way, wonder if
really am the only American who did not know all
about the process Of making and protecting these
embankments, by means of which Holland has been
converted from n swamp into garden1 Did every
body but myself know how the straw is twisted into
ropes and woven and plated closely over the whole
surface, up to hgh-water mark fastened down by
strcng pins driven into the ground at intervals of
few inches Owe found our Chief and several
others Of the gentlemen waiting for the buttermik
sitting on the grass with long pipes surrounded by
DutcImen, young and old, one or two Of whom
spoke little English. A tray of wine and beer
showed that they had not waited fasting l pre-
scpted the milk with my own hand glad to see them
take for once cup which had no poison IN IL.
Aitelward, went with our captain pro tenn, who
is Belgian, we'll acquainted with Holland, its peo
pie and language and two others, to visit the sec.
ond farm. house. We passed down the laborers'
street or alley; it scarce wide enough for cart
to pass through, which. indeed, there would be no
occasion for to do, unless in going from one part
of the farm to another. 1t was paved with yellow
brick perfectly clean. The cottages, all of brick,
and of nearly the same size and shape were on one
side, the little garden-patch belonging to each, and
neatly hedged in, ON the other. Beyond the garden
;fob fha mpad
plow-land.
This farmhouse was on the same general plan a.
the other but somewhat larger, and better finished
Tie walls were painted with representations OF
Scripture scenes some Of them rather grotesque
The mistress old lady Of seventy, acted the host
ess cheery as girl of seventeen. The captain
called her .'Muther," noticed, though it was al
most the only distinpuishable word, they went 50
directly into rapid familiar conversation. We
were welcomed and treated like old acquaintance
making passing call. Seats were given around
the center table; wine and the inevitable beer were
brought: the glasses tremendously touched all
round: and conversation flowed freely, conslderine
the rough channel it had TO flow in. Inc OLD
mother spoke only Dutch, but understood q little OF
the German Her SOD, the proprietor, spoke, be-
side his own language, French and Latin and in-
medately informed u.s. in each tongue, that he was
not married, at which We were not much surPrised-
such beer.fass But he was good Catholic, and
his brother is priest; 50 he is safe in any event.
The garden here was larger than the other; bet
ter Kept it could not be. There was Summer
house, Of pretty design, shaded with pear.trees
trained close to the lattice, like vines, and, being
now in full bloom, it WAS very beautiful. Peach
trees were trained over the southern gable ia tho
same manner, close to the wall as grapes and,
seemingly, quite at home in their constrained Pc
sition.
The pavement in front of the house was eight or
ten feet wide; outside Of this row of young pear.
trees with branches woven through trellls formed
screen for the parlor-windows. The ways were
tba cta E1od with great