Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-08-06
From the New York Musical World.
Peter Schwartz's Tulip.

1
Peter Schwartz's Tulip.
| After Christopher Columbus discovered Amer
lea, and. some years later, when the Portuguese
Vasso de Cana made out the route to India b,
the Cape of Good Hope, Spain and Portuga
equipped in all haste numerous ships to explor,
new countries, and for several ages adventurer
from these two nations brought back into thei
respective countries gold from America and pre-
cous stones from India And then the Dutch
in their turn, embarked in their heavy boats, Sc
off to search through all the seas on the globe
wherewithal to furnish their counters But in
stead of only seeking precious stones and met
ais, like the Spanish and Portuguese, they ap
piled themselves to make profit of exotic veg
etables, and coffee, ssugar, vanilla, &c, became
the base of their commercial operations, and in.
stead of becoming gold merchants they became
grocers In short time, the immense riches
they amassed by this commerce proved the SOL
idty of their speculations. But at the same
time that these millionaire grocers sought for
useful plants, they did not overlook those which
might also fl ,tter the sight. Flowers from ia
pan, India, and the Cape, very shortly embeliish-
ed the gardens of Harlem and whenever new
specimen arrived, all the population was in a
state of emotion nevertheless, none of these
plants produced the same excitement as the tu-
tip; and, in truth, at sight of this flowers ele-
giant calyx, gracefully balanced on slight stem,
and painted with the most glowing colors, it
was wild delirium of ecstacy; and one saw
rare bulbs sell for hundred thousand francs
piece. Tulips were quoted on the Exchange
at Amsterdam, and the thing became so exagger-
ated that the Dutch Government was obliged to
step in and put stop to the ruinous folly of the
florist monomania. Notwithstanding. the ia
panese flower for long time was kept up at a
most exorbitant price, and any new specimen
produced by study, care, and cultivation of the
seeds, excited all the enthusiasm Of which Dutch
natures were capable.
On warm afternoon, n the month OF June,
1885, Monsieur Deckers stood in the middle of
his dressing room, which was hung with matoon
velvet, and richly furnished in the style of the
day, and half dozen Wallets were running hith-
er and thither, occupied in dressing him for
some great accession The fact was, Monsieur
Deckers had son, and his son, whose education
had been well cared for, was of an age to marry;
and the ambitious father was Just going to ask
the hand of Mademoisee Van Selkirk, the
daughter of HARLEM banker.
Monsieur Van Selkirk was one of the most
important personages of the country; for, besides
the Van which he placed by right before his
name, in proof of his aristocracy, he was a mag
istrate the Stockholders banker, and director of
the East India Company in short, he was ex-
tremely rich, which in nothing spoiled the affair:
marriage with this family had,
Deckers, who, despite his millions, blushed in
secret at the memory OF what he had been,
hawking FISH monger, who had married a fish
woman of the town.
An hour after wards Monsieur Decker was
walking through the streets of Harlem, follow
ed and preceded in great state by his attendants,
and, with condescension, returning right and
left all the salutations offered him, when, in
passing through one of the narrow, tortuous
streets near the old market, he stopped sudden
ly, and remained in a state of apparent ecstacy
before a little low house of old fashioned aspect,
with sculptured garlands, as decorated III the
style of the sixteenth century But it was not
the architectural beauty of the vignettes which
attracted the fixed gaze OF the tioramanlac; his
eyes were fascinated to the window OF the
ground floor, which composed the shop OF ~
shoemaker, named Peter Schwartz, the board
over the door informed the passers by. The
fact was, that on the window sill of that shop
was Japanese vase, iii which stood tulip,
waving TO and 1ro-a tulip half doub-
le with gray pc Ass, like satin, which were mark
ed. in Arabesque work, by vivid scarlet; this
tulip was of beauty far superior to any possess
ed by the millionaire, and was not mentioned in
any Catalogue, ana, Consequently, was OF ihcal.
cuiable value. How came such treasure IN
the shop of an artisan like the bootmakerln ask
ed Deckers wifen he had q little recovered him
self. The rich man Thought he could easily OBJ
tain the prize from man incapable OF apprecl-
ating its value, and, totally forgetful of where
he was expected, and Of the hour which was
drawing near, Deckeis entered the bootmaker 5
shop, and asked where he had obtained the tn
;" All La Monsieur Dockers, cried the dis
ciple of st, Crispin, gaily, " YOU are amazed,
are you not Well then-know that it is the
produce of my own sowing
Your own sowing !" exclaimed Deckers, in
IL IL, I'D L.
Wl& not this is a sample of what can
do !"
" But of what use is such a flower to you
This would be much more useful to you, fan
cy,' and he took handful of gold out of his
pocket md laid it on the counter.
Indeed !" answered Peter, contemptuously.
" You trot off quickly, Sir Amsterdam. What
an idea "a handful of gold for flower such as
there exists not another in the world You are
too good and generous. am greatly obliged to
you"
d" Is it the price you cavil at Well, then,
will double-trebIe the sum - said Deckers.
" Not at all Ny tulip belongs to me, and !
shall not sell it,
Come come coaxed the Others tell me
your price, for must have the tulip at any
sum"
Well, then, you won't have it," answered
Peter, abruptly But stop!'' he cried, sudden
ly, quitting his work. You can possess it if
you choose!' And taking the other mysterious
ly by tho hand, and putting his finger on his lip
to command silence, he led him to the extreme
end of the obscure shop; arrived there, he open
ed door with aprecaution which prevented the
hinges froln emitting any so@nd, then gently
raising the tapestry before the door, which fell
to the ground, he allowed the foramaniac to
peep into the room. 1t was pretty abode, hung
round with tapestry also, and furnished in a SUI
perior STYLE for man of the class OF Peter
Schwartz. Through the open window a ray of
the sun entered, and danced gaily amongst the
ornaments on a sideboard, but, before arriving
there, 1t played through the golden locks OF a
young girl seated at the window, and so busy
sewing that she neither saw nor hearl any thing
passing around her.
What do you say to that 2 asked Peter of
the exfishmonger, as he let fall the tapestry, with
the air Of miser concealing his treasure
Heavens what pretty creature = cried
Deekers, for an instant forgetting the tulip In
his enthusiasm.
Well, them said Peter, she is my only child;
she and my tulip are my sole treasures, and one
does not go without the other.
Deckers, not seeing the drift of Peters observ-
alton, took stool, and seated himself in the
shop to listen to the bootmaker, who thus con-
tinued-
You have a son, Monsieur Deckers. who is
of an age TO get married and the little angel you
have lust seen will soon be nineteen years OF age.
Present your son to my daughter, and, if the
Young folks like one another, the tulip shall be
my daughters marriage portion.
Deckers bounded on his seat when he heard
the conclusion of this audacious proposal, and
quilted the shop, after casting look of utter
contempt on the bootmaker. But the other, not
in the least Disconnected exclaimed, nodding his
head significantly
Yes, Master Deekers, you can take it or leave
il, as Won ike, and, into the bargain, my child
must ike your son. or cry off, for, above all,
she must be happy
On leaving the artisans shop, Deckers sud
denly remembered the object he had in view
and he drew his watch out of his pocket, but
perceiving that the hour of rendezvous was long
d.