, 1858-10-08
A LEGEND OF NEW YORK.


Some ninety years since, when New York was
somewhat Of q different city to what II now
is, and steamers laden with cargoes Of actresses,
dancers, and monkeys, were not even thought or
dreamed Of and when goOdly vessel laden with
merchandise was considered q more important
affair than the arrival Of tragedian, or . troop
Of goats and monkeys; we say, some ninety
years since toward the close Of beautiful autumn
nal evening, vessel was observed standing in
toward New York; her hull was long and low
she was taut-rigged, with raking masts; her jib,
flying jib, mainsail, and foretopsail sci, and had
every appearance Of making the harbor. Sud-
denly, however, she tackled and boat was low
cred and pulled toward the shore; BY the time,
however, she had pulled in, It became quite dark,
and the idlsrshad one by one passed away, 50 that
the landing-place was literally clear; gentleman
landed from the boat, whose dress partly bespoke
him as naval man, though the richness of the
various articles he wore indicated him TO be Of
no ordinary rank for although it was not tho
dress Of British naval officer yet there was
something that plAinly showed he was one used
to command; in person, he might be about FIVE
and-thirty, but with a complexion so swarthy
and sunburn., that It would be difficult to say
whether he was over or under that age; awoman
land they are keen judges Of looks) would have
gazed after him, and thought, perhaps just such
one would she have chosen as model for ad-
miratiOn, for women will form models in their
imaginAtions to love, though 1t is but rarely such
an object lever becomes their partner through life
the stranger, however, pushed on through the
narrow streets, merely asking for the residence
Of one Ephraim Dodds, worthy, pains-taking
man, but poor withal, and one whose speculations
had rarely turned out well. He was busted in
the evening, on which our story opens, looking
over his ledger, when the door Of his counting
house opened, and 4 stranger presented himself
"Your name is Ephraim DOdds"
at is, Sir, and yoursi" ''aa ''''a'
"No matter; know you, Sir, by report, for
an honest worthy man, but very poor one.
Look from your window, and, Il the darkness
will allow you, can you decipher aught Of a
gOOdly vessel, standing of in the distance That
vessel is laden with goods so rare and rich that
its cargo would make the fortune Of the richest
merchant in New York; would cOnHde that
cargo TO you, not making you the mere agent,
but as apartner."
Ephraim stared hard at the stranger, and be.
thought him Of all the legends he had heard Of
the devil tempting men in their hour of need, but
still he listened.
"Itmatters little, Master DOdds, who and what
am, since lis little to the purpose, but suffering
has laid its heavy hand upon me; my poor, poor
Paquita, sleeps in peace; for my sake she endured
all that woman could. All, Sir you know not
what it Is returning to one you had for months
been yearning to see, to find her gone from you
forever, brOkcn-hearted from the gibes and tauuts
Of those who should have protected her; but she
did not dare avow her marriage, and-but no
more; she left me, Sir, child, girl, whose
features are as like her mothers as nature could
have formed them. Iwould not she should be
with her mothers friends, to have the same meas
ure Of unkindncss meted out to her as was her
poor mothers Fate. No, Sir, would not il should
be so; and this brings me to the purpose Of my
interview. II you will take charge Of the cargo,
onc-half isyOur own, the other is to be my daugh-
ter's, and you must use them both in such way
' as seems best suited 10 your judgment"