Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-01-29
A ST. valentine LEGEND.

A ST. VALENTINE LEGEND.
1.-THE American Hollanders, or Hudson
river and Mohawk river "Low Dutch" and
their descendants, are fast losing those
characteristics which are rather caricatured
in the numerous writings of Washington
Irving. They were quiet, honest, sensible
people, much resembling their cousins, the
High Dutch or Germans of Pennsylvania.
The annexed story is very life like
Quite number of years ago, in New
York or Manhattan island, near what is
now Square, there stood dilapid-
ated, wooden, Dutch built dwelling, known
as "the Old Red House" Looking at
that section of the city, now so thickly
settled, the little aneedote l an about to
relate will seem like fiction for the old
house stood entirely alone, and above it,
for nearly q mile, there was no other dwell
ling. The Red House was the terror Of
the young, for it was whispered about
among them that it was haunted. In 1t
dwelt Hans fat, good natured
Dutchman. Hans kept some kind of
store or stopping place, where the few
struggling wayfarers, who bad occasion to
Visit the city, disposed Of their vegetables,
or made purchases-for there were, even
then, some cultivated spots between that
point and what was called the French Tan
yards, situated near Forty Second street.
Before the door of that old house, stood
a wooden trough here, stragglers would
stop to let their horses drink; ; here, too,
ut all times of the day, might Hans be
seen sitting on bench within the porch,
smoking his pipe, looking happy, and,
dare Say, feeling so. He had lost his
frau, but Providence, as if to console him
for sorrow he perhaps did not properly
feel, had left him daughter, his Betsey !
Betscy was the idol of his heart. She was
n good natured, healthy looking girl.
about four feet in height, and nearly Al
broad as she was long. Looking at Hans,
you might suppose he had not an aim in
life beyond watching the wrcaths Of smoke
rs they ascended from his pipe. But be
had an aim. That aim was to see hi:
Betsey comfortably settled in life. Hans
had long fixed his eye upon young coun
,rymau of his own, who lived near Spuy'
ten Duyvel creek-John By name-and
he, Hans had fixed upon, for the husband
Of his Betsey. Shon, however, though
he came regular once week to give bis
horse drink at the old trough, and take
q mug of cider with Hans, made little
progress in the way of courtship. This,
though it was not exactly agreeable to
Hans, he could not we'll see how to remedy
Grown desperate by the delay, be wa'
determined to make one grand effort
Accordingly, on memorable Friday (tha'
being Hans lucky day,) he filed bis pipe
and sat down in the porch to wait the ar
rival of Shou. There was nothing per
ceptible in the appearance of the man tt
indicate that a matter Of great moment
was on hand nothing could be observed
save, perhaps, that the curling smoke wa'
a little more dense, as he pulled it vigor
eusly from his mouth.
At length, the expected Shon came in
sight, and Be,sey was ordered to bring Out
a dish of her best dough-nuts, and mug
of sparkling cider. IL Think" soliloquised
Hans, 81 shall know what ish what, be.
fore l see de bottom of dat mug ofshider. y
Shon drove up as usual, unhitched the
bride of his horse in the same old way,
and received the same old greeting, and
finally took the same old seat. First dis
appeared the cakes and cider. At length,
after long puff, Hans said, "Te cake,
pc goot, shon."
"Ya,' Shon replied.
"Petsey makes dem," rejoined Hans.
"Ya," again said Shon.
Snow, l tells you what get something
he'-(of course, meaning she)-"will gel
one COW, one feather ted-one goot Frau
and, when dies, everything has-you
knows mine Petsey. To be sure, be ii
MT so tall-but then he is the rider out
likes you, Shon; will you have the COW,
the feather bed, and mine Petsey for your
Fraug"
"Ys, ya.' responded Shon,s he seized
the mug and offered it to Hans.
The bargain was closed, and I do moi
believe Shon has ever had cause to regre,
il. The proprie,y of old Hans became
valuable. Shon got not only good frau,
a COW, and feather bed, but, on the death
Q! tisns, which h4!p.ne'i some fifteen
jssrs after, 'afieien' to tny IN estate near