Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-10-06
MISCELLANY.
From the New York Ledger.
The Boat Builders Daughter
A LEGEND OF BEEK MAN. STREET.


on Broadway, ut the corner of Pine street,
swung the sign of an ale house. Before the
door stood stout oaken bench, whereon the
worthy burghers were wont to vic in smoke
and the quaffng of beer, and perchance bev-
crage more potent. Here, as the sun went
down in lazy majesty at the close of one long
summers day, was seated young man of
about twenty-siX or eight years Of age with
bare and brawny arms folded across his bar
rel-likc chest, his close drawn brows heavy
with bitter thought. He was alone, for the
thirsty crowd was within and he in no mood
for mrth. AS he sat there almost as motion
less as the statue we now sec, he became con
scious that some one had drawn near and was
gazing upon him. Raising his head, with a
jerk and scow, he saw tall and white hair
cd man, clad in black velvet garb of cut and
cost not often seen i'll Manhattan, standing be-
fore him. Touching his hat, with an case
and grace that should have commanded re-
spect, the stranger said:
beg your pardon for disturbing your re-
veric, but can you guide me to the house of
Patrick Mahon, the boat builder ?"
Z" lis the first time you have asked it,"
said the young man, whose careless dress and
rude speech smacked of the sea {" for not
dog in town that does not know where lives
the rich Mahon and his handsome daughter"
T" \ on are the first dog that | have deemed
able to speak" rctorted the white haired gem
tlcman, whose pale and stately visage flushed
at the reply.
Dog y exclaimed the other, springing to
his feet. Then with gesture of contempt.
as he scanned the grey hairs of the old man ::
" None but potriarchs like you dare call HirF-
man BREAKDOWN that. Here comes poppin-
Joy brother of mine who has better right
than [ to guide you to Pat. Mahons since he
is to wed the boat-builder's daughter to-mor-
row night, that is, muttcrcd he, under his
heavy moustache, of he floats not face down
in the waves of the bay before
The stranger turned from the surly fellow,
as another youth stepped rapidly towards
them, coming from the direction of the ship
ping Tall, straight, handsome in form and
feature, clcan-limbc and powerful, the new
conner was passing by when the stranger
touched his arm, and, as he paused, repeated
the inquiry which had so offended the chur-
ly Hirkman.
With pleasure, sir" replied the youth,
in clear and ringing voice .: Il am now on
my way thither, and shall be pleased to pilot
you; in fact, plotting is my profession as you
may see by my dress. Come, sir, and VIC
shall soon be at Patrick Mahon's.
" Float on, my gay sea-gull," muttcred
llirkman, garing after his brother; "but
not to be the husband of Monica NIahon
for, here he grunted savage imprccaton
from his set teeth, " she shall be mine Or"
He did not finish the oath, for as he paused
heavily built, thick-set man, with hair as
white as the strangers, slapped him upon the
shoulder, saying:
Come, Hirkman, my son. | have s1ld
the spirits, and my pockets are heavy We
shall stow the cargo tonight, as the coasters
are cheated by false preaching. Why you
arc os gloomy as dying cod"
strolled away, Pat. Mahon has given me
the outside of his house, and Walter has ia,
ken his daughter. BY my life, I'd give my
share of the Icy to see the hypocritical hound
as timber and lifeless as yondcr sea weed
Have you heard? Walter has been appoint
ed captain of the harbor-guard, and to-mor-
row he is to wed Monica Mahon."
have heard, and will balk the rascal" +"
said old kaspcr Brandown. :" He has been
too squeamsh to follow the trade of his ia
ther, and bore with because of his mother
but since he has accepted an Office that was
with me, his teeth shall be drawn Come, I
have q talo to tell that when he shall hear it,
will turn his very soul''to horror at the thought
ef wedding Monica Mahon."
The worthy pair, unnatural father and
Drother, pasSed on down the street. and arri-
wing at the water, entered a small boat and
pulled briskly towards Staten Island, where
dwell the wife of Jasper.
Meantime Walter and the stranger, turn
ing down what now is Beekman street, were
soon at the hospitablo home of Patrick Ma
hon whose shrewdncss and industry had ac-
cumulated for himself handsome fortune.
Mahon had but one child, the black eyed, ro-
sy-cheeked and laughing Monica, of about
eighteen summers. Her father had settled
in New York twelve years before she gave her
priceless love to Walter BREAKDOWN, the Young
pilot, and establishing boat-yard had gradu-
ally risen to honorable wealth and universal
esteem. Monica's rare rty, as we'll as the
known wealth of Mahon, mad often thronged
the spacious home of the hearty boat-buider
with admiring suitors, aud as lie placed no
bar to her choice, both rich and poor alike
paid court to her Foremost were the two
sons of old Kasper Brandown, the rich ship
master. Rumor said that Kasper was more
Of asmuggler than ship-master, and that his
son Hirkmau went haud-in-hand with him ;
but the reputation of Walter two years youn,
ger than his brother. beamed bright as a star
for honor and rcctitVde.
Patrick Mahon held his own opinion unspo-
ken, as regarded the merits of all who sought
the love of his child, having perfect conf
dcnce in her wit and wisdom; though when
he learned from the bluahin0 Girl that WoI