Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-02
M MISCELL A N Y.
THE UND1scoUNTED DUTcHmAN.
BY JAMES K. PAULDING.


To show the effect of country banks, will re-
late a little example which came under my
own observation day or two ago, and perhaps
gave rise to these specnlations. We stopped in
the evening to sleep at the house of a Dutchman,
who kept sort of travellers rest, rather, | be-
lieve, lest he should be obliged to entertain tray.
ellers for nothing, than from any great desire to
add to the profits of his farm. 1t was scene,
and an evening, that made me melancholy with
the fear OF some day dying, and leaving world
so lovely. The house was on a rising ground,
behind which, and close at hand, rose majestic
mountain, not savage with rocks and rugged
precipices, but exhibiting green foliage nn-
broken to the very top, whose graceful waving
outline, brought to the mind images of peace
To front was spread the richest little vale ever
saw: where meadows and cornfields, the latter
rising half dozen feet above the fences, and the
former speckled with sheep and cattle, succeeded
each other in rich luxuriance. At one extremity
ran branch OF the river Shenandoah, half hid
among the high elms and sycamores; and a lit
tie further on, rose peaked hill, behind which
the sun setting Everything seen was peace
ITSELF and every thing heard akin to silence; and
only serving to render it more striking in the in
tervals. Sometimes the cow-belPs far-of tiukle
came fluctuating on a transient breeze-some-
times the negro's sonorous and -esounding laugh
walked the mountain echo sometimes his in
imitable whistle, emulating the fife, and occa-
sionally bis song, which, mellowed by the dis
tance, was singularly melodious. As long as |
live | shall never forget that scene.
1t was, in truth, place for man to make
his home; and the honest Dutchman, for such
be approved himself, not only by his dialect,
but by bis invincible predilection for his rich
tt,s ,,1t,. e..
peared to be actually contented-a rare thug in
this world In the calm leisure of the dusk of
evening" he and his dalne-and a jolly dame was
e-goOd-hunored as lark and round as q
dumping and sat with US in the porch
he, with bis pipe; she with her snutf-box, bear
ing on its lid the likeness of Commodore Porter.
This custom is highly eschewed by all orthodox
English travellers; but for my part, if man is
not wiltully obtrusive, and transgresses no law
of etiquette that he knows OF, like his company,
and can generally get something amusing or in
structive from him.
Mine host seemed such rare comfortable
dog, that determined to know, if possible, how
he became SO; and in order to entitle myself to
his history, told him mine beforehand, for coun-
try people are always little curious. The sto
ry OF the burgomaster, or justice, (for so he an
nounced himself) in substance, was as follows:
Il married." said he, ''at the age of twenty
SIX, and my wife-though perhaps you won't
believe twas reckoned beauty in her day
MY fortune was three hundred aud twenty eight
pounds, and negro man; and my wife brought
me great chest filled with, dare say, six hun
dred petticoats and short gowns, which have
lasted till this day SO herclothing cost me moth
ing. This was what we had to begin the world
with. After looking about little, bought
this farm, which, being much worn and out Of
order, got cheap. What l had was enough fol
the first payment, and the rest of the purchase
was to be in three equal annual instalments.
''Ihe farm, as | said, was then in poor order,
the fields good deal worn out the fences bad,
anc the houses very old. But there was no
time to groan; for the year was coming about,
and the money must be paid. So Tom end |,
and often my wife, turned out early and late, and
worked like horses; and after selling my har-
vest, carried my first payment home in hard
dollars.
"Well,' continued the Dutchman, 'sthe next
year went on still better, paid the money still
easier, and at the end of the third year, my farm
was my own. We now thought to make our
selves comfortable by building better home,
for we had but poor one before; so in the
spring set to work as soon as the frost was out