New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19

conel,Pa'ed o,,sr bis head when he dis
covered thousand thingsio DC m," ~ srst Mace
could ait down comfortably. III a,S on. down or
every and bush on the P'1 aIev were moi placed
gubhed up by the roots, because tey VIZ ~
- o. ~; ns;nd. and a vast quantity OF oahs, ;,L
and cling set out in clumps, and rowS anu ,'o, thirty
which he observed, III about .he Iade and
49, ., ,nost would yield very toeraoe fIl"uo a
yeue az nnld shut out all the surrounding country
CIV be WAS determined, he SAID, TO nave All l'
io' ne n land and be beholden to no man LOT lros,
VH ' TI;s nv learned readers VIII perceive, M"e
Peo'. very like the idea of Lorenzo de medci,
70, 80 as "A reason for pretenlng one OF DIS seas
oye all the others, " that all the GROUND W 1s Wv
Of il was his own" now, whether my stahuia'ne
ever heard of the Medic Ii more than can say l
tier think however, from the charilctcrlsuc oiSu-
aIiy of the Cocklofs that it was whm-wham OF me
own bepeng. Another odd notion on the Ola gehue-
man WAS to blow up large bed OF rocks Tor the pur'
sc of having fish-pond although the river ran at
about one hundred yards distance rom the mouse, ana
WAS well stored with fish, but there was nQthh8 nc
said ike having things to one self 80 al n ne weht
with all the ardor of protector who has just MT upon
son,e sTlendid and useless vhim-whan. As be pro-
ceeded his views enlarged he would have summer
louse built on the margin OF hsii-pond; ne wouiu
have il surrounded with ellns ana WILLOWS; anu nc
would have cellar dug under it, for some neonlpre-
lensibe purpose which remains secret to this DAY,
In a few years he observed, " 1t would be a de-
lgbtful piece of wood and water, where he might
rambe on Summers noon, smoke MS PIPE anu GiJIy
himself in his cid DAYS" thrice honest old soul he
died Of an apoplexy in his nneeth year. just as ne ad
begun to blow up the iish-pond
Het no one rdicule the whim-whams of my grand
father If-and of TINS there is doubt for wise men
have said tiff life be but dream, happy is he who
| can make the most of the illusion.
Since my grandfathers death, the hall has passed
through the haads of succession OF true old cavaliers
like himself who gloried in observing the golden rules
of hosptalty which according to the Cockoft prln-
| cple consists in giving guest the freedom OF the
| house cramung bm with beef and pudding ana, II
possible, laying him under the taDc win PRIME poI,
! 4 n,,dor
10 have been cOnsecrated 10 the Jolly god, and teens
with monuments sacred TO community. Every chest
of drawers cothespress, and cabinet, is decorated
| with enormous China punch-bowls, when Mrs; Cock-
loft has paraded with much Ostenlon, particularly III
her fayOre red danask bed-Chamber, Iii when pro-
iector might with great satisfaction, practice his cX-
perments fleets dlvlng-bells, ANA submarine ooa'
| have before mentioned Cousin christopher pro-
fouud veneration for antique furniture; in consequence
of which the old hall il furnished IN much the same
etye with the house intown. Old-fashioned bedsieaos
with high testers massey cOthes-presses standing most
maiestically on eagles claws, and ornamented with
pofuson Of shining brass handles, clasps and hinSes;
and around the grand paror are solemniy arranged
get Of highbacked, leather-boomed aassy mahogany
! eba,rs tbat ALWAYS remind of the formal long
WASTED bellies, who fourshed in stays and buekraln
| about the time they were IN fashion: r.. :.
If NAV Judge from their hight, IT was not the
fashion for gentlemen in those days TO lo over the
, back of a lady chair and whisper in her what
might lie Us well spoken aloud; at least, they must
have been Patagonians to have effected it. VIII
Wizard declares, that he saw little fat German gal
liant attempt once to whisper Miss Barbara CocklOft IN
| this manner but being unuckily caught by the chin
he danged and kicked about Tor halt minute, before
he could find terra frna-bu VIII Is much addicted to
hyperIole, by reason of his being great traveller
But what the Cockofts especially pride themselves
upon, is the possession of several family portraits,
which exhibit as honest set OF square, poruy, we'll
fed looking gentlemen and gcntlewCnen ever grew
and fourished under the pencil OF "a Dutch painter.
Old Christopher, who Is complete genealoglst, has
story tell of each and diaes with copous eloquence
on the great services Of the general in large sleeves,
during the old French war; and ON the plety OF the
lady IN blue velvet who attcntvely peruses her
book and was once SO celebrated for a beautiful ARM
but much as reverence my ustrous ancestors,
find little TO admire IN their biography except my
Cousins excellent memory; which IL most proyoklngy
! retentive of every unnterestng particular.
NV allotted chamber in the hall is the that was
occupied i'll days OF yore by my honored uncle John'
The room exhibits many memorials which recall TO my
remembrance the solid excellence and amiable eceen-
trices OF that gallant old lad Over the nane-pece
hangs the portrait of young lady dressed IN harng,
e loLg-waisted, blue silk gown; be-howered, and be-
4 furbei0wed, ard becuted most abundant manners
she holds in one hand book, itch she very COM
PLEASANTLY neglecs TO turn and smile on the spectators
in the other - flower, which hope, for the honor OF
dame nature, the sole production of the painters
imagination; and little behind her is something tied
TO a blue riband, but whether little dog monkey
pigeon, must bc left 10 the judgment of future
meniatoTs. This little damsel, tradition says, was my
uncle Johns third fame; and be would infaibly have
run away with her. could nc have persuaded her into
the measure; hut at that time ladies not quite
| easily run away with as COlunbIne; and my uncle
failing in the point, took lucky thought, aud with
great galaniry off with her picture, which he
Veyed in triumph 10 Cockoft Hail. and hung mp in his
led-cEamber "a monument OF his enterprising spirit
| Tie old gentleman prided himself nightly this
chiyalIc maneuyer; always chuckled, and pulled up
his stock when he contemplated the picture and never
related the exploit without winding up with: g
might indeed have carried off the original hadI chose
to dange little longer after her chariO-wheels; for,
TO do the girl justice believe she had liking for me-
but always scorned TO coax, my bOy-always-'twas
my way" Ny uncle John was Of happy tempera-
ment; would give half | am worth for his talent at
seli-cOnsolation.
Do nv readers yawn at this long family detail
They are welcome TO throw down our work, and never
resume il again. ! have care for such unqualified
spirits and VIII not throw away Thought on one OF
them. Full often have contributed 20 their amlse-
nent, and have not / right, for once, TO consult my
own Who is there that does not fondly turn, at
times TO linger round those scenes which were
the haunt Of his bOyhoOd, his b, art grow heavy
and his head waxed gray! and to dwell with fond al
fiction on the friends who have twiued themselves
| round his heart-Inin9ed in all his cnjOyments--con-
trbuted to all his felcities If there be- any who
not relish these enjoyments let them despair; for they
have been 20 soed in their intercourse with the world
as to De incapable OF tasting Of the pures; pleas
uIes that survive the happy period of youth.
To such have not yet lost the rural feeling address
this simple family picture; and in the honest sincerity
Of warm heart invite them 10 turn aside from bus
tie care, and toll, TO iarTy with me for season in the
| hospitable mansion of the COcklofts.
The value of the present edition, which is
brought out with uncommon typographical neat
ness greatly enhanced by the careful supervision
of Mr.. Duyckinck, who has enriched il with en-
| original prefacp and occn aional eNDanatOry notes.