Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-24
The " Frisian YrOw."

ago. GpluuluH WhttlH Ahcu hhe sowing ma /
chimes now, we're put aside for the day, the |
snood and overskirt were exchanged for the
close cau and yellow petticoat, and women,
old and young, rose into full activity with
mop and broom. Floors and stairs, windows
and doors, porches aud sidewalks were del.
uged with water, and husbands and brothers
sought refuge in the warehouse or beer shop
till the time Of the evening meal. Goods
meal" they call it, that Saturday night sup
per, when the weekly thanksgiving Of bur
ghers and burgomasters was offered for the
losses and goins--Dutch piety counting both
TO be Gods wages-of the six working days
since Sunday.
The year was 1903. The street, Shippers
lane. The house, Antony Van Stralens.--
The day, May % at o'clock in the evening
The parlor, with its embossed leather walls,
where window sils and wash boards were
white as sand could make them, was lighted
with single wax candle, and around the tile
stove where a fire Of wood had been lighted
to kill the damp, sat Antony, his three daugh-
ters, Karl Hooflt, his partner in more pros
porous days, and Joan llooidt, looking like
fourth and younger sister, An aged aunt
was more than half asleep in her chair in the
chimney and standing beside the table,
spread with naphery Of spotless white, prepar-
ing the supper of buttered bread, toasted
cheese, and beer, was the good mother Vrow
Van Straen, in whom neither gray hairs nor
poverty had altered the cheerful look, or
damped the hopeful heart Dame Van Stra-
len, the " Frisian Yrow' as the neighbors
called her, because she had come to Holland
an orphan girl from West Friesland Antony
had married without dowry. He was deem
ed rich at that day--the mislortunes which
broke the firm of Stralen, Hoofdt& & Co., COM
ing from the loss Of 1.-The Frauien at sea
long afterward-b but his partner always said,
had Hoofilt taken Peter Tiheman's daughter,
whom he might have had for the asking, her
fortune would have saved the old house from
coming to grief. But Karl's soul was pur-
blind. The money trusting man did not un.
derstand the wisdom in which the good Fris-
ian Nrow had brought up Antonys children,
nor the sunshine which, in spite Of losses and
failures, her presence had made in his home
for more than thirty years.
The feast waited for Antonys son, AUX,
Stralen. His vessel had dropped anchor that
morning in the Amstel after six month!
voyage. Sailors wives and mothers know
what makes a red-etter day in their calendar
Dame Stralen's heart was large enough to car,
for all her children, but her thoughts wer'
most with the boy who had braved the peril
of the deep. She knew, too, that her low
was returned, as did his messmates, who useC
good-naturedly to wager that Auke's frs
question to the pilot would be Is my moth
er well 2 He had been seven years at sea
ever since he was fifteen. His earnings baC
been the support of the family. He ha'
climbed through every grade of seamOuship
from roefng the foresail to walking the quar-
, terdeck and as he now entered the parlor
shaking hands with the seniors, saluting eacl
. of his sisters and the grand aunt with kiss
and bashfully greeting the pretty neighboi
his long aud hearty embrace was given to hi
mother.
" 1t is Gods meal tonight, my boy sal
J the vrow, her hand in both of his aud he
blue eyes beautiful in their expression c
matrony pride and love- You have nc
lorgotten2"
Mitherkin Dear Mitherkin !" reptile
the boy, raising her hand to his lips and bend
: ing his head over hers, d" have never forgot
4 ten, not once, that Gods work pays sur
wages"
! Auke was still boy" to her, whom h
addressed by that tenderest name, MitherkiI
word for which we have no synonym br
his bronze face and sturdy frame gave him a
{ most the look Of middle age. AS he sat ther
J. in his sailors dress of canvas, with his DaI
ish pipe in full play, he might have passe
: for one Of those old-time seamen from who
q q Skipper lane" had been named.
There vas a time when Karl Hoofdt ha
II specuIated on match between his partner
son and his own and only daughter and Il
|. "a young folks did not think that event even in
!. !. possible yet. But Karl was thinking othe
n wise Auke made good wages to be sure
10 He was temperate and Industrious. If
were not for his fathers large family
. might lay by something, but as it was
. would never be worth silver. " Joan mu
,o do better than that" was the conclusion
10 which he was coming, when the news Aul
was telling his mother over the beer turn'
- his musings to another channel.
U The captain and owner Of the Zuyd
u Zee" in which craft Auke had always sale
Z, was Jacob Stevenson, who by carrying chez
W and gin to the Baltic towns, and salt Fl
n, n, back to Amsterdam, had realized suihcie
gains to open a trade with England. !
late king had been Hollands stadt hold,
!" and London had market for tea and Cl
nese silks, (which Amsterdam was the Ell
u porium. But the Zuyder Zee would n
or suit English trade, and he had offered to 81
i1 her 10 Auke, to be paid for in yearly insta
l ments, with interest at five per cent.
DC "Take her :" said Karl, "and will use
ry nv interest with the Schnoidams and cheei
It, BUYERS to get up the first cargo
up But she is slow sailer and rough in I
3 rigging" replied Auke, skillfully taking
o' cautious side.
~ "She'l go well enough before the viii