The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-20
Selected Story.
The 90 Frisian Vrow. >
A Dutch Story from Hours at Hemc

Il Dutch Story from Hours at Honse.
Saturday is notable day in Amsterdam.
1t was the same a hundred and fifty years ago.
Spinning wheels then, like sewing machines
now, we're put aside for the day, the shoou
and overskirt were exchanged for the close
caul and yellow petticoat. ana women, oiu ana
young, rose into full activity with mop ana
broom. Floors and stars, WINDOWS ana
doors. porehes and sidewalks were deluged
with water, and husbands and brothers
sought refuge in the warehouse or beer shop
till the time of the evening meal. Goods
meal.n they called it, that Saturday night sup
per. when the weekly thanksgiving OF burg
hers and burgomasters was offered fer the
losses and gains-Dutch piety counting both
to be Gods wages-of the six working days
since Sunday.
The year was 1908. The street Shippers
lane. The house Antony Van Stralen's. The
day May 23d, at o'clock in the evening The
paror, with its en- bossed leather walls, where
window sills and wash boards were white as
sand could make them, was lighted with
single wax candle, and around the tile stove
where fire OF wood had been lighted to kill
the damp. sat Anthony, his three daughters,
Kari Hoodt, his partner in more prosperous
days, and Joan Hooidt, looking like fourth
aud younger sister. An aged aunt was more
than half asleep in her char in the chimney
corLer and standing beside the table, spread
with naphery OF spolless white, preparing the
supper Of buttcred bread, toasted cheese and
beer, WAS the good mother, Vrow Van Stra-
. len, in whom neither gray hairs nor poverty
had altered the cheerful look. or damped the
hopefal heart. Dame Van Stralen, the Els
ian Vrow," As the Deiehbors called her, be-
Cause she had come to Holland an orphan
girl from West Friesland. Antony had mar
ried beIiwitnout dowry. He was deemed rich
III, fi,A, t,,r
firm OF Stralen, Hoofdt d Co., coming from
the loss of the Fraulien' at sea long alter
wa,d-but bis partner always said thar had
hooidt taken Peter Tiieman's daughter.
whom he might have had Tor the asking, her
fortune wou d have saved the old house from
coming to grief. But Karl's soul was pur-
bnnd. The money trusting man did not up.
dsrstand the wisdom in which the good FRS
lsn Vrow had brought up Antony's children,
nor the sunshine which IN spite OF losses and
failures her presence had made ia his home
for mole toaa thirty years.
The least waited for ADthony's son, Auke
Straen. His vessel had dropped anchor that
morning III the Austel after six months vOy
age. Sailors wives and mothers know what
makes ied-etter day in their calendar.
Dame Stralen'S leart was large enough to
care for ali her children, but her thoughts
were most With the boy who had braved the
ptIIiS Vi the ueep one KNEW, 100, IQdG Hef
love was returned, as did his messmates who
used good-naturedly to wager that Auke's
first question to the pilot would be, Is my
mother we?" He had been seven years at
sea; ever since he was fifteen. His earnings
had been the support OF the family. He had
cimted through every Grade of seamanship.
from feeiing the foreloesail to walking the
quarter deck, and as he now entered the par
ior; saiutng each OF bis sisters and the grand
aunt with kiss, and bashiully greeting the
pretty nelchbor, his long and Learty embrace
was given to his mother.
at is Goes meal, to night, my boy." said
the vrow, her nand in both of his and her
blue eyes beautiful in their expression of
matron,y pride and love. "You have not for
gotten?'
"Mltherkln! Dear Mitherkn!w REPLIED the
boy, raising heI hand to his lips, and ben,ling
his head over hers, 81 have never forgotten
not once, that Gods work pays sure wages"
Auke was still hoy" to her whom he had
addressed by that tenderest name, Mitberkin
"a word for which we have no synonpm: but
his bronze face and sturdy frame gave him al
most the look of middle age. As he sat
there in his sailors dress OF canvas, with his
Danish pipe in fnll play, he might have passed
Tor one OF those old-time seamen from whom
Skipper lane' had been named.
There was time when Karl Hoofdt had
speculated on match between his partners
son and his own aid only daughter. and the
young folks did not think that event even
impossible yet. But Kark was thinking 9TH
erwise. Auke made good wages, to be sure.
He was temperate and industrious. If it
were not for his fathers large family he mioht
lay by something, but as it was he would new
er be worth a silver. ".Joan must do better
than that was the conclusion to which ne
was coming, when the news Auke was tellin.
his mother over the beer turned his MUSINGS
to another channel.
The captain and owner of the 'Zuyder Zee, ,
in which craft Auke had a.wavs sailed. was
Jacob Steavanson, who by carrying cheese
and gin to the Baltic towns, and salt fish back
to Amsterdam, had realized sufficient gains to
open trade with England. Its late King
had been Hollands stadt holder, and London
had market tor tea and Chinese silks. of
which Amsterdam was the emporium, But
the Znyder Zee would not suit English trade.
aud he had offered to sell her to Auke. TO be
paid Tor in yearly Instruments, with interest
at five rer cent.
take herr said Karl, 'and will use all NV
Interest vita the schneidan and cheese-buy
ers to get up the fist cargo"
But she is slow sailor, and rough in the
-fiegiag,Z replied Auke, skifully taking the
rautious side. 80 ~
Shell go well enough before the wind.
won't shep and she ladies' better than apy
craft in the river. You had better close the
bargain with Jacob, give her a coat of paint.
and call her Zimmerman Van Harderbold.
after our East India director. En- 60 the first
trip with you, Auke."
That's all very well,' replied Auke.o I'll
take the Znyder Zee and paint her, and YOU.
Mynheer Kari, may freight her. But she is
my ship. and as long as | sail her she gees
only by one name, and that is the Tristan
Vrow,, from my mother"
For many weeks Auke and Karl, the one
at the snip and the other az the cargo, were
busy getting ready. Everything sped,-
Neiehbors furnished ventures u linen. t,oup-
Try folks brought in their Geese. Scbnapps
in bottles, Holland in delft, and gin in barrels
and hogsheads, were carefully slowed away in
the good ships hold. Her bottom was newly
coppeied, a new figure head, presented by
Jason keef for good luck, set gracefully upaer
her bow, and she bore in large letters on her
stern, Tristan Vrow.' By the middle of July
she was ready to sail.
"fare thee well, my boy" said his good
mother, as she took leave OF him at the door.
in the gray OF the summer morning. Forget
not us at home, ana in all thy golnos remem-
Der that Gods work bath sure wages"
Il Will remember that, and all the Good
things you have taught me, mother; but keep
brave heart and take no disquiet for me:
good bge" said the young skipper, and with
IN the hour, he was ON the deck OF the 'Frs-
ian VTow,' sailing down the Amstel
The newly painted ship Was a high-pooped.
broad sized bark OF heavy build, but a fair
wind carried her down to the Zuyder Zee and
over the North sea and up the sound so
surely and steadily, that Karl got the length
OF remarking that seaman's life was the
easiest he knew. Their destination was the
port OF Revei, where the Dutch traders had
found market ever since their sails were
first seen in the Baltic.
AT this time Peter, afterward called the
Great, was home from his three years travels.
He had worked as a ship carpeuter az the
Zaanoom dock yards; bad learned rope max
ing SAIL making and smith work; had worn