New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-12
MY aRANDFATHERS'S PIPE.

from Holland to various countries. Bu
III pass them all by until come down t
my grandfather, whose name was JaGot
Vanderheyden. NV father married his
daughter, and eventually came back to live
an his native city, for he was German
vecoTlect grandfather Vanderheyden very
well. though was only seven years of age
when he died. He was an immensely tai
old man, weighing nearly 800 pounds, and
wearing big shirt collars that reached high
above his ears. He began lie by SAILING 10
japan, and never, / believe, made any Voy-
Ages save to that country. His ship used
60 Law at Boompjes in Rotterdam. 1t was
there we lived.
Ny grandfather, as you may suppose,
saved up good cum of money, and was
considered by the people as being well on.
have often been told that previous to his
last voyage he had remarkable dream, IN
which be was informed that great good was
10 come TO him when hes arrived i'll port; but
that he must never go to sea again, for If be
did so he would be overcome OF evil. He
accordingly made all his preparations to re-
tire from maritime lie, and sailed away
with high hopes in his heart Ny mother
told me that it was more than two years ere
the herring fishers at Vlaardingen de-
scried his vessel returning to port.
1t must have been a. jolly day when
grandfather jumped ashore at the BoOmp-
tes. They say he was so much altered they
could scarcely recognize him. He had
grown enormously fat, and was as yellow
ma saffron. Well, he was as good as his
promise; he gave up the sea and settled
down on the land. But he brought a
strange story with him, which certainly
verified his dream. Ha was in possession
eof diamond of most superb beauty and
great value. | have heard it said that
Count Albert ZalOska came from Paris and
offered to pay forty thousand francs for it,
but my grandfather would not sell it, sup
posing that he would one day obtain a
much greater sum when he was ready to
coll it.
Ny grandfather was peculiar man; he
would not trust the gem in the possession
of any bank, preferring TO keep 1t in his
own custody. His friends often told him
that he would be robbed, for it was soon
. n0ised about that he had the stone in his
house. But the old man laughed when he
heard the advice and would not give up
his prize TO any other custody. There were
various stories told as to how he came to be
lpossessed of the jewel, but his own version
was that certain native prince of Japan
took refuge in his ship and fled the cOun-
try. The unhappy man fell sick unto
death, and as my grandfather attended him
with great kindness he gave him the trea-
sure before he died, and in this way he be-
came it's possessOr. ] can see him now, sit
ting on the bench, with his old pipe, smok'
ing away, apparently in dream; but he
never was caught mapping when smoking,
he was too shrewd q man, for you must I'M
derstand the diamond was concealed in the
cavity of the knot in his pipe. Ny father
and mother were the only ones to whom he
impaired the secret.
Thrice was his house broken into, and
though something valuable. was carried
sway each time, the great prize was not
discovered. Grandfather at length began
to be worried, and saw, when it was too
late, that it would have been more prudent
60 have kept silent regarding his jewel. His
mind grew uneasy, yet with strange incon-
sistency he would not sell his diamond be-
cause he could not obtain the price he
asked, and he considered it more valuable
than it really was
One day he said to roy father, IL am dis
tressed that there are so many bad men in
the world who desire to rob me of my
wealth. Where shall we live and find vir-
tuous people y
NV father quickly replied: my country
men are honest and never was q robbery
heard of in the town of Frelsing; you
might leave sack Of gold on your door.
step at night and find il safe in the morn
ing"
as that sol" inquired my grandfather
"Of a truth it is" responded my father.
'rThen | will 90 TO Your country" said my
y
property and came hither.
But thieves are rarely at fault They
quickly heard that removal was cOntem
plated, and had no trouble, imagine, in
tracing lis to this city, though it was never
known how they did so, for grandfather
and his family were careful not to mention
their future abode.
Scarcely had we got settled in our new
home ere an unsuccessful attempt was
made to break into our house. My father
urged grandfather to sell the diamond, as
We never should be free from robbery until
he did so. But the old man was stubborn,
and refused. Moreover, he was getting
well on in years, and was cross and ill
natured.
Months passed by and we were free from
robbers, so that we thought they had de-
parted, and would trouble us no more.
Grandtather became more Rmiable, and
talked and smoked with more pleasure than
he hitherto had done. We were sure that
at last we were safe, when one morning,
soon after my father arose, be came running
into our bedroom say ing the house had
been broken into during the night. My
mother ran to grsndfather's chamber and
had to break open the door ere she could
gain admittance. The poor old man lay
tied upon his bed with gag in his mouth.
His face was livid and the veins in his
throat swollen purple, The robbers had
q
"It's all over" he 0Oaned, as soon as he
was able to speak; ''its all over now. We
are ruined. All wish TO do is to die. They
have carried Oft my pipe Woe is me"
The account he gave WAS this: He was
awakened by heavy hand on his throat
and the next moment he found himself in
the presence of three masked men, who
8pOke to him in Dutch, and demanded to
know where his diamond was concealed,
''In the bank, )" he replied.
Thou lest" returned the one who held
q lantern 10 his face. mot a word from thy
lips" and they forthwith gagged him and
commenced TO search his room.
Failing to secure the prize, they took his
watch and some money, and were depart !
ing, when one of the rasoals spied hispipe. !
"Ah that will do for me- be said: "'tis
an ugly old thing, but will answer my pur
pose" and ignorant of the wealth he held |
IN his hand the scOundTel proceeded to ill
it with tobacco, and lighting it, passed |
with his comrades out OF the window. bid |
ding my grandfather good night.
Bound hand and foot, and unable to move, !
my grandfather forced to witness the rob !
bery without the power of being able to |
make an effort to regain his property.
90 great was the effect on his system that |
h con nenced TO fail at once. His appe- |
cate hitherto good, was now gone. He |
could Mt sleep, and soon was i'll Gradu- |
-Aiiy growing worse day by day, he died |
within ~ months, repeating with his last |
Breath, III is over now-we are all ruined |
To cav my father and mother did not |
share my grandfather's grief would be |
false. My father made an accurate draw
ing of the pipe and deposited it with my |
mother, and then took TO roaming over the |
country and making acquaintance with the
lowest and worst peop.e :. be found. in
hope of finding the pipe. Notwithstanding |
he travelled through Germany and Holland,
he returned home weary ana Gisappoiugcn. |
Sa die of a favar poutrscia,s il. :i, wander J