Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-12-04

Is stamped an image of the scene;
Then fade into air again,
And be as if thou hadst not been.
-AHaatic Monthly for Decena6er
A MARRIAGE ON SPECULATION.
From Appleton's Journal.
The French entered Amsterdam on
the Goth of January, 1915. The sol
diers stacked their arms on the pave
ment, and waited anxiously for their
billets for quarters.
Despite the severity of the weather,
the citizens turned out in large num-
bers to welcome and admire the vet
Grams in their rags. There was gen
eral rejoicing throughout the city.
which for the most part was illumin-
ated. At the extreme end of the town
there was a single house, whose dark,
forbidding aspect was in strong con-
trast to the brilliant appearance of
the neighboring buildings. 1t was
the residence Of the rich merchant,
Meister Woerden. He was complete
" absorbed in his commercial opera
tons, and neither knew nor cared to
know what was going on in the polit-
zeal world; and, then, he was too ia
miliar with the rules Of economy to
think of squandering candles on an
illumination.
At this moment, when all was joy
and enthusiasm throughout Amster-
dam, Meister Woerden sat quietly in
his big arm chair beside the fire. On
the table there was a little brass
lamp, a mug Of beer and a clay pipe.
On the other side Of the fire sat an
old maid-servant, whose rotundity be-
trayed her Flemish origin. She was
occupied in showing back the Goals
that had fallen out on the hearth,
when there came a loud knock at the
street door.
''Who can that be? Go and see,"
said the old merchant to the maid,
who had arisen to her feet.
A few moments later stalwart
young man entered the room. He
threw off his mantle and approached
the fire.
'Good evening, father" said he.
"How? Is it you, William? l
did not expect you back so soon.'
81 left Brock this morning, but the
roads have been made SO bad by the
army trains that we have been the
whole day on the way
"Well, did you see Van Elburg?"
Eyes" said the young man, seating
himself before the fire. ''Meister Van
Elburg consents to the marriage, but
he adheres to his determination to
give his daughter a dowry Of only
four tho uSand ducats."
"Well, then, he may keep his
daughter and his dowry," replied
Woerden, with frown.
'But, father"
"Not a word, my son. At your age
we have no more sense than to sacri-
flee everything for love, and despise
riches"
''But Herr Van Elburg is the rich
est merchant in Holland, and what
he does not give now will be ours at
his death"
"Nonsense" replied Meister Woer-
den. cam |, too, not rich? Listen,
my son. You will soon follow me in
my business. Never forget these two
rules: never give more than you re-
ccive, and never further another mans
interest to the detriment of your own.
Guided by these principles, one will
better his condition in marriage as
well as III trade"
'But, father"
"Not another word, my son-not
another word"
William knew his father too well
to say anything more, but he could
not help evineing his displeasure by
his manner. To this, however, the
old man paid no attention; he calmly
filed bis pipe, lighted it and com
menced to smoke.
Again there was a loud rap at the
street door, while at the same time the
dogs began to bark.
"Aha!" said Meister Woerden, cit
must be stranger, OF the dogs would
not bark so. Go and see who it is,
William"
The young man went to the Win
dow.
at is one of the militia horsemen,"
said William.
"a militia horseman! What can he
want?"
At this moment the maid-servant
entered and handed to Woerden a
letter. He carefully examined the
seal.
'From the Provisional Govern
ment," said he.
His hand trembled as he hastily
opened the letter and read it, but sud
denly the old tradesman's face lighted
up with joyous expression as he
cried:
"Good-gold! l accept"
The letter contained an order for
four hundred thousand herrings for
the army, to be delivered within a
month.
"William," cried the old man, 81
have a capital thought. You would
marry Van Elburg's daughter and
also have a handsome dowry with
her?"
eyes, father,.I would; but"
"Well, leave the matter to me-" in
terrupted the old man. "But see that
there are two horses ready for us to-
morrow morning early"
The next morning, at sunrise, faith
er and son were on the highroad from
Amsterdam to Brock, which they
reached about midday. They repair
ed Immediately to the residence of
Van Elburg, who, when he saw them