The Van Buren press., 1875-03-16
NO. Al
"Good-good! ! accept"

L
william" cried the old man, II have
q capital thought You would marry
Van Elburg's daughter, and have hand
some dewry with her 2
"Yes, father, | would; but
"Well, leave the matter to me" inter.
rupted the old man. "But see that there
are two horses ready for US tomorrow
morning, early"
The next morning. at sunrise, father
and son were on the high road from Am
sterdam to Brock, which they reached
about midday. They repaired immedi-
ately to the residence of Van Elburg.
who, when he saw them enter, cried out:
"Ah, good morning, Me,ster Woerd-
en- Have Won fed from the Parlezvous
In any case, you are welcome"
mo, | fee from nobody. You know
| have nothing to do with politics,
come to propose a good speculation to
you
Yes? What is it z"
81 have an order from the government
for four Hundred thousand herrings, to
be delivered within a month. Can you
furnish me with that number in, say,
three weeks "
AT what price 2"
Ten forms thousand"
Ten horins! Yes, / will furnish
them"
"Vcry WELL and now to dinner; am
half famishcd. At table we will talk Of
another matter"
Woerden introduced the subject ofthe
marriage, but Van Elbetg could not be
persuaded to increase the dowry he had
offered to give his daughter to the amount
Of a single silver. They new eriheless de
cided that the wedding should take place
that day, next week.
The following dag Woerden and his
son returned home. Hardly had they left
Brock, when the young man asked:
Then, father you have changed your
mindr'
"How so 7"
"Have you decided to accept the dow.
ry offered by Meister van Elberg"
I" Let me manage the matter in my own
way, my son, aud do not ask me any
questions
When the wedding day came, Woer-
den and his son returned TO Brock. Van
Elburg received them kindly. but he was
so nurried and nervous that William fear
ed he had some bad news for them His
father, however, had no such nisgivngs;
the old fox knew too we'll the cause Of
his colleagues disturbed manner.
"What is the matter, Meister van FL.
burg p he asked with sardonic smile.
aye gu seem to be worried about some.
thing"
"Ah, my friend ! am greatly embar.
rasscd! / must speak with you"
"What is 1t Have you changed your
mind with regard to the marriage9
Speak frankly; it is not yet too late
mo, no it is another matter entirely"
"Well. then, let us proceed with the
wedding hrst; afterwards l
shall be quite at your service"
The company, therefore, repaired to
neighboring church, and, in few min
utes, the young people were husband and
wife. When they returned to the house,
Van Elburg asked Woerden to go with
him into his private room.
my friend" began Van Eburg, when
he had carefully closed the door, in &C.
cordance with our agreement, ] should,
within two weeks from now, deliver to
you four hundred Thousand herring. Thus
far, however, have not been able to se-
cure a single one. There are none in the
market; they have been all bought up"
Certainly they have; ] bought them
all up myself" replied Wocrden, smiling.
but but-how about my coatractT
stammered Van Elburg.
a." You will fulfill it, Listen, friend Van
Elburg. You will some day leave your
daughter handsome fortune; l shall
leave my son as much; ii is therefore un.
necessary to discuss their future. This,
however, is not true of the present l
shall soon give my entire business
to my son, while you give your daughter
only four thousand ducats. could not
oppose the wishes Of the young people;
but when l consented to their union, l
determined tc compel you to do your
duty toward them. With this object in
view, l contracted with you for four hun.
dred thousand herring, at ten 6orns a
thousand. although ! then had all the
herring in the market. Now, in order to
comply with all the terms Of your agree.
mcnt, you must buy from me at my price
Of fifty norins thousand; you have,
therefore. only to pay over TO me the
su,u Of sixtoen thoueand forms, and We
shall be square
While Meistcr Woerdoa was arriving
at his mercantile deduction, Van Elburg
regained his wonted equanimity.
Il see, see" said he; "yOu are .
clever tradesman. am fairly caught.
and must 6ide the consequences.
The conference ended, the two old
merchants rcjoined the wedding compa-
ny, as though nothing unusual had oc.
Cured between them.
A week later Van Elburg went to Am.
sterdam, ostensibly to see his daughter
Now the tables were turned.
"Ah, meister,' cried Woerdon, on see
ing his colleague from Brock. I'm in
aterrible dilemma. The time is approach.
ing when must deliver the four hundred
thousand herrings, and not cask can ]
find TO put them in!'
THAT does not surprise me-" an.
swered Elburg, smiling; 'yoa bought
up all my herring, and ! bought Up oil
your casks"
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