The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-01-20

Both can be seen In the self-same stream,
Though heaven Is nearest, and In between
Are the waters as pure as the upper air,
Then drink, faint bird, for thy rest Is there"
-Christtan Union.
WOLFFSEN'S WEDDING.
New York in the good old Dutch times
was the New York of the present in its
morality, or in its people, no more than
it was the New York of the present in
it's streets and houses. Each tenth hOuse
furnished its quota of the city light by
lanterns hung from the side of the door
post, and each tidy housewife trimmed
the lamp for which her husband fur
nished the oil. Genuine Dutch virtue
was the order of the day, and Dutch
swains made Dutch love over Dutch
halfdoors, while the images of the patron
Saint Nicholas brought over from Am.
sterdam, looked down approvingly upon
the wooing and the wooers.
Even the cOrrupting influence of the
Yankee from Connecticut, who incul-
Gated the ideas of traffic by proxy and of
double-dealing with the Indians, could
not quite overcome the teachings of
straight-laced dignity which the morality
of the Fatherland had burned deep into
the minds and hearts of the cOlOnists,
aud their laws were as singular as their
houses were antique; and the gable end
of their business transactions bore the
same relation to the world as their houses
did to the streets.
The gates of the city had been closed
one night, and the candles were set burn
ing on the tea-tables of the honest
burghers and the ordinary folks of the
community, when Dirck Wolfsen grew
tired of standing upon the Batter wall,
and looking seaward toward the Mar
rows, and upon the far-of, unexplored
Highland hills of the Jersey shore.
Twas cold, rather, and Dirck Wolffsen
shivered quite a little, as he climbed
down from his lookout station and stood
beneath the shelter of the stockade, out
Of the reach of the cold wind, and par
TALLY sheltered from the rain, which was
falling upon his broad shoulders. AS a
Dutchman he was proud of his nativity,
and he was happy in the consciousness
that he was the best wrestler in the city,
and second cousin to the pet burgomas-
ter, who enjoyed the confidence of the
Governor. But as Dutch lover he was
decidedly unhappy.
Meenie Bliekauft, a alight-haired beauty
of the city's best society, had been ever
present in his mind during the day, and
in his heart. He had been busy carry
ing stone for the Notifications since the
early morning hours; every time he laid
down stone he picked up the image OF
Meenie Bliekauft, and carried it away
with him, and he exchanged but few
words, and those few not the kindest in
the world, with any of the men that
worked near him.
Woefert Schoeffen was his hated rival,
Albert his neighbor. WoefeIt's father
had grown wellto-d by his trading with
the Indians, and even in the discussion
of Dutch politics. which began in the
smoke from their long Dutch pipes, and
ended in doubt when the tobacco burned
away to ashes, Dirck and WOefert ran
a-muck with each other-always took
opposite sides, and the only presence
which seemed to visibly affect their
tempers or their debates was the presence
of Meenie Bliekautt, with her wealth of
flaxen hair braided down her back-her
pale blue eyes, soft.in their expressions
of love or sympathy, and with her quilt
ed petticoat tucked up just far enough to
display her well-turned ankle and her
high-heeled shoe IS to their best advantage.
One of these discussions had that very
afternoon ended in hard words and blows
between the rivals, and would have end
ed seriously, had not Meenie's hand been
raised to stop them, and had not her few
sharp words recalled the lovers to sense
"Shame on you, Dirck Wolfsen, and
you, too, Woefert Schoeffen. Take it
out in a wrestling match If you must
fight; but don't quarrel to blows over
matters that don't concern you"
Two round, Dutch faces, both red from
anger and excitement, were raised toward
her, and two Dutch lovers would have
asked to be forgiven, but she walked
calmly away from the belligerents and
entered her fathers house, closing the
door behind her.
But there was no more quarreling the
rebuke which the girl had given struck
home with such force that the men felt
more heartily ashamed of themselves
than they would have done had one of
the preservers Of public peace dealt them
blows upon their heads and shoulders
with the staff of Office, and Dirck cooled
his ardor, but did not cool his love, by
walking on the top of the parapet and
studying the science of gunnery by i'm.
agipary volleys at an imaginary feet,
till the cold wind and the rain had
chilled him through.
Putting his hands deep down into his
breeches pockets, and whistling as good
a tune as ne could whistle with lips that
would not properly pucker, he walked
slowly up the narrow street and knocked
at the door of Meenie's house. Good
Vrau Bliekauft answered the summons,
and babe him enter; but Meenie was not
to be seen, and Dirck felt uneasy as he
stood by the big fireplace and warmed
his hands before the cracking blaze.
1t was some minutes before he could
summon courage enough to inquire for
the daughter, and when he did, and
learned that she had gone to visit a
neighbor, he became thoughtful and ST.
lent till Meenie's mother spoke to him.
"What is your business here tonight,
Dirck Wolffsen % the good woman asked.
What do you want Of Meenie, that you
look 80 serious and solemnT
"Wbat do want, good mother Bile
kauft ?' returned Dirck, somewhat
proudly. al want to speak to Meenie
and then want TO speak TO you."
"Well, boy, what isitf / am here to
listen, and whatever you want, / am
ready to answer you. Is II love that you
want 10 speak about, DirckT
The suddcnness of the question startled
the lover from his raphsodical condition.
The words had saved him a great deal of
trouble. but there was little hope for
such an answer as he wanted in the stern
face of Meenie's mother, as she bent
down over the fire and stirred the por-
ridge in the pot swinging in the peat.
Al DIs-L-.-h IA a r.