Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-05-16
THE HERALD.
A STORY OF OLD TIMES.

their tathers--there dWeIt IN New
York, on the banks of the East river,
retired merchant, of the name Of
Hartmann Brinkerhoff. He had been
very prosperous in business, and the
fruits Of his industry and enterprise
were his "bowerie." or country seat,
with its farm of twenty acres (now
worth millions), some eighty thou
sand dollars, part of it in good gold.
safely locked in an iron strong box
let into the wall Of what would now
be termed his study, and the remain
der IN bonds and notes, convertibl
at maturity into solid cash for IL TO
benighted days of which | write, 'hers
were no "fancies," or railroad stock
paying ten per cent. one day and MI
nus nothing the next. none of those
brilliant investments that make every
tenth man in our times millionaire
on paper. SLOW and sure was the
motto of those high days of fogydom
A man of great consideration then
was Hartmann Brinkerhoff. Two or
three times week he entered sort
of Noah's ark upon wheels, drawn by
two heavy Flanders horses, that did
the ploughing on his place, and,
driven by an old white-headed negro
slave, temporarily elevated from the
corn field to the coach,box, made a
sort Of royal progress into town,
where even the school boys would
recognize his majestied three cor
nered hat, his awfnl wig, his purple
velvet coat, gold-headed cane and
ruffles, and the tidings ran from mouth
to mouth that Hartmann Brinkerhoff
had come to town. After visit to
some ofthe principal haunts of Plutus,
and gossip with some old cronies
of his own age and standing, he
would return to his mansion, a vainer
and prouder man than ever.
At home he was perfect autocrat
His will was law and his frown was
fate His way over his household
was absolute as that of Alexander III
over his countless vassals. His wife
never thought of contradicting him /;
and his servants stood in most whole.
some awe of his august displeasure.
He had but one child, a son, named
after the patron sant.o of the Manhat-
tanese-Nicholas. Young Brinker
hoff was as unlike his father as posi-.
BILE. Mild and gentle, almost to eff
feminacy, he resembled his stern sire
in nothing but commercial ability /;
and even in his business transactions
he exhibited none of the harshuess OF
the old man. While serving at his
mercantile apprenticeship he resided
at home, and rode to and from the
city on horse back (; but when he at
tanned his majority he gave so many
excellent reasons for establishing him
self in Boston, that old Brinkerhoff,
with great reluctance consented that
he should remove thither, though he
entertained hereditary and mortal
hatred Of the Yankees, aud only gave
in to the arrangement from the secret
hope that his son would crafty his
prejudice by overreaching them in al.
his dealings.
Accordingly he lent him, not gave
him, money to establish himself IL
trade in Boston, but he exacted n es
for his advances. and required
monthly statement of his transaction
and his prospects. Nicholas was very
sorry to part with his mother, but hi
satisfaction at escaping from the iro
rule OF the homestead could hardly be
concealed
For time he was very regular If
his correspondence; but at last his
letters became very brief, and finally
for a long time he was silent. Ola
Brinkerhotf stormed and wrote furi
Gus letters, but he got no reply. At
last one morning Mrs. Brinkerhoff
entered her husbands private room,
after going through the ceremony OF
knocking at the door, and receiving
permission to come in, with an open
letter in her hand ; her eyes showed
traces OF tears.
The po)r woman essayed to speak
but the forbidiing expression of the
iron face she gazed upon, froze the
words upon her lips. She trembled
aud handed the letter to her husband
Hastily thrusting his gold bowed
spectacles upon his nose, the mag
nate read as follows
"MY DEAR MOTHER You will b.
surprised to hear that l am married;
but such is the case. My young
wife is the most charming creature
in the world, and shall be perfect
~ happy fyou were only with US.
Pray break this matter to my faith
or assure him that though [ have
married poor girl. she belongs to
one OF the first New England famil
les, and will do no dscredit to her
name. As soon as can possibly
leave my business | shall come with
my wife to pay respects to lny faith
err aud yourself.
Il am sure, Hartmann, 'faltered Ms
Brinkerhoff, laying her hand upon
her husbands shoulder, though thi-
match was sudden, and though Mich
olar did wrong in marrying withou
consulting you, you will not be nara
upon the poor boy. l am sure Men
Olas loves you and -
She stopped suddenly, terrified "a
the expression on the old MACS
countenance.
leave the room Gertrude he
cried harshly. If it hadn't been for
yeur petting and encouraging him,
he would not have dared to do shis.
BECOME! Don't stand lingering ther,l
I'm busy
Mrs. Brinkerhoff fled in terror.
The old man turned to his writing
desk, and indited brief letter /,
his Boston correspondent, lawyer,
directing him to present his demands
on his son for immediate payment.
A servant was despatched 20 the
city to mail the document. A few
days afterward the mail broush
Brinkerhoff's letter from Mich 4
1t was long and explanatory, sac
full of earnest applications for a,
extension of credit, as a pressure
the old mans demands would utterly
ruin him.