Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-05
THE GOLDEN GOOSE.
A CHRISTMAS LEGEND or THE EARLY
DAYS OF NEW YORK..

A CHRISTMAS LEGEND OF THE EARLY
DAYS OF NEW YORE.
In the year 1909, two hundred and
seventy-two years ago, and eleven
years before the Mayaower landed the
Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, Henry
Hudson, an Englishman, in command
Of the Dutch ship Half-moon, entered
the magnificent harbor of New York,
and was the first European who nayi-
gated the beautiful river now known
by his name. The history of his
voyage up the river to the present site
Of Albany is too familiar to repeat
here, and it is sufficient to say that his
discovery resulted in the Dutch claim
ing the territory, which they named
New Netherlands, and the present site
of New York they called New Am,
sterdam. The growth of the colony in
New Amsterdam was not rapid; so
that in 1864, when its name was
changed to New York by the English,
who had taken it from the Dutch,
there was a population of only fifteen
hundred people, and speaking eighteen
different languages; and now the popu-
lation is 1,265,000, and all the known
tongues Of the world are spoken here
The prosperity of New York dates
from the arrival in l647 Of the brave
and honest Peter Stuyvesant, the last
OF the Dutch governors.
Among the many Dutchmen who
came from Holland was one Peter
Van Arsdale, fur trapper, with his
wife and a daughter, whose name was
Wilhelmina, fifteen years of age, and
instantly acknowledged to be the very
prettiest girl in the settlement. Van
Arsdale was an independent and eccen-
trio man, and though poor, was very
honest and very religious, and all his
interest seemed centered in the happi-
ness of Wilhelmina. Soon after his
arrival he purchased from Governor
Stuyvesant tract Of land lying beyond
the creek or canal, which is now Canal
street. and erected a substantial log
hut upon the exact spot where the St.
Nicholas hotel now stands. Peter Van
Arsdale pursued his vocation as a trap.
per of beavers along the creek and the
shores of the Hudson, assisted by the
beautiful Wilhelmina, who was his
constant companion, unmolested by
the Indians, who were his only neigh
bors, for his hut was far away from
the fort and the settlement of New
Amsterdam, which in those days did
not extend beyond Bowling Green.
When Peter had accumulated beaver
pelts enough to pay for the trip, he
would 60 down to the settlement with
them for sale or traffic for whatever he
stood in need. On these trips he was
generally accompanied by Wilhelmina
who had attracted the attention of {
youGg New Amsterdam merchant, anG
who had fallen desperately in love witt
her,and uponthe declaration of his ardol
was delighted to find that it was fully
reciprocated by the lovely girl.
Matters had progressed for some
time between the young lovers, when
Peter Van Arsdale was informed ot
the affair, and instead of raving a.
some fathers would have done, he tool
a very sensible Dutch view of the case
and finding that the young merchant
was worthy of Wilhelmina's affection
and that they really loved each other
he consented to their betrothal; but h,
,, was compelled to postpone the mar
riage for an indefinite time, for the rea
son that under the old Dutch laws NJ
maiden could be married unles
she was possessed of dover
and Peter Van Ar5da!e had n,
dover to give his daughter except ar
uncertain lot of beaver pelts, and the,
were not sufficient to comply with tn
legal standard of the Dutch dowers.
This obstacle was distressing dis
couragement to the young lovers, bu
none whatever to the sturdy old trap
per, who said he had faith in his patrol
saint, who was none other than 81
Nicholas Cor Santa Claus), to whom h
vowed he would pray each nigh
and morning until he sent him
dover for his daughter, and SO faith
! fully did he keep this word that h
never missed praying TO st. Nichola
each night and morning, so that it be
came q matter of public notoriety to al
the inhabitants of New Amsterdam