The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-01-26
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THE GOOD OLD CUSTOM.

From Hayper's Bazaar.
Miss Lisbeth Vanderweyster was a state
ly gentlewoman above seventy years old,
very long-favored. and very straight hacked.
She put on her rusty cloak, tied her modest
bonnet, and announced to Sylvia, her SER
want for a half-century, "rm going to
market to buy provisions for the New
Years table"
Sylvia was an aged, toothless mulatto,
born in New York, and in the Vanderwey
ster family, but curiously retaining the
characteristics of her enslaved race, and with
affectionate impertinence she replied, sharp
ly, "Now, Miss Lis, yer shan't go out,
chile, in dis yere weather; faint fit fur yer,
nohow"
But Sylvia's admonitions were as fire.
quent as the king king of the old church
bell hard by, and Miss Lisbeth had long
ago ceased to be conscious of either; so she
went on, quietly
"What with illness, and mourning, and
the scattering of our family, I've not re-
ceived for ten years, but in coming out Of old
Trinity last Sunday | mentioned to the
Stuvtevants and the Ten Brockels and the
Trivingstons that would certainly be at
home this New-Y Years. Everybody has
heard of my intention by this time, Sylvia,
Oh yes, l must do my part towards keeping
up the good old custom, almost the only
reminder now of New York before it be-
came an emigrant station and gambling
den. [ shall receive all friends of the
Vanderweyster family" No queen-dowa-
ger could have said these words with a
more benignant condescension. "And,
Sylvia" she continued, "there must be a
great many of our friends left; papa and
mamma had large circle"
"Bress u.s. Miss Lis, Gineral Van
Bruyster and Mister Peter Vanduyckinck
called dat ere last time yer received; but
de giueral he's gone stoneblind, an Mister
Peter he's gone clar silly-both wild ole
age, Lor' bress us p
GAY, but there's Major Spuytenduyvil,
he'll not forget us; oh yes, the major will
certainly come; as young mau he was al
ways here on New Y ears, and very hand
some fellow he was. All, we don't see
such men nowadays! There's my grand
nephew, Mr.. Evart Vanderweyster, come
home from Europe at last; he has quite a
fine figure, but not like the major's-not
like the majors Why, on Evart's account
| wouldn't fail to receive this year, Sylvia,
What would he think if the oldest repre-
sentative of the family should refuse hospi-
tality to him and his young friends on New
Years day? Now there'll be certainly a
hundred of Evart's acquaintance, and a
good hundred besides of my own. Oh,
everybody will be rushing here As man.
ma used to say, they all appreciate the
honor of calling on Vaenderweyster. Let
me see, we must have cold fowls, and potted
meats, and salads, plum cake, wine, punch,
coffee, and
"Them tings costs lot, Miss Lis u
mumbled the prudent Sylvia.
"There are moments in life when cost is
not to be considered, answered Miss Lis
beth, with calm exaltation; and out to
market she stalked, very upright, very
shabby, and very much of lady. At the
corner, when grand carriage in dashing
by splashed mud all over her wellworn
clothing, Miss Lisbeth's fine scornful smile
was something to see. She looked after
the gay equipage with pitying contempt,
and said, half aloud "The Jacksons'
carriage! Why, Tim Jackson was my
fathers shoemaker Poor wretches p
The Vanderweyster house was in the
neighborhood lying about Washington
Square neighborhood which to-day has
charm that all the uptown wealth of fine
architecture fails to secure-the charm Of
history. OF course the history is not a
long one, nor has it any regal glitter; but
it begins with the century, and is respect
able, which facts, in land where most
things are still painfully new, bear some
thing of weight and interest. Miss Lisbeth
lived under the roof built by her father,
and on land belonging to the family for
two hundred years. Yet the house was
much like carriage without horses-there
was nothing to keep it going. She had
therefore lately begun to rent out the upper
rooms to @single gentlemen with undoubted
references" and she and Sylvia lived in
the basement and parlors with a frugality
dignifed by exquisite neatness.
Such odors of roasing and stewing, such
steam of fruit and spice, such tempting
sounds of hashing and grinding, as foated
upstairs all day long, made the dodgers, as
they came in pause in the hallway.
@Why," Black whispered to Smith, ''this