The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-30


of New York, Dutchman-they were
all Dutchmen there then-named Peter
Van Gaasback. Peter had a daughter
Katrina. whose eyes were as blue as
the vault of heaven. whose cheeks
were like two roses floating in a pan
of milk and whose hair hung down her
back like lovely woven flax rope.
Now, there were people not far to
the east of New Amsterdam who were
of English extraction and of an entire
ly different makeup from the Dutch.
These were the Yankees. Whenever
the two peoples met for trade-they
never met for anything else except to
fight-the Dutchman invariably went
home with nothing, while the Yankee
had twice as much as he had before.
1t is not to be wondered that the for
mer hated the latter
Pardon Langdon, the Yankee who
had won Katrina's young heart, was
long. lean, hungry looking youth who
walked with slouchy gait, drawled
his words and did not appear to know
enough to 20 under cover when it
rained. Nevertheless he was not to
be shaken from his purpose to marry
Katrina despite the refusal Of her fa-
ther and mother and the principal cit-
zens Of New Amsterdam. These prin-
cipal citizens. including her father,
met 10 take measures to prevent the
robbery of one Of the most beauteous
Of their lassies by a Yankee and her
transfer TO the cabbage fields of Con
necticut A great deal Of schnapps
was consumed, and many pounds of
, tobacco were smoked-for a Dutchman
could not deliberate without both when
the council came to the conclusion that
the best way to prevent Katrina's mar
rying Yankee was to marry her to
| Dutchman.
No sooner was this decision reached
than every unmarried man present put
forward claim for the position Of
Katrina's husband, whereupon her
father announced that she should be
welded to the man among them who
could show the largest number OF pelt-
ries-for that was the sole business Of
the town-and old Dietrich Van Grin.
Gle, some sixty years old baldheaded
and with the palsy. having shown that
he owned more skins than any other,
was selected to save. Katrina TO the
community.
This was too much for Katrina s
mother. who from this time sided with
her daughter. But Katrina's mother
was the stupidest woman In New Am
sterdam. Katrina told Pardon Lang
don all that had happened and that
she was to be forced to marry old Van
Crincle on the fifteenth day of June
coming. Pardon told Katrina 20 per
suade her father to promise her that
II she was not married to Dietrich Var
Crincle on the 18th OF June. l647. she
should not be forced to marry him a
all. but should be permitted to marry
whOmsoever she liked. Katrina. aide(
by her mother. spent a week persist
} emily entreating the old man to gran
this request. and he. worn out by thei
opportunities. finally gave in. But h
told Van Crincle what he had dom
and warned him TO surely be on han'
on the appointed day TO claim hi
, bride.
When Katrina reported the success
, Of her and her mothers work don
upon her father he told her to tell he
. mother to meet him that night al tn
> base Of the tower wherein was tn
r town clock. The mother did so, an
Pardon. opening the door for her, toll
her TO 20 up and set the clock bac
, twenty-four hours This was done, an
. Pardon instructed her that on the lot
Of June she should tell her husban
what she had done.
The result OF all this was that o
the morning Of the appointed weddin
!. Peter Van Gaasback called the counc
together. told them Of his promise
his daughter. OF his wife's turning Il
/, clock back twenty-four hours, and th'
y Katrina now claimed that the day Il
\. the wedding had passed. What shou
O he do?
n. Anthony Ten Brock. the cleare
e headed man In New Amsterdam, aro
o and attempted TO prove that. thoui
X the clock had been turned back
e day, no day had been lost. But
became involved In his own argume
n and sat down In confusion. Othc
.. endeavored to set the matter right. b
n. met with no better success than II
TX Brock. Then the bridegroom expe'
IA ant attempted TO show that the d
lie appointed for the nuptials had arrive
rs but he only succeeded In proving III
We day had been lost by the turin
70 back Of the clock aud 1t was now {
y 10th OF June. As the schnapps a
~, tobacco smoke mounted 20 the bral
ev OF the Dutchmen the confusion
nd came greater. and the debate lasted
ia long that some OF them went TO sic,
lie while others went home 20 dtnn
OF After dinner the discussion continu
ma TIL Il began to grow dark. and all We
~ home to supper and to bed.
y The next morning Katrina went
her father and claimed that the Il
OF the month had passed while
council were debating and she v
Dc now entitled TO marry whom
,r pleased.
WI Tho old man was satisfied that
was now at least the 10th OF
to month, and he was not quite sure
ne IL was the 18th. Katrina's mother
M 40 mixed In her calculations that