The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-12-31

SHE SAW THE MAN OF HER CHOICE ABOUT
TO R A BALL.
Van Zandt, while Lena had set her
heart on Jacobus Hardenbroek. Had
the father and mother agreed there is
no doubt that Lena would have been
obliged to accept the man Of their
choice. There Is also no doubt that the
disagreement would have made a life
spinster of her had not the approach
Of New Years day afforded the mighty
genius of Olafe Van Buskirk an OPP
portunity to solve the problem. With
a spark of triumph in his eye he de-
clared that whichever of the three
suitors, Jacobus Hardenbrock, Winant
Van Zandt or Wouter Ten Eyck, should
first call on New Years day should be
his s~On-in-law.
No New Amsterdam Dutchman ever
came to a decision who was ever talked
out of that decision. Lena knew this
and submitted without a word. and so
perfect was her training that there can
be no doubt she would have submitted
had not her father unfairly attempted
to give an advantage to the man Of
his own choice. This set his wife to
try to beat him at his own game, and.
the family authority being weakened.
Lena herself took a hand in the pro-
ceedings.
New Years day opened bright and
beautiful. Olaffe Van Ruskirk's house
Stood exactly where is now the south
west corner of the New York Produce
Exchange. The sun shone into the
Kitchen, ~glistening on the polished cook
ing utensils Of Frau Van Buskirk and
when risen higher circllng In the south
on the brass headed andirons, poker.
t0ngs and fender which had peer
polished so highly as to reflect the
guns of the fort frowning without.
Friends began to call early in the day.
n since the distances between the
dwellings were but a few steps and
there was plenty to eat and drink no
one hurried The calls were long and
the eating and drinking. especially the
latter. deep.
Olaffe Van Buskirk, when he got out
of bed in the morning. put on several
extra pairs of breeches In honor of the
day, his Sunday doublet and a clean
collar twelve inches broad and starched
so stiff that 1t might have served for a
pillory as we'll as a collar. Having poi
Ished the buckles of his shoes and
sword belt, he breakfasted and sailed
forth to make his calls. Frau Van Bus.
kirk having noticed a speck on a metal
platter. removed it and got herself
ready to receive visitors, while Lena
5at up stiff as a ramrod, her petticoats
protecting her from any near approach
On the part of any Dutchman who
might have imbibed too much schnapps
Whether or no her heart was huttering
with the hope that Jacobus Harden
brock. the sutton of her choice. would
call before the other two, there is nc
record; for in those days no Dutch CIR
ever was known to show emotion. The
only sign of interest in the matter ap
parent was her sitting In a window that
gave her vision a clean sweep of the
north face Of the fort, the windmill and
the Hudson river. There she sat watch
ing those who approached the house.
1t was about II O'Clock that Cornell
ius Van Kortlandt appeared. Van Kort
landt's height measured exactly five
feet four inches and his girth four fee
FIVE inches, as in the case of Governor
Van Twiller. He came up the roadway
that is now a street between the Gus
tom house and the Bowling Green
looking like a humming top standing
upright On its peg, and hammered witt
he huge brass knocker on the Var
Buskirks' front door. A rosy red in
dueed by Holland gin decorated hii
nos and cheeks, and be was very gar
fulous. He said that he had been call
Ing at the Onderdonks'. where he haC
met Van Duskirk, who was drinking
With Van Zandt, whom it was evideni
he was trying to put under the table
This information brought a scowl Il
the brow of Frau Van Buskirk, ant
Lena gave evidence of being interested
Van Kortlandt passed on to other CALI
and young Peter Van CQrlear took hi