The Washington herald., 1915-12-12
How Hans Fooled
A Scalping Party.
A Story Of a Christmas in
New Netherlands
BY EDWARD HALE BRUSH.

BY EDWARD HALE BRUSH.
1t was late in the afternoon of the
day before Christmas. away back In
the time when William Kifet was d.
rector-general at New Netherland
(now New York State>. Young Hans
Dircksen had been helping his father
and a negro slave to water and feed
the stock. From the barracks in the
center of the cowyard they had pulled
down the salt hay from the meadows
of Jamaica Bay, Long Island, and
Hans had told his younger brother
Jan that their father had promised
next summer when the hay was again
gathered to sail them over to where
the Reckawa Indians lived. a place
where there was a fine beach and
plenty of shell fish could be found.
1t was but a short time since the
been made at that place. yet many
evidences of prosperity were already
TO be seen. The crops had been good
and the barns were well filled. At
first the neighboring Indian tribes
had been friendly. and the farmer
ceased carrying his gun as he plowed
or harvested his fields. But this hap
py condition had changed. owing to
rash and unjust treatment by some
of the settlers of their bronze-hued
neighbors, hostilities had broken out
anew and again and the pioneer farm
rx,ftI ha
he, might not wake to hear the war
whoop or witness the scalping Of his
helpless ones.
As if to emphasize the insecurity IN
which the settlers dwelt. hardly had the
task of caring for the stock been COM
pleted by Hans and his father on this
afternoon before Christmas. when a
horseman came galloping UP in front of
the pallisade which protected the Dirck-
sen home Hans and his little brother.
In tones of fear, called to their father to
open the gate and thoughts Of Indians
and tomahawks and massacres sprang
at once to their minds, striking terror to
the heart Of little Jan. but in Hans case
awakening that love OF adventure which
was lying dormant in his breast The
horseman was breathless and the animal
he rode was foaming with sweat in spite
of the frosty weather. They had come at
hot speed all the way from New ANS
terdam CNew York City,.
Call all your men and boys" shouted
the messenger Arm them with guns,
pixies, axes. clubs. or pitchforks. any
thing you have. for Indians may attack
your farm at any moment We have
news at the fort that the Canarsies the
Reckawas. the Merrics and the Massage
quas are planning a descent together
upon the settlements. It's all the fault
of that fool Englishman. Fordham. who
arrested some Of the Canarsies for killing
two or three pigs. A pest to his pigs.
As 1t turns out. his own Englishmen di"
it. but he chained the redskins, seven OF
them, in his cellar. and in revenge Chief
Penhawitz. who was our good friend. has
turned against us and dug up the hatchet.
Look ye to it If We would not have 1t ces-
cend on your own heads"
And the messenger vanished. galloping
on to alarm other settlers
And what a message to bring them on
Christmas Eve!
The Dutch were fond Of holidays and
at Christmas time gave themselves up
entirely to merry-making. Hans and
Jan were anticipating the festival with
the pleasureable feelings usual to boys
of their age but now the Indians might |
attack the farm and burn the building |
before the little rotund, rosy-cheeked old
man with his low crowned hat. Flemish !
trunk hose and long pipe, as the Dutch
pictured him. could drive up in his REIN !.
deer sleigh and descend the big CHM
ney.
Little Jams had begun to cry, because
he thought the saint would be scared |
away by the tomahawking Indians. But
Hans. vino was older. thought only of
the excitement in store and as the men
hurried hither and thither. gathering in
all the stock. Tightening UP the palisades
and disposing the guns and arms Of all
to the best advantage, he
did his share in preparing for the ex-
pected attack. Nay. he did more. Un-
beknown to his father. Hans formed a
clever plan to surprise the red men If
they came and helped to frighten them
into abandoning their assault.
Hans was not, like some Of the set
lers' boys, afraid Of the Indians and
among some Of the dusky youths Of
his own age he had made some good
He had often spent the night
in their lodges during peaceable times
and knew that the denizens Of the soil Il
were inclined to be friendly II Justly
treated. A. q lad of Imagination and