The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas

bonds, his oa

re, his though

lemen of

ess of the imminent risk he had run. The left hand was thrust into a pocket, where it diligently fingered the provision of Spanish coin without which the merchant never left his abode; while the other struck the cane it held on the pavement, with the force of a resolute and decided man. In this manner he

uilding, and the high and narrow stoop was built of the red free-stone of the country. The material o

no surprise when he saw the person who applied for admission, and every movement of the black denoted preparation and readiness for his reception. Declining his invitation to enter, however, the Alderman placed his back against the iron railing of the stoop, and

riod were wont to address their indulged slaves. "A clear conscience is a good night-cap, and you look bright as the mornin

ow clipping manner that charac

iwacerty gone, an' he do no single t'ing but smoke. A gentle'um who smoke alway, Masser Al'erman, get

nce at the black, as if to express more than he uttered. "Romance and pretty girls pl

dat a great while gone by. Now, de modder of your Euclid, Masser Al'erman, war' a pretty woman, do' she hab but poor conduc'. Den a war' young heself, and I use to vi

ooner turned, than the rascal's ato

r My'nert: no one get a

tion, when it brings gravity and thought; but, if a young fool be tiresome, an old fool is contemptible. I'll

do when a young man. But here be'e Patroon, who know how to

er shone out of a clear sky, whether it came from the pure atmosphere of Holland, or of old England itself. Colonies and patronage! If the people on the other side of the ocean had more faith in mother Nature, and less opinion of themselves, they would find it very tolerable breathing in the plantations. But the conceited rogues

aster. "I think it alway better to travel on 'e land, when a gentle'um own so much as Masser Oloff Der wa

owing an uneasy glance at his young friend. "I count

e in dat werry-boat. A two Yankee, a Canada Frenchman, and a poor woman fr

he Alderman, who was rather expert at figures. "Two Yan

ut I, know all war' drown, for 'e Gubbenor

h is monarch of the earth, and none of us may hope to escape his scythe, when the appointed hour shall come! Here are n

danger, and obstinacy in resistance. The little skirmish which had just taken place, between his friend and his slave, had proceeded from the several apprehensions; the one feeling a sort of parental interest in his safety, and the other having particular reasons

d superstitious mind, he drove the young fry of blacks, who thronged the door, into the house, closing all after him with singular

tress; and at the other, it was crossed by a high stockade, which bore the name of the city walls; a defence that was provided a

hat now runs for a league through the centre of the island. From this avenue, which was then, as it is still, ca

erman, soon after they had left the stoop. "He looks like a padlock, and one might sleep, without a dre

wn were always better near his own pillow," coolly

is morning, it was my fortune to meet the late governor, who is permitted by his creditors to take the air, at an hour when he thinks the eyes

ky as never t

to principal, and no return. But we had discourse of various interests, and, amo

tions of la belle Barbérie, are a subject for the Govern

ir, and, had he not pushed the matter beyond discr

re was some restrai

onalities that no prudent man could relish. Still he said it was possib

country; for, though a British subject, he was rather a Hollander in feelings, habits, and opinions. He colored at the allusion to the

ndies, to duty on this coast, I hope he may

n to the admiral to send so meritorious an officer on service where he may distinguish himself, should deserve his thanks. T

the reputation of

her temper, and none of your deliberations and taciturnities will gain the day. This visit to the Lust in Rust is Cupid's own handywork, and I hope to see

veness; and, taking advantage of the haste in which his toilette had been made, he thrust a hand into his vest, c

érie did not close the books of life without taking good care of the balance-sheet-but yonder are those devils of ferrymen quitting the wharf without us! Scamper ahead, Brutus, and tell them to wait the legal minute. The rogues are never ex

, vented his complaints, while he and his companion hurried on to overtake the slow-moving boat in which they were to embark. A brief des

treet had taken a curvature not unlike that of a new moon. The houses were ultra-Dutch, being low, angular, fastidiously neat, and all erected with their gables to the street. Each had its ugly and inconvenient entrance, termed a stoop, its vane or weathercock,

place whence so many craft departed from the town: since, it is certain, that the two rivers could have furnished div

ks, and on the fronts of the low edifices. This light but daily duty was relieved by clamorous collisions of wit, and

h so much resembles that certain well-read English scholars entertain of the plagiarisms of the continental writers, when they first begin to dip into their works, is not strictly true; since the language of England has probably bestowed as much on the dialect of which we speak, as it has ever received from the purer sources

d unsupported masts and high narrow-headed sails, are daily seen bending like reeds to the breeze, and dancing lightly over the billows of the bay. There is a variety of the class, of a size and pretension altogether superior to that just mentioned, which deserves a place among the most picturesque and striking boats that float. He who has had occasion to navigate the southern shore of the Sound must have often seen the vessel to which we allude. It is distinguished by its great length, and masts which, naked of cordage, rise from the hull

f the burghers; and it is still within the memory of man, that a voyage between the two principal towns of the State was an event to excite the solicitude of friends, and the anxiety of the traveller. The perils of the Tappaan Zee,