The Chainbearer; Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts

r land, because

give aught ot

ds with a king

kindness to

, fearing and f

urtured, such t

apostates, w

ounds, shillings, p

lle

as old as the Tiber, though the world has not talked of it as much, or as long. A thousand years hence, this stream will be known over the whole earth; and men will speak of it as they now speak of the Danube and the Rhine.

mirably placed for the purposes of an afternoon's lounge. Beneath its shade we often took our dessert and wine, in the warm months; and thither, since their return from the army, General Littlepage and Colonel Dirck Follock used to carry their pipes, and smo

es and figs; the two last imported, of course. It was a little too early for us to get pines from the islands, a fruit which is so common in its season as to be readily purchased in town at the rate of four of a good size for a dollar. But, the abundance, and even luxury, of a better sort of the common American tables, is no news; viands, liquors and fruits appearing on the

e table, though

n the shore was a large skiff, that contained a tolerably sized trunk or two, and a sort of clothes-bag. In the first were a portion of my clothes, while those of Jaap filled the bag. The negro himself was stretche

the craft on the Hudson belonged up the river, and they partook largely of the taste of our Dutch ancestors. Notable travellers before the gales, they did very little with foul winds, generally requiring from a week to a fortnight to tide it down from Albany, with the wind at all from the south. Nevertheless, few persons thought of making the journey between the two largest towns of the state (York and Albany), without having recourse to one of these sloops. I was at that moment in waiting for th

accompany me in my journey to Ravensnest, knew every vessel on the river, as soon as he could see her, and we depended on him to let us kno

e frequent pauses that occurred in the discourse. "She is a relation, and I feel a great regard for her; so much the more, fro

couple than my parents never existed. They seemed to me ordinarily to have but one mind between them; and when there did occur any slight difference of opinion, the question was not which s

ve, and see if the stones are up, and that the place is kept as it should be. I have not been the

s probable the intention was successful. Not so, however, with Colonel Dirck, who drew the pipe from his mouth, a

Corny," observed the colonel

ain aisle of St. Peter's, I believe; and no doubt all is right w

ther, thoughtfully. "The Cuylers are much broken up by the revolution, while the Schuylers have

; and we can only be thankful that so many o

rmuring a thanksgiving to the power which had pres

that dear parent, after a longer pause than usual. "Now there is

me, cousin Anneke," said Colonel Dirck, "t'at t'ey actually mean to have a mail t'ree times a week pe

er, "I am sure my patriotism will be greatly increased. How will letters get ou

Yankees, they tell me, are out looking for farms t

nel Dirck, who had the old Dutch grudge against our

ested more justice and less prejudice to wise Philip; but prejudices

, with emphasis, and in the manner of one who

mans? He must have been at Mooseridge, with his party of surveyors, now near a twelvemonth, and I'll warrant you has thoro

little alarm. "If one of t'em animals gets upon the tract, he will manage to c

for his honesty would have made his fortune. But I have seen him tried, and know it will not do. He was a week once making up an acco

y property, figures or no figures," cried Colonel D

gh he should be a Yankee. Andries is shrewd, if he be no calculator; and I dare to say he has engaged a suitable man. Having taken the job at a liberal price,

e is one t'ing, major, you must not forget. Five hundred goot acres must be surveyed off for sister Anneke, and

. "I'll not refuse the land for the girls, who m

ay, it may be of use one day. Suppose we make o

im comfortable for the rest of his days. I thank you for the hint, Dirck, and we will

entured to remark. "Besides, land will be of little use to him, unless it might be to measure it.

cept it from his friends, and too benevolent to part with family slaves, in order to raise it. 'They were born Coejemans,' he always said, 'as much as I was born one myself, and they shall die Coejemans.' He doubtless has these people wit

ve quite as comfortable a time as many of those we passed together in camp. Then, I shall carry my flute with me; for Miss Priscilla Bayard has given me reason to expect a very wonderful crea

young men of the regiment at one time, though no one of t

my dear mother's eyes turned curiously on me; brou

's niece?" that beloved parent asked, as soon as she

are fast friends; quite as great, I should judge from

ling, "since there the principal reason must be wanting.

arisons; though Miss Bayard herself says Dus is much her superior in many things. I a

cely in stati

nior captain o

ons. What I mean is, that your Chai

d States, are greatly his superiors in knowledge. Nevertheless, while we must all admit how necessary a certain amount of education has become, at the present time, to make a gentleman, I think every gentleman will allow hundreds among us have d

a chainbearer, Mordaun

ve them for companions this summer. Jaap is making signals, and I must quit you all. Heigho! It is very pleasant here, under this linden, and home begins t

ary kissed me, in her quiet but affectionate way; and I shook hands with the gentlemen, who accompanied me down to the boat. I could see that my father w

cended to the shore. "Let Andries pick out some of the best of the lant, t'at is well wa

I wish you would set up marks by which they may be known. It is true, a quarter of a century o

e the same period in the wanderings of a comet; lost, in the numberless years of it

tenants on my estate. Your father may lease 'em one-ha

er; I am to sell the lands of Mooseridge, or covenant to sell, as your attorney, while I follow out my grandfather Mordaunt's ideas, and lease those that are no

and we were compelled to row a quarter of a mile down the river to meet the sloop. Although the wind was perfectly fair, it was not so fresh as to

Removing the pipe, after a puff or two, he pointed with the stem tow

f their town in the last century-"is a long way off," he

whole family collecting on a low rock, near the water, to take the final look. In the background stood the Satanstoes, a dark, woolly group, including Mrs. Jaap, and two generations of descendants. The whites were weeping; that is to say, my dear

il, too, was set; and the Eagle might be said to be moving in all her glory. She went so near the rocks, too, as if she despised danger! Those were not the days of close calculations that have succeeded. Then, an Albany skipper did not mind losing a hundred or

. Even Jaap had his share; and "good-by, Jaap," came to my ears, from even the sweet voice of Kate. Away we went, in stately Dut

a foremast hand, and two younger blacks, one of whom was what was dignified with the name of cabin-steward. Then there were numerous passengers; some of whom appeared to belong to the upper classes. They were of both sexes, but all were strangers to me. On the mai

territory[6] have been opened up from the shades of the virgin forest, to admit the warmth of the sun; and culture and abundance have been spread where the beast of the forest so lately roamed, hunted by the savage. Most of this, too, has been effected between

e pressure of war, to enjoy the freedom of peace. The history of that day in New York, which State led the van in the righteous strife of improvement, and has ever since so nobly maintained its vantage-ground, has not yet been written. When it is properly recorded names will be rescued from oblivion that

ut of Connecticut by the way of New York, and thence up the river in sloops. Of this character were those found on board the Eagle. In all, we had seven of these men, who got into discourse with me the first day of our passage, and I was a lit

ces of their disposition to emigrate, which brings with it the necessity of inquiring after the welfare of friends at a distance. It appears to me, however, this is taking a very narrow view of the cause, which I attribute to the general activity of mind among a people little restrained by the conventional usages of m

ot slow in introducing themselves to me, and of asking the questions that were uppermost in their minds. Of course, I made such answers as were called for by the case, and we established a sort of business

e. These conditions were made known to the axe-men, as my first essay in settling a new country; and, contrary to what had been my expectation, I soon discovered that these adventurers inclined more to the leases than to the deeds. It is true, I expected a small payment down, in the case of each absolute sale, while I was prepared to grant leases, for three lives, at very low rents at the best; and in the cases of a large proportion of the lots, those that were the least eligi

ese steeples were then two in number, viz.: that of the English church, that stood near the margin of the town, against the hill; and that of the Dutch church, which occupied an humbler sit