price；　thus；　therefore；　while　everyone　around　him　grew　richer；
  Wolfert　grew　poorer；　and　he　could　not；　for　the　life　of　him；
  perceive　how　the　evil　was　to　be　remedied。
  This　growing　care；　which　increased　from　day　to　day；　had　its　gradual
  effect　upon　our　worthy　burgher；　insomuch　that　it　at　length
  implanted　two　or　three　wrinkles　in　his　brow；　things　unknown　before
  in　the　family　of　the　Webbers；　and　it　seemed　to　pinch　up　the　corners
  of　his　cocked　hat　into　an　expression　of　anxiety　totally　opposite　to
  the　tranquil；　broad…brimmed；　low…crowned　beavers　of　his　illustrious
  progenitors。
  Perhaps　even　this　would　not　have　materially　disturbed　the　serenity
  of　his　mind　had　he　had　only　himself　and　his　wife　to　care　for；　but
  there　was　his　daughter　gradually　growing　to　maturity；　and　all　the
  world　knows　that　when　daughters　begin　to　ripen；　no　fruit　nor　flower
  requires　so　much　looking　after。　　I　have　no　talent　at　describing
  female　charms；　else　fain　would　I　depict　the　progress　of　this　little
  Dutch　beauty：　how　her　blue　eyes　grew　deeper　and　deeper；　and　her
  cherry　lips　redder　and　redder；　and　how　she　ripened　and　ripened；　and
  rounded　and　rounded；　in　the　opening　breath　of　sixteen　summers；
  until；　in　her　seventeenth　spring；　she　seemed　ready　to　burst　out　of
  her　bodice；　like　a　half…blown　rosebud。
  Ah；　well…a…day！　　Could　I　but　show　her　as　she　was　then；　tricked　out
  on　a　Sunday　morning　in　the　hereditary　finery　of　the　old　Dutch
  clothespress；　of　which　her　mother　had　confided　to　her　the　key！　　The
  wedding　dress　of　her　grandmother；　modernized　for　use；　with　sundry
  ornaments；　handed　down　as　heirlooms　in　the　family。　　Her　pale　brown
  hair　smoothed　with　buttermilk　in　flat；　waving　lines　on　each　side　of
  her　fair　forehead。　　The　chain　of　yellow；　virgin　gold　that　encircled
  her　neck；　the　little　cross　that　just　rested　at　the　entrance　of　a
  soft　valley　of　happiness；　as　if　it　would　sanctify　the　place。　　The
  but　pooh！　it　is　not　for　an　old　man　like　me　to　be　prosing　about
  female　beauty；　suffice　it　to　say；　Amy　had　attained　her　seventeenth
  year。　　Long　since　had　her　sampler　exhibited　hearts　in　couples
  desperately　transfixed　with　arrows；　and　true　lovers'　knots　worked
  in　deep　blue　silk；　and　it　was　evident　she　began　to　languish　for
  some　more　interesting　occupation　than　the　rearing　of　sunflowers　or
  pickling　of　cucumbers。
  At　this　critical　period　of　female　existence；　when　the　heart　within
  a　damsel's　bosom；　like　its　emblem；　the　miniature　which　hangs
  without；　is　apt　to　be　engrossed　by　a　single　image；　a　new　visitor
  began　to　make　his　appearance　under　the　roof　of　Wolfert　Webber。
  This　was　Dirk　Waldron；　the　only　son　of　a　poor　widow；　but　who　could
  boast　of　more　fathers　than　any　lad　in　the　province；　for　his　mother
  had　had　four　husbands；　and　this　only　child；　so　that；　though　born　in
  her　last　wedlock；　he　might　fairly　claim　to　be　the　tardy　fruit　of　a
  long　course　of　cultivation。　　This　son　of　four　fathers　united　the
  merits　and　the　vigor　of　all　his　sires。　　If　he　had　not　had　a　great
  family　before　him　he　seemed　likely　to　have　a　great　one　after　him；
  for　you　had　only　to　look　at　the　fresh；　buxom　youth　to　see　that　he
  was　formed　to　be　the　founder　of　a　mighty　race。
  This　youngster　gradually　became　an　intimate　visitor　of　the　family。
  He　talked　little；　but　he　sat　long。　　He　filled　the　father's　pipe
  when　it　was　empty；　gathered　up　the　mother's　knitting　needle；　or
  ball　of　worsted；　when　it　fell　to　the　ground；　stroked　the　sleek　coat
  of　the　tortoise…shell　cat；　and　replenished　the　teapot　for　the
  daughter　from　the　bright　copper　kettle　that　sang　before　the　fire。
  All　these　quiet　little　offices　may　seem　of　trifling　import；　but
  when　true　love　is　translated　into　Low　Dutch　it　is　in　this　way　that
  it　eloquently　expresses　itself。　　They　were　not　lost　upon　the　Webber
  family。　　The　winning　youngster　found　marvelous　favor　in　the　eyes　of
  the　mother；　the　tortoise…shell　cat；　albeit　the　most　staid　and
  demure　of　her　kind；　gave　indubitable　signs　of　approbation　of　his
  visits；　the　teakettle　seemed　to　sing　out　a　cheering　note　of　welcome
  at　his　approach；　and　if　the　sly　glances　of　the　daughter　might　be
  rightly　read；　as　she　sat　bridling　and　dimpling；　and　sewing　by　her
  mother's　side；　she　was　not　a　whit　behind　Dame　Webber；　or　grimalkin；
  or　the　teakettle；　in　good　will。
  Wolfert　alone　saw　nothing　of　what　was　going　on。　　Profoundly　wrapt
  up　in　meditation　on　the　growth　of　the　city　and　his　cabbages；　he　sat
  looking　in　the　fire；　and　puffing　his　pipe　in　silence。　　One　night；
  however；　as　the　gentle　Amy；　according　to　custom；　lighted　her　lover
  to　the　outer　door；　and　he；　according　to　custom；　took　his　parting
  salute；　the　smack　resounded　so　vigorously　through　the　long；　silent
  entry　as　to　startle　even　the　dull　ear　of　Wolfert。　　He　was　slowly
  roused　to　a　new　source　of　anxiety。　　It　had　never　entered　into　his
  head　that　this　mere　child；　who；　as　it　seemed；　but　the　other　day　had
  been　climbing　about　his　knees　and　playing　with　dolls　and　baby
  houses；　could　all　at　once　be　thinking　of　lovers　and　matrimony。　　He
  rubbed　his　eyes；　examined　into　the　fact；　and　really　found　that
  while　he　had　been　dreaming　of　other　matters；　she　had　actually　grown
  to　be　a　woman；　and；　what　was　worse；　had　fallen　in　love。　　Here　arose
  new　cares　for　Wolfert。　　He　was　a　kind　father；　but　he　was　a　prudent
  man。　　The　young　man　was　a　lively；　stirring　lad；　but　then　he　had
  neither　money　nor　land。　　Wolfert's　ideas　all　ran　in　one　channel；
  and　he　saw　no　alternative　in　case　of　a　marriage　but　to　portion　off
  the　young　couple　with　a　corner　of　his　cabbage　garden；　the　whole　of
  which　was　barely　sufficient　for　the　support　of　his　family。
  Like　a　prudent　father；　therefore；　he　determined　to　nip　this　passion
  in　the　bud；　and　forbade　the　youngster　the　house；　though　sorely　did
  it　go　against　his　fatherly　heart；　and　many　a　silent　tear　did　it
  cause　in　the　bright　eye　of　his　daughter。　　She　showed　herself；
  however；　a　pattern　of　filial　piety　and　obedience。　　She　never　pouted
  and　sulked；　she　never　flew　in　the　face　of　parental　authority；　she
  never　flew　into　a　passion；　nor　fell　into　hysterics；　as　many
  romantic；　novel…read　young　ladies　would　do。　　Not　she；　indeed。　　She
  was　none　such　heroical；　rebellious　trumpery；　I'll　warrant　ye。　　On
  the　contrary；　she　acquiesced　like　an　obedient　daughter；　shut　the
  street　door　in　her　lover's　face；　and　if　ever　she　did　grant　him　an
  interview；　it　was　either　out　of　the　kitchen　window　or　over　the
  garden　fence。
  Wolfert　was　deeply　cogitating　these　matters　in　his　mind；　and　his
  brow　wrinkled　with　unusual　care；　as　he　wended　his　way　one　Saturday
  afternoon　to　a　rural　inn；　about　two　miles　from　the　city。　　It　was　a
  favorite　resort　of　the　Dutch　part　of　the　community；　from　being
  always　held　by　a　Dutch　line　of　landlords；　and　retaining　an　air　and
  relish　of　the　good　old　times。　　It　was　a　Dutch…built　house；　that　had
  probably　been　a　country　seat　of　some　opulent　burgher　in　the　early
  time　of　the　settlement。　　It　stood　near　a　point　of　land　called
  Corlear's　Hook；＇1＇　which　stretches　out　into　the　Sound；　and　against
  which　the　tide；　at　its　flux　and　reflux；　sets　with　extraordinary
  rapidity。　　The　venerable　and　somewhat　crazy　mansion　was
  distinguished　from　afar　by　a　grove　of　elms　and　sycamores　that
  seemed　to　wave　a　hospitable　invitation；　while　a　few　weeping
  willows；　with　their　dank；　drooping　foliage；　resembling　falling
  waters；　gave　an　idea　of　coolness　that　rendered　it　an　attractive
  spot　during　the　heats　of　summer。
  ＇1＇　A　point　of　land　at　the　bend　of　the　East　River　below　Grand
  Street；　New　York　City。
  Here；　therefore；　as　I　said；　resorted　many　of　the　old　inhabitants　of
  the　Manhattoes；　where；　while　some　played　at　shuffleboard＇1＇　and
  quoits；＇2＇　and　ninepins；　others　smoked　a　deliberate　pipe；　and
  talked　over　public　affairs。
  ＇1＇　A　game　played　by　pushing　or　shaking　pieces　of　money　or　metal　so
  as　to　make　them　reach　certain　marks　on　a　board。
  ＇2＇　A　game　played　by　pitching　a　flattened；　ring…shaped　piece　of
  iron；　called　a　quoit；　at　a　fixed　object。
  It　was　on　a　blustering　autumnal　afternoon　that　Wolfert　made　his
  visit　to　the　inn。　　The　grove　of　elms　and　willows　was　stripped　of
  its　leaves；　which　whirled　in　rustling　eddies　about　the　fields。　　The
  ninepin　alley　was　deserted；　for　the　premature　chilliness　of　the　day
  had　driven　the　company　within　doors。　　As　it　was　Saturday　afternoon
  the　habitual　club　was　in　session；　composed　principally　of　regular
  Dutch　burghers；　though　mingled　occasionally　with　persons　of　various
  character　and　country；　as　is　natural　in　a　place　of　such　motley
  population。
  Beside　the　fireplace；　in　a　huge；　leather…bottomed　armchair；　sat　the
  dictator　of　this　little　world；　the　venerable　Rem；　or；　as　it　was
  pronounced；　〃Ramm〃　Rapelye。　　He　was　a　man　of　Walloon＇1＇　race；　and
  illustrious　for　the　antiquity　of　his　line；　his　great…grandmother
  having　been　the　first　white　child　born　in　the　province。　　But　he　was
  still　more　illustrious　for　his　wealth　and　dignity。　　He　had　long
  filled　the　noble　office　of　alderman；　and　was　a