side." This was put in by a great laughing lout of a fellow, who inade the rafters ring with his own approval.

"You had better look to yourself, Dirck Dietrick. There are worse things than the jugges in these times," said the goaded Jerry, who was in no mood to be tormented while his wrists were glowing with the iron rings. "There are stone jugges, where some folks would be if they got their own."

"Don't be angry," was the mellowing response of Dirck; "for the Dominie said after you went away, that he believed good came out of it. He preached all the better for your example."

"Aye," said Jerry, "just as some folks would be better whigges if a cowboy were tied at the koort house door every morning."

"Come, come, no more of dat," said old Tobias, the good Boerman, in whose barn they all sat, 66 we have no more of dat, come and eat de sheeps, and de bearen, and de chicken, and drink de rum and de cider."

In a corner, away from the most roystering of the company, sat Elsie, along with a few of the best class of young persons. Both sexes regarded Elsie as a superior person, and were never too familiar in their approaches. Such as like herself, had relatives in the large towns, or who had improved themselves by the best company whom they could find, were usually found near Martin Schuyler's daughter, and were fond of quoting her as an authority. Among the young men was Teunis Roe, who had either by accident or affinity of disposition, found himself side by side with Elsie upon several occasions of public gatherings, and he had not been an entire stranger at the Hoogenhuisen in former days. Indeed there was a time when old Egbert Roe and Martin Schuyler were sworn friends and brothers. But oh! that weary war! it had proved what they had often heard the Dominie say: "De vader zal tegen den zoon verdeeld zijn en de zoon tagen den vader."

This was literally the case, for Teunis in his heart was Whig, and his father was in his heart a Tory. It was the son against the father, and the father against the son, and both in the same house, sworn foes, but as yet in part secret. For so long as Teunis had to remain at home he must keep his principles to himself. His peculiar and hard case was fully understood by Elsie, though not by Martin, and consequently the intimacy of the two families was broken up, so far that there

was no longer any interchange of visits, once so pleasant in the long winter nights, between the old people, nor was there the same liberty felt by the young folks themselves when they met. T actual position of Teunis was fathomed easily by Elsie, but with tact and delicacy she avoided allusions to the public affairs of the country. Ste never inquired after the reason of his absences, yet seemed to expect him to embrace such 002sions as the present for meeting her, and talking over local matters, of which there was always a sufficient stock on hand.

"You were not at the wedding of Peggy Wolfia on Friday last," said Teunis, as he took up a large stalk of corn, balancing it on his right thumbnail, as if he cared but little whether he husked any more that night or not. "You were expected to stand as bride's-maid, and there was some disappointment you may be sure."

These last words were uttered in a low tone, which the heart, if inclined, is sure to feel, and the damsel had not a heart of stone.

"These are not times, you know, Teunis, for young girls to go much alone, and my father hal heard something which made him more than usually afraid of my going out. Indeed, I am here just now more on my mother's leave than co his. Do you not think these are hard times to marry?"

"That depends, Elsie, upon whether both be of one mind, in some things union is strength, and two sticks tied together are stronger than the same two sticks taken separately." Teunis here threw the ear of corn into the basket, just as Elsie cast one in the same place; and then laughing at the conjunction, asked the maiden whether she would like to see how the two lay in the basket heads or thraws.

"O, you may look if you please," said Elsie, half blushing; "Nelly Schutt there, would take that to be as certain as the good book, but"—

"See, there they are lying side by side, as cory as two kittens," said Teunis, as he held down the basket to the candle; and to tell the truth, woman's curiosity or something else, inclined Elsie this time, as before, to look and laugh at the folly of the sign.

"There now," said Teunis, "is a quarrel getting up between these onwijzen."

"Teunis, mind what the Dominie says; he that calleth his brother fool-you know the rest." "I know, Elsie, but what can you call that

Dick Deidricht but a fool; hear how he is provoking Jerry to bring up matters which should be kept out of our homes, and from these friendly gatherings. I must go and keep them quiet."

And off he moved, but before he had time to put in a word, Tobias was giving out the bill of fare, in his own peculiar manner, which had the same happy influence upon Dutch blood that the smell of good dinners has upon hungry dogs, and hungry princes, or princesses, for animal nature during a time of hunger is much the same in the quadruped and the biped.

It would require more words than can be spared to describe a supper among the honest Dutch on the Hudson River. They must have inherited their liking from their ancestors on the Scheldt, and in the Low Countries, where the sturdy Boerman after working in the deep bogs came home to his vrow and fed heartily and slept it off. And, imitating the burgomaster of the place on his great occasions, he too called in his "Vrenden en de geburen en bringt het gemeste kalf en stagt het; en laat ons eten en vrolijk zijn."

The old Hollander was very orthodox, and in killing the fatted calf, and being in a vrolicke(Anglicè, merry). He was never hurt by a good supper. He lay all the easier, like an old Roman on his couch, that the citadel was well provisioned. It would be an interesting history to tell all that lay on the vast table, made of doors taken from their hinges, and covered with linen sheets, on which lay piles of meat in huge wooden dishes, not carefully selected, the one animal from the other, but the bear and the cow were together, and the chicken and the rabbit were on the same plate. Equal hillocks of bread stood ready to be distributed by the bustling fat hostess, who moved around as we have seen a Dutch scow among other craft, coming square up against one and another, till she succeeds in laying a portion equally as large as Benjamin's share, before each guest. She repeated these acts of kindness to the end of the feast, every now and again urging them to partake, saying to one, "You don't like our victuals, Jake." "Take up the leg of that turkey and send it with the rest, Tim." "Now, Elsie, eat till you burst, I wish you may." "No ting like good victuals."

She did not mean all she said, but she intended to do her best at being hospitable; and being among her own kind of people, it was a satisfac

tion just to see her good-natured look as she surveyed the ample table, with her guests devouring far more than all the worth of the labor they had performed; but it would be so rich to tell afterward, that she had cooked two more sheep, killed five more turkeys, and twenty more chickens than dame Languendyck ever did. Besides, every one had at least a yard of sausage put on his plate, a pound of rolichie; cabbage and onion, apples and cider, all came on just as if they had not eaten anything for a month. Never were a company more unfit, according to city notions, of taking themselves to the ball-room; but the spirit of these folks was just rising. The plentiful draughts of cider and brandy which were drank, without injury. to the perpendicular position of the guests, helped to carry them through the contra-dances, without being hindered by their abdominal gravity. The barn floor, during the supper, had been cleared by the negroes, who always worked with right good will when there was to be-gezang en het geric-music and dancing; and even the good Dominie would stand at the door and see his children vrolicke. All was full of glee and merriment, and fairly on the way to a happy termination, when old Fred, the head man of Tobias, came rushing into the middle of the floor, his jaws chattering, and his face the color of his gray head, screaming and acting as a lunatic may be supposed to act, under a black skin and African features. Not a word could be got from him except the sound "Yuur en sulfur-Gog en de Magog. Ingen barbareen." These words came out in the form of squeals and grunts, more than like human speech.

Of course all amusement came to a close at this sudden apparition, for while some declared that Fred had seen a geest, others a spook, some had, with more presence of mind, run to the door, and coming back announced the tidings, more alarming than anything of the witching kind, that the vuur teeken on the Keekute was in a blaze. This was the acknowledged beacon of warning, and was like the fiery cross of the Scottish clans, the gathered signal in approaching danger. The combustible material had been brought together early in the summer, and was in fine fitness for the torch. An onset was expected from the west, as already referred to, and now that the glare was reflected from the sky, the yells of the Indians almost sung already in the ears of the helpless and the cow

ardly. What added to the anxiety and uneasiness of the occasion, many were known to be secretly friendly to the savages, now near at hand, and were mingling with the very persons whose lives would be sought out with as much horror and fiendish delight as was usual on such occasions. All the company prepared to go; some to their homes, and others to the general rendezvous.

Elsie, with the rest, had risen in a moment of surprise, and after looking to the Keekute on the river-bank, she turned her eyes to the west in search of the hill above Hoogenhuisen; and there, too, rose up the great flame, like a fiery tongue speaking to heaven for relief. Her heart smote her for being in the midst of pleasure at such a time; while without uttering a single word, except a low whisper to Teunis, who stood waiting her will, though he had spoken not a word.

"De tijd is nabij; laat ons van hier gaan, Teunis ?"

"I am beside thee, Elsie, and am ready. Meet me at the outside of the big poorte. I shall be there with the horses ;" and without a word more, he was off on his errand.

Elsie was soon out and mounted on her sheepskin saddle, and was carefully adjusting her foot into the iron, preparing for a sharp gallop, when, without looking up, she said in low, but somewhat agitated tone of voice, "Teunis, there is no need of your protection just now. The road is good, the night clear, and filly is sure-footed."

Had the young man been struck by some unseen hand, the effect could not have stupified him more than these words, which he interpreted into something like a suspicion of his honor. He had not recovered himself yet when Elsie continued:

"And now there is the less need of your protection, for upon my word there is Rover come out to meet me. Oh, something bad must have happened. He has either been sent hither by my mother, or his own instinct has brought him to warn me beforehand;" and without another word, in the agitation of her spirit, she struck her pony a sharp stroke with her whip. Teunis, true to his Dutch nature, while trying to open his mouth for an explanation, was left on the road beside his impatient horse, who would hardly allow the master time to mount on his back. But once there, he galloped after Elsie with the fury of passion aroused, and came up easily to the leader before the end of the first mile. Once alongside of the eager damsel, he called out in nervous earnestness:

"Elsie! Elsie! why in such haste? I v you to tell me if you'

"Be quick, Teunis," said the hurried gir s she held in the panting animal, "for you see that doggie there running before me is saying, as plainly as he can speak, the Tories have your sis father by the throat, and the Indians swinging your mother's scalp by the gray hair. O, Teunis, do not stop me just now."

And with that, she struck her horse once more, giving him rein, so that it was with difficulty the her follower could keep up with her, though w mounted himself, and holding a capital bridle hod for a colonist and a dull Dutchman, as all the Englishmen were accustomed to speak of every one but fox-hunters who pretended to ride.

"The Tories are not so cruel as you take them to be, Elsie; but tell me if you have any susp of my putting a straw in the way of hurting was going to say Elsie, but he changed it to "ary of the volke of Hoogenhuisen ?"

"No Teunis, no, you would not with your hand, I know; I could pledge myself for you, N there are"

"There are more Tories than Teunis Roe, roz would say, Elsie. I thank you for the confidence you place at least in me, though you almost caci me by a name I am not deserving of, but Toy or not, the hand that is raised against Elsie Sa ler is aimed against a heart not far from her."

"Thank you, thank you. That is all I can say just now; I was going to say something about our not being seen together at such meetings as we have come from, but there is no time for anything but action. See how the sky is glowing all aron d us; and, O mine Goden, why am I away from the side of my fader and my moder!"

By this time they had rode at least three mies, and in fifteen minutes more they would see, from a small hill, what was the state of things at Ho genhuisen; for the fear all the time in Elsie's mind was, that the mansion had been fired, and that the blaze they saw reflected overhead was not the signal, but the dwelling. This made her pare neither horse nor herself, till finding that the faithful creature required a few minutes to breathe, she slackened her pace, and began by saying:

"You see, Teunis, that I am now near home. and it will bring trouble on you, on us both, if we be seen together on such a night as this. Let as part now. Part here till this weary war be over: and then".