Afloat and Ashore: A Sea Tale

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER VII.

  "Oh! forget not the hour, when through forest and vale We returned with our chief to his dear native halls! Through the woody Sierra there sigh'd not a gale, And the moonbeam was bright on his battlement walls; And nature lay sleeping in calmness and light, Round the house of the _truants_, that rose on our sight." MRS. HEMANS.

  We had fallen on board an eastern coaster, called the Martha Wallis,bound from James' River to Boston, intending to cross the shoals. Herwatch had seen us, because the coasters generally keep better look-outsthan Indiamen; the latter, accustomed to good offings, having a trickof letting their people go to sleep in the night-watches. I made acalculation of the turns on board the Tigris, and knew it was Mr.Marble's watch when we passed the ship; and I make no question he was,at that very moment, nodding on the hencoops--a sort of trick he had.I cannot even now understand, however, why the man at the wheel didnot hear the outcry we made. To me it appeared loud enough to reach theland.

  Sailors ordinarily receive wrecked mariners kindly. Our treatment onboard the Martha Wallis was all I could have desired, and the captainpromised to put us on board the first coaster she should fall in with,bound to New York. He was as good as his word, though not until morethan a week had elapsed. It fell calm as soon as the north-wester blewits pipe out, and we did not get into the Vineyard Sound for nine days.Here we met a craft the skipper knew, and, being a regular Boston andNew York coaster, we were put on board her, with a recommendation togood treatment The people of the Lovely Lass received us just as we hadbeen received on board the Martha Wallis; all hands of us living aft,and eating codfish, good beef and pork, with duff (dough) and molasses,almost _ad libitum_. From this last vessel we learned all the latestnews of the French war, and how things were going on in the country. Thefourth day after we were put on board this craft, Rupert and I landednear Peck's Slip, New York, with nothing on earth in our possession, butjust in what we stood. This, however, gave us but little concern--I hadabundance at home, and Rupert was certain of being free from want, boththrough me and through his father.

  I had never parted with the gold given me by Lucy, however. When we gotinto the boat to land at the cape, I had put on the belt in which I keptthis little treasure, and it was still round my body. I had kept it as asort of memorial of the dear girl who had given it to me; but I now sawthe means of making it useful, without disposing of it altogether. Iknew that the wisest course, in all difficulties, was to go at once tohead-quarters. I asked the address of the firm that owned, or rather_had_ owned the John, and proceeded to the counting-house forthwith. Itold my story, but found that Kite had been before me. It seems that theTigris got a fair wind, three days after the blow, that carried her upto the very wharves of Philadelphia, when most of the John's people hadcome on to New York without delay. By communications with the shore atthe cape, the pilot had learned that his boat had never returned, andour loss was supposed to have inevitably occurred. The accounts ofall this were in the papers, and I began to fear that the distressingtidings might have reached Clawbonny. Indeed, there were little obituarynotices of Rupert and myself in the journals, inserted by some handpiously employed, I should think, by Mr. Kite. We were tenderly treated,considering our _escapade_; and _my_ fortune and prospects were dwelt onwith some touches of eloquence that might have been spared.

  In that day, however, a newspaper was a very different thing from whatit has since become. Then, journals were created merely to meet thedemand, and news was given as it actually occurred; whereas, now, thecompetition has produced a change that any one can appreciate, when itis remembered to what a _competition in news_ must infallibly lead. Inthat day, our own journals had not taken to imitating the worst featuresof the English newspapers--talents and education are not yet cheapenough in America to enable them to imitate the best--and the citizenwas supposed to have some rights, as put in opposition to the press. Thepublic sense of right had not become blunted by familiarity with abuses,and the miserable and craven apology was never heard for not enforcingthe laws, that nobody cares for what the newspapers say. Owing tothese causes, I escaped a thousand lies about myself, my history, mydisposition, character and acts. Still, I was in print; and I confessit half-frightened me to see my death announced in such obvious letters,although I had physical evidence of being alive and well.

  The owners questioned me closely about the manner in which the Johnwas lost, and expressed themselves satisfied with my answers. I thenproduced my half-joes, and asked to borrow something less than theiramount on their security. To the latter part of the proposition,however, these gentlemen would not listen, forcing a check for ahundred dollars on me, desiring that the money might be paid at my ownconvenience. Knowing I had Clawbonny, and a very comfortable incomeunder my lee, I made no scruples about accepting the sum, and took myleave.

  Rupert and I had now the means of equipping ourselves neatly, thoughalways in sailor guise. After this was done, we proceeded to the Albanybasin, in order to ascertain whether the Wallingford were down or not.At the basin we learned that the sloop had gone out that very forenoon,having on board a black with his young master's effects; a lad who wassaid to have been out to Canton with young Mr. Wallingford, and who wasnow on his way home, to report all the sad occurrences to the family inUlster. This, then, was Neb, who had got thus far back in charge of ourchests, and was about to return to slavery.

  We had been in hopes that we might possibly reach Clawbonny beforethe tidings of our loss. This intelligence was likely to defeat theexpectation; but, luckily, one of the fastest sloops on the river, aHudson packet, was on the point of sailing, and, though the wind heldwell to the northward, her master thought he should be able to turnup with the tides, as high as our creek, in the course of the nexteight-and-forty hours. This was quite as much as the Wallingford coulddo, I felt well persuaded; and, making a bargain to be landed on thewestern shore, Rupert and I put our things on board this packet, andwere under way in half an hour's time.

  So strong was my own anxiety, I could not keep off the deck until we hadanchored on account of the flood; and much did I envy Rupert, who hadcoolly turned in as soon as it was dark, and went to sleep. When theanchor was down, I endeavoured to imitate his example. On turning outnext morning, I found the vessel in Newburgh Bay, with a fair wind.About twelve o'clock I could see the mouth of the creek, and theWallingford fairly entering it, her sails disappearing behind the trees,just as I caught sight of them. As no other craft of her size ever wentup to that landing, I could not be mistaken in the vessel.

  By getting ashore half a mile above the creek, there was a farm-roadthat would lead to the house by a cut so short, as nearly to bring usthere as soon as Neb could possibly arrive with his dire, but falseintelligence. The place was pointed out to the captain, who hadextracted our secret from us, and who good-naturedly consented to do allwe asked of him. I do think he would have gone into the creek itself,had it been required. But we were landed, with our bag of clothes--oneanswered very well for both--at the place I have mentioned, and, takingturn about to shoulder the wardrobe, away we went, as fast as legs couldcarry us. Even Rupert seemed to feel on this occasion, and I do think hehad a good deal of contrition, as he must have recollected the pain hehad occasioned his excellent father, and dear, good sister.

  Clawbonny never looked more beautiful than when I first cast eyes onit, that afternoon. There lay the house in the secure retirement of itssmiling vale, the orchards just beginning to lose their blossoms; thebroad, rich meadows, with the grass waving in the south wind, resemblingvelvet; the fields of corn of all sorts; and the cattle, as they stoodruminating, or enjoying their existence in motionless self-indulgencebeneath the shade of trees, seemed to speak of abundance and consideratetreatment. Everything denoted peace, plenty and happiness. Yet thisplace, with all its blessings and security, had I wilfully deserted toencounter pirates in the Straits of Sunda, shipwreck on the shoresof Madagascar, jeopardy in an open boat off the Isle of France, and amiraculous preservat
ion from a horrible death on my own coast!

  At no great distance from the house was a dense grove, in which Rupertand I had, with our own hands, constructed a rude summer-house, fit tobe enjoyed on just such an afternoon as this on which we had returned.When distant from it only two hundred yards, we saw the girls enter thewood, evidently taking the direction of the seat. At the same moment Icaught a glimpse of Neb moving up the road from the landing at a snail'space, as if the poor fellow dreaded to encounter the task before him.After a moment's consultation, we determined to proceed at once to thegrove, and thus anticipate the account of Neb, who must pass so near thesummer-house as to be seen and recognised. We met with more obstaclesthan we had foreseen or remembered, and when we got to a thicket closein the rear of the bench, we found that the black was already in thepresence of his two "young mistresses."

  The appearance of the three, when I first caught a near view of them,was such as almost to terrify me. Even Neb, whose face was usually asshining as a black bottle, was almost of the colour of ashes. The poorfellow could not speak, and, though Lucy was actually shaking him toextract an explanation, the only answer she could get was tears. Theseflowed from Neb's eyes in streams, and at length the fellow threwhimself on the ground, and fairly began to groan.

  "Can this be shame at having run away?" exclaimed Lucy, "or does itforetell evil to the boys?"

  "He knows nothing of _them_, not having been with them--yet, I amterrified."

  "Not on my account, dearest sister," I cried aloud; "here are Rupert andI, God be praised, both in good health, and safe."

  I took care to remain hid, as I uttered this, not to alarm more than onesense at a time; but both the girls shrieked, and held out their arms.Rupert and I hesitated no longer, but sprang forward. I know not how ithappened, though I found, on recovering my self-possession, that I wasfolding Lucy to my heart, while Rupert was doing the same to Grace. Thislittle mistake, however, was soon rectified, each man embracing hisown sister, as in duty bound, and as was most decorous. The girls shedtorrents of tears, and assured us, again and again, that this was theonly really happy moment they had known since the parting on thewharf, nearly a twelvemonth before. Then followed looks at each other,exclamations of surprise and pleasure at the changes that had takenplace in the appearance of all parties, and kisses and tears again, inabundance.

  As for Neb, the poor fellow was seen in the road, whither he had fledat the sound of my voice, looking at us like one in awe and doubt. Beingsatisfied, in the end, of our identity, as well as of our being in theflesh, the negro again threw himself on the ground, rolling over andover, and fairly yelling with delight. After going through this processof negro excitement, he leaped up on his feel, and started for thehouse, shouting at the top of his voice, as if certain the goodintelligence he brought would secure his own pardon--"Master Miles comehome!--Master Miles come home!"

  In a few minutes, quiet was sufficiently restored among us four,who remained at the seat, to ask questions, and receive intelligibleanswers. Glad was I to ascertain that the girls had been spared the newsof our loss. As for Mr. Hardinge, he was well, and busied, as usual, indischarging the duties of his holy office. He had told Grace and Lucythe name of the vessel in which we had shipped, but said nothing of thepainful glimpse he had obtained of us, just as we lifted our anchor, toquit the port. Grace, in a solemn manner, then demanded an outlineof our adventures. As Rupert was the spokesman on this occasion,the question having been in a manner put to him as oldest, I had anopportunity of watching the sweet countenances of the two painfullyinterested listeners. Rupert affected modesty in his narration, if hedid not feel it, though I remarked that he dwelt a little particularlyon the shot which had lodged so near him, in the head of the Tigris'sforemast. He spoke of the whistling it made as it approached, and theviolence of the blow when it struck. He had the impudence, too, to speakof my good-luck in being on the other side of the top, when the shotpassed through my station; whereas I do believe that the shot passednearer to me than it did to himself. It barely missed me, and by allI could learn Rupert was leaning over by the top-mast rigging when itlodged. The fellow told his story in his own way, however, and with somuch unction that I observed it made Grace look pale. The effect on Lucywas different. This excellent creature perceived my uneasiness, I halfsuspected, for she laughed, and, interrupting her brother, toldhim, "There--that's enough about the cannon-ball; now let us hear ofsomething else." Rupert coloured, for he had frequently had such frankhints from his sister, in the course of his childhood; but he had toomuch address to betray the vexation I knew he felt.

  To own the truth, my attachment for Rupert had materially lessened withthe falling off of my respect. He had manifested so much selfishnessduring the voyage--had shirked so much duty, most of which had fallen onpoor Neb--and had been so little of the man, in practice, whom he usedso well to describe with his tongue--that I could no longer shut my eyesto some of his deficiencies of character. I still liked him; but it wasfrom habit, and perhaps because he was my guardian's son, and Lucy'sbrother. Then I could not conceal from myself that Rupert was not, in arigid sense, a lad of truth. He coloured, exaggerated, glossed over andembellished, if he did not absolutely invent. I was not old enough thento understand that most of the statements that float about the worldare nothing but truths distorted, and that nothing is more rare thanunadulterated fact; that truths and lies travel in company, as describedby Pope in his Temple of Fame, until--

  "This or that unmixed, no mortal e'er shall find."

  In this very narration of our voyage, Rupert had left false impressionson the minds of his listeners, in fifty things. He had made far moreof both our little skirmishes, than the truth would warrant, and he hadneglected to do justice to Neb in his account of each of the affairs.Then he commended Captain Robbins's conduct in connection with the lossof the John, on points that could not be sustained, and censured him formeasures that deserved praise. I knew Rupert was no seaman--was prettywell satisfied, by this time, he never would make one--but I could notexplain all his obliquities by referring them to ignorance. The manner,moreover, in which he represented himself as the principal actor, on alloccasions, denoted so much address, that, while I felt the falsity ofthe impressions he left, I did not exactly see the means necessary tocounteract them. So ingenious, indeed, was his manner of stringing factsand inferences together, or what _seemed_ to be facts and inferences,that I more than once caught myself actually believing that which, insober reality, I knew to be false. I was still too young, not quiteeighteen, to feel any apprehensions on the subject of Grace; and was toomuch accustomed to both Rupert and his sister, to regard either with anyfeelings very widely different from those which I entertained for Graceherself.

  As soon as the history of our adventures and exploits was concluded, weall had leisure to observe and comment on the alterations that time hadmade in our several persons. Rupert, being the oldest, was the leastchanged in this particular. He had got his growth early, and was onlya little spread. He had cultivated a pair of whiskers at sea, whichrendered his face a little more manly--an improvement, by the way--but,the effects of exposure and of the sun excepted, there was no verymaterial change in his exterior. Perhaps, on the whole, he was improvedin appearance. I think both the girls fancied this, though Grace did notsay it, and Lucy only half admitted it, and that with many reservations.As for myself, I was also full-grown, standing exactly six feet in mystockings, which was pretty well for eighteen. But I had also spread; afact that is not common for lads at that age. Grace said I had lost alldelicacy of appearance; and as for Lucy, though she laughed and blushedshe protested I began to look like a great bear. To confess the truth,I was well satisfied with my own appearance, did not envy Rupert a jot,and knew I could toss him over my shoulder whenever I chose. I stood thestrictures on my appearance, therefore, very well; and, though noone was so much derided and laughed at as myself, in that criticaldiscussion, no one cared less for it all. Just as I was permitted toescape, Lucy said, in
an under tone--

  "You should have staid at home, Miles, and then the changes would havecome so gradually, no one would have noticed them, and you would haveescaped being told how much you are altered, and that you are a _bear_."

  I looked eagerly round at the speaker, and eyed her intently. A look ofregret passed over the dear creature's face, her eyes looked as penitentas they did soft, and the flush that suffused her countenance renderedthis last expression almost bewitching. At the same instant shewhispered--"I did not really mean _that_."

  But it was Grace's turn, and my attention was drawn to my sister. A yearhad made great improvements in Grace. Young as she was, she had lostmuch of the girlish air, in the sedateness and propriety of the youngwoman. Grace had always something more of these last than is common; butthey had now completely removed every appearance of childish, I mightalmost say of girlish, frivolity. In person, her improvement was great;though an air of exceeding delicacy rather left an impression that sucha being was more intended for another world, than this. There was everan air of fragility and of pure intellectuality about my poor sister,that half disposed one to fancy that she would one day be translated toa better sphere in the body, precisely as she stood before human eyes.Lucy bore the examination well. She was all woman, there being nothingabout _her_ to create any miraculous expectations, or fanciful pictures;but she was evidently fast getting to be a very lovely woman. Honest,sincere, full of heart, overflowing with the feelings of her sex, gentleyet spirited, buoyant though melting with the charities; her changeful,but natural and yet constant feelings in her, kept me incessantlyin pursuit of her playful mind and varying humours. Still, a morehigh-principled being, a firmer or more consistent friend, or a moreaccurate thinker on all subjects that suited her years and became hersituation, than Lucy Hardinge, never existed. Even Grace was influencedby her judgment, though I did not then know how much my sister's mindwas guided by her simple and less pretending friend's capacity toforesee things, and to reason on their consequences.

  We were more than an hour uninterruptedly together, before we thoughtof repairing to the house. Lucy then reminded Rupert that he had not yetseen his father, whom she had just before observed alighting from hishorse at the door of his own study. That he had been apprised of thereturn of the runaways, if not prodigals, was evident, she thought, byhis manner; and it was disrespectful to delay seeking his forgivenessand blessing. Mr. Hardinge received us both without surprise, andtotally without any show of resentment. It was about the timehe expected our return, and no surprise was felt at finding thisexpectation realized, as a matter of course, while resentment was almosta stranger to his nature. We all shed tears, the girls sobbing aloud;and we were both solemnly blessed. Nor am I ashamed to say I kneltto receive that blessing, in an age when the cant of a pretendingirreligion--there is as much cant in self-sufficiency as in hypocrisy,and they very often go together--is disposed to turn into ridicule thehumbling of the person, while asking for the blessing of the Almightythrough the ministers of his altars; for kneel I did, and weep I did,and, I trust, the one in humility and the other in contrition.

  When we had all become a little calm, and a substantial meal was placedbefore us adventurers, Mr. Hardinge demanded an account of all that hadpassed. He applied to me to give it, and I was compelled to dischargethe office of an historian, somewhat against my inclination. There wasno remedy, however, and I told the story in my own simple manner, andcertainly in a way to leave very different impressions from many ofthose made by the narrative of Rupert. I thought once or twice, as Iproceeded, that Lucy looked sorrowful, and Grace looked surprised. I donot think I coloured in the least, as regarded myself, and I know I didNeb no more than justice. My tale was soon told, for I felt the wholetime as if I were contradicting Rupert, who, by the way, appearedperfectly unconcerned--perfectly unconscious, indeed--on the subject ofthe discrepancies in the two accounts. I have since met with men whodid not know the truth when it was even placed very fairly before theireyes.

  Mr. Hardinge expressed his heartfelt happiness at having us back again,and, soon after, he ventured to ask if we were satisfied with what wehad seen of the world. This was a home question, but I thought it bestto meet it manfully. So far from being satisfied, I told him it was myardent desire to get on board one of the letters-of-marque, of whichso many were then fitting out in the country, and to make a voyage toEurope. Rupert, however, confessed he had mistaken his vocation, andthat he thought he could do no better than to enter a lawyer's office.I was thunderstruck at this quiet admission of my friend, of hisincapacity to make a sailor, for it was the first intimation I heardof his intention. I had remarked a certain want of energy, in varioussituations that required action, in Rupert, but no want of courage; andI had ascribed some portion of his lassitude to the change of condition,and, possibly, of food; for, after all, that godlike creature, man, isnothing but an animal, and is just as much influenced by his stomach anddigestion as a sheep, or a horse.

  Mr. Hardinge received his son's intimation of a preference ofintellectual labours to a more physical state of existence, with agratification my own wishes did not afford him. Still, he made noparticular remark to either at the time, permitting us both to enjoy ourreturn to Clawbonny, without any of the drawbacks of advice or lectures.The evening passed delightfully, the girls beginning to laugh heartilyat our own ludicrous accounts of the mode of living on board ship, andof our various scenes in China, the Isle of Bourbon, and elsewhere.Rupert had a great deal of humour, and a very dry way of exhibiting it;in short, he was almost a genius in the mere superficialities of life;and even Grace rewarded his efforts to entertain us, with laughter totears. Neb was introduced after supper, and the fellow was both censuredand commended; censured for having abandoned the household gods, andcommended for not having deserted their master. His droll descriptionsof the Chinese, their dress, pigtails, shoes and broken English,diverted even Mr. Hardinge, who, I believe, felt as much like a boy onthis occasion, as any of the party. A happier evening than that whichfollowed in the little _tea_-parlour, as my dear mother used to call it,was never passed in the century that the roof had covered the old wallsof Clawbonny.

  Next day I had a private conversation with my guardian, who commencedthe discourse by rendering a sort of account of the proceeds of myproperty during the past year. I listened respectfully, and with someinterest; for I saw the first gave Mr. Hardinge great satisfaction, andI confess the last afforded some little pleasure to myself. I found thatthings had gone on very prosperously. Ready money was accumulating, andI saw that, by the time I came of age, sufficient cash would be on handto give me a ship of my own, should I choose to purchase one. From thatmoment I was secretly determined to qualify myself to command her in theintervening time. Little was said of the future, beyond an expressionof the hope, by my guardian, that I would take time to reflect before Icame to a final decision on the subject of my profession. To this I saidnothing beyond making a respectful inclination of the head.

  For the next month, Clawbonny was a scene of uninterrupted merriment anddelight. We had few families to visit in our immediate neighbourhood,it is true; and Mr. Hardinge proposed an excursion to the Springs--thecountry was then too new, and the roads too bad, to think ofNiagara--but to this I would not listen. I cared not for theSprings--knew little of, and cared less for fashion--and loved Clawbonnyto its stocks and stones. We remained at home, then, living principallyfor each other. Rupert read a good deal to the girls, under thedirection of his father; while I passed no small portion of my timein athletic exercises. The Grace & Lucy made one or two tolerably longcruises in the river, and at length I conceived the idea of taking theparty down to town in the Wallingford. Neither of the girls had everseen New York, or much of the Hudson; nor had either ever seen a ship.The sloops that passed up and down the Hudson, with an occasionalschooner, were the extent of their acquaintance with vessels; and Ibegan to feel it to be matter of reproach that those in whom I took sodeep an interest, should be so ignorant. As for
the girls themselves,they both admitted, now I was a sailor, that their desire to see aregular, three-masted, full-rigged ship, was increased seven-fold.

  Mr. Hardinge heard my proposition, at first, as a piece of pleasantry;but Grace expressing a strong desire to see a large town, or what wasthought a large town in this country, in 1799, and Lucy looking wistful,though she remained silent under an apprehension her father could notafford the expense of such a journey, which her imagination rendered agreat deal more formidable than it actually proved to be, the excellentdivine finally acquiesced. The expense was disposed of in a very simplemanner. The journey, both ways, would be made in the Wallingford; andMr. Hardinge was not so unnecessarily scrupulous as to refuse passagesfor himself and children in the sloop, which never exacted passage-moneyfrom any who went to or from the farm. Food was so cheap, too, as tobe a matter of no consideration; and, being entitled legally to receivethat at Clawbonny, it made no great difference whether it were taken onboard the vessel, or in the house. Then there was a Mrs. Bradfort inNew York, a widow lady of easy fortune, who was a cousin-german of Mr.Hardinge's--his father's sister's daughter--and with her he always staidin his own annual visits to attend the convention of the Church--I begpardon, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as it is now _de rigueur_to say; I wonder some ultra does not introduce the manifest improvementinto the Apostles' Creed of saying, "I believe in the Holy ProtestantEpiscopal Catholic Church, &c."--but, the excellent divine, in hisannual attendance on the convention, was accustomed to stay with hiskinswoman, who often pressed him to bring both Lucy and Grace tosee her; her house in Wall street being abundantly large enough toaccommodate a much more numerous party. "Yes," said Mr. Hardinge, "thatshall be the arrangement. The girls and I will stay with Mrs. Bradfort,and the young men can live at a tavern. I dare say this new City Hotel,which seems to be large enough to contain a regiment, will hold even_them_. I will write this very evening to my cousin, so as not to takeher by surprise."

  In less than a week after this determination, an answer was receivedfrom Mrs. Bradfort; and, the very next day, the whole party, Nebincluded, embarked in the Wallingford. Very different was this passagedown the Hudson from that which had preceded it. Then I had the sense oferror about me, while my heart yearned towards the two dear girls we hadleft on the wharf; but now everything was above-board sincere, and bypermission. It is scarcely necessary to say that Grace and Lucy wereenchanted with everything they saw. The Highlands, in particular, threwthem both into ecstasies, though I have since seen so much of the worldas to understand, with nearly all experienced tourists, that this is_relatively_ the worst part of the scenery of this beautiful river. WhenI say _relatively_, I mean as comparing the _bolder_ parts of our streamwith those of others--speaking of them as _high lands_--many otherportions of this good globe having a much superior _grandeur_, whilevery few have so much lovely river scenery compressed into so small aspace as is to be found in the other parts of the Hudson.

  In due time we arrived in New York, and I had the supreme happiness ofpointing out to the girls the State's Prison, the Bear Market, and thesteeples of St. Paul's and Trinity-_old_ Trinity, as it was so latelythe fashion to style a church that was built only a few years before,and which, in my youth, was considered as magnificent as it wasvenerable. That building has already disappeared; and another edifice,which is now termed splendid, _vast_, and I know not what, hasbeen reared in its place. By the time this is gone, and one or twogenerations of buildings have succeeded, each approaching nearer to thehigh standard of church architecture in the old world, the Manhattanesewill get to understand something of the use of the degrees of comparisonon such subjects. When that day shall arrive, they will cease to beprovincial, and--not till then.

  What a different thing was Wall street, in 1799, from what it is to-day?Then, where so many Grecian temples are now reared to Plutus, were rowsof modest provincial dwellings; not a tittle more provincial, however,than the thousand meretricious houses of bricks and marble that havesince started up in their neighbourhood, but far less pretending,and insomuch the more creditable. Mrs. Bradfort lived in one of theserespectable abodes, and thither Mr. Hardinge led the way, with just asmuch confidence as one would now walk into Bleeker street, or the FifthAvenue. Money-changers were then unknown, or, if known, were of solittle account that they had not sufficient force to form a colony anda league by themselves. Even the banks did not deem it necessary to bewithin a stone's throw of each other--I believe there were but two--asit might be in self-defence. We have seen all sorts of expedientsadopted, in this sainted street, to protect the money-bags, from thelittle temple that was intended to be so small as only to admit thedollars and those who were to take care of them, up to the edifice thatmight contain so many rogues, as to render things safe on the familiarprinciple of setting a thief to catch a thief. All would not do. Thedifficulty has been found to be unconquerable, except in those cases inwhich the homely and almost worn-out expedient of employing honest men,has been resorted to. But, to return from the gossipings of old age toan agreeable widow, who was still under forty.

  Mrs. Bradfort received Mr. Hardinge in a way to satisfy us all that shewas delighted to see him. She had prepared a room for Rupert and myself,and no apologies or excuses would be received. We had to consent toaccept of her hospitalities. In an hour's time, all were established,and I believe all were at home.

  I shall not dwell on the happiness that succeeded. We were all too youngto go to parties, and, I might almost add, New York itself was too youngto have any; but in the last I should have been mistaken, though therewere not as many _children's_ balls in 1799, perhaps, after allowing forthe difference in population, as there are to-day. If too young to becompany, we were not too young to see sights. I sometimes laugh as Iremember what these were at that time. There was such a museum as wouldnow be thought lightly of in a western city of fifteen or twenty years'growth--a circus kept by a man of the name of Ricketts--the theatrein John street, a very modest Thespian edifice--and a lion, I meanliterally the beast, that was kept in a cage quite out of town, thathis roaring might not disturb people, somewhere near the spot where the_triangle_ that is called Franklin _Square_ now is. All these we saw,even to the theatre; good, indulgent Mr. Hardinge seeing no harm inletting us go thither under the charge of Mrs. Bradfort. I shall neverforget the ecstasy of that night! The novelty was quite as great toRupert and myself as it was to the girls; for, though we had been toChina, we had never been to the play.

  Well was it said, "Vanity, vanity--all is vanity!" He that lives as longas I have lived, will have seen most of his opinions, and I think Imay add, _all_ his tastes, change. Nothing short of revelation hasa stronger tendency to convince us of the temporary character of ourprobationary state in this world, than to note for how short a period,and for what imperfect ends, all our hopes and success in life have beenbuoying us up, and occupying our minds. After fifty, the delusion beginsto give way; and, though we may continue to live, and even to be happy,blind indeed must be he who does not see the end of his road, andforesee some of the great results to which it is to lead. But of allthis, our quartette thought little in the year 1799.