and experienced in their dealings with strangers.
But, at home, suspicion was nearly laid asleep in
a state of things which afforded rare occasion to
a spirit of adventure, and little temptation to
fraud. Where money abounded to such a degree
as to bring down the rate of interest to the lowest
point, and to constitute every trader a man of
substance, capital was little in request, and could
be had almost for the asking. Slyk had the art to
make his own use of the security thus generated,
and to obtain capital, at a greater cost certainly
than if he had been able to prove himself a trust-
worthy person, but freed from the necessity of
manufacturing this kind of proof. He preferred
having to pay heavy interest and commission at
last, to allowing attention to be fixed upon his
honour and his substance ; and the views of his
companions were congenial with his own.
( si )
Chapter V.
GOING NORTHWARDS.
The transit from Amsterdam to Winkel was
accomplished too soon for the wishes of some of
the party, while others found it very wearisome.
These last were not rendered impatient bv the
annoyances which would have fatigued an Eng-
lish traveller, — the slowness of the trekschuit,
the frequent interruptions of the bridges over the
canal, and the smoking which went on on board
the boat. All these were matters of course to a
Dutch voyager. Heins's unexpected attendance
was much more wearisome to Gertrude than any
anticipated circumstances of the voyage ; and her
ancient attendant was more annoyed bv the ma-
nifest rivalship of Francesca Slyk than by any
infliction, in the form of smoke or garlic, of the
other passengers. Heins, on the other hand, en-
joyed and made the most of the protracted oppor-
tunity thus afforded him of paying his court to
Gertrude, well knowing that, once on shore, his
privileges would be at an end. While she sat
sewing in the roef, or best cabin, he took his
place beside her, and importuned her with con-
versation, in defiance of Francesca's frequent calls
to observe the pleasure bunts which floated on
the canal, or the laden barges which were being
towed down, or the trim gardens of the country
houses stretching to the brink of the water. If
h 3
82 GOING NORTHWARDS.
Gertrude engaged herself in any employment in
which he was not concerned, he was far too ready
with his warnings of some provoking bridge
which they might as well pass on foot, or of the
approach of dinner-time, when he had ascertained
that they might safely go on shore to refresh
themselves on the grass, out of the reach of the
scents of tobacco on the one hand, and decaying
vegetation on the other. Then came the osten-
tation of the delicate dinner he had caused to be
provided, and of the taste with which he had
selected the spot where they were to rest. He
was never wearied of pointing out how the grass
on the sloping dyke where they sat was greener
than anywhere else; and what a pleasant shade
the willows made ; and how precisely he had
chosen the point of view for seeing the slow sail
gliding between the tufted banks and gay gar-
dens. He busied himself to learn the name of
every village whose houses were clustered on the
intersecting dykes ; and piqued himself on mea-
suring exactly by his eye the extent of the ob-
long fields formed by the intersections. He
pronounced learnedly on the turf- soils and clay
soils which alternated under what, to inexpe-
rienced eyes, was only bright verdure ; and,
when there had been enough of this, glided into
a fit of sentiment on the unrivalled beauties of a
summer noon in Holland. Gertrude had been
silently admiring what he now began to praise, —
the prospect where the greenest of meadows
formed a relief from the gleams of water on every
side, — water in the sluggish canal, water stand*
GOING NORTHWARDS. 83
ing in the hollows, water rising in the grass,
water hanging in the air in the form of a silvery
haze, which dissolved the outlines, and melted
into harmony the hues of all objects, from the
whirling mills on the banks which seemed to
possess a life of their own, to the lazy cattle which
lay ruminating under the scanty shade of the
willows. From the moment that Heins became
romantic, however, Gertrude's contemplation was
spoiled ; and she returned to her spiced baked
eels and glass of liqueur with a new relish.
If Heins could but have been made to tow the
boat which held his beloved, she would have been
happy to admit his services while dining on
shore ; but to have him at her elbow ill the
trekschuit, and at her feet on the grass, was ra-
ther too much. As soon as she could with any
grace leave the company, she wandered with her
attendant to some distance from the feasting
party, trusting that Francesca would choose this
time for detaining Heins by her side.
Without going out of hearing of the bell of the
trekschuit, Gertrude found she could change her
scene and company. From the ridge of the bank
she saw a bleaching-ground below, and hastened
down to exchange a few words with the children
who were sitting in a circle to guard the linen, and
peeling sallows the while. The ground was un-
approachable but by a little bridge over the ditch;
and on this bridge was stationed an old woman,
with petticoats tucked up to an unusual shortness,
a hat like an umbrella, and an evident prepara-
tion for the endurance of heat and fatigue.
84 GOING NORTHWARDS.
" You are weary, good mother, since you seem
to" be resting," said Gertrude. " Truly you
would rest better in the shade."
The old lady replied, that she was only wailing
for the boat-call. She took her turn to tow, when
the trekschuit passed this place. It was warm
work in a summer's noon, and she took her plea-
sure before and after it.
" And what becomes of the horse V* inquired
Gertrude's maid. " We changed horse but
lately."
" My grandson there rides him forward through
the fields to a point where the towing-path grows
wide enough for him again," said the old woman ;
" and the boy lightens my way home, when the
boat is on its course again."
" You talk," said Gertrude, " of taking your
pleasure. Is it pleasure to lean over this bridge
at noon time V*
" It is a pleasure, young mistress, to look
abroad and see how Providence has blest our
land above every other. I venture to say some-
thing to our pastor in return for all that he says
to us. I tell him that, though he has lost his
country for his religion's sake, he has gained a
better, besides his heavenly reward. Our pastor
came from France during the persecution.''
" And does he like this country better than
France ? "
No doubt, the old woman supposed. In France,
she was credibly informed, more than one cow
had died of drought, during the last hot season,
when heaven blessed Holland with water enough
GOING NORTHWARDS. S5
for the purposes of all Europe, if some of it had
not been putrid. In certain parts of France, such
a thing as an eel was never seen ; and there was
a false religion there, which showed that the
curse of God was on the country. The very
children were quite unlike the Dutch children.
They would dance and shout under the chestnut
trees, and laugh loud enough to be heard far off,
instead of giving their hearts to God, and using
their hands in the service of their parents, like
the little people who were at work so soberly in
yonder bleaching ground.
" You point out to your grand-children," said
Gertrude, " the blessings vouare vourself so sen-
sible of?"
" The pastor teaches them to give praise for
the pure gospel," replied the old woman ; " and
I bring them out to show them the gifts that
follow upon grace. I show them the waters that
hear corn to us, and breed fish for us ; and the
pastures that feed our cows. And I tell them
about the sand that the rough sea washes up to
strengthen our dykes ; and I bid them be thank-
ful that we have lime-kilns near, without which
the fever might carry us all off any autumn."
" The fever prevails here then ? '
" We have lost two of the children in it ; but
Providence has been pleased to show us the way
out of this danger, through our pastor. You see
that mill, with the new thatch upon it Well ;
it was our pastor who thought we might have a
mill as well as our neighbours ; and it carries off
the mud, and keeps up a stir in the water, so that
I
86 GOING NORTHWARDS.
we trust God will preserve us from the fever this
year."
11 Your house stands on high ground," ob-
served Gertrude. " It looks as if it must be
healthy and convenient."
" We can see the spires of two great towns
from it. I tell the children the sight should
make them thankful that they are far from the
snares which try the spirit in great cities. It
pleases Heaven to prosper my son's traffic at
Rotterdam fair, once a year ; and he brings home
news enough of what he sees there to show us
that a country place like this is the true resting
place for God's chosen."
" I should like to rest here awhile with you,
good mother ; and to bring with me a little friend
to whom Providence denies repose upon earth."
And Gertrude spoke of Christian, adding that
she trusted the good mother was so much more
pious than herself as to be reconciled to even
such a case of suffering "as this. The dame re-
quested, with much respect, that if opportunity
should offer, she might be honoured with a call
on her hospitality in behalf of the child whom
the hand of God had touched, and whose heart
would, she trusted, be in due time touched by
His grace.
Gertrude really hoped that such an opportunity
would occur, whenever Christian should return
to Amsterdam. Hospitality was at that time as
free in Holland as in any country at any period ;
and the disciples of the reformed religion, espe-
cially, communicated as brethren. Gertrude
GOING NORTHWARDS. S7
thought that she and Christian could he very
happy for a while in the substantial farm-house
which stood on the slope, with a well-ordered
family of children about them, a pious pastor at
hand, and the happy dame to point out blessing
in every thing. Christian should hear all about
it ; and it was much to be wished that the slan-
derers of Holland could see what her peasantry
really were ; — that they were remarkable for other
things than being the richest in the world.
Gertrude had no time to improve her acquaint-
ance with the family before the bell rang, and it
was necessary to hasten back to the boat. While
she again settled down to her work in the cabin,
the dame stoutly passed the towing-rope over
her shoulders, and paced the narrow foot-path for
three miles, drawing the boat after her with great
apparent ease. After bidding her farewell, Ger-
trude had not come to a conclusion as to what
blessing the dame could contrive to educe from
the infliction of Hcins's society, when her atten-
tion was called to an important feature in the
landscape. Rising above the dykes which crossed
the country in every direction, was an eminence
planted with trees, and prolonged to the furthest
visible points north and south. This was cer-
tainly the sea dyke, and they were approaching
Winkel ; and accordingly, they were presently
after landed at the summer-house which over-
looked the canal from the extremity, — that is, —
the highest part of Mrs. Snoek's garden.
*\\ hat screams of joy issued from this retreat
as the boat glided before the window from which
12
88 GOING NORTHWARDS.
Christian was fishing, and well-known faces
looked out from the cabin, and one friend after
another stepped onshore! The summer-house
had windows all round, that no passing object
might escape the notice of those who came there
to be amused. Christian occupied nearly the
whole water-window, as it was called. His
brother and sister contended for the dyke or road-
window, from whence Luc speedily descended to
make acquaintance with the towing-horse. Mrs.
Snoek awaited her guests at the door, and' Ka-
trina stretched her neck from the back-window
which presented no object beyond the familiar
cows, and the herd's cottage in the back-ground.
With his fishing-rod suspended, and his eyes so
intently fixed on Gertrude that he did not even
hear the compliments of Francesca, Christian
sat patiently waiting his share of the caresses
which his active brother and sister were snatch-
ing from the common favourite. He was re-
warded, as usual, for his patience by his friend's
taking a seat where he could keep possession of
her hand, and see every turn of her countenance.
At the first unobserved moment, she bent over
him, whispering an inquiry whether his spirit had
been at quiet in the absence of the pastor, and
whether he had been strong of heart, as he had
promised, for his mother's sake. Christian looked
down, as if afraid to answer for himself, and at
last said that his pain had been worse than ever,
just when Gertrude was not there to nurse him.
" And how did vou bear it?"
*' Ask mother," replied the boy, with one cf
GOING NORTHWARDS, 89
his radiant smiles, which yet had little of the
brightness of childhood in it. And he went on
to tell how his mother had scarcely ever left him,
and how she had time now to nurse him, just as
she did before his father was ill ; and how he
had told her his secret about bearing the pain ;
and how she thought it a very good method, and
was glad to understand why he looked in a par-
ticular way when the pain seemed to be coming
on, and spoke slowly and gently when he had
been lying awake at night longer than usual ;
and how she really thought he might try to be
as patient as Jesus Christ, and become more so,
in time, than seemed possible at present. Gn r-
trude was very glad to hear all this, and also that
the ranunculus, which had been taken all possible
care of for her, was now in beautiful I 'low, and
that they were to go down to the decoy together
the first day that there should be no mist, when
Christian had two or three kinds of waterfowl
to show her which had never settled near them
before. But all this was hastily dismissed for
Master Peter. Master Peter had inquired, more
than once, for Christian ; but had said nothing
about coming to Winkel. Christian must meet
him again at Saardam some day.
And now Gertrude and Christian had both
need of patience ; Gertrude being first half stifled
by Roselyn's boisterous love, and then rescued
by Hems, at the expense of many tears from the
scolded child; and Christian being not less
teased by lectures from Slyk, and fondness from
Francesca. He did not lose his crood-humour,
I 3
90 GOING NORTHWARDS.
however ; and, with the rest of the parly, was
too happy to wish to leave the summer-house till
the sun sank red behind the west-dyke, and the
evening fog began to rise.
Chapter VI.
NEWS FROM HOME.
Slyk and Heins were equally anxious to lose
no time in viewing the scene of their under-
taking ; the former, because he disliked any delay
in getting possession of the young merchant's
money, and the latter, because he was anxious to
signalize himself by illustrious success. They
set forth the next morning for the dwelling of the
peasant who had undertaken to lodge the work-
men during the time of their being employed in
the neighbourhood. The whole family party
accompanied them, except Christian and his in-
separable friend Gertrude, who remained behind
to enjoy pleasures which would be less fatiguing
to the invalid. The decoy was to be visited ;
and the garden, with its rare flowers ranged in
their beds as by the rod of a magical mathema-
tician. Christian pointed out to his companion,
as he was being carried in at the gate, the motto
which he had chosen for an inscription, " Peace-
ful is my garden.''
" And now j Kaatje, you may go, if you will
NEWS FROM HOME. 91
leave me the silver whistle. You can work in
the summer-house, you know ; and we will call
vou when I want to be moved. Do vou like
this place, Gertrude V
Gertrude thought it the pleasantest spot in the
whole garden. The shade was welcome, and it
was a pretty sight to see the herons wading in
the stream so near them; and the boat juttel
out behind the summer-house so as to make a
good object for a painter. Christian hoped they
might use the boat while Heins was with them.
It was seldom entered at other times, except for
the purpose of being kept in readiness for an
escape, in case of a flood. Every house had its
boat in that neighbourhood ; for the sea was
very rough at times, and the river had risen
four inches higher last winter than had been
known for many years, so that it had been deter-
mined to raise the dyke before the danger could
recur. Meantime every house had its boat.
'* You think of that boat sometimes, I dare
say," observed Gertrude, " when your cough
keeps you awake, and you hear the wind roar
and the waters splash. Do you feel afraid at
such times V
" No ; I do not think God would let us perish
so. He has suffered the storks to build on the
summer-house, though we cannot get them to
settle on the house. See ; we have put up a
frame for them to build on, and they will not
come ; but there are two nests on the summer-
house roof.''
" "What do you suppose from that ?" inquired
92 NEWS FROM HOME,
Gertrude, who was far from being exempt from
the superstition of the ' country with respect to
the stork, there supposed to be a holy bird.
" I think that if a flood came, we must get
to the summer-house as fast as we could, and
stay there till the storks flew away ; and then
we must go down into our boat."
" And what would you do while you were
waiting for the. waters to subside ? If they con-
tinued to rise, and nobody came, would you be
afraid ?"
" Not if M. Aymond was but with us, to pray
for us. Or if God would put a rainbow in the
cloud, it would be a sign that people had been
saved from a much worse flood. Do you know,
I call that boat our ark ; but there is not room
in it for half the creatures we should like to save.
Luc's dog might go, and Roselvn's parrot, and
perhaps Kaatje's calf might find a corner ; but
our poor cows must all be drowned. I hope
there will never be a flood."
All further speculation was stopped by the
arrival of a special messenger from Amsterdam,
with letters from the dignitary Vanderput to his
sister and his partner. Gertrude, after she had
satisfied herself that nothing was the matter,
read her despatch without remark, and then di-
rected the messenger to overtake Mr. Snoek, and
deliver his letter without delay.
Mr. Snoek, meanwhile, was in raptures at all
that he saw and heard. Not having been made
aware that the work was even begun, he was
amazed to find a lake where he expected to tread
news Faoai howe. 93
the trembling soil of a moist pasture land. How
this came to be water when it should have been
the well-limed soil which he had described, Slyk
went on explaining from the moment they entered
the district, till the party arrived at the door of
the boor's dwelling. The truth of the matt -r
was that he was himself surprised and struck
with the apprehension that some of his devices
had failed, that money was wanted to set the
lime-kilns at work, and pay the delvers ; and
that, as Dutch labourers had little idea of work-
ing for anything but ready money, they had gone
away. They must be recoverable, however ;
they must be still in the neighbourhood, at some
temporary work, and not unwilling to be recalled,
when pay should be again forthcoming.
11 They may well be willing to come back,"
observed Jan, the boor. " My wife and I made
them as comfortable as so many burgomasters.
And their wages were such as fully to make up
to them for being brought so far from home.
But,'Mr. Slyk, unless you employ them soon, —
unless you engage them before they are dis-
charged from their present work, you will have
to alter your terms."
" No fear !" replied Slyk. " If the knave
that should have sent you a remittance a fortnight
ago does not make haste, I will make him
answerable for spoiling the best work that was
ever undertaken in this district."
" There can be no difficulty in 'getting money
to go on with," observed Ileins. " It is a most
absurd reason for stopping the work."
94 NEWS FROM HOME.
" Most absurd, indeed," replied Slyk. " Nei-
ther you nor I, my dear sir, shall leave room for
such an excuse, I am sure. We would both rather
turn our pockets inside out. The fellows shall
be recalled this very day, if we can muster our
resources. You shall see the vein, — you shall
be shown, but first, Jan, let us view your
establishment. Where do you lodge our men?"
Jan led the way into the house, which was
built and laid out after the fashion of the better
sort of peasants' houses of that period. A range
of stalls for cattle extended along each side of
the long low room of which the dwelling con-
sisted : and a space was boarded off at the upper
end of the apartment for the use of the family.
Here was the ample hearth on which the turf
fire burned ; and here the beds, ranged in recesses
of the walls, and the cupboards which contained
the domestic apparatus of the establishment.
In the present instance, the cows had been dis-
missed to a temporary shelter provided for them
at a little distance from the house, and their stalls
had been fitted up with beds for the workmen, so
that tobacco-smoke had of late issued from the
recesses which had been wont to exhale the
sweet breath of cows. The clothing which the
cows wore in damp weather still hung against the
partitions of the stall, denoting their original
destination.
" Do you know, papa," said Franccsca, who
had been talking with Jan's wife, " it was only
for brandy that these people struck, after all.
They were not in such a hurry for their money
News from home." 95
but that they could have waited for a remittance ;
but for spirits they could not wait."
" How should they f inquired Jan. " Working,
as they did, up to their knees in water for seven
or eight hours a-day, how should they exist with-
out brandy V
Every body agreed that spirits were the only
safeguard against the perils of ditch water, and
that eight hours a day was verv hard work indeed.
Few labourers could be brought to exceed six.
But why, Slyk asked rather angrily, was brandy
wanting i There was plenty to be had at Winkel,
and Jan might have been obliging enough to
purchase a supply, for which he knew very well
he should have been presently paid. Jan opened
a cupboard door, in order to display the evidence
of his having no cash at command just now.
Some pictures, handsomely framed and carefully
covered with canvass, were laid up there, to be
sold at the next Rotterdam fair. Jan's wife
piqued herself on her taste in paintings, and her
husband had before found it answer well to trust
to it for the investment of money which must
otherwise lie where it could gather neither profit
nor interest. He, and other Dutch peasants, had
made money by selling again the judicious pur-
chases they were enabled to make from time to
time. Those who dared not venture upon pic-
tures had small speculations in gold chains and
other expensive ornaments ; and a yet humbler
class had their little ventures of books and foreign
toys. Every thing sold at the Rotterdam fair ;
96 NEWS FROM HOME.
and every Dutchman might be trusted to make
his speculation answer.
Jan having proved that his capital did not
exist in a form that would immediately exchange
for brandy, intimated that he had something to
say in private, and to show out of doors to the
gentlemen. As they went out, Hems declared
his intention of furnishing an abundant supply
of spirits out of the stock at Amsterdam, which
had been destined for England, but was scarcely
likely to be wanted there till the course of ex-
change had turned. At present, while the ex-
change was in favour of Holland, the British
merchants were, of course, stimulated to export
as much as thev could, and would receive no
produce from Dutch ports, clandestinely or
openly, till they had paid their debts by exporta-
tion. Slyk made a light mention of this being
one convenient method in which Heins's proposed
assistance might be advanced ; and an immediate
supply of brandy, salt butter, and meat was pro-
mised.
What Jan had to show was of no little import-
tance. No one knows better than a Dutchman
that water is never idle, even when it appears
perfectly stagnant. The pools which had spread
over the ground whence the turf had been dug,
lay so still that the birds might have used them
for a looking-glass in which to dress their