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mines of wealth； about pearls and diamonds； and bars of gold。 In
the daytime he was moody and abstracted； and walked about as if in
a trance。 Dame Webber held frequent councils with all the old
women of the neighborhood； scarce an hour in the day but a knot of
them might be seen wagging their white caps together round her
door； while the poor woman made some piteous recital。 The
daughter； too； was fain to seek for more frequent consolation from
the stolen interviews of her favored swain； Dirk Waldron。 The
delectable little Dutch songs with which she used to dulcify the
house grew less and less frequent； and she would forget her sewing；
and look wistfully in her father's face as he sat pondering by the
fireside。 Wolfert caught her eye one day fixed on him thus
anxiously； and for a moment was roused from his golden reveries。
〃Cheer up； my girl；〃 said he exultingly； 〃why dost thou droop？
Thou shalt hold up thy head one day with the Brinckerhoffs； and the
Schermerhorns； the Van Hornes； and the Van Dams。＇2＇ By St。
Nicholas； but the patroon＇3＇ himself shall be glad to get thee for
his son！〃
＇1＇ A corruption of the old expression 〃another…gates；〃 or 〃of
another gate；〃 meaning 〃of another way or manner〃； hence； 〃of
another kind。〃
＇2＇ Names of rich and influential Dutch families in the old Dutch
colony of New Amsterdam。
＇3＇ The patroons were members of the Dutch West India Company； who
purchased land in New Netherlands of the Indians； and after
fulfilling certain conditions imposed with a view to colonizing
their territory； enjoyed feudal rights similar to those of the
barons of the Middle Ages。
Amy shook her head at his vainglorious boast； and was more than
ever in doubt of the soundness of the good man's intellect。
In the meantime Wolfert went on digging and digging； but the field
was extensive； and as his dream had indicated no precise spot； he
had to dig at random。 The winter set in before one tenth of the
scene of promise had been explored。
The ground became frozen hard； and the nights too cold for the
labors of the spade。
No sooner； however； did the returning warmth of spring loosen the
soil； and the small frogs begin to pipe in the meadows； but Wolfert
resumed his labors with renovated zeal。 Still； however； the hours
of industry were reversed。
Instead of working cheerily all day； planting and setting out his
vegetables； he remained thoughtfully idle； until the shades of
night summoned him to his secret labors。 In this way he continued
to dig from night to night； and week to week； and month to month；
but not a stiver＇1＇ did he find。 On the contrary； the more he
digged the poorer he grew。 The rich soil of his garden was digged
away； and the sand and gravel from beneath was thrown to the
surface； until the whole field presented an aspect of sandy
barrenness。
＇1＇ A Dutch coin； worth about two cents； hence； anything of little
worth。
In the meantime； the seasons gradually rolled on。 The little frogs
which had piped in the meadows in early spring croaked as bullfrogs
during the summer heats； and then sank into silence。 The peach
tree budded； blossomed； and bore its fruit。 The swallows and
martins came； twittered about the roof； built their nests； reared
their young； held their congress along the eaves； and then winged
their flight in search of another spring。 The caterpillar spun its
winding sheet； dangled in it from the great buttonwood tree before
the house； turned into a moth； fluttered with the last sunshine of
summer； and disappeared； and finally the leaves of the buttonwood
tree turned yellow； then brown； then rustled one by one to the
ground； and whirling about in little eddies of wind and dust；
whispered that winter was at hand。
Wolfert gradually woke from his dream of wealth as the year
declined。 He had reared no crop for the supply of his household
during the sterility of winter。 The season was long and severe；
and for the first time the family was really straitened in its
comforts。 By degrees a revulsion of thought took place in
Wolfert's mind； common to those whose golden dreams have been
disturbed by pinching realities。 The idea gradually stole upon him
that he should come to want。 He already considered himself one of
the most unfortunate men in the province； having lost such an
incalculable amount of undiscovered treasure； and now； when
thousands of pounds had eluded his search； to be perplexed for
shillings and pence was cruel in the extreme。
Haggard care gathered about his brow； he went about with a money…
seeking air； his eyes bent downward into the dust； and carrying his
hands in his pockets； as men are apt to do when they have nothing
else to put into them。 He could not even pass the city almshouse
without giving it a rueful glance； as if destined to be his future
abode。
The strangeness of his conduct and of his looks occasioned much
speculation and remark。 For a long time he was suspected of being
crazy； and then everybody pitied him； and at length it began to be
suspected that he was poor； and then everybody avoided him。
The rich old burghers of his acquaintance met him outside the door
when he called； entertained him hospitably on the threshold；
pressed him warmly by the hand at parting； shook their heads as he
walked away； with the kindhearted expression of 〃poor Wolfert；〃 and
turned a corner nimbly if by chance they saw him approaching as
they walked the streets。 Even the barber and the cobbler of the
neighborhood； and a tattered tailor in an alley hard by； three of
the poorest and merriest rogues in the world； eyed him with that
abundant sympathy which usually attends a lack of means； and there
is not a doubt but their pockets would have been at his command；
only that they happened to be empty。
Thus everybody deserted the Webber mansion； as if poverty were
contagious； like the plagueeverybody but honest Dirk Waldron； who
still kept up his stolen visits to the daughter； and indeed seemed
to wax more affectionate as the fortunes of his mistress were on
the wane。
Many months had elapsed since Wolfert had frequented his old
resort； the rural inn。 He was taking a long； lonely walk one
Saturday afternoon； musing over his wants and disappointments； when
his feet took instinctively their wonted direction； and on awaking
out of a reverie； he found himself before the door of the inn。 For
some moments he hesitated whether to enter； but his heart yearned
for companionship； and where can a ruined man find better
companionship than at a tavern； where there is neither sober
example nor sober advice to put him out of countenance？
Wolfert found several of the old frequenters of the inn at their
usual posts and seated in their usual places； but one was missing；
the great Ramm Rapelye； who for many years had filled the leather…
bottomed chair of state。 His place was supplied by a stranger