Wolfert Webber, or Golden Dreams by Washington Irving
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Wolfert Webber, or golden Dreams

by Washington Irving

in_the year of grace one thousand seven hundred and-- blank-- for I_do_not remember the precise date; however, it_was somewhere in_the early part of_the last century,-- there lived in_the ancient city of_the Manhattoes a worthy burgher, Wolfert Webber by name . he_was descended from old Cobus Webber of_the Brill[1] in Holland, one_of_the original settlers, famous for introducing the cultivation of cabbages, and who came over to_the province during the protectorship of Oloffe Van Kortlandt, otherwise called " the dreamer ."

[1] the Brill is afortified seaport of Holland, on_the Meuse river, near Rotterdam .

the field in_which Cobus Webber first planted himself and_his cabbages had remained ever_since in_the family, who continued in_the same line of husbandry with_that praiseworthy perseverance for_which our Dutch burghers are noted . the whole family genius, during several generations, was devoted to_the study and development of this_one noble vegetable, and to_this concentration of intellect may doubtless be ascribed the prodigious renown to_which_the Webber cabbages attained .

the Webber dynasty continued in uninterrupted succession, and never did a line give more unquestionable proofs of legitimacy . the eldest son succeeded to_the looks as_well as_the territory of_his sire, and had the portraits of_this line of tranquil potentates been taken, they_would_have presented a row of heads marvelously resembling, in shape and magnitude, the vegetables over which they reigned .

the seat of government continued unchanged in_the family mansion,-- aDutch- built house, with a front, or rather gable end, of yellow brick, tapering to a point, with_the customary iron weathercock at_the top . everything about_the building bore the air of long- settled ease and security .Flights of martins peopled the little coops nailed against its walls, and swallows built their nests under the eaves, and everyone knows that_these house-loving birds bring good luck to_the dwelling where they take up their abode . in a bright summer morning in early summer, it_was delectable to hear their cheerful notes as_they sported about in_the pure, sweet air, chirping forth, as it were, the greatness and prosperity of_the Webbers .

thus quietly and comfortably did this excellent family vegetate under the shade of a mighty buttonwood tree, which by little and little grew so great as entirely to overshadow their palace . the city gradually spread its suburbs round their domain .Houses sprang up_to interrupt their prospects . the rural lanes in_the vicinity began to grow into_the bustle and populousness of streets; in short, with all the habits of rustic life they began to_find themselves the inhabitants of a city . still, however, they maintained their hereditary character and hereditary possessions, with all the tenacity of petty German princes in_the midst of_the empire .Wolfert was_the last of_the line, and succeeded to_the patriarchal bench at_the door, under the family tree, and swayed the scepter of_his fathers,--a kind of rural potentate in_the midst of_the metropolis .

to share the cares and sweets of sovereignty he had taken unto himself a helpmate, one of_that excellent kind called "stirring women"; that_is_to_say, she was one of_those notable little housewives who_are always busy where there_is nothing to_do . her activity, however, took one particular direction,-- her whole life seemed devoted to intense knitting; whether at home or abroad, walking or sitting, her needles were continually in motion, and it_is even affirmed that by her unwearied industry she very nearly supplied her household with stockings throughout_the year . this worthy couple were blessed with one daughter who was brought up with great tenderness and care; uncommon pains had_been taken with her education, so_that she_could stitch in every variety of way, make all kinds of pickles and preserves, and mark her own name on a sampler . the influence of her taste was seen also in_the family garden, where the ornamental began to mingle with_the useful; whole rows of fiery marigolds and splendid hollyhocks bordered the cabbage beds, and gigantic sunflowers lolled their broad, jolly faces over the fences, seeming to ogle most affectionately the passers- by .

thus reigned and vegetated Wolfert Webber over his paternal acres, peacefully and contentedly . not but that, like all other sovereigns, he had his occasional cares and vexations . the growth of_his native city sometimes caused him annoyance . his little territory gradually became hemmed in by streets and houses, which intercepted air and sunshine . he_was now_and_then subjected to_the eruptions of_the border population that infest the streets of a metropolis, who_would make midnight forays into his dominions, and carry off captive whole platoons of_his noblest subjects . vagrant swine would make a descent, too, now_and_then, when_the gate was left open, and lay all waste before them; and mischievous urchins would decapitate the illustrious sunflowers, the glory of_the garden, as_they lolled their heads so fondly over the walls . still all these were petty grievances, which might now_and_then ruffle the surface of_his mind, as a summer breeze will ruffle the surface of a mill pond, but they_could_not disturb the deep- seated quiet of_his soul . he_would but seize a trusty staff that stood behind the door, issue suddenly out, and anoint the back of_the aggressor, whether Pig or urchin, and then return within doors, marvelously refreshed and tranquilized .

the chief cause of anxiety to honest Wolfert, however, was_the growing prosperity of_the city . the expenses of living doubled and trebled, but he_could_not double and treble the magnitude of_his cabbages, and_the number of competitors prevented the increase of 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 acheering 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 aDutch line of landlords, and retaining an air and relish of_the good old times . it_was aDutch- 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 ablustering 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

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