The third night he went to bed with palpitating heart He put red nightcap wrong side outward, for good luck deep midnight before his anxious mind could settle itself into sleep Again the golden dream was repeated, and again his garden teeming with ingots and money bags

Wolfert rose the next morning in complete bewilderment dream, three times repeated, was never known to lie, and , his fortune

agitation he put waistcoat hind part before, and corroboration of good luck [1] He no longer doubted that huge store of money lay buried somewhere cabbage field, coyly waiting sought for, and he repined at having been scratching surface soil instead of digging center

[1] an old superstition that on one's clothes wrong side out forebodes good luck

his seat breakfast table, full speculations, asked his daughter lump of gold into his tea, and on handing his wife plate of slapjacks, begged her to help herself to doubloon

His grand care now was how to secure this immense treasure without its being known Instead working regularly grounds daytime, he now stole bed at night, and with spade and pickax went to work to rip up and dig about his paternal acres, from one end other In little time the whole garden, which had presented such goodly and regular appearance, with its phalanx of cabbages, like vegetable army in battle array, was reduced to scene of devastation, while the relentless Wolfert, with nightcap on head and lantern and spade in hand, stalked slaughtered ranks, the destroying angel own vegetable world

Every morning bore testimony ravages preceding night in cabbages of all ages and conditions, tender sprout full-grown head, piteously rooted from their quiet beds like worthless weeds, and left to wither sunshine In vain Wolfert's wife remonstrated; in vain his darling daughter wept over the destruction of some favorite marigold "Thou shalt have gold of another-guess[1] sort," cry, chucking her under the chin; "thou shalt have string of crooked ducats for thy wedding necklace, my child " His family began really to fear poor man's wits were diseased He muttered sleep at night about mines of wealth, about pearls and diamonds, and bars of gold daytime moody and abstracted, and walked about in trance Dame Webber held frequent councils with all the old women neighborhood; scarce an hour day but knot 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 stolen interviews of her favored swain, Dirk Waldron The delectable little Dutch songs she used to dulcify the house grew frequent, and forget her sewing, and look wistfully in her father's face as he sat pondering fireside Wolfert caught her eye one day fixed on him thus anxiously, and for moment was roused golden reveries "Cheer up, my girl," said he exultingly; "why dost thou droop ? Thou shalt hold up thy head one day Brinckerhoffs, Schermerhorns, the Van Hornes, Van Dams [2] By St Nicholas, but the patroon[3] himself thee son ! "

[1] corruption 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 old Dutch colony of New Amsterdam

[3] The patroons were members Dutch West India Company, who purchased land in New Netherlands Indians, and after fulfilling certain conditions imposed with view to colonizing their territory, enjoyed feudal rights similar barons Middle Ages

Amy shook her head at his vainglorious boast, and was more than ever in doubt soundness good man's intellect

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 scene of promise explored

The ground became frozen hard, nights too cold labors spade

No sooner, however, did the returning warmth of spring loosen the soil, small frogs begin to pipe 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 secret labors he continued to dig from night to night, and week to week, and month to month, but not stiver[1] did he find contrary, the more he digged the poorer he grew The rich soil garden was digged away, sand and gravel from beneath was thrown surface, until the whole field presented an aspect of sandy barrenness

[1] Dutch coin, worth about two cents; hence, anything of little worth

meantime, the seasons gradually rolled on The little frogs which had piped 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 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 great buttonwood tree house, turned into moth, fluttered last sunshine of summer, and disappeared; and finally the leaves buttonwood tree turned yellow, then brown, then rustled one by one ground, and whirling about in little eddies of wind and dust, whispered that winter was at hand

Wolfert gradually woke dream of wealth year declined He had reared no crop supply household during the sterility of winter The season was long and severe, and first time the family was really straitened in its comforts By degrees revulsion of thought took place in Wolfert's mind, common whose golden dreams disturbed by pinching realities The idea gradually stole upon him that come to want He already considered himself unfortunate men province, having lost such an incalculable amount of undiscovered treasure, and now, when thousands of pounds had eluded his search, perplexed for shillings and pence was cruel extreme

Haggard care gathered about his brow; he went about with money- seeking air, his eyes bent downward dust, and carrying his hands pockets, as men are apt when nothing else into them even pass the city almshouse without giving it rueful glance, destined his future abode

The strangeness conduct and looks occasioned much speculation and remark suspected of being crazy, and then everybody pitied him; and it began suspected that poor, and then everybody avoided him

The rich old burghers acquaintance met him outside the door when , entertained him hospitably threshold, pressed him warmly hand at parting, shook their heads as he walked away, kindhearted expression of "poor Wolfert," and turned corner nimbly if by chance they saw him approaching walked the streets Even the barber cobbler neighborhood, and tattered tailor in an alley hard by, three poorest and merriest rogues , eyed him abundant sympathy which usually attends lack of means, and not doubt but their pockets at his command, only happened empty

Thus everybody deserted the Webber mansion, poverty were contagious, like the plague--everybody but honest Dirk Waldron, who still kept up his stolen visits daughter, and indeed seemed to wax more affectionate fortunes mistress were wane

Many months had elapsed since Wolfert had frequented his old resort, the rural inn taking 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 reverie, himself door inn For some moments he hesitated whether to enter, but his heart yearned for companionship, and where can ruined man find better companionship than at tavern, where neither sober example nor sober advice him out of countenance ?

Wolfert found several old frequenters 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 stranger, who seemed, however, completely at home chair tavern rather under size, but deep-chested, square, and muscular His broad shoulders, double joints, and bow knees gave tokens of prodigious strength His face was dark and weather-beaten; deep scar, slash of cutlass, had almost divided his nose, and made gash upper lip, through which his teeth shone like bulldog's mop of iron-gray hair gave grisly finish hard-favored visage His dress was of an amphibious character He wore an old hat edged with tarnished lace, and cocked in martial style on one side head; rusty[1] blue military coat with brass buttons; and wide pair of short petticoat trousers,--or rather breeches, for they were gathered up knees He ordered everybody about him with an authoritative air, talking in brattling[2] voice that sounded like the crackling of thorns under pot, d--d the landlord and servants with perfect impunity, and was waited upon with greater obsequiousness than had ever been shown mighty Ramm himself

[1] Shabby

[2] Noisy