Transcriber's Note:Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source:http://www.archive.org/details/germanpioneersta01spie
"You are not my maid-servant, Catherine,"
he said gently. (P. 57.)
THE GERMAN PIONEERS
A TALE OF THE MOHAWK
BY
FREDERICK SPIELHAGEN.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY
The REV. LEVI STERNBERG. D. D.
CHICAGO:
Donohue, Henneberry & Co.
1891.
Copyright, 1891
BY
DONOHUE, HENNEBERRY & CO.
THE GERMAN PIONEERS
CHAPTER I
On a certain forenoon in the month of April, 1758, there wasunusualactivity in the harbor of New York. In spite of the disagreeableweather--which had now already lasted two days, with dense fogs anddrizzling rain, and even then, from low, gray clouds, was drenching themultitude--there stood upon the quay dense groups of people looking ata large Dutch three-master, which had already lain a couple of days inthe roadstead, and now was swinging at anchor in the troubled waternearer shore.
"The gentlemen would have done better to have remained at home," said alittle man, referring to two broad-shouldered farmers, who stood near."I will eat my tailor's goose and not be called Samuel Squenz if, outof the skin-covered skeletons which have thus far passed here on theirway to the state-house to take the oath of allegiance to our king--whommay God bless--they can select a single ordinary farmhand."
"Have you seen them?" asked another, who had just joined the group.
"Have I seen them!" replied Samuel Squenz. "We have all seen them. Itell you, neighbor, had they come out of the grave after lying therefour months they could not have more bones and less flesh. Surely fourmonths in the grave and four months on that Hollander amounts to aboutthe same thing."
"The poor devils!" said the other.
"Ah, what poor devils?" called out a man, distinguished from thosearound him by his larger wig, more careful dress, rotund body, red,flabby cheeks, and German accent. "Poor devils! What brings them here?What are we to do with the starved ragamuffins, of whom one half couldnot pay full fare? Now according to our wise laws a wage-sale must beopenly made, as was yesterday advertised both in the 'Gazette' and inthe 'Journal.'"
"They bring us nothing into the country except the dirty rags they haveon and ship-fever, from which may God protect us," called out SamuelSquenz. "I kept nose and mouth shut as the vermin crept past us."
"It is a sin," said neighbor Flint.
"It is a shame," snarled neighbor Bill.
"Therefore I have always said," continued the man, with the red,hanging cheeks, "that we should do as they do in Philadelphia, wherefor the last thirty years they have levied a poll-tax of fortyshillings on every