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The question as to who should name the young gentleman at Hanz's house
was now discussed. The names of various great men were suggested, such
as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Hanz shook his head
negatively at the mention of these. "It vas not goot to give a poy too
pig a name; t-makes um prout ven da grows up," he said. It was finally
agreed that the young gentleman should be called Titus Bright, after the
little ruddy-faced inn-keeper. And the little man was so pleased with
the idea of having his name engrafted on that of the Toodleburg family,
that he promised a fat turkey and the best pig of the litter for the
christening dinner. More flip was now drank, and the merry party shook
hands and parted in the best of temper. Hanz felt that as Heaven had blessed him and Angeline with this fine
boy, and so increased their joys, he must do something generous for his
friends. So, on the morning following he sent the Dominie a pig and a
peck of fine flour, for which that quaint divine thanked him and prayed
Heaven that he might send more. He gave the school-master a big pipe and
tobacco enough to last him a month. He also ordered the tailor to make
the pedagogue a new suit of homespun, something the poor man had not had
for many a day. School-mastering was not a business men got rich at in
those days, and poor Wiggins, for such was his name, had a hard time to
keep the wolf from his door. Indeed, he thought himself well paid with
four dollars a week and his victuals, which he got around among the
parents of his scholars. His worldly goods consisted of little else than
his birch and pipe, and the shabby clothes on his back. And as the
length of his engagements depended on his good behavior, which was none
of the best, he was frequently seen tramping from village to village in
search of a job. As for Doctor Critchel, Hanz felt that he owed him a debt of gratitude
he could never pay, even were he to give him the farm. It was no use
offering the doctor a new suit of clothes, as he was never known to wear
such things. As for snuff-boxes, he had at least a dozen. Hanz sent him
a goose to roast for his dinner, a fat sheep, and a bag of extra flour,
just from the mill. I may have been too particular in describing how and when this young
gentleman came into the world, but my reason for it is that there may
be those among my readers who will recognize the great and very
distinguished family of Von Toodleburg, which not many years ago amazed
New York with its brilliancy, and be anxious to know some of the ups and
downs of its early history.
CHAPTER IV. - CHANGED PROSPECTS.
Twelve years have passed since that stormy night when Titus Bright
Toodleburg - for the young gentleman as I have said before, was named
after the inn-keeper, came into the world. Great changes have taken
place since then. Tite, as the neighbors all call him, is now a bright,
intelligent boy, and a great favorite in the village. Hanz and Angeline
are proud of him, and he promises to be the joy of their declining
years. Hanz had always held to the opinion that men with too much
learning were dangerous to the peace of a neighborhood, inasmuch as it
caused them to neglect their farms and take to pursuits in which the
devil was served and honest people made beggars. He had, however, sent
Tite to school, and now the young gentleman could read, write, and
cypher; and this, he declared, was learning enough to get a man safe
through the world if he but followed an honest occupation and saved his
money. In addition to so much learning, the young gentleman had early
discovered an enterprising spirit, and a remarkable taste for
navigation. When only six years old he had his tiny sloops and
schooners, rigged by himself, on every duck-pond in the neighborhood.
And he could sail them with a skill remarkable in one so young. Indeed,
these duck-ponds were a source of great annoyance to Angeline, for
whenever one of Tite's crafts met with an accident he would wade to its
relief, no matter what the condition or color of the water.
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