The Von Toodleburgs | Page 2

to understand the startling changes which took place
in "Dunman's Cave" when the "Pacific" was wrecked. They will
understand, also, why the "set" was so strong at so great a distance
from the entrance, and why the "boar" rose to such a height in a narrow
gate, or entrance formed by steep rocks, before it broke, and went
rushing and roaring onward with irresistible force. They will also
understand what produced the noise resembling the sound of a mighty
waterfall.
F.C.A.
WASHINGTON, D.C., January, 1868.

CONTENTS.
BOOK I.
Chapter. Page.
I. Ancient Heads of the Family, 9
II. Coming into the World, 16

III. The New Comer, 21
IV. Changed Prospects, 25
V. Tite Toodleburg and a Modern Reformer, 30
VI. A Little Family Affair, 39
VII. The Town moved with Indignation, 46
[Transcriber's note: Chapter VIII is missing in book.]
IX. Tite takes his Departure for the South Sea, 57
X. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman disagree, 63
XI. Mr. Chapman cultivates New Acquaintances, 70
XII. Strange Gentleman, 81
XIII. Captain Bottom, the Whale-Killer, 88
XIV. The Coming Winter and a Merry-Making, 100
XV. Mrs. Chapman and the Upper Circles, 109
XVI. A Night Expedition, 113
XVII. Mr. Gusher is introduced to Mattie, 123
XVIII. Rounding Cape Horn, 135
XIX. Making a Fortune, 143
[Transcriber's note: Chapter XX is missing in book.]
XXI. Coming Events cast their Shadows, 158
XXII. The Chapmans move into the City, 166

XXIII. Mrs. Chapman gives a Ball, 176
XXIV. Very Perplexing, 186
XXV. An Unlucky Voyage, 196
XXVI. Dunman's Cave, 204
XXVII. Old Dunman and the Pirate's Treasure, 213
XXVIII. Mr. Gusher sustains his Character, 225
XXIX. Changed Circumstances, 230
XXX. A Terrible Calamity overtakes the Family, 237
XXXI. A Very Perplexing Situation, 247
XXXII. Harvest-Sunday, 251
XXXIII. Returned Home, 260
XXXIV. He brings Joy into the House, 273
XXXV. How He got away from the Island, 277
XXXVI. An Interesting Ceremony, 282

THE VON TOODLEBURGS,
OR THE
History of a very Distinguished Family.
CHAPTER I.
ANCIENT HEADS OF THE FAMILY.

Not more than a mile from the brisk little town of Nyack, on the
Hudson river, and near where the road makes a sharp turn and winds up
into the mountain, there lived, in the year 1803, an honest old farmer of
the name of Hanz Toodleburg. Hanz was held in high esteem by his
neighbors, many of whom persisted in pronouncing his name
Toodlebug, and also electing him hog-reef every year, an honor he
would invariably decline. He did this, he said, out of respect to the
rights of the man last married in the neighborhood. It mattered not to
Hanz how his name was pronounced; nor did it ever occur to him that
some of his more ambitious descendants might be called on in a court
of law to explain the circumstances under which their name was
changed. I speak now of things as they were when the old settlers
around Nyack were honest and unsuspecting, before Fulton had
astonished them with his steamboat, or those extravagant New Yorkers
had invaded the town, building castles overlooking the Tappan Zee,
and school-houses where the heads of honest Dutch children were filled
with wicked thoughts.
Hanz Toodleburg was short and stout of figure, had a full, round face, a
large blunt nose, and a small gray eye. Indeed, there was no mistaking
his ancestors, in whose language he spoke whenever the Dominie paid
him a visit, which he did quite often, for Hanz had always good cheer
in the house; and a bed for a stranger. In short, it was a boast of Hanz
that no traveller ever passed his house hungry, if he knew it. And it
increased his importance with his neighbors that he raised more bushels
to the acre than any of them, and sent better vegetables to the New
York market. More than that, he would tell all the big folks in the
village, with a nod of his head, that he owed no man a stiver he could
not pay before the sun set, and in such a way as to convey a sly hint
that it was more than they could do. The neighbors consulted Hanz
concerning their worldly affairs, and, indeed, received his opinions as
good authority. In fine, Hanz and the Dominie were called in to settle
nearly all the disputes arising between the country folks for miles
around. And it was said by these simple minded people that they got
their rights quicker and less expensively in this way than when they
went to law in the village and trusted to the magistrate and the lawyers
for justice.

As, however, there always will be idle and gossiping people
everywhere to say unkind things of their neighbors, especially when
they are more prosperous than themselves, so there