Nor was the departure of the gallant Peter among the least causes of
public distress. Though the old governor was by no means indulgent to the
follies and waywardness of his subjects, yet somehow or other he had
become strangely popular among the people. There is something so
captivating in personal bravery that, with the common mass of mankind, it
takes the lead of most other merits. The simple folk of New Amsterdam
looked upon Peter Stuyvesant as a prodigy of valor. His wooden leg, that
trophy of his martial encounters, was regarded with reverence and
admiration. Every old burgher had a budget of miraculous stories to tell
about the exploits of Hardkoppig Piet, wherewith he regaled his children
of a long winter night, and on which he dwelt with as much delight and
exaggeration as do our honest country yeomen on the hardy adventures of
old General Putnam (or, as he is familiarly termed, Old Put) during our
glorious revolution.

Not an individual but verily believed the old governor was a match for
Beelzebub himself; and there was even a story told, with great mystery,
and under the rose, of his having shot the devil with a silver bullet one
dark stormy night as he was sailing in a canoe through Hell-gate; but this
I do not record as being an absolute fact. Perish the man who would let
fall a drop to discolor the pure stream of history!

Certain it is, not an old woman in New Amsterdam but considered Peter
Stuyvesant as a tower of strength, and rested satisfied that the public
welfare was secure, so long as he was in the city. It is not surprising,
then, that they looked upon his departure as a sore affliction. With heavy
hearts they dragged at the heels of his troop, as they marched down to the
riverside to embark. The governor from the stern of his schooner gave a
short but truly patriarchal address to his citizens, wherein he
recommended them to comport like loyal and peaceable subjects--to go to
church regularly on Sundays, and to mind their business all the week
besides. That the women should be dutiful and affectionate to their
husbands--looking after nobody's concerns but their own, eschewing all
gossipings and morning gaddings, and carrying short tongues and long
petticoats. That the men should abstain from intermeddling in public
concerns, intrusting the cares of government to the officers appointed to
support them--staying at home, like good citizens, making money for
themselves, and getting children for the