history. speedily rose to a pitch of the highest prosperity. Amsterdam, the commercial capitol, became one of the richest cities in Europe. The commerce of Holland was soon spread over the world, and its navy was the most powerful in Europe. About the year 1650, the British navy triumphed over Holland, and in 1672 the armies of the king of France overrun a portion of the country. With the madness of despair, the people of the northern provinces broke down their dykes, and permitted the ocean to overspread their farms, their houses, and their villages. It was impossible to conquer a people of such desperate courage, and unbending resolution; the king of France was therefore obliged to withdraw his armies, and make peace with the Hollanders. It is in the year 1672, while the country was distressed by the war with France, and convulsed with internal dissensions, that our history begins. At this period, there were in this country, two celebrated brothers, Cornelius and John De Witt, who had held high public offices. The people were now divided into two parties; one in favor of maintaining the republic, the other in favor of a central government, under the care of a Stadtholder, who was to have nearly the power and privileges of a king. The De Witts belonged to the former party, but they were overborne by the populace, and Cornelius being falsely charged with some crime, was confined in the Buytenhoff, or state prison, at the Hague, then the capitol of Holland. Here he was subjected to the torture, but as he confessed nothing, he was only sentenced to perpetual banishment. His brother John came to the prison to assist him in his removal. While the mangled and bleeding victim was being led from the prison by his brother, the magistrates had ordered the prison gates to be thrown open, so that the mob might rush in and wreak their brutal vengeance upon the objects of their hatred. Assisted by a beautiful girl, named Rosa, the daughter of old Grypheus the jailor, the De Witts were able to escape from the prison by a back passage. They entered their carriage and were driven off, but the gate of the city was shut, and being forced to return, they were overtaken by the mob, and both were inhumanly murdered. Their bodies were then taken to the public square, and treated with every possible indignity. About this period, William, Prince of Orange, was established as Stadtholder over Holland, and the country, from being a republic, became a kind of monarchy. This prince of Orange was now twenty-two years of age, and from his taciturn habits he got the name of William the Silent. Some twenty years after, he became king of Eng land, under the title of William III. Our story, however, leads us back to the tragical death of the two De Witts. It appears that a nephew of theirs, named Cornelius Van Baerle, was living at this time in the town of Dordrecht, usually called Dort. This place is on an Island in the Meuse, and was the birthplace of the De Witts. While the whole country was agitated with political dissensions, Van Baerle devoted himself to study and gardening. He had been educated as a physician, and had become an excellent botanist. A little before this time the famous mania for tulips raged in Holland: Van Baerle was seized with the excitement, and soon became celebrated for producing some of the choicest specimens of this beautiful flower. Haarlem, eleven miles west of Amsterdam, had long been noted for its excellence in horticulture, and now it was the chief seat of the tulip fever. Such was the rage of the time, that a single bulb, of a rare variety, would sell for five hundred, or even a thousand dollars. Under this mad excitement, the Horticultural Society of Haarlem announced large premiums for new specimens, and at last offered a prize of a hundred thousand crowns for what had never yet appeared-A BLACK TULIP! When Dr. Van Baerle heard this announcement, his soul was fired with ambition to win the glory of carrying off the magnificent premium. Being young, and having an abundant fortune, he engaged in the endeavor with great zeal, and the most lavish expenditure. At the same time, he put in requisition the profound skill he had acquired by study and experience. Now, it chanced that at the extremity of Van Baerle's beautiful garden, which, by the way, was inclosed by high walls, there lived a gardener by the name of Boxtel. Instead of spending his time in cultivating his own garden, he gave himself up to envy of his rich and learned neighbor, and would sit whole days in looking through a window which commanded a view of Van Baerle's grounds. He became so curious in watching Van Baerle's operations, that he bought a spy-glass, which enabled him to overlook every part of his neighbor's garden, and even to see him, with his seeds and papers, in his cabinet. It may well be believed, that the great prize for a Black Tulip made a deep sensation among the gardeners of Holland. Boxtel at first determined to attempt to gain it, and set about experiments for this purpose. But he soon became suspicious that Van Baerle was seeking the same object. From this moment Boxtel's heart became black with evil designs; he felt sure that Van Baerle would succeed in producing the Black Tulip, and he determined to watch and wait till the proper time, then to steal the inestimable treasure, and claim the prize. He now neglected his garden altogether, and devoted himself entirely to watching the operations of his neighbor, with his glass; not, however, overlooking other means by which he could pry into his secrets. Two seasons thus passed away, when Boxtel observed that Van Baerle had produced three bulbs which he seemed to cherish with the most assiduous care. As it was now winter, these were rolled up, and put aside in a particular drawer, of which Boxtel took special notice. Now it seems that some time before his death, Cornelius De Witt had deposited with Van Baerle, of whom he had been guardian certain papers and documents connected with public affairs. Among them were letters which Cornelius knew would subject his nephew to imprisonment, and perhaps to death, should they ever be discovered in his possession. As he was about to leave the Buytenhoff, therefore, he sent a messenger to Van Baerle with a letter, as follows: This letter was received by Van Baerle at a moment when his mind was absorbed in his studies; he threw it aside without reading it. Thus the whole matter speedily passed from his mind. The letter was afterwards picked up by him as a piece of waste paper, and it chanced that he wrapped it around the three bulbs. By some means the prying and cunning Boxtel found out that these treasonable papers of Cornelius De Witt's were snugly packed away in one of Van Baerle's drawers. He, therefore, determined to give information to the public authorities against him, well knowing that the doctor would be immediately taken to prison. He believed that he would then be able to get possession of the three bulbs, as he knew the very drawer in which they were deposited. He accord ingly wrote an anonymous letter to the head of the police, giving precise information as to the seditious papers. The very next night Van Baerle's house was surrounded by soldiers, he was himself seized, bound, and finally taken to the Hague, and confined in the very prison where his uncle Cornelius had been confined some time before. CHAPTER II. IN the preceding chapter, we have told how poor Dr. Van Baerle was seized and imprisoned in the Buytenhoff, at the Hague, upon the information given by the wicked Boxtel. The doctor was still a young man, and had the natural good spirits of his age, but after a short time he found his situation very sad and gloomy. He was confined in a small room where the light came dimly in through a grated window. The door which led to the passage was grated with heavy bars of iron. The place was so strong as to exclude all hopes of his escape. And besides this, the old jailor, Grypheus, was very rude and savage to his prisoner. We may add that Van Baerle, not knowing for what crime he was imprisoned, was unable to judge of the probable duration of his confinement. Under these circumstances, his good spirits left him gradually, and he became exceedingly miserable. While in this state, he chanced one day to see Rosa, the youthful daughter of the jailor, passing by his grated door. She stopped a moment and looked wistfully at the prisoner. He came forward and spoke to her through the grating. She answered him kindly, and they conversed together for some time. Rosa was tender hearted, and she immediately felt a great interest in the young prisoner; she was very beautiful, and it was quite natural that Van Baerle should feel a great interest in her. The next day Rosa went to the grated window, taking care not to be seen by her cruel father, for she well knew that if she was detected in showing kindness to the prisoner, both he and herself would be made to suffer. Van Baerle was waiting for her at the door when she came. They had many things to say, and when they parted, each felt sorry that their intercourse must be short. From this time, Rosa went every day to the grated door, and her conversations with the prisoner became exceedingly interesting to both. After a time, Van Baerle told her of the Black Tulip, and the three bulbs which he had brought with him. He told her how he had hoped to produce this wonder of nature, and obtain the hundred thousand crowns, and he lamented that it was now out of his power to realize these fond expectations. Poor Rosa wept at the sorrows of her friend, but at last a bright thought occurred to her. 66 Perhaps," said she, "we may produce the Black Tulip here." "How is that possible?" said Van Baerle. "It will surely be easy enough," said Rosa. "You shall tell me, in the first place, how to prepare the earth. I will buy a jar, put the earth in it, and plant the bulbs. It is now spring, and the sun comes in bright and warm at the window. I will place the jar before it; you shall tell me how to proceed in everything, and I will follow your instructions." "Dear Rosa," said Van Baerle, "this is truly a beautiful thought. We will enter upon the plan immediately. But stay-you must take only one of the bulbs, and plant it in your jar. There is a little box in my room; you shall bring me some earth when nobody sees you, I will put it in the box, and there I will plant a Tulip, and will put it in the light of my window. The other bulb I will keep, lest these should fail." "That's quite right," said Rosa, "and we will begin to-day. How delightful it will be to compare the growth of the two plants." "Yes, indeed," said Van Baerle. But just then he perceived a tear in the eye of the maiden, and saw a sadness in her counte nance. "What means this, Rosa ?" said he, "do you repent of your proposition?" "No, certainly not," was the answer, "but I am thinking of your Tulip in that dark room, and I am thinking of you, too, in confinement. I am afraid you will both languish and pine in the darkness and gloom of your prison." "Do not fear, dear Rosa; if we have no sunshine, both myself and the Tulip will have something better-the light of your eyes, and the sunshine of your heart. These, at least, will bring happiness to me." After much more conversation, Rosa departed. In two days she had bought her jar, filled it with dirt, and planted her bulb. She had also carried up some handsful of earth in her apron, and Van Baerle had planted his; but sad disappointments awaited them. The next day, as old Grypheus entered the prisoner's room, he discovered the box, and in a fit of anger he knocked it to pieces, and scattered the earth upon the floor, crushing the bulb beneath his feet. Soon after, Van Baerle was informed that his trial had taken place, and that he was condemned to die on the scaffold. He was accordingly taken out, and carried to the place of execution. An immense number of persons were collected to see him die. He mounted the scaffold and laid his head upon the block. The headsman waved his sword in the air, but just as it was about to sever the neck of the prisoner, a cry was heard in the crowd. An officer appeared, and announced that Lord William, the Stadt holder, had changed the sentence of death to that of perpetual imprisonment. Van Baerle arose, while the air was filled with the shouts of the people around. He was immediately taken in charge by some officers, and conducted to the fortress of Loreinstein, near Dort. Here he was confined in a room very much like that which he had occupied at the Buytenhoff, but alas! alas! no Rosa was there. He soon became very gloomy, and almost wished he had perished on the scaffold. But one day a new idea entered his head. Some pigeons were in the habit of visiting his window to rest themselves. "These," 99 said he to himself, "must be some of those which pay a visit every day to my old nurse, who in charity, always gives them a handful of corn." No sooner had this idea crossed his mind, than he reached out his hand and caught one of the pigeons. Having done this, he wrote a small note to his nurse, begging her to go to the Hague, and inform Rosa where he was. Having tied this to the bird, he gave it its liberty, which was not long in paying its daily visit to the old nurse. She chanced to see the note, which she took and read. She immediately fulfilled the commission, and Rosa was informed of the situation and wishes of Van Baerle. She now proceeded to the Stadtholder, and told him that her father being old, found the duties of the Buytenhoff too severe; she begged, therefore, that he might be transferred to the Loreinstein. The request was granted immediately, and Grypheus and his daughter were taken to their new home. It is not easy to paint the delight of poor Van Baerle, when Rosa appeared at his grated door. The intercourse of the two friends was renewed, and it was agreed, that Rosa should once more plant the bulb which she had taken out of the jar and brought with her. She had a nice little room with a sunny window, and in the course of a week, she had the happiness to inform Van Baerle, that she could see the bulb preparing to start through the leaves. He was greatly excited, and now persuaded Rosa to come three or four times a day to tell him how the plant progressed. We must now turn our attention to Boxtel, who had by no means lost sight of Van Baerle and his bulbs. After the latter had been carried off by the officers, he rummaged the drawers of Van Baerle, expecting to find the precious germs-but after a long search, he concluded that Van Baerle had carried them with him to the Buytenhoff. He, therefore, went to that place, and introduced himself to old Grypheus, under the name of Grille. He made the acquaintance of Rosa, and pretended to be very fond of her. He became a favorite of her father, and gradually drew from her the secret of the bulbs. When Grypheus and Rosa removed to the Loreinstein, he followed them, and contrived to put himself upon very intimate terms with father and daughter. Rosa was very secret about the bulb she had planted, for Van Baerle had cautioned her to let no one see it. She was, therefore, very careful always to keep her door locked; and when she brought water or earth for her plant, she supposed no one saw her. But the false and cunning Grille watched her as the cat does the mouse. He even contrived to get into the yard, where he could see the jar in Rosa's window, and observe her as she visited her precious charge. Two weeks passed, and now the Tulip had plainly unfolded its leaves. Van Baerle was in ecstacy, for Rosa had told him that they were jet black, and glossy as ivory. Already it stood erect upon its tall and graceful stem, and Van Baerle ardently wishing to see it, Rosa promised to bring it to him at night. Accordingly, she took an opportunity when her father was absent, to convey it to the grated door, where Van Baerle saw it by the light of a little lamp. In his joy and triumph he almost forgot his imprisonment, and the sad prospect before him. Little did these two happy friends imagine that the cunning Grille, hid in an adjacent nook, heard all they said, and witnessed all their delight. Little, indeed, did they dream of the cruel plot he had laid to deprive them of their hopes, and rob them of their treasures. CHAPTER III. termined, should be given to Rosa. "What use for money have I, in this gloomy prison ?" said he. "My dear Rosa, you must proceed with the utmost caution. No one must see you take the Tulip from this place-you must depart at night. How dreadful it would be, if we should lose this treasure! You will tell the President that the Tulip was grown from a bulb produced by a friend of yours. Do not name him-for if they know he is a convict and a prisoner, it may injure our cause. You will take the money-the one hundred thousand crowns-it will be your marriage portion." "Mine-my marriage portion!" said the girl, looking up with an expression of astonishment. "Are you displeased, Rosa?" said Van Baerle. 66 My marriage portion!" said she again; "I shall never marry." "Never marry? yes, indeed. Some happy young man, who has never committed a crime; who is at liberty to breathe the free air of heaven; who goes where he desires, and follows such pursuits as give him pleasure; some such person will be found, and you will marry him, Rosa." The tears burst from the poor girl's eyes, and she said, passionately, "No, Van Baerle, never; never, at least, never, while—” "While what, Rosa ?" Cruel Van Baerle, must I speak it? can you not guess it? Does not your own heart tell you the answer?" Do you mean, Rosa, that you will never marry while I am in prison?"" "Yes." "Oh, Rosa!" said he, looking around upon his gloomy prison, and surveying the strong iron bars at the doors and windows, madness for you to think of attaching yourself to my desperate fate. It is cruel to awaken such delirious dreams, when, after all, there is not a ray of hope for me." "But there is hope." THE great botanical wonder-the Black"this is madness-this is cruelty. It is Tulip-being perfected by the two friends, the next thing was to convey it to the President of the Horticultural Society. This person's name was Van Systens, and he lived at Haarlem, a short distance from Dort; but as the intermediate country was cut up by streams, lakes, and canals, it was two days' journey by the route that must be travelled. After discussing many plans, it was agreed between Van Baerle and Rosa, that she should herself be the bearer of the precious burthen to the President. No other person could be entrusted with it. Van Baerle, though imprisoned for life, still had the love of fame; and he looked forward to the time when it should be said that he was the producer of the Black Tulip. He had also another idea. He would receive for it one hundred thousand crowns. This he had de "Of what?" "Of escape, perchance. Is not my father the jailor? May we not possibly elude his vigilance, or may it not happen, when you are announced to the world as the producer of the greatest marvel of horticulture that the world has ever known-may it not be, that the Stadtholder will order your release? Will not all the world cry out for the release of Dr. Van Baerle? I tell you, my friend, there is hope-you will yet be free! But even should I know that you must spend your whole life in prison, I say, as I said before, no other man shall be my husband." "And I say again, Rosa, this is all mad ness-I cannot permit such a sacrifice of your happiness, however dear and sweet your words are to me. There is, indeed, no hope for my escape. Your father is as stern as these iron bars-Lord William has a beart of stone-and besides, I am unseen-unheard -forgotten. No one can see my tears, or hear my prayers. My heart may burst with grief-my brain may become wild with despair but what will all this be to the haughty Stadtholder, surrounded with wealth, pleasure and power?" "You think I am mad, Van Baerle you are a wise man. I am a simple, untaught child; yet I think I can be your instructress.' "How ?" 99 "You have heard of Grotius-the celebrated Hugo Grotius—” "Yes." "But it is my pleasure-it is my choiceI command it! Swear before Heaven that you will be mine-that you are mine-that henceforth we are one in heart, in soul, in love, in all, save these prison bars!" "Van Baerle looked to Heaven, solemnly. He muttered a deep and fervent prayer for "Well, he was imprisoned in this very the happiness of the lovely and devoted castle of Loreinstein." "Ay, I remember." creature before him; he then kissed Rosa's hand, saying, "Be it so, Rosa, I swear. "And he was imprisoned in this very cell. Henceforth, in the eyes of Heaven, we are in which you are now confined." "Indeed!" 66 Stupid, cruel blockhead of a Van Baerle," said she, "he would force me to make the marriage proposal." "And is that what you mean, Rosa?" "You are very slow at guessing." "But how can I believe you would marry a man imprisoned for life? Were I at liberty, I would not wait for a proposal from you." Rosa sobbed aloud, and wiping away her tears, said in a firm voice, "My dear friend, since you are not at liberty, you are very much in the situation of our sex. You must wait till some one makes an offer. It is I, then, who must claim a man's privilegehere is my hand;" and she squeezed her fingers through the grating. Van Baerle seized the hand and kissed it, saying, "Well, if I ever attain my liberty, then I shall claim it." one." Rosa was content-a smile chased the tears and the gloom from her countenance, and the two friends speedily arranged their plans. Rosa was to depart that very night, with the Tulip, on the road to Haarlem. She was to travel on horseback, and one of her neighbors was to go on foot, by her side, to take care of her. She was to carry the Tulip carefully inclosed in a box. All things being arranged, she descended to her room to complete her preparations for the journey. But alas! the mischievous Grille, or Boxtel, as we shall now call him, had not been idle. He had caused a false key to be constructed, by which he unlocked Rosa's door. While she was talking with Van Baerle, and they were forming their plans, as has just been related, he entered her room. There was the Black Tulip, all perfect before his eyes. He trembled with mingled eagerness and fear-at last, he seized it and passed out, turning the key after him. He then fled from the castle, and, concealed by the shadows of the night, he sped with a light foot upon the road to Haarlem. When Rosa came to her room, she went immediately to the table where her Tulip was accustomed to stand. The place was vacant-no Tulip was there! She gazed around, at first with wonder, then with terror. It was long before she could satisfy herself that the cherished object was gone. At last, she suspected the truth. She had seen Boxtel often seeming to watch her movements. She now believed he was the thief. She rushed through the passages-went into the street-he was nowhere to be found. She then traced her steps toward Van Baerle's |