CHAPTER III.
THE NEW COMER.
The storm ceased its fury at four o'clock, and a cold, bright, and calm morning succeeded.

The hills stood out in sharp, clear outlines, mother earth had put on her cleanest cap, and there was not a ripple on all the Tappan Zee.

Hanz Toodleburg was now the happiest man in Nyack, for Heaven had blessed his house and heart during the morning with as plump and healthy a boy as ever was seen.

There was a fond mother and a happy father in the little house now; and the sweet innocent babe, their first born, was like flowers strewn along their road of life.

It was something to live for, something to hope for, something to brighten their hopes of the future, and to sweeten their love-dream.
In spite of the snow drifts, news of this important event ran from one end to the other of the settlement before the sun was an hour up, and set it all aglow.