human
A small fleet of Dutch armed vessels was frozen up near this city, and a force was sent to capture them by the Spanish commander. The crews opened a wide trench in the ice around their vessels, and, putting on their skates as the besiegers approached, advanced to give them battle. The Dutchmen, perfectly at home on skates, out-manoeuvred and beat the Spaniards, who left several hundred of their dead on the ice. The duke was astonished; but he was a prudent man, and ordered seven thousand pairs of skates, upon which his troops were trained to perform military movements.
gpt
That was a big thing on ice,
human
You will not have an opportunity to go to church in Holland, Paul,
gpt
No, sir; I suppose we sail for Havre this week.
human
Most of the people go to church; but they do not observe the Sabbath very rigidly. Gentlemen sit with their hats on during the service, or take them off, as they please. Amsterdam is one of the most charitable cities in the world, and is noted for its almshouses, asylums, hospitals. In one orphan asylum there are seven or eight hundred boys and girls, who are kept there till they are twenty years old, and then sent out with a good trade. They wear a peculiar dress, to prevent them from being admitted to theatres, rum-shops, and other improper places; for the keepers of these establishments are severely punished if they permit any of the children of the public charitable institutions to enter their places. A contribution for the poor is taken up every Sunday in the churches by the deacons, who use a thing like a shrimp-net with a long handle, having a little bell for the benefit of those who wish to look the other way when it is thrust in their faces.
gpt
That's a good idea; but, I suppose, the Dutch have invented some small coin for these occasions,
human
A stiver, or five Dutch cents, equal to less than two of our cents, is small enough. There are a great many poor people in Amsterdam who live entirely in cellars. As you have seen, a great many families live in vessels, keeping a pig, hens, and ducks on board, and sometimes even have a little garden on deck. When the Dutchman gets married and sets up in life, he obtains a small boat of from one to three tons, and goes to housekeeping on board. If they prosper, they buy a bigger craft; but his home, his wife, and children are on the water.