Page:Journey to Pennsylvania.djvu/47

 them from home, to these newlanders. But these thieves often remain in Holland with the money, or sail from there with another ship to another English colony, so that the poor defrauded people, when they reach the country, have no other choice but to serve or to sell their children, if they have any, only to get away from the ship.

The following remarkable case may serve as an example. In 1753, a noble lady, N.V., came with her two half-grown daughters and a young son to Philadelphia. On the trip down the Rhine she entrusted more than 1000 rix-dollars to a newlander who was well known to her. But when the ship, on which the lady had taken passage, started from Holland, this villain remained behind with the money; in consequence of which the lady found herself in such want and distress that her two daughters were compelled to serve. In the following spring, this poor lady sent her son to Holland to search for the embezzler of her money; but at the time of my departure, A. D. 1754, nothing had been heard of him as yet, and it was even rumored that the young gentleman had died during his voyage.

It is impossible, however, to discuss all these circumstances; besides I am sure that the newlanders and men-thieves, on coming to Germany,