The old merchants of New York City / by Walter Barrett.

OF NEW YORK10 CITY.

CHAPTER V.
Edward Boisseau was a bachelor. When he first
reached New York, in 1834, William B. Cozzens kept
the famous American Hotel, on the north corner of
Barclay street and Broadway. So long as he kept
it Mr. Boisseau was his constant boarder. He never
changed. Ile was a general favorite with everybody in
the house.
In Christmas and New Year's time he was in his element. He gave something to every servant in the
house - cooks, waiters, chambermaids - to all. lHe
made no exceptions. That was not all. There was a
charm in the way he gave tlhose presents. He gave
them because his heart was good. He anxiously desired
to make every one happy. He did not throw a twentyfive cent coin at the chambermaid's head as though she
was a different race, and say, " There, girl, is something
for you." No, he prepared his gifts carefully. If it
was a dress for the maids he folded it up carefully long
before Christmas, and marked thIe name of the servant
upon it for whom it was intended. Some had knives,
others razors, books, and whatever he thought would be
most useful to the party he intended to benefit.
When W. B. Cozzens moved up to West Point, Mr.
Boisseau took rooms in the building at the south cor