Page:WALL STREET IN HISTORY.djvu/53

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THE CHEERLESS WINTER OF 1779-1780
45

FELLING SHADE TREES IN WALL STREET, FOR FUEL.

the military line from from his earliest youth. He was living at the time in the elegant McEver's dwelling in Wall Street, corner of William, which was so metamorphosed through his untidy habits during his occupancy, as hardly to be recognized when its proprietors returned. He had many peculiarities, not least among which was the use of his thumb in place of a knife at table to spread butter upon his bread. His exploits, planned and executed during the winter, degenerated into midnight forays into New Jersey and elsewhere; his men being able to cross on the ice and return under cover of the darkness. It was impossible for the Americans to guard the entire long stretch of New Jersey shore, and some of those barbarous raids fur-