Susan and Edward or, A Visit to Fulton Market

Excerpt

PREFACE.

In New-York, there are a number of Market Houses. Those called Fulton and Washington Markets are the largest. Fulton Market is at the East end of Fulton-street, near the East River, and the Washington Market is on the West end, near the North River. The first was formerly situated in Maiden-lane, on the East River side, and was called Fly Market. The latter was also in Maiden-lane, near Broadway, and went by the name of Bear Market. These are the two principal markets. The next in size is Catherine Market, in Catherine-street, East River. There is also, Franklin Market, in Old Slip; Centre Market, in Grand, near Orange-street; Clinton Market, North River, foot of Canal-street; Essex Market, Essex-street; Grand-street Market, at the Williamsburgh Ferry; and the Tomkins Market, at the junction of the Third Avenue and the Bowery.

New-York, 1831

Susan and Edward were two engaging little children. Their parents lived in Pearl-street, in the great city of New-York, where the houses stand close together like the rows of young peach or apple trees in a farmer's nursery. Some of the houses are two, some three, and others even four and five stories high, so that a skilful boy, with a good crossbow, could scarcely shoot an arrow over them. Pearl-street, in which they lived, is almost as crooked as the letter S, for it begins at the Battery, near Broadway, and ends in Broadway, opposite the Hospital.

Susan was the eldest; a modest child, not forward or bold in her manners; very fond of play, and sometimes idle; but (to her praise be it said) she was obedient to her parents.

Edward was younger; a pert, active little boy; full of talk, and very lively and engaging in his actions; sometimes very observing, and would ask quite sensible questions for a lad of five years old.

One pleasant morning in Autumn, Susan and Edward asked liberty to go with their mother to Fulton Market. Having been put in neat trim, with joyful hearts they set off, each with a small basket, to carry home some light articles, which their mother might buy. Away they went through Franklin Square, down Pearl-street to Peck-slip, then turning into Water-street, they came to Fulton-street, at the foot of which stands the market.

See here they are all going towards the market.

Fulton Market is a large building, filling up a whole square, and is erected near the East River, opposite the town of Brooklyn, and close to the ferry that crosses over to that thriving village.

Now the first object that caught the sight of the children, were the Butchers' Stalls, hung full of beef, pork, veal, mutton, all for sale for ready pay to whoever will step up to buy. The little visiters saw the men and boys busy whetting their long knives, and cutting and sawing up the meat in suitable pieces for the buyers. The noise was something like a company of mowers whetting their scythes, and their voices and motion might be compared to a hive of bees.

Their mother having got of the butcher, her supply of meat, they next visited the fish stalls.—"O mother!...