by
Claude J. Peck, Jr

Delivered to The Chicago Literary Club
April 3, 2000

In an Amsterdam courtyard of the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company stands a striking bronze statue of Peter Stuyvesant. With an upturned chin, his weight balancing easily on his good left leg and his wooden right leg, he is gazing at the second floor meeting room of the group of nineteen. His look combines complete self-confidence and almost defiance. It appears as if he were condemning the commissioners for their failure to provide him the military support that he had requested in 1664 to defend New Amsterdam from the British fleet.

This unique image of Peter Stuyvesant encouraged my Dutch wife and me to spend time in the Netherlands Antilles on the island of St. Martin, which is part Dutch, part French. Here we climbed the hill above the Spanish fort where Stuyvesant's leg was struck and crushed by a cannonball.

Another factor leading to this paper was my awareness since childhood that I was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant. Later, based on my wife's in depth genealogical research we learned that his sister Anna Stuyvesant Bayard was also an ancestor of mine.

My wife Annette Jeanne Henriette Biemond Peck is a native of Amsterdam, a city we have visited often. We have also journeyed to Wolvega in Friesland where a statue of the most famous son of this community stands with his artificial right leg opposite City Hall.

As a major in American History at Yale I had spent a year as a student of Professor of English Stanley Williams. He was the author of a biography of Washington Irving and a co-author of "The American Mind", along with Ralph Gabriel, Professor of American History at Yale and Harry Warfel, Professor of English at University of Maryland.

Thus a variety of influences led me to write this paper on Peter Stuyvesant, whose life as Director General of New Netherlands was popularized by Washington Irving's Knickerbocker's History of New York, published December 6, St. Nicholas Day, 1809. Irving's purpose as he explained was "to embody the traditions of the city in an amusing form; to illustrate its local humors, customs and peculiarities; to clothe home scenes and places with whimsical associations so seldom met with in our new country, but which live like charms and spells about the cities of the old world."

The book was later called "the first great work of imaginative literature in the American Republic." Sir Walter Scott was the first transatlantic author to bear witness to the merit of Knickerbocker. In 1813 he wrote Henry Brevoort, a New York book dealer, thanking him "for the uncommon degree of entertainment which I have received from the most excellently jocose history of New York." One hundred fifty years later, in the Preface to a 1959 biography Peter Stuyvesant and his New York by Henry Kessler and Eugene Rachlis they write in part as follows: "The Dutch New York that Irving created, peopled with lazy burghers peacefully smoking their pipes as they tolerantly regarded the energetic antics of Peter the Headstrong has become the Dutch New York most people know."

"The serious historians of the late nineteenth century resented it. It was too late. Irving's mythical author, Diedrich Knickerbocker had already become a synonym for the native New Yorker"

In this paper I have freely drawn from Irving's imaginative book and have used quotations from it. But I have also tried to integrate information from several history books of a serious nature as well as include observations made in our travels in St. Martin and in the Netherlands as well as in New Amsterdam, now known as New York or the Big Apple.

The delightful musical comedy Knickerbocker Holiday by Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson and starring Walter Huston as Peter Stuyvesant was another source of inspiration. The lovely "September Song" has long been a favorite of mine, and has been recorded by many singers - male and female. However, historians question both the concept of Peter Stuyvesant as Irving's amusingly stubborn tyrant, as well as that of Peter in the musical as a thoroughly lovable character with a geriatric problem amidst pretty Dutch maidens.

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Peter Stuyvesant was born in 1611 or 12 (date not certain), the son of a minister the Rev. Balthazar Joannis Stuyvesant, of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Friesian village of Peperga. He had one sister, Anna, born in 1613, who in 1638 married Samuel Bayard in the Huguenot Church in Amsterdam.

Peter was educated at Franeker University in languages and philosophy in 1629 and 30. The Dutch West India Company then employed him as a clerk in 1635 in Brazil in two locations. In 1639 he was transferred to the island of Curacao, north of Venezuela, where in 1642 he was promoted to Director. While there he was successful in preventing a Spanish takeover of this island, which even in present times still has some connections with the Dutch government.

Early in 1644, at the orders of the Dutch West India Company, he assembled in Curacao a fleet of 13 ships with about 900 men aboard resolved "to attack and possibly reduce the Island of St. Martin nearly 500 miles distant in the northern Caribbean." The Dutch had developed tobacco plantations as well as a thriving salt business on this island in 1631. Two years later they fought for a week before surrender to a Spanish fleet of 53 ships, and over 1,000 foot soldiers. So it was eleven years later in 1644 that Peter's fleet landed in St. Martin at Cay Bay. They attacked the Spanish fort from land. It was his first offensive military campaign and almost his last.

It was at this battle that Stuyvesant was struck in the right leg by a Spanish cannon ball. He had to be carried back to his ship where the crushed lower leg was amputated with no anesthesia. Eventually he had installed a wooden leg, which he embellished with silver medallions and often was referred to as Silver leg. Historical record has suggested that it was extremely rare in those days that a person would survive an amputation, particularly when performed in the tropics. Death following amputation was considered almost inevitable.

The Dutch did not succeed in recapturing this productive salt island at this time. The soldiers were reluctant to take the offensive with a crippled leader. Stuyvesant wrote later in a report to his employers of the West India Company: "the attack on St. Martin did not succeed as well as I had hoped, no small impediment having been the loss of my right leg." Was this euphemistic report an example of his understatement of an unpleasant fact, or simply an expression of his wry sense of humor?

Peter came back to the Netherlands for medical treatment after the 1644 amputation and moved in with his sister Anna Bayard in Swaenswijck. Judith Bayard, an older sister of Anna's husband Samuel, lived with them and became the nurse of Peter. He fell in love with her, and they were married on August 13, 1645 in the French speaking Huguenot Church of her hometown of Breda. Judith was 37 and Peter was 34. Judith is described as a woman of beauty who dressed herself in French finery. She spoke French and Dutch, and acquired good use of English. She had a sweet voice and a rare taste for music. She was known for her firm character and cultural refinement.

On February 26, 1646 the Board of 19 of the Dutch West India Company in Amsterdam appointed Peter Stuyvesant the new Director General of New Netherlands and the Governor of the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. His salary was established at 3000 Dutch florins per annum. This appointment was further endorsed by the States General of the United Netherlands in The Hague on July 28, that same year.

In December 1646 Peter and his wife set sail for his new job first stopping at Curacao from whence they sailed to New Amsterdam, arriving there on May 27, 1647. Of particular interest in this time of instant communication and rapid transportation are the dates beginning with the appointment of Stuyvesant, approval by the Dutch government, departure for the job, and final arrival in New Amsterdam, some 15 months after his appointment.

It was less than 40 years earlier in 1609 that the Dutch East India Company employed Henry Hudson in the vessel "Half Moon" - "to seek a Northwest Passage to China". The vessel was less than 60 feet long and about 16 feet wide at its greatest breadth. It carried a crew of 18 half-Dutch and half-English. The Half Moon stopped at the Faeroe Islands for fresh water, Nova Scotia, the mouth of the Penobscot River in Maine for repairs and a new foremast. Then they passed by Cape Cod and after a few days away from shore they reached Chesapeake Bay. From there they headed north until they found "a very agreeable situation within two prominent hills in the midst of which flowed a very great river." The Half Moon had reached a point just south of Sandy Hook. After a few days there, trading with the Indians, Hudson and his crew sailed forth to explore the river that emptied, into the bay. It was called the Monheagan, and they thought that it would turn out to be the much looked for "passage to China". Henry Hudson was the first European to explore this part of the world, later administered for 18 years by Peter Stuyvesant.

They sailed about 100 miles up this river, (now called Hudson) until it became more shallow and confined, and the current more rapid with perfectly fresh water. The ship was in danger of running aground. The Half Moon had reached here the site of Albany. They decided that there was little chance of getting to China in this direction. According to Washington Irving the ship carried "an ample supply of gin and sauerkraut and every man was allowed to sleep quiet at his post unless the wind blew".

The Half Moon then sailed down the river, and returned to Holland after first stopping at Plymouth, England. The Dutch gave them an enthusiastic welcome and it was decided that the Great River Mohegan should then be called Hudson River after its explorer.

Irving tells his version of what happened 15 years later in 1626 under the leadership of Peter Minuit:

"A crew of Dutch sailed from Amsterdam on the ship "Goede Vrouw", or good woman named after the wife of the President of the West India Company. She was allowed by everybody (except her husband), to be a sweet tempered lady when not in liquor."

"Like the beauteous model declared to be the greatest belle in Amsterdam, the ship was full in the bows, with a pair of enormous catheads, a copper bottom and withal a most prodigious poop."

They landed on what is now Manhattan and negotiated with the Indians living there to buy "just so much land as a man could cover with his nether garments". Mijnheer Ten Broeck's breeches were used to measure the land to be bought.

"The simple savages whose idea of man's nether garments had never expanded beyond the dimensions of a breech clout, stared with astonishment and dismay as they beheld this bulbous bottomed burgher peeled like an onion and breeches after breeches spread forth over the land until they covered the actual site of this venerable city."

Manhattan was bought for 60 guilders and "Mijnheer Ten Breeches for his services was elevated to the office of land-measurer."

"The armorial device for New Amsterdam was a beaver rampant in a field of orange as indicative of the amphibious origin and patient persevering habits of the new Amsterdamers".

Then Irving continues:

"In 1629 Wouter Van Twiller was appointed by the West India Company to Governor of New Netherlands and served incompetently for five years. He was thoroughly unsuitable for the job. He could never make up his mind on a subject. He was known as "the Doubter". Now Irving becomes philosophical when he states: "There are two opposite ways by which men make a figure in the world: one by talking faster than they think and the other by holding their tongues and not thinking at all".

Following Van Twiller in 1634 as Governor was Wilhelmus Kieft, named by Irving "The Testy" and "worth his weight in straw". He was prone to be carried away by the last piece of advice blown into his ear.... by endeavoring to do everything, Kieft in sober truth did nothing".

The Yankees in New England especially in Connecticut hungered after New Amsterdam and its fur trade. Kieft's proclamations of protest failed to deter their gradual efforts to move. In fact all Kieft's efforts were utterly useless.

Among his other unfortunate decisions, Kieft converted the currency to wampum, "which consisted of nothing more nor less than strings of beads, wrought of clams, periwinkles and other shellfish. This the Indians accepted, but among the honest burghers it had no more intrinsic value, than those rags which form the paper money of modern days."

"Yankee traders from New England then came to New Amsterdam and using wampum of oyster shells bought up all the silver and gold, Dutch herring, cheese and thus manifested their skill in bargaining the New Amsterdamers out of the oyster and leaving the shell."

Kieft was unsuccessful in all his leadership efforts to subdue the Swedes along the Delaware River, in restraining the United Colonies of New England from continuing to press their objective "the subjugation of New Netherlands". His ineptness and ineffectiveness brought about the decision in Amsterdam to replace him by Peter Stuyvesant in 1646.

The appointment as Director General of New Netherlands was a fitting end to Stuyvesant's frustrating adventure in the West Indies. It was an accolade from his company, which recognized not only his sacrifice but also his ability. So Stuyvesant and his wife Judith arrived in New Amsterdam in May 1647 with the responsibility of trying to overcome and correct the tragic mal-administration of his two unfortunate predecessors Wouter Van Twiller and William Kieft.

As Washington Irving described Peter Stuyvesant: "To say merely that he was a hero would be doing him great injustice; he was in truth a combination of heroes. He possessed a sovereign contempt for the sovereign people and an iron aspect, to make the very bowels of his adversaries quake with terror and dismay."

Irving continues: "All of this martial excellency of appearance was inexpressibly heightened by an accidental advantage. This was nothing less than a wooden leg which was the only prize he had gained in bravely fighting the battles of his country but of which he was so proud that he was often heard to declare he valued it more than all his other limbs put together. He had it gallantly enchased with silver devices which caused it to be related in divers histories that he wore a silver leg"

Irving writes:

"He made but very few laws, but took care that those few were rigidly and impartially enforced. He was a man, or rather a governor of such uncommon activity and decision of mind that he never sought nor accepted the advice of others, depending bravely upon his single head"

"In a word he possessed that quality in a statesman called perseverance by the polite, but nicknamed obstinacy by the vulgar - a wonderful stave for official blunders, since he who perseveres in error without flinching gets the credit of boldness and consistency. This much is certain that a ruler who follows his own will pleases himself, while he who seeks to satisfy the wishes and whims of others runs great risk of pleasing nobody." Gallup polls were not an integral part of the political scene in the 17th Century.

"Thus the good people of New Netherlands, struck by his independent will, universally called him 'Hard-Koppige Piet' or 'Peter the Headstrong'."

"Peter Stuyvesant was a tough, sturdy, valiant, weather-beaten, mettlesome, obstinate, leather-sided, lion-hearted, generous spirited, old governor,"

"Governor Stuyvesant succeeded to the chair of state at a turbulent period. when foes threatened from without; when anarchy reigned within; when the city of New Amsterdam though fortified by flagstaffs, trumpeters and windmills, seemed like some fair Lady of easy virtue to lie open to attack and ready to yield to the first invader,"

At this time Peter took a number of steps:

He established the bar-closing hour at nine in the evening. He imposed strong penalties for knife fighting and Sunday drinking. He prohibited the sale of liquor to Indians. He established for that crime a fine of 500 guilders, and a year later he added corporal punishment to the penalty. Stuyvesant sought to improve the town's appearance. He established regulations on proper house building that included a clause against pigpens and privies on streets and highways. He installed fire wardens and a law prohibiting chimneys built of wood.

He imposed his first tax - where it hurt - on imported wines and liquors. The income would be used to repair the fort, complete the church, and protect the riverbanks.

Most pleasing of all to the Calvinist in Stuyvesant was his order to increase from one to two the number of sermons preached on Sunday with a "request and command" for all to attend, as well as a prohibition of all business and social activity during the Sabbath.

All duties of government should be paid in gold and silver, and wampum should no longer be legal tender.

Irving takes us now to a scene where "Peter interviewed Antony Van Corlaer, the trumpeter champion and garrison of this great city. Peter asked him 'How didst thou acquire this paramount honor and dignity?' Antony replied 'Like many a great man before me simply by sounding my own trumpet.' Peter then hired him and retained him about his person as his chief favorite confidential envoy and trusty squire, instructed to play to delight the governor at repasts as did the minstrels of yore.."

In the spring of 1651 Stuyvesant purchased from the Dutch West India Company land which he called the Great Bowery (or farm). This property ran from the East River to the present Fourth Avenue and Broadway in an area bounded by Fifth Street on the south and Seventeenth Street on the north, roughly the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He paid 6400 guilders for the land. He had a house there, a barn, six cows, two horses and two young Negroes. It was clear that Stuyvesant meant to remain on Manhattan for some time.

For many years New Amsterdam faced danger of invasion from members of the "Yankee League" made up of leaders from settlers in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Peter Stuyvesant sent commissioners to Hartford with little effect. He himself journeyed to Hartford and worked out an agreement with compromises by both sides in ceding land grants to the Yankee League along the Connecticut River and eastern Long Island. While the Yankees ceded rights to the Dutch for their claims in and around New Amsterdam and all along the Hudson River up to Albany.

And yet New Amsterdam was repeatedly accused by the Yankee League of providing guns and ammunition to the Indians to "surprise and massacre the Yankee settlements", a charge denied by Peter Stuyvesant.

Another challenge to the land claimed by New Netherlands came from the Swedes who had constructed several forts on the Delaware River, Forts Casimir, Helsenberg and Christina. These forts were established as trading posts to compete directly with New Netherlands for the profitable beaver, otter and mink in the Delaware Valley.

Irving spins his yarn again when he writes:

"Therefore Peter Stuyvesant decided under his personal leadership, to drive the Swedish forces from their forts on the Delaware River. Local enlistments from New Amsterdam were modest, so Peter recruited forces all up the Hudson River Valley. He was looked upon as a prodigy of valor; his wooden leg, that trophy of his martial endeavors, was regarded with reverence and admiration."

Peter Stuyvesant then set out to fight the Swedes on the Delaware River. He had seven ships and a fighting force of between six and seven hundred men for the invasion of New Sweden. At Fort Casimir, the smallest fort, he demanded an instant surrender, which was granted by the Swede Sven Skytler.

Then the Dutch force sailed for the largest Swedish Fort Christina, headed by Governor Risingh, who responded to the surrender demand as follows "Peter Stuyvesant and his summons might go to the devil."

At this point Irving writes:

"First the Dutch had dinner, and then prepared to fight. Then came on the intrepid Peter. Almost breathing forth volumes of smoke - so fierce was the fire that raged within his bosom.

"Then came waddling on the sturdy chivalry of the Hudson: There were the Van Wijcks and the Van Dijcks and the Ten Eycks; the Van Nesses, the Van Tassels, the Van Grolls, the Van Hoesseses, the Van Giesons and the Van Blarecoms; the Van Warts, the Van Winkles, the Van Dams; the Van pelts, the Van Pippers and the Van Hornes, the Van Hooks, the Van Bunschotens, the Van Gelders, the Van Arsdales and the Van Bummels. The Van Der Voorts, the Van Der Lijns, the Van Der Pools, the Van Der Spiegels."

Irving continues:

"And now commenced the horrid din, the desperate struggle, the maddening ferocity, the frantic desperation, the confusion of war as the opponents commingled, panted and blowed."

Stuyvesant finally asked Risingh for total surrender within 24 hours or to face an all-out attack. He asked the Swedes either to evacuate the country, or remain under Dutch rule. Stuyvesant had just learned from an Indian messenger that, in his absence, Indians of several tribes had attacked Manhattan, houses were burned, men were killed, and women and children were captured. The unprotected city was in a panic and desperately needed Stuyvesant and his soldiers.

The Swedish commander recognized the futility of their position and surrendered on September 24, 1655. The dream of New Sweden had ended, its lands recovered by the Dutch. This was speedily followed by the entire subjugation of the province.

"Peter, though a man terrible in battle, in the hour of victory was endued with a spirit generous, merciful and humane. He put no man to death, permitted no ravages to be perpetrated on the property of the vanquished."

And as Irving continues: "Peter Stuyvesant had one of his limbs terribly fractured in the act of storming the fortress, but as it was fortunately his wooden leg, the wound was promptly and effectually healed."

"Thus was this perilous enterprise gloriously terminated with the loss of only two men: Wolfert Van Horn, a tall spare man, who was knocked overboard by the boom of a sloop and fat Brom Bummel carried off by indigestion."

When the Dutch forces returned to New Amsterdam they speedily dispatched the Indians and soon recovered the captured women and children after paying ransom. The burghers honored their leader with the name of "Peter the Great"

All was not sweetness and light, however, as Peter was criticized for his autocratic governing of the province. Peter's response to this criticism by a cobbler: "If I ever catch thee or any of thy tribe meddling again with the affairs of government, by Saint Nicholas I'll have every mother's bastard of ye flayed alive and your hides stretched for drumheads that ye may henceforth make a noise for some purpose," as colorfully described by Irving.

In early 1664 Peter Stuyvesant journeyed to Fort Orange (now Albany) to negotiate a treaty with the Yankee League. The Dutch West India Company had assured him that a British fleet was headed to Boston and not to New Amsterdam. This information was false, and in August 1664 a small British force arrived at New Amsterdam.

This move by the British was based on their claim that New Netherlands was a continuity of the territory taken possession of for the British crown by the Pilgrims when they landed on Plymouth Rock as fugitives from British religious oppression.

This was stated as a donation by Charles II to his brother the Duke of York, who was to be put in complete possession of the premises. As Irving writes: "None but great sovereigns have a right to give away what does not belong to them."

In August 1664 the British fleet under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls arrived with four ships and anchored at Gravesend just below the Narrows sealing off New Amsterdam's harbor. Stuyvesant estimated the English fighting force at between 1700 and 2000 men on four frigates. To this could soon be added foot soldiers and cavalry from New England.

Nicolls demanded surrender. At the end of "twice twenty four hours" he would bring his ships closer to Manhattan. He declared the right and title of his British Majesty to the province, where he affirmed the Dutch to be mere interlopers; and demanding that the town, forts etc. should be rendered into his Majesty's obedience and protection; promising at the same time life, liberty, estate and free trade to every Dutch denizen who should readily submit to his Majesty's government.

It was a generous offer, but Peter stubbornly resisted its acceptance for three days. Finally the leaders of New Amsterdam decided that the situation was hopeless. They pointed out the British ships in the harbor, the British soldiers on land, expectation of more troops from New England, Nicolls' demand for surrender, the feeble and impotent defenses of the city, and the safety of their families. In conclusion they pleaded for an honorable and reasonable capitulation. This message was in writing and directed to Peter. It was signed by 93 of the most prominent men in the city. Peter then reluctantly signed the surrender document, which stated that the Dutch could continue their laws and customs. The major change would be the replacement of the West India Company's government represented by Stuyvesant and his Council with that of Charles the Second's government represented by Nicolls and his deputies. Not a shot was fired. Goods and property were to be left untouched, liberty of conscience was allowed for all. Religious freedom was restored. All during the 18 years of Peter Stuyvesant's leadership the Dutch Reformed Church had been the only one allowed. In a short time after the surrender the Lutherans, Episcopalians and Quakers were holding open services.

On September 8, 1664 New Amsterdam's history ended. That same afternoon Nicolls' commissioners sent the news of victory to Massachusetts. The letter was dated "from New York upon the Island of the Manhatoes."

Thus an investment of forty years by the Amsterdam Chamber had been given up without a fight.

Once Manhattan surrendered, the rest of New Netherlands was no problem to Nicolls. Fort Orange was taken and its name changed to Albany, the Duke of York's second title. Soon thereafter the Dutch on the Delaware River surrendered. That day, October 11, 1664 for the first time the Atlantic coast from Maine to the southern end of what is now Georgia was under British control.

Peter Stuyvesant immediately moved from his city house to his bowery, some two miles away. There he had built a house, barn and small chapel.

In the following spring he left for Amsterdam to present his version of the surrender to the Dutch West India Company, accompanied by his son Nicholas William. The chamber ignored Peter's defense of his decision to surrender. They never admitted to their refusal to send New Amsterdam the military support that Peter had repeatedly requested. At no time did the Chamber indicate that its own ineptness and short sightedness were in the slightest degree responsible for the defenseless, morale-shattered community of New Amsterdam. No action was ever taken by the Chamber, and the case was allowed to die in committee. Peter had been an employee for 30 years. Is this an appropriate award for loyalty?

In July 1667 Peter left Amsterdam for the last time. After stopping in England to get a license for merchandising and a pass from King Charles, he finally returned to New Amsterdam in the spring of 1668. He brought with him many fruit trees to plant on his farm. After a three-year absence he could now spend most of his time at his beloved bowery.

In this time he developed a good relationship with Governor Richard Nicolls who had taken over from him under the British flag.

During the last four years of his life he spent much time in the small chapel at the Bowery. He died and was buried there in February 1672.

It was 120 years later that this chapel was replaced by a church called St. Marks in the Bowery, which contains in one of its outer walls a plaque commemorating his death, indicating his age at time of death as 80. The truth, as later research reveals, suggests that his age at that time was 60. "Thus died Peter Stuyvesant, a valiant soldier, a loyal subject, an upright governor and an honest Dutchman", as Irving concludes.

POSTSCRIPT

While in Amsterdam between 1665 and 1667 Stuyvesant wrote a short note to the Amsterdam Chamber. In it he reemphasized the defenselessness of Manhattan in the face of English arms. How easy it would be to retake and recover it with a like if not a less number of ships and men. The Chamber took his words seriously, though Peter was unable to rejoice at this action taken after his death.

On August 9, 1673, eighteen months after Stuyvesant died, a Dutch fleet under command of Cornelis Evertsen retook the city. One man in the fort was killed, and the Dutch suffered eighteen wounded. As before, the defenders had no choice but to give up.

Captain Anthony Colve was commissioned Governor General of the reconquest. The name New Netherlands was revived for the colony, but the city was renamed New Orange, perhaps because the name New Amsterdam was associated with defeat.

It was a short reign of fifteen months for the Dutch. On February 19, 1674 the Netherlands and Great Britain signed the treaty of Westminster. In it the New Netherlands was returned to the English, but the Dutch could retain their possessions in the West Indies.

In conclusion I quote from Knickerbocker Holiday's September Song". This musical represents not only a tribute to the doughty Peter Stuyvesant, but to all older people of the world.

Perhaps in the last four years of his life in the "Bowery" with wife Judith at his side and his two sons nearby - Peter would have enjoyed listening to Kurt Weil's lovely "September Song" as he sat smoking his long clay pipe.

"Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December, but the days grow short when you reach September.

"When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame, one hasn't got time for the waiting game.

"Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few, September, November, and these few precious days I'll spend with you, These few precious days I'll spend with you."