《睡谷的傳說》THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW小說英文原版電子版

THELEGENDOFSLEEPYHOLLOW

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THELEGENDOFSLEEPYHOLLOW

byWashingtonIrving

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FoundamongthepapersofthelateDiedrechKnickerbocker.

Apleasinglandofdrowsyheaditwas,Ofdreamsthatwavebeforethehalf-shuteye;Andofgaycastlesinthecloudsthatpass,Foreverflushingroundasummersky.CastleofIndolence.

InthebosomofoneofthosespaciouscoveswhichindenttheeasternshoreoftheHudson,atthatbroadexpansionoftheriverdenominatedbytheancientDutchnavigatorstheTappanZee,andwheretheyalwaysprudentlyshortenedsailandimploredtheprotectionofSt.Nicholaswhentheycrossed,thereliesasmallmarkettownorruralport,whichbysomeiscalledGreensburgh,butwhichismoregenerallyandproperlyknownbythenameofTarryTown.Thisnamewasgiven,wearetold,informerdays,bythegoodhousewivesoftheadjacentcountry,fromtheinveteratepropensityoftheirhusbandstolingeraboutthevillagetavernonmarketdays.Bethatasitmay,Idonotvouchforthefact,butmerelyadverttoit,forthesakeofbeingpreciseandauthentic.Notfarfromthisvillage,perhapsabouttwomiles,thereisalittlevalleyorratherlapoflandamonghighhills,whichisoneofthequietestplacesinthewholeworld.Asmallbrookglidesthroughit,withjustmurmurenoughtolullonetorepose;andtheoccasionalwhistleofaquailortappingofawoodpeckerisalmosttheonlysoundthateverbreaksinupontheuniformtranquillity.

Irecollectthat,whenastripling,myfirstexploitinsquirrel-shootingwasinagroveoftallwalnut-treesthatshadesonesideofthevalley.Ihadwanderedintoitatnoontime,whenallnatureispeculiarlyquiet,andwasstartledbytheroarofmyowngun,asitbroketheSabbathstillnessaroundandwasprolongedandreverberatedbytheangryechoes.IfeverIshouldwishforaretreatwhitherImightstealfromtheworldanditsdistractions,anddreamquietlyawaytheremnantofatroubledlife,Iknowofnonemorepromisingthanthislittlevalley.

Fromthelistlessreposeoftheplace,andthepeculiarcharacterofitsinhabitants,whoaredescendantsfromtheoriginalDutchsettlers,thissequesteredglenhaslongbeenknownbythenameofSLEEPYHOLLOW,anditsrusticladsarecalledtheSleepyHollowBoysthroughoutalltheneighboringcountry.Adrowsy,dreamyinfluenceseems

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tohangovertheland,andtopervadetheveryatmosphere.SomesaythattheplacewasbewitchedbyaHighGermandoctor,duringtheearlydaysofthesettlement;others,thatanoldIndianchief,theprophetorwizardofhistribe,heldhispowwowstherebeforethecountrywasdiscoveredbyMasterHendrickHudson.Certainitis,theplacestillcontinuesundertheswayofsomewitchingpower,thatholdsaspelloverthemindsofthegoodpeople,causingthemtowalkinacontinualreverie.Theyaregiventoallkindsofmarvelousbeliefs;aresubjecttotrancesandvisions,andfrequentlyseestrangesights,andhearmusicandvoicesintheair.Thewholeneighborhoodaboundswithlocaltales,hauntedspots,andtwilightsuperstitions;starsshootandmeteorsglareofteneracrossthevalleythaninanyotherpartofthecountry,andthenightmare,withherwholeninefold,seemstomakeitthefavoritesceneofhergambols.

Thedominantspirit,however,thathauntsthisenchantedregion,andseemstobecommander-in-chiefofallthepowersoftheair,istheapparitionofafigureonhorseback,withoutahead.ItissaidbysometobetheghostofaHessiantrooper,whoseheadhadbeencarriedawaybyacannon-ball,insomenamelessbattleduringtheRevolutionaryWar,andwhoiseverandanonseenbythecountryfolkhurryingalonginthegloomofnight,asifonthewingsofthewind.Hishauntsarenotconfinedtothevalley,butextendattimestotheadjacentroads,andespeciallytothevicinityofachurchatnogreatdistance.Indeed,certainofthemostauthentichistoriansofthoseparts,whohavebeencarefulincollectingandcollatingthefloatingfactsconcerningthisspectre,allegethatthebodyofthetrooperhavingbeenburiedinthechurchyard,theghostridesforthtothesceneofbattleinnightlyquestofhishead,andthattherushingspeedwithwhichhesometimespassesalongtheHollow,likeamidnightblast,isowingtohisbeingbelated,andinahurrytogetbacktothechurchyardbeforedaybreak.

Suchisthegeneralpurportofthislegendarysuperstition,whichhasfurnishedmaterialsformanyawildstoryinthatregionofshadows;andthespectreisknownatallthecountryfiresides,bythenameoftheHeadlessHorsemanofSleepyHollow.

ItisremarkablethatthevisionarypropensityIhavementionedisnot

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confinedtothenativeinhabitantsofthevalley,butisunconsciouslyimbibedbyeveryonewhoresidesthereforatime.Howeverwideawaketheymayhavebeenbeforetheyenteredthatsleepyregion,theyaresure,inalittletime,toinhalethewitchinginfluenceoftheair,andbegintogrowimaginative,todreamdreams,andseeapparitions.

ImentionthispeacefulspotwithallpossiblelaudforitisinsuchlittleretiredDutchvalleys,foundhereandthereembosomedinthegreatStateofNewYork,thatpopulation,manners,andcustomsremainfixed,whilethegreattorrentofmigrationandimprovement,whichismakingsuchincessantchangesinotherpartsofthisrestlesscountry,sweepsbythemunobserved.Theyarelikethoselittlenooksofstillwater,whichborderarapidstream,wherewemayseethestrawandbubbleridingquietlyatanchor,orslowlyrevolvingintheirmimicharbor,undisturbedbytherushofthepassingcurrent.Thoughmanyyearshaveelapsedsince

ItrodthedrowsyshadesofSleepyHollow,yetIquestionwhetherIshouldnotstillfindthesametreesandthesamefamiliesvegetatinginits

shelteredbosom.

Inthisby-placeofnaturethereabode,inaremoteperiodofAmericanhistory,thatistosay,somethirtyyearssince,aworthywightofthenameofIchabodCrane,whosojourned,or,asheexpressedit,"tarried,"inSleepyHollow,forthepurposeofinstructingthechildrenofthevicinity.HewasanativeofConnecticut,aStatewhichsuppliestheUnionwithpioneersforthemindaswellasfortheforest,andsendsforthyearlyitslegionsoffrontierwoodmenandcountryschoolmasters.ThecognomenofCranewasnotinapplicabletohisperson.Hewastall,butexceedinglylank,withnarrowshoulders,longarmsandlegs,handsthatdangledamileoutofhissleeves,feetthatmighthaveservedforshovels,andhiswholeframemostlooselyhungtogether.Hisheadwassmall,andflatattop,withhugeears,largegreenglassyeyes,andalongsnipenose,sothatitlookedlikeaweather-cockpercheduponhisspindlenecktotellwhichwaythewindblew.Toseehimstridingalongtheprofileofahillonawindyday,withhisclothesbaggingandflutteringabouthim,onemighthavemistakenhimforthegeniusoffaminedescendingupontheearth,orsomescarecrowelopedfromacornfield.

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Hisschoolhousewasalowbuildingofonelargeroom,rudelyconstructedoflogs;thewindowspartlyglazed,andpartlypatchedwithleavesofoldcopybooks.Itwasmostingeniouslysecuredatvacanthours,bya*withetwistedinthehandleofthedoor,andstakessetagainstthewindowshutters;sothatthoughathiefmightgetinwithperfectease,hewouldfindsomeembarrassmentingettingout,--anideamostprobablyborrowedbythearchitect,YostVanHouten,fromthemysteryofaneelpot.Theschoolhousestoodinaratherlonelybutpleasantsituation,justatthefootofawoodyhill,withabrookrunningcloseby,andaformidablebirch-treegrowingatoneendofit.Fromhencethelowmurmurofhispupils'voices,conningovertheirlessons,mightbeheardinadrowsysummer'sday,likethehumofabeehive;interruptednowandthenbytheauthoritativevoiceofthemaster,inthetoneofmenaceorcommand,or,peradventure,bytheappallingsoundofthebirch,asheurgedsometardyloitereralongtheflowerypathofknowledge.Truthtosay,hewasaconscientiousman,andeverboreinmindthegoldenmaxim,"Sparetherodandspoilthechild."IchabodCrane'sscholarscertainlywerenotspoiled.

Iwouldnothaveitimagined,however,thathewasoneofthosecruelpotentatesoftheschoolwhojoyinthesmartoftheirsubjects;onthecontrary,headministeredjusticewithdiscriminationratherthanseverity;takingtheburdenoffthebacksoftheweak,andlayingitonthoseofthestrong.Yourmerepunystripling,thatwincedattheleastflourishoftherod,waspassedbywithindulgence;buttheclaimsofjusticeweresatisfiedbyinflictingadoubleportiononsomelittletoughwrongheaded,broad-skirtedDutchurchin,whosulkedandswelledandgrewdoggedandsullenbeneaththebirch.Allthishecalled"doinghisdutybytheirparents;"andheneverinflictedachastisementwithoutfollowingitbytheassurance,soconsolatorytothesmartingurchin,that"hewouldrememberitandthankhimforitthelongestdayhehadtolive."

Whenschoolhourswereover,hewaseventhecompanionandplaymateofthelargerboys;andonholidayafternoonswouldconvoysomeofthesmalleroneshome,whohappenedtohaveprettysisters,orgoodhousewivesformothers,notedforthecomfortsofthecupboard.

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Indeed,itbehoovedhimtokeepongoodtermswithhispupils.Therevenuearisingfromhisschoolwassmall,andwouldhavebeenscarcelysufficienttofurnishhimwithdailybread,forhewasahugefeeder,and,thoughlank,hadthedilatingpowersofananaconda;buttohelpouthismaintenance,hewas,accordingtocountrycustominthoseparts,boardedandlodgedatthehousesofthefarmerswhosechildrenheinstructed.Withthesehelivedsuccessivelyaweekatatime,thusgoingtheroundsoftheneighborhood,withallhisworldlyeffectstiedupinacottonhandkerchief.

Thatallthismightnotbetooonerousonthepursesofhisrusticpatrons,whoareapttoconsideredthecostsofschoolingagrievousburden,andschoolmastersasmeredroneshehadvariouswaysofrenderinghimselfbothusefulandagreeable.Heassistedthefarmersoccasionallyinthelighterlaborsoftheirfarms,helpedtomakehay,mendedthefences,tookthehorsestowater,drovethecowsfrompasture,andcutwoodforthewinterfire.Helaidaside,too,allthedominantdignityandabsoluteswaywithwhichhelordeditinhislittleempire,theschool,andbecamewonderfullygentleandingratiating.Hefoundfavorintheeyesofthemothersbypettingthechildren,particularlytheyoungest;andlikethelionbold,whichwhilomsomagnanimouslythelambdidhold,hewouldsitwithachildononeknee,androckacradlewithhisfootforwholehourstogether.

Inadditiontohisothervocations,hewasthesinging-masteroftheneighborhood,andpickedupmanybrightshillingsbyinstructingtheyoungfolksinpsalmody.ItwasamatterofnolittlevanitytohimonSundays,totakehisstationinfrontofthechurchgallery,withabandofchosensingers;where,inhisownmind,hecompletelycarriedawaythepalmfromtheparson.Certainitis,hisvoiceresoundedfarabovealltherestofthecongregation;andtherearepeculiarquaversstilltobeheardinthatchurch,andwhichmayevenbeheardhalfamileoff,quitetotheoppositesideofthemill-pond,onastillSundaymorning,whicharesaidtobelegitimatelydescendedfromthenoseofIchabodCrane.Thus,bydiverslittlemakeshifts,inthatingeniouswaywhichiscommonlydenominated"byhookandbycrook,"theworthypedagoguegotontolerablyenough,andwasthought,byallwhounderstoodnothingofthe

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laborofheadwork,tohaveawonderfullyeasylifeofit.

Theschoolmasterisgenerallyamanofsomeimportanceinthefemalecircleofaruralneighborhood;beingconsideredakindofidle,gentlemanlikepersonage,ofvastlysuperiortasteandaccomplishmentstotheroughcountryswains,and,indeed,inferiorinlearningonlytotheparson.Hisappearance,therefore,isapttooccasionsomelittlestiratthetea-tableofafarmhouse,andtheadditionofasupernumerarydishofcakesorsweetmeats,or,peradventure,theparadeofasilverteapot.Ourmanofletters,therefore,waspeculiarlyhappyinthesmilesofallthecountrydamsels.Howhewouldfigureamongtheminthechurchyard,betweenservicesonSundays;gatheringgrapesforthemfromthewildvinesthatoverranthesurroundingtrees;recitingfortheiramusementalltheepitaphsonthetombstones;orsauntering,withawholebevyofthem,

alongthebanksoftheadjacentmill-pond;whilethemorebashfulcountrybumpkinshungsheepishlyback,envyinghissuperioreleganceand

address.

Fromhishalf-itinerantlife,also,hewasakindoftravelinggazette,carryingthewholebudgetoflocalgossipfromhousetohouse,sothathisappearancewasalwaysgreetedwithsatisfaction.Hewas,moreover,esteemedbythewomenasamanofgreaterudition,forhehadreadseveralbooksquitethrough,andwasaperfectmasterofCottonMather's"HistoryofNewEnglandWitchcraft,"inwhich,bytheway,hemostfirmlyandpotentlybelieved.

Hewas,infact,anoddmixtureofsmallshrewdnessandsimplecredulity.Hisappetiteforthemarvelous,andhispowersofdigestingit,wereequallyextraordinary;andbothhadbeenincreasedbyhisresidenceinthisspell-boundregion.Notalewastoogrossormonstrousforhiscapaciousswallow.Itwasoftenhisdelight,afterhisschoolwasdismissedintheafternoon,tostretchhimselfontherichbedofcloverborderingthelittlebrookthatwhimperedbyhisschool-house,andthereconoveroldMather'sdirefultales,untilthegatheringduskofeveningmadetheprintedpageameremistbeforehiseyes.Then,ashewendedhiswaybyswampandstreamandawfulwoodland,tothefarmhousewherehehappenedtobequartered,everysoundofnature,atthatwitchinghour,flutteredhis

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excitedimagination,--themoanofthewhip-poor-willfromthehillside,thebodingcryofthetreetoad,thatharbingerofstorm,thedrearyhootingofthescreechowl,tothesuddenrustlinginthethicketofbirdsfrightenedfromtheirroost.Thefireflies,too,whichsparkledmostvividlyinthedarkestplaces,nowandthenstartledhim,asoneofuncommonbrightnesswouldstreamacrosshispath;andif,bychance,ahugeblockheadofabeetlecamewinginghisblunderingflightagainsthim,thepoorvarletwasreadytogiveuptheghost,withtheideathathewasstruckwithawitch'stoken.Hisonlyresourceonsuchoccasions,eithertodrownthoughtordriveawayevilspirits,wastosingpsalmtunesandthegoodpeopleofSleepyHollow,astheysatbytheirdoorsofanevening,wereoftenfilledwithaweathearinghisnasalmelody,"inlinkedsweetnesslongdrawnout,"floatingfromthedistanthill,oralongtheduskyroad.

AnotherofhissourcesoffearfulpleasurewastopasslongwintereveningswiththeoldDutchwives,astheysatspinningbythefire,witharowofapplesroastingandsplutteringalongthehearth,andlistentotheirmarvelloustalesofghostsandgoblins,andhauntedfields,andhauntedbrooks,andhauntedbridges,andhauntedhouses,andparticularlyoftheheadlesshorseman,orGallopingHessianoftheHollow,astheysometimescalledhim.Hewoulddelightthemequallybyhisanecdotesofwitchcraft,andofthedirefulomensandportentoussightsandsoundsintheair,whichprevailedintheearliertimesofConnecticut;andwouldfrightenthemwoefullywithspeculationsuponcometsandshootingstars;andwiththealarmingfactthattheworlddidabsolutelyturnround,andthattheywerehalfthetimetopsy-turvy!

Butiftherewasapleasureinallthis,whilesnuglycuddlinginthechimneycornerofachamberthatwasallofaruddyglowfromthecracklingwoodfire,andwhere,ofcourse,nospectredaredtoshowitsface,itwasdearlypurchasedbytheterrorsofhissubsequentwalkhomewards.Whatfearfulshapesandshadowsbesethispath,amidstthedimandghastlyglareofasnowynight!Withwhatwistfullookdidheeyeeverytremblingrayoflightstreamingacrossthewastefieldsfromsomedistantwindow!Howoftenwasheappalledbysomeshrubcoveredwithsnow,which,likeasheetedspectre,besethisverypath!Howoftendidhe

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shrinkwithcurdlingaweatthesoundofhisownstepsonthefrostycrustbeneathhisfeet;anddreadtolookoverhisshoulder,lestheshouldbeholdsomeuncouthbeingtrampingclosebehindhim!andhowoftenwashethrownintocompletedismaybysomerushingblast,howlingamongthetrees,intheideathatitwastheGallopingHessianononeofhisnightlyscourings!

Allthese,however,weremereterrorsofthenight,phantomsofthemindthatwalkindarkness;andthoughhehadseenmanyspectresinhistime,andbeenmorethanoncebesetbySatanindiversshapes,inhislonelyperambulations,yetdaylightputanendtoalltheseevils;andhewouldhavepassedapleasantlifeofit,indespiteoftheDevilandallhisworks,ifhispathhadnotbeencrossedbyabeingthatcausesmoreperplexitytomortalmanthanghosts,goblins,andthewholeraceofwitchesputtogether,andthatwas--awoman.

Amongthemusicaldiscipleswhoassembled,oneeveningineachweek,toreceivehisinstructionsinpsalmody,wasKatrinaVanTassel,thedaughterandonlychildofasubstantialDutchfarmer.Shewasaboominglassoffresheighteen;plumpasapartridge;ripeandmeltingandrosy-cheekedasoneofherfather'speaches,anduniversallyfamed,notmerelyforherbeauty,buthervastexpectations.Shewaswithalalittleofacoquette,asmightbeperceivedeveninherdress,whichwasamixtureofancientandmodernfashions,asmostsuitedtosetofhercharms.Sheworetheornamentsofpureyellowgold,whichhergreat-great-grandmotherhadbroughtoverfromSaardam;thetemptingstomacheroftheoldentime,andwithalaprovokinglyshortpetticoat,todisplaytheprettiestfootandankleinthecountryround.

IchahodCranehadasoftandfoolishhearttowardsthesex;anditisnottobewonderedat,thatsotemptingamorselsoonfoundfavorinhiseyes,moreespeciallyafterhehadvisitedherinherpaternalmansion.OldBaltusVanTasselwasaperfectpictureofathriving,contented,liberal-heartedfarmer.Heseldom,itistrue,senteitherhiseyesorhisthoughtsbeyondtheboundariesofhisownfarm;butwithinthoseeverythingwassnug,happyandwell-conditioned.Hewassatisfiedwithhiswealth,butnotproudofit;andpiquedhimselfupontheheartyabundance,ratherthan

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thestyleinwhichhelived.HisstrongholdwassituatedonthebanksoftheHudson,inoneofthosegreen,sheltered,fertilenooksinwhichtheDutchfarmersaresofondofnestling.Agreatelmtreespreaditsbroadbranchesoverit,atthefootofwhichbubbledupaspringofthesoftestandsweetestwater,inalittlewellformedofabarrel;andthenstolesparklingawaythroughthegrass,toaneighboringbrook,thatbabbledalongamongaldersanddwarfwillows.Hardbythefarmhousewasavastbarn,thatmighthaveservedforachurch;everywindowandcreviceofwhichseemedburstingforthwiththetreasuresofthefarm;theflailwasbusilyresoundingwithinitfrommorningtonight;swallowsandmartinsskimmedtwitteringabouttheeaves;anrowsofpigeons,somewithoneeyeturnedup,asifwatchingtheweather,somewiththeirheadsundertheirwingsorburiedintheirbosoms,andothersswelling,andcooing,andbowingabouttheirdames,wereenjoyingthesunshineontheroof.Sleekunwieldyporkersweregruntinginthereposeandabundanceoftheirpens,fromwhencesalliedforth,nowandthen,troopsofsuckingpigs,asiftosnufftheair.Astatelysquadronofsnowygeesewereridinginanadjoiningpond,convoyingwholefleetsofducks;regimentsofturkeysweregobblingthroughthefarmyard,andGuineafowlsfrettingaboutit,likeill-temperedhousewives,withtheirpeevish,discontentedcry.Beforethebarndoorstruttedthegallantcock,thatpatternofahusband,awarriorandafinegentleman,clappinghisburnishedwingsandcrowingintheprideandgladnessofhisheart,--sometimestearinguptheearthwithhisfeet,andthengenerouslycallinghisever-hungryfamilyofwivesandchildrentoenjoytherichmorselwhichhehaddiscovered.

Thepedagogue'smouthwateredashelookeduponthissumptuouspromiseofluxuriouswinterfare.Inhisdevouringmind'seye,hepicturedtohimselfeveryroasting-pigrunningaboutwithapuddinginhisbelly,andanappleinhismouth;thepigeonsweresnuglyputtobedinacomfortablepie,andtuckedinwithacoverletofcrust;thegeesewereswimmingintheirowngravy;andtheduckspairingcosilyindishes,likesnugmarriedcouples,withadecentcompetencyofonionsauce.Intheporkershesawcarvedoutthefuturesleeksideofbacon,andjuicyrelishingham;notaturkeybuthebehelddaintilytrussedup,withits

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gizzardunderitswing,and,peradventure,anecklaceofsavorysausages;andevenbrightchanticleerhimselflaysprawlingonhisback,inasidedish,withupliftedclaws,asifcravingthatquarterwhichhischivalrousspiritdisdainedtoaskwhileliving.

AstheenrapturedIchabodfanciedallthis,andasherolledhisgreatgreeneyesoverthefatmeadowlands,therichfieldsofwheat,ofrye,ofbuckwheat,andIndiancorn,andtheorchardsburdenedwithruddyfruit,whichsurroundedthewarmtenementofVanTassel,hisheartyearnedafterthedamselwhowastoinheritthesedomains,andhisimaginationexpandedwiththeidea,howtheymightbereadilyturnedintocash,andthemoneyinvestedinimmensetractsofwildland,andshinglepalacesinthewilderness.Nay,hisbusyfancyalreadyrealizedhishopes,andpresentedtohimthebloomingKatrina,withawholefamilyofchildren,mountedonthetopofawagonloadedwithhouseholdtrumpery,withpots

andkettlesdanglingbeneath;andhebeheldhimselfbestridingapacingmare,withacoltatherheels,settingoutforKentucky,Tennessee,--orthe

Lordknowswhere!

Whenheenteredthehouse,theconquestofhisheartwascomplete.Itwasoneofthosespaciousfarmhouses,withhigh-ridgedbutlowlyslopingroofs,builtinthestylehandeddownfromthefirstDutchsettlers;thelowprojectingeavesformingapiazzaalongthefront,capableofbeingclosedupinbadweather.Underthiswerehungflails,harness,variousutensilsofhusbandry,andnetsforfishingintheneighboringriver.Bencheswerebuiltalongthesidesforsummeruse;andagreatspinning-wheelatoneend,andachurnattheother,showedthevarioususestowhichthisimportantporchmightbedevoted.FromthispiazzathewonderingIchabodenteredthehall,whichformedthecentreofthemansion,andtheplaceofusualresidence.Hererowsofresplendentpewter,rangedonalongdresser,dazzledhiseyes.Inonecornerstoodahugebagofwool,readytobespun;inanother,aquantityoflinsey-woolseyjustfromtheloom;earsofIndiancorn,andstringsofdriedapplesandpeaches,hungingayfestoonsalongthewalls,mingledwiththegaudofredpeppers;andadoorleftajargavehimapeepintothebestparlor,wheretheclaw-footedchairsanddarkmahoganytablesshonelikemirrors;andirons,withtheir

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accompanyingshovelandtongs,glistenedfromtheircovertofasparagustops;mock-orangesandconch-shellsdecoratedthemantelpiece;stringsofvarious-coloredbirdseggsweresuspendedaboveit;agreatostricheggwashungfromthecentreoftheroom,andacornercupboard,knowinglyleftopen,displayedimmensetreasuresofoldsilverandwell-mended

china.

FromthemomentIchabodlaidhiseyesupontheseregionsofdelight,thepeaceofhismindwasatanend,andhisonlystudywashowtogaintheaffectionsofthepeerlessdaughterofVanTassel.Inthisenterprise,however,hehadmorerealdifficultiesthangenerallyfelltothelotofaknight-errantofyore,whoseldomhadanythingbutgiants,enchanters,fierydragons,andsuchlikeeasilyconqueredadversaries,tocontendwithandhadtomakehiswaymerelythroughgatesofironandbrass,andwallsofadamanttothecastlekeep,wheretheladyofhisheartwasconfined;allwhichheachievedaseasilyasamanwouldcarvehiswaytothecentreofaChristmaspie;andthentheladygavehimherhandasamatterofcourse.Ichabod,onthecontrary,hadtowinhiswaytotheheartofacountrycoquette,besetwithalabyrinthofwhimsandcaprices,whichwereforeverpresentingnewdifficultiesandimpediments;andhehadtoencounterahostoffearfuladversariesofrealfleshandblood,thenumerousrusticadmirers,whobeseteveryportaltoherheart,keepingawatchfulandangryeyeuponeachother,butreadytoflyoutinthecommoncauseagainstanynewcompetitor.

Amongthese,themostformidablewasaburly,roaring,roysteringblade,ofthenameofAbraham,or,accordingtotheDutchabbreviation,BromVanBrunt,theheroofthecountryroundwhichrangwithhisfeatsofstrengthandhardihood.Hewasbroad-shoulderedanddouble-jointed,withshortcurlyblackhair,andabluffbutnotunpleasantcountenance,havingamingledairoffunandarroganceFromhisHerculeanframeandgreatpowersoflimbhehadreceivedthenicknameofBROMBONES,bywhichhewasuniversallyknown.Hewasfamedforgreatknowledgeandskillinhorsemanship,beingasdexterousonhorsebackasaTartar.Hewasforemostatallracesandcockfights;and,withtheascendancywhichbodilystrengthalwaysacquires