Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1821-11-24

ten heard to shrek ON winter nights
before storm, having pesished n .te
in a snow. The chief part of the sto-
ries, however, turned upon the favorite
spectre of Sleepy Hollow, the headless
horseman. v no had;bee heard several
times of later patrp!iug the cosmry,
and it was said c,tethered his horse
nightly among the graves in the church
yard.
The sequestered situation Of this
church Sc, ms always to have made it
fay orite haunt Of troubled spirits. 1t
stands on a knuli, surrounded by locust
trees and lofty elms, from among which
its decent, whitewashed walls shine
modestly forth like Christian purity,
beamins through the shades of retire.
meut. A geutie slope descends from
II 70 q silver sheet OF water, borlered
by high trees, between which, peeps
may be caught at the blue hills Of the
Hudson. TO look upon tia grass
grown yard, where the sunbeams seem
TO sleep so quietly, one would think
that here at least the dead might rect
in peace. GA one eide of the church
extends wide woody deli, alous which
raves large brook amoog broken rocks
and trunks Of fallen trees. Over a
deep black part of the stream, not Tar
from the church, was formerly thrown
wooden bridSs; the road that led to
1T, aud the bridge itself, were lhickly
shaded by over,angins trees, which
cast gloom about it, even in the day
time; but occasioped a fearful darkness
| ut night. Such was one Of the favorite
hauuts OF the headless horseman, aud
! the place where be was most freupent-
, Is encountered. The tale was told of
oid Brouwer,. u most heEe,icat disbe.
l,evey III ghosts, that he met the horse
nsa returning from his foray into Slee-
ny aoilow, and was obliged to get up
behind HIN; that they gallopped over
tusi and brake, over hill and swamp,
until they reached the bridge, when
the hcrseman suddenly turned into
keieton, threw Old Brouwer into the
brook, and sprang away over the tree
tops wsth clap OF thunder.
This story was Immediately matched
6y thrice marvellous adventure Of
Brom Bones, WHO made ligh, OF the
gaiioppinS Hcssiaa asan errant Jockey.
lie aiii med, that on returning Que
night from the neishborips village of
oiHg- Sing, he had been oyertaken by
this midnigh. troopers that he had Of
fered 10 race with him for bowl of
pnneh, aud would have won 1t too, for
Daredevil beat the goblin horse all
hoit"w, but just as they came 20 the
church bridge. the Hessian boiled, aud
vanished in flush Of FIRE.
All these tales, told in that droV;sy
under tone with which men talk in Gle
dark, the counienances nfthe listeners
only now aud then receiving casual
gleam from tie glare Of Il pipe, sunk
deep IN tie mind Of ichabod. lie re,
paid them in KIDD with large extracts
from his invaluable author, Cotton Ma.
the., and added many very marvellous
events that had taken place 10 his na.
tive state OF Connecticut, and fearful
sishts which lie had seen IN his nightly
walks about Sleepy Hollow.
The reyel now gradually brake up.
The old farmers gathered together
tn r. families in their wagons, and
were heard for some time rafting along
the hollow roads, and over tie distant
hills. Some Of the damseis, mounted
on billions behind their favoIits swans,
and their IiStt-hearted laughter ming
ling with the CHATTER Of hoors, echoed
along the silent woodlands, bounding
faiaier and fainter until they gradually
died away--and the late scene of noise
and froiick YVES all silent aud deserted.
Iehabod only fingered behind, accord
ing to the custom of country lovers, TO
have q tete-a-tete with The heiress; ful.
iy convinced that he was now on the
high road TO success. What passed al
this interview / will not pretend TO
say, for in fact ] DO not know. Somer
thing, however. fear me. must have
gone wrong. for lie certainly sailed
forth, after no great interval. with en-
air quite desoa'e aod chopfalIen.--Oh
these women! these women! Could
that girl have been playing of any of
her coquetiish tricks?-Was her en-
couragemeut Of The poor pefagogue all
mere sham 10 secure her conquest of
ilis rivai?-HeaVen only knows, notI!
Let it suffice 10 say, Ichabod stole
forth with the air of ono who had been
sackiDg hen roost, rather than fair
lady's heart. Without looking TO the
right or left 10 notice he scene of rural
wealth, on which he had so often gloat
ed' he went straight to the stable, and
with several hearty cuffs and kicks,