Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-05-15
SKETCHES OF CHARACTER.
rue ORIGINAL MP VAN w,NKIr.

The German Tale Of Perm Klars. the Co.,-
hctd, by the Herman writer Olusr, contain. tI,,.
ofiS,"-l outline OF Rip Nan Wnklr or thc L.
grnd oi tic Sleepy iiJ.!ju aud which the. ~, az
w 2shngtoo Irving has I,,aItrayrd "a ,tb adi,,ion-
al charms Whether MIR Irvins uas acquainted
villa uIs tradition atd sodrtl u Tor tb.. ,.,s,,,d
work OF his tale Of Van WmkIr. Ne sannG, deter
'"'"e, ou' u'e Setiaai author ought 10 have the
erruit OF originating tiic idea.
in the village Of I.ittendorf. at the
loot oil a mountain, lived Peter Klaus.
Goathcrd. who was 10 the habit of
pssturing his flock upon the Kyffhau.
sen hills. Towards evening hc gene
rally let them browse upon . green plot
not lar of. surrounded with an old ru
med wall, from which he could take
muster Of his whole flock.
For some days past he had observed
mat one OF his prettIest goats, soon at.
ter his arrival at this sput, usually dis.
appeared, nor joined the fold again on.
I'll late IN the evening. lie watched
her again and again. and 1t last found
that she slipped through n gap in the
old wall, whittier he followed her.
u led into a passage which ~idcned
as ne went into cavern; aud here he
saw the goats employed in picking up
the oats that fell through some crevices
IN the place above. IL looked up,
shook his ears at this odd shower of
corn, but could discover nothing. -
Where the deuce could il come from :
Al length he heard over head the neigh.
ing and stamping Of horses; be listen
ed, and concluded that the oats must
have fallen through the mauger when
they were fed. The poor goatherd
was sadly puzzled, what TO think Of
these horses ia this uBinhabited part Of
the mountai0; but 80 il was, for the
groom making his appearance, without
saying q word bcckUned him 20 follow
ham. Peter Obeyed, and follow ed him
up some steps which brought hi.n into
an open courtyard, surrounded by old
walls. At the side Of this was still
more spacious cavern, surrounded by
rocky heights which only admitted q
kind OF twilight through the overhang.
ing trees and shrubs. lie went 90,
and came To smooth Shaven green,
when he saw twelve ancient knights.
none OF whom spoke n word, engaged
IN playing ut nine pins. His guide
now beekOned 10 Peter, in silence, to
pack up the niue pins, aud vent his
way. fTembling ia every JOINT, Peter
did not venture TO dlsObey; and at
times he cast . stolen glance az the
players, whose long boards and slsshed
doubiets were not at all in the present
fashion. by degrees hia looks grew
holder; he took particular notice Of
every thing T0uLd han; among other
things observing n tsnksd near him
filled with vine, whose odour uasex
Ccileni, Ice took . good dfaught. IL
seemed TO IBspire hun with liie; aud
when he b-gah To- feel tired Of running.
I've applied with fresh afdor 10 the tank
ard, ~ hIch always renew ed his strength.
But hnally Il quite o,erpowefed hiu.,
aud be tel asleep.
When he neXt opened hi. eyes hr
found himself on the cra.s plot sgatn.
~ tie cd spot where he vas in TIE
hab't Oi ieediog his goats. Tie rubbed
his eyes, he iOssed rOgnd. but could
see nsither dog nor flock; be- was sur.
Pflsed 81 the long rank gras, lhat grew
about lin, and a. utcs add bushe.
Which be bad never before seen. lie
shook lis bead add walked little for.
ther, locking 81 tie old sheep path aud
tie hiliOcks aud roads where he usrd
daily 10 drive his loCk; bat be could