The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-22
From As May number Of the Knieksrtoeter Masasi"s'
SLEEPY HOLLOW
nv oIoFFREY oaAYos, GENT

Haylag pitched my tent, propaDi} ioi TUG "
mainder oil my days, in the nighoorhood OF
Sleepy Hollow, | uln tempted TO give some
few particulars concerning that spell-bound
region especially as il has risen to historic
importance, under The pen Of my reverend
friend and master, the sage historian Of the
New Netherlands. Beside, find the very
existence Of the place has been held in ques-
ton by many; who, Judging from its odd
name, and from the odd stories current among
the vulgar concerning it, have rashly deemed
the whole to be fanciiul creation, like the
Lubber Land oil mariners. / must confess
there is some apparent cause for doubt, IN con-
sequence OF the coiorIng given by the worthy
Diedrich 10 his description of the Hollow
who, in this instance, has departed nue.
from his usually sober If not severe style De-
guiled. very probably, by his Predilecti"n TOT
the haun's OF his youth, and BY a certain iu'h-
ing tint Of ramance, whenever any 'hins con.
necied with the Dutch was TO be described.
shall endeayor 10 make up for this aIniable err
ror, on the part of my venerable and venerated
friend, by presenting the reader with more
precise and statistical account of the Hollow;
though am not sure that shall not be prone
to lapse, in the end, into the very error am
spedhih9 vi, 81 Poscut 70 VIC "hNA@'J - -
theme.
Ibelieve il was the very peculiarly of its
name, and the idea OF something mystic and
dreamy connected with il. that first led me, IN
my boyish rankings, into Sleepy Hollow.
The character OF the valley seemed to answer
10 the name; the slumber Of past ages APP
paranily reigned over it it had not awakened
TO the stir oi improvement, which had put all
~ .,Tt III
ed good old long-iorgotten fashions; the men
were in homespun garbs, evidently The pro-
duct of their own farms, and The manufacture
of their own wives the women were IN priml-
tive short gowns and pettcoats, with the vene-
rable suuDonnets Of Holland origin. ne
lower part of the valley was cut up INTO small
farms, each consisting OF little meadow ana
cornfield nm orchard OF sprawings, gnarled
apple trees, and a garden, where the rose, the
marigold, and the hoilyhock were permitted to
skirt the domains OF the capacious cabbage,
the aspiring pea, and the portly pumpkin.
Each had its prolific little mansion teeming
with children with an old hat nailed against
the wall for the housekeeping wren; moth
erly hen, under a coop on the grassplot, cluek-
ing to keep around her brood OF vagrant
chickens; a cool stone we'll, with the moss
covered bucket suspended TO the long baar-
cling pole, according to the antediluvlan idea
Of hydraulics and its spinning wheel hum
ming within doors, the patriarchal music of
home manufacture.
The hollow at that time was inhabited by
families which had existed there from the
earliest times, and which, by frequent inter-
marriage, had become So interviewer, 50 as 10
make a kind of natural commonwealth. As
the families had grown larger, the farms had
grown smaller; every new generation requir-
ing new subdivision, and "a few thinking Of
swarming from the native hive. In this way
that happy golden mean had been produced,
SO much extolled by the poets, in which there
was no gold, and very little silver. One thing
which doubtless contributed to keep up this
amiable mean, was general repugnance to
sordid labor. The sage inhabitants of Sleepy
Hollow had read in their Bible, which wa, the
only book they studied, that labor was origin
ally inflicted upon men as punishment Of in;
they regarded it, therefore, with pi us abhor-
renee, and never humiliated themselves to it
but in cases Of extremity. There seemed, in
fact to be league and covenant against IT,
throughout the Hollow, against a common
enemy. Was any one compelled, by dire
necessity, to repair his house, mend his fences,
build barn, or get in a harvest, he consider
ed it great evil, that entitled him to call in
the assistance of his friends. He accordingly
proclaimed "bee." or rustic gathering; where
upon all his neighbors hurried 10 his aid like
faithful allies; attacked the task with the des-
perate energy of lazy men, eager to overcome
n Job !; and when it was accomplished fell to
eating and drinking, fdding and dancing, for
very Joy that so great amount Of labor had
been vanquished with so little sweating of the
brow.
Yet let it not be supposed that this worthy
community was without its periods oil arduous
activity. Let but flock Of wild pigeons fly
across the valley, and all Sleepy Hollow was
wide awake in an instant. The pigeon season
had arrived! Every gun and net was forthwith
in requsition. The fail was thrown down on
the barn floor; the spade rusted in the garden;
the plough stood idle in the furroN; every
one was TO the hill side and stubbe field at
day break, to shoot or entrap the pigeo.is, in
their periodical migrations.
So, likewise, let but the word be given that
the shad were ascending the Hudson, and the
worthless OF the Hollow were to be seen launch
ed in bosts upon the river; setting great
stakes, and stretching their nets like gigantic
spider webs half across the stream. TO the
great annoyance of navigators. Such are the
wise provisions Of nature, Ivy which she equali
yes rural affairs. A laggard at tie plough is
often extremely industrious with the fowlne
piece and fishing net; and whenever man is
an indifferent farmer, he is apt to be frst rate
sportsman. For catching shad and wild
pigeons, there were none throughout the coun-
try to compare with the lads of Sleepy Hollow.
As have observed. it was The dreamy M
ture of the name, that first beguiled me, in the
holiday rovings of boyhood, into this seques.
tered region. | Stunned, however the popu.
ious parts Of The Hollow, and sought lis retired