The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-04-06
RIP VAN WINKLE.
A TALE,
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

WHOEVER has made voyage up the
Hudson must remember the Kaatskill
mountains. They are d,smembered
branch Of the great Appalachian family. aud
are seen away to the west of the river,
swelling up to a noble height, and lording
it over the surrounding country. Every
change of season. every change of weather,
indeed every hour of the day. produces
some change in the magical hues and
shapes Of these mountains, and thew are
regarded by all the good wives, far and
near, as perfect barometers. When the
weather is fair and settled, they are cloth
cd in blue and purple, and print their bold
outlines on the clear evening sky; but
is cIoudless, they will gather hood Of
in the last rays Of the setting sun, will glow
and light up like crown OF glory.
At the foot Of these fairy mountains, the
voyager may have deserted the light smoke
curling up from village, whose shingle
roofs CLEAN among the trees, just where
the blue tints Of the uplaad melt away in-
to the fresh green of the near landscape.
1t is little village. Of great antiquity,
having been founded by some of the Dutch
colonists. in the early times of the pro-
vince, Just about the beginning Of the gov
ernmem of the good Peter Stuyvesant,
(may he rest in peaceD and there were
son,e Of the houses of the orig inal settlers
standing within few years. built of small
yellow bricks brought from Holland, hav-
ing lattced windows and gable fronts,
>urmounted with weathercocks.
In that same village, and in one of these
very houses (Which, to tell the precise truth,
was sadly time-worn and weathcr-beaten), J,
there lived many years since, while the
country was yeti province OF Great Rr-
tain. simple good d-natured fellow. of the
name of Rip Van Winkle. lie was des-
ceutlant of the Van Wrinkles who figured
50 galIantlv in the chivalrous days of Peter
Stuyvesant, aud accompanied him to the
siege Of Fort Christina He inherited,
however, but little of the martial character
Of his ancestors. l have observed that he
was simple good-natnred man he was,
moreover, kind ncighbor; and an obedi-
cnt hem -pccked husband. Indeed. to the
latter circumstance might be owing that
universal popularity for those mem are
most apt to be obsequious and conciliating
abroad, who are under the discipline of
,hrews at home. Their tempers. doubt
less, are rendered plant and maIlcabie in
the fiery furnace Of domestic tribuIation,
and curtain lecture is worth all the SER
mons i'll the world for teaching the virtues
of patience and long suffering. \ terma
giant wife may, therefore, in some respects.
be considered a tolerable blessing; and if
SO, Rip Van Wrinkle was thrice blessed
Certain it is. that he was great favor
ite among all the good wives of the village.
who, rs usual with the amiable sex, took
his part in all family squabbles; and never
failed. whenever they talked those matters
over in their evening gossipings, to lay all
the blame on Dame Van Winkie. The
children Of the village, too, would shout
with joy whenever he approached. He
assisted at their sports. made their play
things, taught them to fly kites and shoot
marbles, and told them long stories Of
ghosts. witches, aud Indians. Whenever
he went dodging about the village, he was
surl ounded by troop of them, hang ing
on his skirts, clambering on his back, and
PLAYING a thousand tricks on him with i'm
punity; and not dog would bark at him
throug ghout the neishhorhood.
The great error in Rips composition
was an insuperable aversion to all kinds of
profitable labor. 1t could not be from the
want Of assiduity or perseverance; for he
would sit on a wet rock, with a rod as long
and heavy as Iartar's lance, and fish all
day without a murmur. even though he
should not be encouraged by single nib
BILE. He would carry fowlins- piece on
has shoulder for hours together, trudging
through woods and swamps, and up hill
and down dale, TO shoot few squirrels or
wild pigeons. lie would never refuse to
assist neighbor even in the roughest toll,
and was foremost man at all country