Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-02-17
RIP VAN WINKLE.

The legend upon which Wsshinp ptan
irving founded his quaint st ory is ~ .ol-
l"ws: Tn the village of Sinendorf. at
the foot of mouDt tain. lived Peter klause.
a goatherd. who was in tho habit of pas
turing Lis flock uron the K Williamson hills.
Towards evening he generally he. them
browse upon green spo. not far off. sur
rounded With an old ruined wall, from
which be could take O muster of bis whole
fuck.
For some DAYS past he had ooserved
that one of his prettiest goats soon after
it's arrival at this spot usually disappear
ed. Ter Joined tho fold until late in tho
evening. He watched her again and
again. and Mt last found out that she had
slipped through csp in the old wall
whittier he followed her. It led into a
passage which widencd as he went into a
cavern. and here he saw the goat en-
rlcyed in picking up tho eats that fell
through some creviccs in the place above.
He looked up and shook his head at this
id shower OF corn but could discover
nothiug. Where in the earth could it
come from At length he heard over his
head the neishing and stamping of hor-
ses he listened snl concluded that the
oats must have fallen through the man
ger when they we're. fed. Tho poor goat
herd was sadly puzzled what to think Of
these horses In this uninhabited part o!
the mountain, but 80 it was. for tho groom
making his appearance, without saying a
7 l. - III D,sn
oheyed. and f'!lowed him up some steps.
which brought him TO. nn open court yard
surrounded hy cll wills. At the sile Of
this was still more spacious cavern sur.
roun cd ty raeky heights. which cnl y al
admitted kind OF twilight through the
overhanging trees aud shrubs. He w.n,
ON aud came TO q smooth shaveu green,
where he saw twelve ancient knights Gu
gagged in playing nine pins. His guide
now beckcred TO Peter. in silence, to
pick up the niue pins and went his way.
Trembling in every joint Peter did no,
venture tn disobey. and at times cast q
stolen glance at the players. whose long
boards aud slashed doublets were no: 1t
all in the present fashion. BY degrees
bis looks grew holder be took particu-
lar notice Of everything around him ;
among other things, observing tankard
near him, filed with wine. whose odor
was excellent and he took good draugh;.
II seemed 10 inspire him with life, aud
whenever he began 10 feel tired Of ran.
Hing he applied with fresh ardor 70 the
tankard. which always renewed his
strength. But, finally. it quite over
powered him. snd he fell asleep. e..
whenhe next opened his eyes be found
himself Oh the grass plos. again in the
old spot wAssc be. Vas in the habit Of feed
ing bis goats He'rubbed his eyes. he
looked round, cut could see neither dog
NOR d0ck. lie vas surprised II the long
rank grass that grew about him, aud the
trees and bushes which he had never be-
fore sesn,, He, shook his head and walk
~ = ht,le farther locking for the cid sheep
path and the. hilloeks and roads, where he
used daily TO drive his fock bu, he
scald .iud no traces Of them left. Yet
Ls saw the village jast- before him -
was the same Ssttendorf aud scratc hing
his head. he hasscnei ae quick pace
down the bin % inquire aftOr his f,ck.
All the people whom he u,es going into
the place we're strangers 10 him, we're DIFF
tsssnty dressed, and evon spoke In diff
ierent ssyie TO his old ne;ghbors.
When he asked abou. bis goats, they
anls stared a him, and axed their eyes
upea his chin. He pat his hand uuccs-