Smyrna times., 1870-02-16
Rip Van Wrinkle.

The legend upon which Washington Irving
founded his quaint story is as follows: In the
village of SittendOrf, at the foot of mountain,
lived Peter Klaus, goatherd who was in
the habit of pasturing his flock upon the Kyf-
hansen hills. Towards evening he generally
let them browse upon green plot not far off,
surrounded with an old ruined wall, from which
he could take muster of his whole flock.
For some days past he had observed that one
OF his prettlest goats, soon after its arrival at
this spot, usually disappeared, nor joined the
fold again till late in the evening. He watch
ed her again and again, and at last found that
she had slipped thr, ugh gap in the old wall,
whittier he followed her. 1t led into passage
which widened as he went into a cavern, and
here he saw the goat employed in picking up
the oats that fell through some crevices in the
place above. He looked up, shook his ears at
this odd shower of corn, but could discover
nothing Where in the earth could it come
from? At length he heard over his head the
neighing and stamping of horses = he listened
and concluded that the oats must have fallen
through the manger, when they were fed. The
poor gOatherd was sadly puzzled what to
think of these horses in this uninhabted part
of the mountain, but so it was, for the groom
making his appearance, without a w@d, beck
Oned him to follow him up some steps,
which brought him to an open court yard, sur
| IOuuuGu NY Oiu Walls. AG CIe sue OF JIllS was q
sill more spacious cavern surrounded by rocky
heights, which only admitted kind of twilight
through the Overhanging trees and shrubs He
went on and came to a smooth shaven green,
: where he saw twelve ancient knights engaged
/ at playing nine-pins. His guide now beckoned
r to Peter in silence, to pick up the nine pins,
and went his way. Trembling in every joint
Peter did not venture to disObey, and at times
} cast stolen glance at the players, whose long
| baa ardS md Slacbod 1O,lIok, Ill =,
J the present fashion. By degrees his looks
l grew bolder; he took particular notice Of every
thing around him among other things, observ-
ing tankard near kim, filed with wine, whose
t odOr was excellent, he took good draught 1t
+ seemed to inspire him with life, and whenever
he began to feel tired Of running he applied
! with fresh ordor to the tankard, which always
renewed his strength, But, fnahy, it quite
: overpowered him. and he fell asleep.
y When he next opened his eyes he found him.
g self on the grass plot, again in the old spot
o where he was in the habit of feeding his goats
e He rubbed his eyes, looked round, but cOulC
l. see neither dog nor flock He was surprised a
e the long rank grass that grew about him, anC
u the trees and bushes which he had never befor
T. seen. He shook his head and walked litt
farther, looking, for the old sheep path and tn
hillocks and roads where be used daily to driv
, % his flock but he could find no traces of then
" left. Yet he saw the village Just before him
"a it was the same Sittendorf, and, scratching hi
Dr head, he hastened at quick pace down tn
w bill to inquire after his flock.
eTr All the people whom he met going into tn
place were strangers to him, were differentl
Ut dressed, and even spoke in a different style t
an his old neighbors. When he asked about hi
at goats, they only stared at him, and fixed thei
rs eyes upon his chin. He put his hand uncOr
De scOuSly to his month, aud to his great surprls
d found that he had beard foot long. ii
w now began to think that he and all the yorl
! about him were in dream, and yet he kne
'si the mountain for that of Kyffhausen (for
ql had just come down to it) well enough. An
tle there were the cottages with their gardens an
ey grass plots, much as he had left them b
ltn' sides, the lads who had all collected arour
IN him, answered to the inquiry of passenge
OF what place it was, Sittendorf, sir.
me Still shaking his head, he went further in
I've the village to look for his own house.
me found it, but greatly altered for the worse
leu strange goatherd in an old tattered frOck Ii
De before the door, and near him his old do
say which growled and showed its teeth at Pete
Inc when he called him. He went through Il
-hu entrance, which had once door, but all with
ow was empty deserted-and Peter staggered o
= of the house and called for his wife and chill
rem by their names. But no one heard and
'rts one gave him any answer.
rch Soon, however, a crowd of women and chill
has rem got around the inquisitive stranger, wi
De the long, hoary beard, and asked him what
mi; was he wanted2 Now Peter thought it was
OF strange kind of thing to stand before his ov
lch house, inquiriDg for his own wife and childre
sta as well as about himself, that, without answ'
FER ing their question, he pronounced the first nal
- that came into his head "Kurt Steffen, {
CHI blacksmith Most of the spectators we
day silent and only looked at him wistfully, till
40, old woman at last said: why, for the
he twelve years he has been at Sachsenbu
red whence, suppose, you are not come to day.
sity "Where is Valentine Meier, the tailor
ded "Ah,' cried another old woman, leaning up
In her c-utch, he has been lying morethan the
d fifteen years in house he will never leave.
be- Peter recognized in the speakers two of
on young neighbors who seemed to have gro
90: old very suddenly, but he had no inclination
To- inquire any further. AT this moment there
OF peared making her way through the crowd
lch- spectators sprightly young woman with
1t, how year old baby in her arms, and a girl abb
he four taking hold of her hand, all three as j
IONS his wife he was seeking for as possible.
rch "What are your names T. he inquired, Il
the tone of great surprise. . Mine is Maria. .
d = your fathers p continued Peter. Pc
: Klaus, to be sure. 1t is now twenty yaars
int since we were all looking for him day and MI
sub upon the Myffhausen for his flock came no
ttee without him, and / was then, continued
avi woman, only seven years old
the The goatherd could no longer bear til
s64, g | am Peter Klaus, he said, Peter, and
flee other, I" and he took his daughters child a
ten kissed it.
the The spectators appeared struck dumb "
has astonishment, until first one and thon anot
L of began to say, Yes, indeed, this is Pe
was Klaus. Welcome, good neighbor, alter tive
the years absence welcome home.
for A ludicrous scene took place at the Tuill
onnt les on Christmas eve. There was to be a c
tent dren's s party for the friends Of the Prince