The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-10-30

can feel pity. verify believe he re
eiprocated the sentiments with all hi;
heart
Inslong ramble ofthe kind on a fnc
autumnal day, Rip had unconscious
" walked to one of the highest points
Of the kaatskill mountains He was
after his farorite sport Of squirrel
shooting, and the still solitudes had
echoed and re-echOed with the reports
of his gun. Painting and fatigued, be
threw himself, late in the afternoon,
on a green knoll, covered with noun
tain herbage. that crowned the brow
of a preeipice From al opening be-
tween the trees he could overlook the
lower country fo- many a mile of rich
woodland He saw 81 distance the
lordly Hudson, far, far below him,
moving on its silent but majestic
course, with the reflection Of a purple
cloud, or the sail of tagging bark,
here and there sleeping on its CLASSY
bosom, and at last losing itself in the
highlands.
On the other side he looked down
into deep mountain glen. wild, lone
" and shagged, the bottom filed with
fragments from the impending cliffs,
and scarcely lighted by the rejecting
ray of the setting sun. For some
time Rip lay musing on this scene f.;
evening was gradually advancing
the mountains began to throw their
long blue shadows over the valleys /;
be saw that it would be dark long
before he could reach the village, and
heaved a heavy sigh when he ethought
of encoQntering the teTrors Of Dame
Van Winkle.
As he was about 10 descend, he
heard a voice from the distance. hal
lowing, rip Van Wrinkle, Rip Van
Winkle :" He looked around and
could see nothing but q crow winging
its solitary fight across the mountain
He thought his fancy must deceive
him, and turned again 10 descend,
when he heard the same cry ring
through the still evening air, Rip Van
Wrinkle Rip Van Winkle :" at the
same time Wolf bristled up his back,
and giving a low growl, skulked TO
his masters side, looking fearfullv
down into the glen Rip now had a
vague apprehension stealing over
him he looked anxiously in the same
direction and perceived 9 strange fig
ure toiling up the rocks, and bending
under the weight Of something he
carried on his back. He was sdr-
prised to see any human being in this
lonely and unfrequented place but,
supposing il TO be some one Of the
neighborheod in need Of his assist
ance, he fastened down 10 WELD it.
On nearer approach, be was still
more surprised al the singularity Of
the strangers appearance He was a
short, square-built old fellow, with
thick busby hair, and a grizzled beard.
His dress was of the antique Dutch
fashion, cloth jerkin strapped
round the waist-seyeral pairs of
breeches, the outer one of ample vol
ume, decorated with rows Of buttons
down the sides and punches at the
knees. He bore on his shoulder a
stout keg, that seemed full Of liquor,
and made signs for Rip TO approach
and assist him with the load. Though
rather shy and distrustful Of this new
Rip complied with his
usual alacrity; and mutually reliev-
ing each other, they clambered up
narrow gully. apparently the dry bed
Of mountain torrent As they as
cended, Rip every now and then
heard long peals Ike distant thunder
that seemed to issue out of deep "a
vine, or rather cleft. between lofty
rocks, towards which their rugged
path conducted. He paused for an
instant, but suppOsing it TO be the
of one OF those transient
showers which often take place
in mountain heights, he proceeded
Passing through the ravine. they
came TO a hollow, Ike a small
surrounded by per-
pendicular precipices, over the Drinks
Of which impending trees shot their
branches, so that YOU only caught
slimpses Of the azure sky and the
bright evening cloud. During the
whole time Rip and his companion
had labored on in silence for though
the former marveled greatly what
could be the object Of carrying a keg
Of liquor up this wild mountain, vet
there was something strange and in
comprehensive about the unknown
that inspired awe and checked IA
miliarity.
On entering the amphitheatre new
objects of wonder presented them
selves On level spot in the centre
was q company of Gdd-looking per-
playing nine-pins. They
were dressed in a quaint, outiandish
ashton; some wore short doublets,
others jenkins, with knives in their
belts, and most of them had enor-
nous breeches Of similar style with
hat of the guides Their visages, /
90, were peculiar: one had large
lead, broad face. and small piggish 1
ives; the face of another seemed 10 (
consist entirely Of a nose, and was
;urmounted BY q white sugar-loaf
lat, set of with a little red cocks
all. They all had boards, Of various
shapes and colors There was one
Who seemed to be the commander. /
lie was stout old gentleman, with I
! weather-beaten cOuntenance; he
wore a laced doublet, broad belt and
ranger, high-erowned hat and feather,
ed stockings, and high-heeled shoes
With roses in them The whole
,roup reminded Rip Of the figures in
Id Flemish painting, in the parlor of
Dominic Van Sehaiek, the village
larson, and which had been brought
,ver from Holland at the time Of the
What seemed particularly odd 10
Rip was, that though these people
we're evidently amusing themselves,
hey maintained the gravest faces,
he most mysterious silence, and
we're, withal, the most melancholy
arty Of pleasure he had ever Wit
essed- Nothing interrupted the
fitness Of the scene but the noise Of
be balls, which, whenever they were