The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-10-30
RIP VAN wlSALE.
BT WASHINGTON IRVING.

Whoever has made a voyage up
the Hudson must remember the kats-
kill mountains. They are dismem-
bered branch Of the Appalachian fam
ily, and are seen away to the west Of
the river, swelling up TO a noble
height. and lording it over the cOan-
rv. 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 they are regarded by
all good wives, far and near, as per-
feet barometers. When the weather
i fair and settled. they are clothed in
blue and purple, and print their bold
outlines upon the clear evening sky;
but sometimes, when the rest of the
landscape is cloudless, they will gath
er hood of gray vapo-s about their
SUBMITS, which, in the last rays
of the setting sun, will glow and
light up Ike 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
upland melt away into the fresh green
OF the nearer landscape Ii is little
village. of great antiquity, having
been founded by some Dutch colo
nists, in the early times of the prov
ince, just about the beginning Of the
government Of the good Peter Stuyv-
esant, (may be rest in peace J and
there were some Of the houses Of the
original settlers standing within a few
wears, built Of small yellow bricks
brought from Holland, having latticed
windows aud small gable fronts, sur
mounted with weathereOcks-
In the same village, and in one Of
these very houses (Which to tell the
truth. was sadly time-worn and
weather-beaten), there lived many
wears ago, while the country was yet
a province of Great Britain, a simple,
good-natured fellow, of the name of
Rip Van Winkle. He was a descend
ant of the Van Wrinkles who figured
50 gallanily in the chivalrous days Of
Peter Sutyvesant, and accompanied
him to the siege Of Fort Christina.
He inherited, however, but little Of
the material character of his ances- /
tors. have observed that he was a
simple, good-natured mnn; he was,
a kind neighbor and an
obedient hen-pecked husband In
deed to the latter circumstance might .
be owing that meekness Of spirit
which gained him such universal pop
ularity: for those men are apt to he
obsequious and conciliating abroad. I
who are under the discipline ofshrews
at home. Their tempers, doubtless,
are rendered plant and malleable in
the fiery furnace Of domestic tribula-
ton. and a curtain lecture Is worth 4
all the sermons in the world foT teach
ing the virtues Of patience and long
suffering 4 termagant wife may
therefore, in some respects, be cOnsid-
cred tolerable blessing and if so,
Rip Van Winkle was thrice blessed.
Certain it is that Rip was a great
favorite among all the good wives Of
the village, who, as usual with that
amiable sex, took his part in al fami-
" squabbles and never failed, when
they talked these matters over in their
evening gossipings, to lay all the
blame on Dame Van Winkle. The
of the village too, would
shout forjoy whenever he approached
He assisted at their sports, made their
taught them to fly kites
and shoot marbles, and told them
ong stories of ghosts. witches, and
Indians. Whenever he went dodc-
ng about the village, be was sur
.ounded by a troop of them, hanging
IN his skirts, clamberiBg on his back,
md playing thousand tricks on him
With impunity; and not dog would
,ark at him through the neighbor-
rood
The great error in Rips compost (
ion was an insuperable aversion TO !
II kinds ofproitable labor. 1t could !
Iot be from the want Of assiduity of ,
for be would sit on a |
vet rock, with a rod as long and !
Ieavy as Tartan's lance, and fish
II day without q murmur, even
hough be should not be encouraged ,
" a single nibble. He would carry |
fowling-piece ON his shoulder for
ours together, trudgiDg through !
rood aud swamps, and up bill and 6
own dale, to shoot few squirrels
r wild pigeons. He would never re- 5
use to assist a neighbor even in the t
oughest toll, and was a foremost man '
{ all the country frolies for husking /
indian corn, or building stone fences;
be women of the village, too, used i
} employ him 10 run errands. and do I
Ich little odd jobs as their less oblig- L