The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-10-11


object of his uncouth gallantries; and
though his amorous toyings were some
thing like the gentle caresses and endear-
ments of bear, yet it was whispered that
she did not altogether discourage his hopes.
Certain it is, his advances were signals for
rival candidates to retire, who felt no in
clination to cross lion in his amours; in
somuch, that, when his horse was seen
tied to Van Tassel's paling, on Sunday
night, a sure sign that his master was
within, all other suitors passed by in
despair, and carried the war into ether
quarters.
Such was the formidable rival with
whom Ichabod Crane had to contend, and,
considering all things, a stouter man than
he would have shrunk from the competi-
ton, and wiser man would have despair
ed. He had, however, happy mixture of
pliability and perseverance in his nature;
he was in form and spirit like supple
bodybuilding, but tough; though he bent,
he never broke; and though he bowed
beneath the slightest pressure, yet, the
moment it was away-jerk he was as
erect, and carried his head as high as ever.
To have taken the field openly against
his rival would have been madness; for he
was not man to be thwarted in his
amours, any more than that stormy lover,
Achilles. Ichabod, therefore, made his
aAy in riafn nd 1x,
manner. Under cover of his character of
singing master, he had made frequent
visits at the farm house; not that he had
anything to apprehend from the meddle-
some interference of parents, which is so
often a stumbling block in the path of
lovers. Bait Van Tassel was an easy,
indulgent soul; he loved his daughter better
even than his pipe, and, like reasonable
nan and an excellent father, let her have
her way in everything. His notable little
wife, toe, had enough to do to attend to
her housekeeping and manage her poultry;
for, as she sagely observed, ducks and
geese are foolish things, and must be look
ed after, but girls can take care of them
selves. Thus while the busy dame hustled
about the house, or piled her spinning
wheel at one end of the piazza, honest
Bait would sit smoking his evening pipe
at the other, watching the achievements of
little wooden warrior, who, armed with
sword in each hand, was most valiantly
fighting the wind on the pinnacle of the
barn. In the mean time, Ichabod would
carry on his suit with the daughter by the
side of the spring under the great elm, or
sauntering along in the twilight, that
hour so favorable to the lovers eloquence.
1 profess not to know how women's
hearts are wooed and won. To me they
have always been matters of riddle and
admiration. Some seem to have but one
vulnerable point, or door of access; while
others have thousand avenues, and may
be captured in thousand different ways.
1t is great triumph of skill to gain the
former, but still greater proof of general
ship to maintain possession of the latter,
for the man must battle for his fortress at
every door and window. He who wins a
thousand common hearts is therefore en-
titled to some renown; but he who keeps
undisputed sway over the heart of CO.
quette, is indeed hero. Certain it is,
this was not the case with the redoubtable
Brom Bones; and from the moment Icha-
bod Crane made his advances, the interests
of the former evidently declined; his horse
was no longer seen tied at the palings on
Sunday nights, and deadly feud gradual
ly arose between him and the preceptor of
Sleepy Hollow.
Brom who had degree of rough chival-
ry in his nature, would faiu have carried
matters to open warfare, and have settled
their pretentions to the lady according to
the mode of those most concise and simple
reasoners, the knights Grant of yore-by
single combat; but Ichabod was too con-
scious of the superior might of his adver-
sary to enter the lists against him: he had
overheard boast of Bones, that he would
"double the schoolmaster up, and Lay him
on a shelf of his own school-house;" and
he was too wary to give him an opportun-
ity. There was something extremely pro-
voking in this obstinately pacific system;
it left Brom no alternative but to draw
upon the funds of rustic waggery in his
and to play off boorish practi-
cal jokes upon his rival. Ichabod became
the object of whimsical persecution to
Bones and his gang of rough riders. They
harried his hitherto peaceful domains;
smoked out his singing school, by stopping
up the chimney; broke into the school
house at night, in spite of its formidable
fastenings of withe and window stakes,
and turned everything topsy-turvy: so that
the poor schoolmaster began to think all
the witches in the country held their meet
ings there. But what was still more an
noying, Brom took opportunities of turn
ing him into ridicule in the presence of
his mistress, and had scoundrel dog
whom he taught to whine in the most H.
dicrous manner, and introduced as rival
of 1chabod's to instruct her in psalmody.
In this way matters went on for some
time, without producing any material eff
feet on the relative situation of the con-
pOWelB. VII Auo
afternoon, Ichabod, in pensive mood, sat
enthroned on the lofty stool whence he
usually watched all the concers of his lit
tie literary realm. In his hand he swayed
ferule, that sceptre of despotic power;
the birch of justice reposed on three nails,
behind the throne, a constant terror to evil
doors; while on the desk before him might
be seen sundry contraband articles and
prohibited weapons, detected upon the
persons of idle urchins; such as half
munched apples, popguns, whirligigs, fly
cages, and whole lsgions Of rampant little
paper game-coaks. Apparently there had
been some appalling act of justice recently
inflicted, for his scholars were all busily
intent upon their books, or slyly whisper
ing behind them with ono eye kept upon
the master; and kind OF buzziing still
ness reigned throughout the school-room.
1t was suddenly interrupted by the appear
ance of Il negro, in tow cloth jacket and
trousers, round crowned fragment of