The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-17

As he was about to descend, he heard
q voice from a distance, hallooing,
rip Van Winklel Rip Van Winkle"
He looked round, but could see moth
ing but a crow winging its solitary fight
across the mountain. He thought his
fancy must have deceived him, and
turned again to descend, when he heard
the same cry ring through the still even
ing air:
"Trip Van Winklel Rip Van Winkle"
At the same time Wolf brist!ed up his
back, and, giving loud growl, skulked
to his masters side, looking fearfully
down into the glen. Rip now felt a
vague apprehension stealing over him;
henow looked anxiously in the same di-
rection, and perceived strange figure
slowly toiling up the rocks, and bending
under the weight of something he car
ried ON his back. He was surprised to
see any human being in this lonely and
unfrequented place; but supposing it to
be some one of the neighbOurhoOd in
need Of his assistance, he hastened down
to yield it.
On nearer approach he was still more
surprised at the singularity of the
strangers appearance. He was short,
square-built old fellow, with thick bushy
hair and a grizzled beard. His dress
was the antique German flshion-a cloth
jerkin, strapped round the waist-several
pair of breeches, the outer one of ample
volume, decorated with rows of buttons
| down the sides, and lunches at the
knees. He bore on his shoulder stout
keg, that seemed full of liquor, and
made signs for Rip to approach and as
sist him with the load. Though rather
shy and distrustful of his new acquaint-
ance, Rip complied with his usual alac-
rity; and mutually relieving each other,
they clambered up narrow gully, appar-
emily the dry bed of mountain torrent.
As they assembled, Rip every now and
then heard long rolling peals like dis
tant thunder, that seemed to issue out of
deep ravine, or rather cleft, between
lofty rocks, toward which their rugged
path conducted. He paused for an in
stant, but supposing it to be the muttur-
ing of one of those transient thunder
| showers which often take place in noun
tain heights, he proceeded. Passing
! through the ravine, they came to hOl-
low, like small ampitheatre, surround
cd by perpendicular precipices, over the
Drinks of which impending trees cast
their branches, 50 that you only caught
glimpses of the azure sky and the bright
evening cloud. During the whole time
Rip and his companion had laboured on
in silence, for though the former marvel
led greatly what could be the object in
carrying n keg Of liquor up this wild
mountain; yet there was something
strange and incomprehensible about the
unknown, that inspired awe and checked
familiarity.
On entering the amphithcatrc, new
objects of wonder presented themselves.
On level spot in the centre was COM
pany of odd-looking personages playing
at ninepins. They were dressed in a
quaint Outlandish fashion; some wore
short doublets, others jenkins, with long
knives in their belts, and most Of them
had enormous breeches, of similar style
with that of the guides. Their visages,
too, were peculiar; one had large head,
broad face, and small piggish eyes; the
face of another seemed to consist entire
ly of nose, and was surmounted by
white sugar-loaf hat, set off with little
red cocks tail. They all had boards, of
various shapes and colours. There was
one who seemed the commander. He
was stout old gentleman, with Il
weather-beaten countenance; he wore q
laced doublet, broad belt and hanger,
high crowned hat and feather, red stock
ings, and high-heeled shoes, with roses
in them. The whole group reminded
Rip of the figures in an old Flemish
painting, in the parlOur Of Dominic Van
Shaick, the village parson, and which
had been brought over from Holland at
the time of the settlement.
What seemed particularly odd TO Rip
was, that though these folks were evil
IDENTIFY amusing themselves, yet they
maintained the gravest faces, the most
mysterious silence, and were, withal, the
most melancholy party of pleasure he
had ever witnessed. Nothing interrupt
ed the stiffness Of the scene but the
noise Of the balls, which, whenever they
were rolled, echoed along the mountains
like rumbling peals of thunder.
As Rip and his companion approached
them, they suddenly desisted from their
play, and stared at him with such fixed,
statue-like gaze, and such strange, un-
cOuth, lack lustre cOuntenances, that his
heart turned within him, and his knees
smote together. His companion now
emptied the contents of the keg into
large fagons, and made signs to him to
wait upon the company. He Obeyed
with fear and trembling; they quaiied
the liquor in profound silence, and then
returned to their game.
BY degrees Rip'sawe and apprehension
subsidized. He even ventured, when no
eye was fixed upon him, TO taste the
beverage, which he found had much Of
the favour of excellent Hollands. He
was naturally q thirsty soul, and was
soon tempted to repeat the draught.
One taste provoked another; and he re-
iterated his visits 10 the flag0n 80 often,
that at length his senses were over
powered, his eyes swan in his head, his
head gradually declined, and he fell into
a deep sleep.
On waking, nc found himself on the
green knoll whence he had first seen the
old man of the glen. He rubbed his
eyes-it was bright sunny morning.
The birds were hopping and twittering
among the bushes, and the eagle was
wheeling aloft, and breating the pure
mountain breeze. Surely" thought
Rip, 81 have not slept here all night"
He recalled the occurrences before he
fell asleep. The strange man with keg
of liquor-the mountain nyine-the
wild retreat among the rocks-the woe
begone party at ninepins-the aagon-
"Ohl that fiagonl that wicked flagon!"
thought Rip; what excuse shall / make
to Dame Van Winkle?"
He looked round for his gun, but in
place of the clean well-oiled fowling-
piece, he found an old fre-lOck lying by
him, the barrel incrusted with rust, the
lock falling off, and the stock Tormeaten.
He now suspected that the grave royster-
ers of the mountain had puta trick up
on him, and, having dosed him with