The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-17
SeLert Stnrw.
RLP VAN WINKLE
~ WASHINGTON IRVING.

Whoever has made q voyage up the
hudson must remember the Kaatskill
mountains. They are dismembered
branch Of the great Appalachian family,
ind are seen away to the west of the
river, swelling up to a noble height, and
lOrding ii over the surrounding country.
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 the good wives, far
and near. as perfect barometers. When
the weather is fair and settled, they are
clothed in blue and purple, and print
their bold outlines on the clear evening
sky; but sometimes, when the rest of
the landscape is clouuless, they will
gather hood of grey vapours about
their SUBMITS, which, in the last rays of
the e.setting sun, will glow and light up
ike crown of glory.
At the foot Of these fairy mountains,
the voyager may have described the
Eight smoke curling up from village,
whose shingle-roofS gleam among the
Erees, Just where the blue tints of the
upland melt away into the fresh green Of
the nearer landscape. 1t il o little vii
lage Of great antiquity, having been
founded by some Dutch colonists, in the
carly times Of the province, Just about
the beginning Of the government Of the
good Peter Stuyvesant, (may he rest in
peaceD and there were some of the
houses of the original settlers standing
within few years, built of small yellow
bricks brought from Holland, having
tatticed windows and gable fronts, sur
mounted with weather cocks.
In that same village and in one Of
these very houses, (which, to tell the
precise truth, was sadly time-worn and
weather-beaten), there lived many
years since, while the country was yet a
province of Great Britain, simple
good-natured fellow, Of the name of Rip
Van Winklc. He was a descendant
0f the Van Wrinkles who figured so gal
antly in the chivalrous days of Peter
Stuyvesant, and accompanied him to the
seige Of Fort Christina. He inherited,
however, but little of the martial charac-
ter of his ancestors. | have observed
that he was simple good-natured man;
he was, moreover, kind neighbour, and
an obedient hen-pecked husband. In
deed, to the latter circumstance might be
owing that meekness of spirit which
gained him such universal popularity;
for those men are much apt to be obse-
squious and cOnCiliating abroad, who are
under the discipline of shrews at home.
Their tempers, doubtless, are rendered
plant and malleable in the fiery furnace
Of domestic tribulation, and curtain
lecture is worth all the sermons in the
world for teaching the virtues of patience
and long-sufering. A termagant wife,
may, therefore, in some respects, be con-
sidered tolerablc blessing; and if so,
Hip Van Wrinkle was thrice blessed.
Certain it is that he was great favour
ite among all the good wives of the Will
age, who, as usual with the amiable sex,
took his part in all family squables: and
never failed, whenever they talked those
matters over in their evening gossipings,
10 lay all the blame on Dame Van Win
kle. The children of the village, too
would shout with joy whenever he APP
preached. Ile assisted at their sports,
made their playthings, taught them to
hy kites and shoot marbles. and told
them long stories Of ghosts, witches and
Indians. Whenever he went dodging
about the village, he was surrounded by
a troop of them, hanging on his skirts,
cambering on bis back, and playing a
thousand tricks on him with impunity;
and not = dog would bark at him through
ont the neighbOrh0Od.
The great error in Rips composition
was an insuperable aversion to all kinds
Of profitable labour. IL could not be
from the want Of assiduity or persever-
ance; for he would sit on awet rock, with
rod "a long and heavy as Tartar's
lance, and fish all day without muir
Inur, even though no should not be en-
couragcd by single nibble. He would
carry fowiing piece on his shoulder for
hours together, trudging through woods
and swamps. and up hill and down dale,
10 shoot few squirrels or wild pigeons.
lie woJld neycr refuse to assist neigh
bour evca 10 TIC roughest toll, and was
a foremost MAJ, at all country frolics for
husking Indian corn, or building stone
fences; The women Of the village, too,
used 10 caploy him 10 run their errands
and todo such little odd jobsas their less
obliging husbands would not do for
them. Ia word, Rip was ready to at
tend 20 eyeryhOdy'a business but his