Connecticut western news., 1878-11-27
CANAAN, CONN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1878.

the cabin-door into the forest, dim with | winter twilight. I I-used often to go up and down the river then on business, but never much fancied to pass by the CatskiIls. don't know how it was, but it seemed as if that little fellow had somehow got a hold on my heart, and wouldn't let go. One day was on, the Albany boat-it was in the fall of 1860 and when about noon, or later, we came in sight of the fine old mountains, looking just the color of blue bells and periwinkle flowers, I turned my back to them. There was a handsome man, with hair just turning iroE-gray, stand ing near, who looked at me rather hard, as I wheeled short round, as if he won- dered what I was about, for suppose l looked as if I had something on my mind. So said to him ssI don't much like to look at those splendid old fellows, because have been always afraid that may have been partly the cause of. the death of little chap away up there by Overlook many years ago. " 34s.7# ..4.e
 "Why, how was that?" said the gen. tleman, as polite as possible. Then I told him all the story, just as I have told it to you, and he listened, with a queer twinkle in his eye; but the water stood in them, too. -.
 ''Then," said he, "my friend, don't trouble yourself any more about that boy. You were not at all to blame. He is still alive, to my certain knowledge :; for here he stands before you, and his name is Paul Jones'. ..,...
 I could scarcely believe my senses, and it was minute or two beforeI could take it all in. ..............-... ...
 "You that boy P said I, and starting back, nearly. went over the, guards in my wonder. "Why, you must be Rip Van Wrinkle himself! But do tell me all about it"
 "Well," said he, 1T was tickled enough when I found I had outwitted you, and saw yougo away beaten. Iknew my father would come, for he never broke his word to me, and in about an hour he did come; but he'd had a. very hard time getting there. My mother was better, and it wouldn't do to try, he said, to get home that night. tell you we had rough time in that hut, all showed in ana nearly frozen ; but we managed to hold out till the next after noon, when the storm abated Little, and hunger started us back to Wood stock. We managed to struggle through. My father carried me most of the way on his back there were few farm houses at the foot of Overlook to rest in, and, though we were almost frozen again, we reached Woodstock before night-fall. I was as much troubled about you as you were about me {; for did not think you knew the woods as well as my l father. was right about my father, you see? was sure he would come, and come he did but we didn't get out any more stone for good while. .g.
 'sHe did not care for danger, my father didn't; if he'd given me his word he kept it, and kept mine. So here am, Rip Van Wrinkle if you like, and you may make friends again with our jolly mountains, who are good friends of mine, too. Why, haven't we both made our money out of 'em-you in lumber, I in stone? I was brought up among them, and Pm fond of them. l know every nook and cranny of 'em,. and l could have told you that day where to I ind hn of ' knew of famous bear-hole, where, if you'd wanted, you could have found a big she-one with cubs. My father got them some time afterward with me and the dog. And now, if you'll just land here, at Rondout, you'll find my team waiting, and I'll drive you over to my house, beyond Kingston toward the quarries, where you'll find my wife, as pretty woman as any on the river, and as fine family of boys and girls as you'd wish to see. We shall be just in time for good old-fashioned early tea, and good appetite. .E
 The end of it was that he persuaded me to accept his invitation, and I went to visit my old and new friend, Pau Jones. And there, among the childrer of the household, found little Pau, "a manly boy of ten-who seemed the very same whom had left alone in the mountain-pass forty years before.
 He has always spent a great deal O
 time with me ever since, and l have
 considered him as my child.
 should be very lonely now if it wer' not for my friend, Paul Jones, and hi charming family. They form quite :. large colony, and I am always quite a home among them for the best frien' of my old age is the boy whom I foun' and lost on the side of Overlook Noun tain on that wild winters night of 1921 ', -4St. Nicholas. ........
 The Drill Which Bores Square Holes :" One of the novelties of the Paris Ex