Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-06-12
Rim Van Wrinkles Origin.
A LITTLE GERMAN STORY OF THE
MIDDLE AGES.

A correspondent of the Boston Cour-
ier says: Of the thousands of people
who have read Washington Irvings
famous story, "Rip Van Winkle," COM
paratively few, I believe, are aware
that the story is not original with Irv-
ing, but was taken from all old German
legend in which the main features are
identical with the narrative of the
American author. The tale was prim-
arily called "Peter Claus" of which the
following is the original version:
Peter Claus was goat herd of Sit
tcndorf, and tended his focks in the
Kyifhausen mountains. Here he was
accustomed to let them rest every
evening in mead, surrounded by an
old wall, while he made his muster of
them; but for some days he had re-
marked that one of his finest goats al
ways disappeared some time after com
ing to this spot, and did not Join the
flock until late. Watching her more
attentively, he observed that she slip
ped through an opening in the wall, up
which he crept after the animal, and
found her in sort of cave, busily en-
ployed in cleaning the oat grains that
dropped singly from the roof. He look
ed up and shook his ears amid the
shower of corn that now fell upon him,
but with all his inquiry could discern
nothing, At last he heard above the
stamp and neighing Of horses and from
whose hangers it was probable the
oats had fallen.
Peter was yet standing in astonish-
ment at the sound of horses in so un-
usual a place, when boy appeared,
who, by signs, without speaking a
word, desired him to follow. Accor,
dinghy he assembled a few steps and
passed over ii wallet court, into hol-
low, closed in on all sides by lofty rocks,
where a partial light shot through the
overspreading foliage Of the shrubs.
Here upon smooth, fresh lawn he
found twelve knights playing gravely
at nine-pins and not one spoke syl'
liable. With equal silence Peter was
installed in the Office of setting up the
nine-pins.
At first he performed his duty with
knees that We're knocking against each
other as he now and then stole a par
tial look at the long boards and slash
ed donblets of the noble knights. BY
degrees, however, custom gave him
courage; he gazed on everything with
hrmer look, and at last even ventur-
ed to drink ont of bowl that stood
near him, from which the wine exhaled
a most delicious odor. The glowing
Juice made him feel as if terminated,
and whenever he found the least wear
incss he again drew fresh vigor from
the inexhaustible goblet. Sleep at last
overcame him.
Upon waking Peter found himself in
the very same enclosed mead where be
was wont to tend his herds. He rub
bed his Eyes, but could see no signs Of
either dog or goats, and was, beside,
not little astonished at the high grass
and shrubs and trees which he had
never before observed there. Not we'll
knowing what to think, he continued
his way over all the places that he had
been accustomed to frequent with his
goats, but nowhere could he find any
traces of them. Below him he saw Sit
tendorf, and at length with hasty step
he descended. The people whom he
met in the village were all strangers to
him they had not the dress of his ac-
quaintances, nor did they speak exact
ly their language and when he asked
for his goats all stared and touched
their chins. At last he did the same,
almost involuntarily, and found his
beard heightened by foot, at least,
upon which he began to conclude that
himself and those about him were un-
der the influence of enchantment Still
he recognized the mountain he had de-
scended as the Kyffhausen; the houses,
too, with their yards and gardens, were
all familiar with him, and to the pass
ing questions of a traveller several boys
replied by the name of Sittendorf.
With increasing doubt he now walk
ed through the village to his own house.
1t was much decayed, and before it lay
a strange goat-herd's boy in ragged
frock by whose side was dog, worn
and lank with age, that growled and
snarled when he spoke to him. He then
entered the cottage through an opening
which had once been closed by door
Here, he found all so void and
uocto that bo +ottorod ont oroin Of the