San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-10
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow
By WASHINGTON IRVING.
[FoUHp AMONG TIE PAPERS OF THE LATE
DIEDRICH KNICKERBoCKRR.l

[roUXp AMONG TIE PAPERS OF THE LATI
DIEpRICH KNICKERBoCXRR.
When he entered the house, the con
quest Of his heart was complete, 1t wa
one of those spacious farm houses, will
high ridged, but lowly sloping roofs
built In the style handed down from tn,
first Dutch settlers. The low proiectin,
caves forming q piazza along tho front
capable of being closed up in bad weather
Under this were hung fails, harness
various utensils of husbandry, and net
for fishing In the neighboring river
Benches were built along the sides fo
summer use; and a great spinning whee
at one end, and a ehurn ut the other
showed the various uses TO which thi
important porch might be devoted
From this piazza the wonderful lchabot
entered the hall, which formed the center
of the mansion, and the place of usua
residence. Here rows Of resplenden
pewter, ranged OH long dresser, dazzlet
his eyes. In one corner stood huge bag
of wool, ready to be spun; in another, {
quantity of linsey wolsey, just from the
loom; ears of Indian corn, and strings OF
dried apples and peaches, hung in gay
fcstoons along tho walls, mingled with
the gaud Of red peppers; and door left
ajar, gave him peep into the best par.
lor, where the claw footed chairs and
dark mahogany tables shone like mir.
rors; andirons, with their accompanying
shovel and tongs, glistened from theii
covert of asparagus tops; mock oranges
piece; strings of various colored birds
e,,e-,.o,,InI al, e., ~
ostrich egg was hung from the center OF
the room, and q corner cupboard, know.
ingly left open, displayed immense
treasures of old silver and well mended
china.
From the moment Ichabod laid his
eyes upon these regions Of delight the
peace Of his mind was at an end, and his
only study was how to gain the affec-
tions of the peerless daughter Of Van
Tassell. In this enterprise, however, he
had more real difficulties than generally
fell to the lot Of q knight errant of yore,
who seldom had anything but giants, en-
chanters, fiery dragons and such like
easily conquered adversaries, to contend
with; and had to mako his way merely
through gates of iron and brass, and
walls of adamant to the castle keep,
where the lady of his heart was confined;
all of which he achieved as easily as q
man would carve his way to the center
Of Christmas pie, and then the lady
gave him her hand as matter of course.
1chabod, on the contrary, had to win his
way to tho heart Of o country coquette
beset with a labyrinth of whims and ca
prices, which were forever present
Ing new difficulties asA impediments,
and he had to encounter q host of
fearful adversaries Of. rdaf4flesh and
blood, the numerous rustic admirers,
who beset every portal to her heart;
keeping watchful and angry eye upon
each other, but ready to fly out in the
common cause against any new competi-
tor.
Among these the most formidable was
a burly, roaring, registering blade Of the
name of Abraham, or, according to the
Dutch abbreviation, Brom Van Brunt
the hero of the country round, which
rung with his feats of strength. and har-
dihOod. He was broad shouldered and
double jointed, with short curly black
hair, and q bluff but not unpleasant
countenance, having mingled air Of
fun and arrogance. From his Herculean
lItillC thilu BICGtU DO" Clo VI llillD, llc littu
received the nickname Of Brom Bones,
by which he was universally known. He
was famed for great knowledge and
skill in horsemanship, being as dexter
Gus on horseback as Tartar. He was
foremost at all races and cock fights,
and with the ascendancy which bodily
strength always acquires in rustic life,
was the umpire in all disputes, setting
his hat on one side and giving his deci-
sions with an air and tone that admitted
of no gainsay or appeal. He was always
ready for either fight or frolic; had
moro mischief than i'll will in his COM
position; and with all his overbearing
roughness there was strong dash of
waggish good huInor at bottom. He had
three or four boon companions Of his
own stamp, who regarded him as their
model, and at tho head of whom he
secured the country, attending every
scene of feud or merriment for miles
round. In cold weather he was dis
tinguished by fur cap, surmounted
with Haunting fox's tail; and when the
folks at country gathering deserted this
well known crest at distance, whisk-
ing about among n squad of hard riders,
they always stood by for a squall. Some
times his crew would be heard dashing
along past the farm houses at midnight,
with whoop and halloo, like a troop Of
Don Cossacl.s, and the old danes, start
led out of their sleep, would listen for a
moment till the hurry scurry had clat-
tered by, ard then exclain: "Ay, there
goes Brom Bones and his gangr' The
neighbors looked upon him with n mix
.ure of awe, admiration and good will;
and when any madcap prank or rustic
Jrawl occurred in the vicinity, always
shook their heads, and warranted Brom
Bones was at the bottom of it.
This rantiDole hero had for some time
singled out the blooming Katrina for the
object Of his uncOuth gallantTics,
md though his amorous toy
mrs were something like the gentle
,aresses and endearments of a bear, yet
4 was WHISPERED that she did not alto
yrther discourage his hopes. Certain il
s. his advances were signals for rival
TO retire, who felt no inclina-
ion 20 cross n lion In his amOurs; insO-
much, that when his horse was seen tied
% Van Tasscls paling, on a Sunday
night, a sure sign that his master was
,ourting, or, as Il Is termed, sparkling,
within, all other suitors passed by N
lespair, and carried The waT into other
Iuartcra
Such was the Formidable rival with
vhoin IchabOd Crane had % contend.
,rd considerinz all things aEtoutcr man
han BE- would have EhHznk from the
and a wf5cr man would
ave dozTaired. lie bad, however, q
laupy mixture Of Tliahiiity and perse-
-cTznce in HE nature. be was in f0rIn
nd spirit ike a supple J7ck--yiei1ing'
~ iduyh; thouvb Re lsuf. b never
lroke: and though De bowed beneath
Le slighfest pressure. yet the u1o-D.t.t u
ras auav-5ark,-lle va Croct, and cslr-
led his lad a. liGh 81 evor-
To have tzf1n tie fed o5sIly against
b riraI would have baon Ezs.llfsls; f0r
le v-as uot a nan % te thUurtsd in lis
.ucurs auy more th1-i tilzt SONY lyrcr
ir1Tlas. Iciz bod tIcr1tCTe. Elzlle hls
u II ---4-aH|-- aaHaaaH.HHs.H.-