Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-05-18


and even looked Upon Wolf with an evil
eye NJ the cause Of his masters going 90
often astray. True Il is, in all
points Of spirit befitting an honorable
dog, he was as courageous an animal ~
ever secured the woods--but what co,tr-
age can Withstand tho ever during and
all besetting terrors Of a wuinan's tongue?
The moment Wolf entered the house his
crest fell, his tail droopcd to the ground
or curled between his lcgs> he sneakcd
about with . gallows air, casting many
a sidelong glance at Dame Van Wrinkle,
and at the least flourish OF broomstick
or ladlc he would fly to the door with
yelping precipitation.
Times grew worse and worse with Rip
Van Wrinkle, as years Of matrimony
rolled on. A tart temper never mellows
with age, and sharp tongue Is the only
edge tool that grows keener with con-
slant use. For a long while he used to
console himself, when driven from home,
by frequenting kind Of perpetual club
of the sages, philosophers and other idle
personages Of the village. which held it's
sessions on bench before a small Inn,
designated by rubicund portrait Of his
majesty George Ill. Hero they used to
sit in the shade, of long. lazy sum-
mer's day, talking listlcssly over
village gossip or telling endless
sleepy stories about nothing. But 1t
would have been worth any statesman's
money to have heard the profound dis
cusaions which sometimes took place,
when by chance an old newspaper fell
into their hands from some passing trav-
eler. How solemnly they would listen
to the contents, as drawled out BY Der
rick Van Bummel, the schoolmaster,
dappcr learned little man, who was not
to I've dauntcd by tlse most gigantic word
in the dictionary; and how sagely they
would deliberate upon public events
some months after they had taken place.
The opinions of this junta were COM
pletcly controlled by Nicholas Vedder, a
patriarch of the village and landlord of
the inn, at the door Of which he took his
sufficiently to avoid tho sun and keep in
the shade of large tree, so that the
neighbors could tell the hour by his
movements as accurately as by sun
dial. 1t is true, he was rarely heard to
speak, but smoked his pipe incessantly.
His adherents, however for every great
man has his adherents), perfectly under
stood him and knew how to gather his
opinions. When anything that was read
or related displeased him, he was OBJ
served to smoke his pipe vehemently and
to send forth short, frequent and angry
puffs; but when pleased he would inhale
the smoke slowly and TRANQUILITY and
emit it in light and placid clouds, and
sometimes taking the pipe from his
mouth, and letting the fragrant vapor
curl about his nose, would gravely nod
his head in token of perfect appreciation.
From even this strong hold the unlucky
Rip was at length routed by his terlna-
giant wife, who would suddenly break in
upon the tranquility of the assemblage
and call the members all to nought; nor
was that august parsonage, Nicholas
Vedder himself, sacred from the daring
tongue of this terrible virago, who
charged him outright with encouraging
her husband in habits of idleness.
Poor Rip was at last reduced almost to
despair, and his only alternative to es-
cape from the labor of the farm and the
clamor of his wife was to take gun in
hand and stroll away into the woods.
Hero he would sometimes seat himself at
the foot of a tree and share the contents
sympathized as fellow sufferer In per-
secution. "Poor Wolf" he would say,
"thy mistress leads thee a dogs life of it;
but never mind, my lad, whilst / live
thou shalt never want q friend to stand
| by thee" Wolf would wag his tail, look
| wistfully in his masters face, and If
dogs can feel pity verify believe he re-
ciprocated the sentiment with all his
heart.
In q long ramble Of the kind, on u fine
autumnal day, Rip had unconsciously
scrambled to one of tho highest parts Of
the Kaatskill mountains. lie was after
his favorite sport Of squirrel shooting,
and the still solitudes had echoed and re-
| x,-it1 hn ,rtn ,c Ia,
| Painting and fatigued, he threw himself
late in the afternoon on green knoll
covered with mountain heritage that
crowned the brow of u precipice. From
| an opening between the trees be could
overlook all the lower country for many
mile of rich woodland. He saw at o
distance the lordly Hudson, far, far be-
low him, moving on its silent but ma
jcstic course, with tho reflection of a
purple cloud or the sail of a tagging bark
here and there sleeping on its CLASSY
bosom, and at last losing itself in the
blue highlands.
On the other side he looked down into
n deep mountain glen, wild, lonely and
shagged, the bottom filled with frag-
ment3 FROM the impending cliffs, and
scarcely lighted by the reflected rays Of
tho setting sun. For some time Rip lay
musing on this scene; evening was grad
ually advancing; the mountains began TO
throw their long blre shadows over tho
valleys; he saw that 1t would be dark
long before he could reach the village,
and hc heaved heavy SIGH when ho
thought Of encountcring tho torrors oi
Damc Van Wrinkle.
AS he was about to descend he heard
q voice from distance halloo-
ing rip Van Ninkle! Rip Van
Winkle!' He looked around, but could
see nothing but crow winging its eoli-
tary flight across the mountain. He
thought his fancy must have deceived
him, and turned again TO descend, when
ho heard the samo cry ring through the
stiu evening air, rip Van Winkle! Rip
Van WmkIe,"-at the same timo Wolf
bristlcd up his back, and, giving a low
growl, skulked to his masters side, look
ing fearfully down into the glen. Ri
now felt vague apprehension stealing
same direction and perceived a strange
figure slowly toiling up the rocks ant
bending under the weight Of something
he carried on his back. He was sur
priscd to see any human being In thi
lonely and unfrequented place, but sup
posing it to be some one of the neighbor
hood in need Of his assistance he hastenet
down to yield it.
On nearer approach he was still
more surprised at the singllarity of tn,
strangers appearance. He was short
square built old fellow, with thick bush,
hair and a grizzled beard. His dres
was of the antique Dutch fashion;
cloth jerken strapped round the waist
several pair of breeches, the outer one o
ample volume, decorated with rows O
buttons down the sides, and punches n
the knees. He bore on his shoulders
stout keg, that seemed fun of liquor, an'
made si.,ns for Rin to nnproaCh and assis