San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-01-10


some interference of parents, which Is 10
often stumbling block In tho path OF
lovers. Bait Van Tassel was an easy, In
dulgent soul; he loved his daughter better
even than his pipe, and, like reasonable
man and an excellent father, let her have
her way in everything. His notable little
wife, too, had enough to do to attend t.
her housekeeping and manage the poul
try; for, as she sagely observed, ducks
and geese arc foolish things and must be
looked after, but girls can take care OF
themselves. Thus, while tho busy dame
hustled about the house or piled her spin.
ming wheel at one end Of the piazza hon
est Bait would sit smoking his evening
pipe at the other, watching the achieve
ments OF o little wooden warrior, who
armed with sword in each hand, was
valiantly fighting the wind on the pima
Gle Of the barn. In the mean time Icha.
bod would carry ON his suit with the
daughter by the side Of the spring under
the great elm or sauntering along in the
twilight, that hour so favorable TO the
lovers eloquence.
l profess not TO know how women's
hearts are wooed and won. TO mo they
have always been matters Of riddle and
admiration. Some seem to have but one
vulnerable point, or door of access;
while others have thousand avenues,
and may DO captured in thousand diff
ferent ways. 1t Is great triumph of
skill to gain the former, but still q
greater proof of generalship to maintain
possession Of the latter, for q man must
battle for his fortress at every door and
window. He that wins thousand COM
mon hearts is therefore entitled to some
renown; but he who keeps undisputed
sway over the heart of coquette Is In
deed hero. Certain it is, this was not
the case with the redoubtable Brom
Bones; and from the moment Ichabod
Crane made his advances, the interests
of tho former evidently declined; his
horse was no longer seen tied at the pal
ings on Sunday nights, and deadly
feud gradually arose between him and
the preceptor Of Sleepy Hollow.
chivalry in his nature, would fain have
settled their pretensions to the lady
according to tho mode Of those
most concise and simple reasoners, the
bat; but Ichabod was too conscious Of the
BuDtllOl ultbllU "a w tutl
the lists against him; he had overheard
the boast Of Bones that he would "double
the schoolmaster up and put him on
shelf" and no was too wary to give him
an opportunity. There was something
extremely provoking in this obstinately
paciicsystem; it left Brom no alternative
gerry In his disposition, and to play OFF
E,n,.,ol> ,finn1 iAIyno 1,te ,.,rro1
Ichabod became the object Of whimsical
rough riders. They harried his hitherto
Ing school by stopping up the chimney;
spite Of his formidable fastenings Of
withe and window stakes, and turned
everything topsy turvy; SO that the poor
schoolmaster began to think all tho
witches in the country held their meet
ings there. But what was still more an
noying, Brom took all opportunities Of
turning him into ridicule In presence of
his mistress, and had a scoundrel dog
whom he taught to whine in the most
ludicrous manner and introduced as q
rival of lchabods, to instruct her in
psalmody.
III WUJ D1ttbIClD WcllU Ou lOl DOlIlC
time, without producing any material
contending powers. On a fine autumnal
enthroned on the lofty stool from whence
his little literary realm. In his hand he
swayed ferule, that scepter Of despotio
power; the birch of Justice reposed on
t1,,o, ,,otlo 1nhiYo1 thn fhpnt,n pnnufo,,t
terror to evil doers; while on the desk
before him might be seen sundry contra
band articles and prohibited weapons,
such as half munched apples, popguns,
of rampant little paper gamecocks. APP
parently there had been some appalling
act of Justice recently inflicted, for his
scholars were all busily intent upon their
books, or slyly whispering behind them
kind Of buzzing stiffness reigned
throughout tho school room. 1t was
suddenly interrupted by the appearance
of negro in tow cloth Jacket and trous-
trs, round crowned fragment Of a
hat, like the cap Of Mercury, and
mounted on the back Of ragged, wild,
half broken colt, which he managed
with a rope BY way of halter. He came
clattcring up to the school door with an
invitation to Ichabod to attend merry
making, or quilting frolic," to be held
that evening at Mynheer Van Tassers;
and having delivered his message with
that air of Importance and effort at fine
language which q. negro Is apt to dis
play en- petty embassies of the kind, he
dashed over the brook, and was seen
scampcring away up the hollow, full OF
the importance and hurry Of his mission.
All was now hustle and hubbub in the
late quiet school room, The scholars
were hurried through their Lessons with
out stopping at trilles; those who were
nimble skipped over half with impunity,
and those who were tardy had smart
application now and then In the rear, TO
quicken their speed or help them over
tall word. Books were flung aside with
out being put away on the ehclves, ink
stands were overturned, benches thrown
down and the whole school was turned
loose an hour before the the usual time;
bursting forth like a legion Of young
imps, yelping and racketing about the
green in Joy at their carly emancipation.
Tho gallant Ichabod now spent at least
an extra half hour at his toilet, brushing
and furnishing UP his best and indeed
only suit Of rusty black, and arranging
his locks by bit Of broken looking glass
that hung up IN tho school house That
be might make his appearance before bis
mistresls Ia the true stylcof a cavalier, he
borrowed a horse from the farmer with
whom he vas doniciliated, "a choleric old
Duichrnan of the name q Hans Van Rip
r.cr. and thus gallantly mounted, issued
forth Ike knight Grant In quest q ad-
venfures But Il is meet ! should, In The
true spirit q romantic story, give some
account q the looks and equipments q
ny hero and his stoad- The animal he
teztrods vas broken down pl0w horse
thzt hzd outiired almost every thing tut
LIS vi-iousuess. lie vas Cauut and