Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-03-07
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1t was the very witching time OF nigni
that Ichabod. heavy hearted and CREST
fallen, pursued his travel homewaros,
along the sides OF the lofty hills whlcn IlS5
above larry Town. and which ne mao
trayersed SO cheerily In the alCerno0n.
The hour was as dismal rs hlmsen. far
below him the Tappaan Zee spread iIs
dusl.N and indistinct waste OF Wsiters'
with here and there the tall mast OF
sloop, riding quietly at anchor uhoer liis
land. In the dead hush Of midnight, he
could even hear the barking of the watch
dog from the opposite shore of the Hud-
son; but it was so vague and faint as
only to give an idea of his distance nom
this faithful companion of man. NOW
and then, too. the long drawn Growing OF
a cock, accidentally awakened, would
sound far, far off, from some farm house
away among the hills-but it was like
dreaming sound in his ear. No signs OF
life occurred near him, but occasionally
the melancholy chirp OF q cricket, OF
perhaps the cultural twang of bulifrog
from neighboring marsh, as II sleeping
uncomfortably. and turning suddenly In
his bed.
All the stories of ghosts and goblins
that he had heard in the afternoon now
came crowding upon his recollection
The night grew darker and darker; the
! stars seemed to sink deeper in the sky,
and driving clouds occasionally hid them
\ from his sight. He had never felt 30
lonely and dismal He was, moreover,
approaching the very place where many
OF the scenes Of the ghost stories had
been laid In the center of the road
stood an enormous tulip tree, which
lowered like giant above all the other
trees of the neighborhood and formed
kind of landmark. Its limbs were
gnarled and fantastic, large enough to
form trunks for ordinary trees, twisting
down almost TO the earth, and rising
again into the air. IL was connected
with the tragical story of the unfortunate
Andre, who had been taken prisoner
hard by, and was universally known by
the name of Maj. Andres tree. The
common people regarded 1t with mix
ture of respect and superstition, partly
out of sympathy for the fate of it's i'll
starred namesake and partly from the
tales of strange sights and doleful lamen-
tations told concerning it.
As Ichabod approached this fearful
tree be began to whistle; he thought his
whistle was answered; it was but blast
sweeping sharply through the dry
branches. As he approached a little
nearer he thought he saw something white
hanging in the midst of the tree; he paused
and ceased whistling, but on looking
more narrowly, perceived that it was a
place where the tree had been scathed by
lightning and the white wood laid bare.
Suddenly he heard a groan-his teeth
chartered and his knees smote against
the saddle: it was but the rubbing of one
huge bough upon another, as they were
swayed about by the breeze. He passed
the tree in safety, but new perils Lay be-
fore him
About two hundred yards from the
tree, a small brook crossed the road and
ran into marshy and thickly wooded
glen, known by the name OF Wiley's
Swamp. A few rough logs laid side by
side served for bridge over this stream.
On that side of the road where the brook
entered the wood, group of oaks and
chestnuts, matted thick with wild grape
vines, threw a cavernous gloom over II.
To pass this bridge was the severest trial
1t was at this identical spot that the un-
fortunate Andre was captured, and under
the covert of those chestnuts and vines
were the sturdy yeomen concealed who
surprised him. This has ever since been
considered haunted stream, and fearful |
are the feelings of schoolboy. who has |
TO pass it alone after dark.
As he approached the stream his heart |
began TO thump; he summoned up, how !
ever, all his resolution, gave his horse /
half a score of kicks in the ribs and at |
tempted to dash briskly across the bridge; !
but instead OF starting forward, the per-
verse old animal made n lateral move /
IL, .
fence. lchabod, whose fears increased (
with the delay, jerSed the reins on the I
other side and kicked Justify with the I
contrary foot; it was all in vain; his
steed started. il is true, tut it was only
to plunge 10 the opposite side of the road
into a thicket Of brambles and alder
bushes. The schoolicaster now bestowed
both whip and heel upon the starveling
ribs of old Gunpowder, who dashed for
ward, snutiling and snorting, but came
to stand just by the bridge, with sud-
denness that had nearly sent his rider
sprawling over his head. just at this
moment q plashy tramp by the side of
the bridge caught the sensitive ear of
In the dark shadow of the
grove, on the margin of the brook, he be-
held something huge, misshapen, black
and towering. 1t stirred not but seemed
gathered up in the gloom, like some
gigantic monster ready to spring upon
the traveller.
The hair Of the affrighted pedagogue
rose upon his head with terror. What
was 20 be done? To turn end fly was
now too late, and besides what chance
was there OF escaping ghost or
goblin, if such it was. which
could ride upon the wings of
the wind! Summoning up, therefore, q
show of courage, he demanded in stam-
mering accents, "N'ho are your" He re-
ceived no reply. lie repeated his de-
mand in a still more agitated voice. Still
there was no answer. Once moro he
the sides Of the iniexible Gum
powder, and, shutting his eyes, broke
forth with involuntary forvor into q
psalm tune. Just then the shadowy OBJ
Jet of alarm put itself in motion, and
with a scramble and bound, stood at
onoe in the middle of the road. Though
the night was dark and dismal, vet the
form Of the unknown might now In some
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