Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-06-22
LANCASTER DAILY iNTEif1GENCEs SATURDAY, 1880

withercd little DANES, IN close crinped
caps, long waisted gowns, homespun
petticoats, with scissors and pin cush-
Ions and gay calico pockets hanging on
tho outside. Buxom lasscs, almost as
aasiQYated rs their mothers. excepting
where straw hat, fine riband, or per-
hapo q white frock, gavo symptoms Of
city innovations. Tho sons, In short
square skirted coats, with rows Of stu
pcndous brass buttons, and their hair
generally queued In the fashion Of the
times, especially II they could procure
an eelskin for the purpose, V being es-
teemed throu. yhout the country as o po-
tent nourisher and strengthener Of tho
hair.
Brom Bones. however, was tho hero
of.the scene, having come to the gather
ing, having come to the gathering on his
favorite steed Daredevil, creature, like
himself, full Of metal and mischief, and
which no one but himself could manage.
He was, In fact, noted for preferring VIC
ious animals, given to all kinds OF tricks
which kept the rider in constant risk Of
his neck, for he held a tractable, we'll
broken horse us unworthy Of lad Of
spirit.
Fain would pause to dwell upon tho
world OF charms that burst upon the en-
raptured gaze Of my hero as he entered
the state parlor Of Van Tassel's mansion.
Not those Of the bevy Of buxom lasses,
with their luxurious display Of red and
white; but the ample charms Of a genu-
inc Dutch country tea table In tho sump-
tuous time Of autumn. Such heaped up
platters of cakes Of various md almost
indescribable kinds, known only to ex-
perienced Dutch housewivesi There was
the doughty doughnut, the tender oly-
koek and the crisp and crumbling crul-
Ter; sweet cakes and short cakes, ginger
cakes and honey cakes and the whole
family Of cakes. And then there were
apple pies and peach pies and pumpkin
pies; besides slices Of ham and smoked
beef, and moreover delectable dishes Of
preserved plums and peaches and pears
and roasted chickens; together with
bowls Of milk and cream, all mingled
higgledy-piggledy, pretty much as
have enumerated them, with the moth
erly teapot sending up its clouds OF
vapor from the midst-heaven bless the
marki want breath and time to
discuss this banquet Us 1t deserves,
and am too eager to get on with
my story. Happily, Ichabod Crane was
not in 80 great q hurry rs his historian,
but did ample justice to every dainty.
He was kind and thankful creature,
whose heart dilated in proportion as his
skin was filled with good cheer, and whose
spirits rose with eating, as some mems do
with drink. He could not help, too, roll
ing his large eyes round him as he ate,
and chuckling with the possibility that
he might one day be lord of all this scene
Of almost unimaginable luxury and
splendor. Then, he thought, how soon
he'd turn his back upon the old school
house; snap his fingers in the face OF Hans
Van Ripper, and every other niggardly
patron, and kick any itinerant pedagogue
out of doors that should dare to call him
comrade!
Old Baltus Van Tassel moved about
among his guests with face dilated with
content and good humor, round and
jolly as the harvest moon. His hospitable
attentions wero brief, but expressive,
being confined to a shake Of the hand, q
slap on the shoulder, a loud laugh, and a
pressing invitation to 'fall to, and help
themselves"
And now the sound Of the music from
the common room or hall summoned to
the dance. The musician was an old
gray headed negro, who had been the
itinerant orchestra of the ncighborhood
for more than half century. His in
strument YVES as old and battered as
himself. Tho greater part of the timo
ho scraped away ON two or three strings,
accompanying every movement of the
bow with n motion of the head. bowling
almost to the ground and stamping with
his foot whenever fresh couple were to
start.
Ichabod prided himself upon his dane
ing as much as upon his vocal powers.
Not q limb, not u fiber about him was