Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-02-28

with q rope by way OF nalteI. hoSoA
Gathering up to the school o Win an
invitation to Ichabod to attend a merry,
making, or quilting frolic, to De heio
that evening at Mynheer Van Iassei s.
and having delivered his message Win
that air of Importance and effort at lne
language which a negro is apt 10 as
play on petty embassies OF the Slno, he
dashed over the brook, and was e
scampering 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 t~rifies: those who were
nimble skipped over half with IMMUNITY,
and those who were tardy had a smart
application now and then in the rear, to
quicken their speed or help them over a
tall word. Books were flung aside with
out being put away on the shelves, 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 early emancipation.
The 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 a bit of broken looking glass
that hung up in the school house. That
he might make his appearance before his
mistress in the true styled of a cavalier. he
borrowed a horse from tho farmer with
whom he was domiciliated a choleric old
Dutcllman of the nance of Hans Van Rip
per, and thus CALAMITY mounted, issued
forth like a knight Grant in quest of adj
ventures. But il is meet ] should, in the
true spirit of romantic story. give some
account of the looks and equipments of
my hero and his steed. The animal he
bestrode was a broken down pillow horse
that had outlived almost every thing but
his viciousness. He was gaunt and
shaggy, with a eve neck and a head like
a hammer; his rusty name and tail were
tangled and knotted with burrs; one eye
had lost its pupil, and was glaring and
spectral. but the other had the CLEAN of
a genuine devil in il. Still he must have
had fire and mettle in his day, If we may
Judge from his name, which was Gun
powder. He had. in fact. been a favor
lite steed OF his masters. the choleric Van
Ripper, who was a furious rider, and had
infused, very probably. some of his own
spirit into the animal; for, old and
broken down as he looked, there was
more Of the lurking devil in him than in
any young filly in the country.
lchabod was u suitable figure for such
a steed. He rode with short stirrups,
which brought his knees nearly up to the
pommel of the saddle; his sharp elbows
stuck out like grasshoppers'; he carried
whip perpendicularly in his hand,
like a scepter. and as the horse logged on
the motion of his arms was not unlike
the Tapping of a pair Of wings. Asmall
hat rested on the top Of his nose.
for so his scanty strip Of forehead might
be called. and the skirts of his black coat
iiuttered out almost TO the horses tail.
Such was the appearance of lchabod and
his steed as they shambled out of the
gate of Hans Van Ripper, and it was al
together such an apparition as is seldom
to be met with in broad daylight.
Ii was. as have said. a tine autumnal
day: the sky was clear and serene,
and nature wore that rich and golden
livery which we always associate with the
idea OF abundance. The forests had put
On their sober brown and yellow. while
some trees of the tenderer kind had been
by the frosts into brilliant dyes Of
purple and scarlet. Streaming
lies Of wild ducks began TO make their
appearance high in the air; the bark of
he squirrel might be heard from the
Of beech and hickory nuts, and
he pensive whistle OF the quail ut inter
7als from the neighboring stubble field.
The small birds were taking their fare
we'll banquets. In the ~fullness of their
they fiuttered. chirping and
'rolicking. from bush to bush and tree
tree, capricious from the very pro
'usion and variety around them.
There was the honest cock robin.
he favorite game of STRIPPING sportsmen,
With its loud querulous note, and the
whitening blackbirds flying in sable
and the golden winged wood
with his crimson crest, his broad
gorget. and splendid plumage; and
he cedar bird, with its red tipt wings
md yellow tipt tail. and its little mon
GIRO cap of feathers; and the bluejay,
hat noisy coxcomb. in his gay light blue
,oat and white underclothes. screaming
nd chattering, nodding and bobbing,
nd bowling, and pretending to be on
.ood terms with every songster Of the
rove.
AS Ichabod logged slowly ON his way
tlt, ever bpSn W tNtA1 ~ uiItoUn Ol
Urinary abundance, ranged with delight
lver the treasures of jolly autumn. On
sides he beheld vas store of apples,
ONE hanging in oppressive o~puience on
he trees: some gathered into baskets
barrels for the market; others
up in rich piles for the cider
ress. Farther on he beheld great fields
t Indian corn. with its golden cars peep
ng from their leafy coverts, and holding
ut the promise Of cakes and hasty pud-
ing; and the yellow pumpkins lying be-
cath them. turning up their fair round
ellies TO the sun. and giving ample pros
ects of the most luxurious of pies: and
non he passed the fragrant buckwheat
elds. breathing the odor Of the bee hive,
nd as he beheld them. soft ~anticipa-
ions stole over his mind of dainty slap
acks. well buttered and garnished with
oney or treacle by the delicate little
hand of Katrina Van Tassel. 4,
Thus feeding his mind with many
weet thoughts and ''sugared suppose
he %journeyed along the sides of a
ange of hills which look out upon some
the goodliest eel of the mighty !