Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-05-24
| NHE HOME CIRCLE |
RIP VAN WIN XII
\ A PosTHUMoUs STORY OF DIEDRIcH KN1cKERBoCKER.

a PosTHUMoUs STORY DEDR1CH KN1cKERBoCKER.
(Concluded)
appearance Rip with his long grizzlcd beard his
rusty fowngpece his uncouh dress and of and
children his heels attracted the attention of the tavern poll
cian They crowded around him. ycng him from head to 1907
with great curiosity The orator hustled up to him. and drawing
him partly aside inquired "on which side he voted? Rip stared
stupidity Another short but busy little fellow pulled him
rising tptoc inquired in his wheher he
Federal Democrat Rip equally loss to compre-
bend the questions when knowing Sel-mPoant old gentleman
sharp cooked hat made his through the crowd putting
them the right and left with his elbows as he passed and plant
ing himself before Rip Van Wne with one arm ambo the other
resting his his keen eyes and sharp hat penetrating as
into his soul, demanded in an austere tone what
brought him to the election with gun on his shoulder and mob
his heels and whether he meant to breed riot in the vage
"Alas gentlemen cried Rip somewhat dismayed 81 am poor
quiet native of the place. and loyal subject of the king
Here general shout burst from the by-standers-A tory
tory spy! refugee hustle him! away with him.! 1t was
with great difficulty that the efmpotant in the cooked hat
restored order and having assumed enod auster OF brow
demanded again of the unknown cuPr what he came there o
and whom he seeking? The man humby assured him
that he HARM but merely there in search Of some of
neighbours who used to keep about the tavern.
"We-who they?-name them"
Rip bcthought himself moment and inquired "Wheres
Nicholas Vedder?"
There was silence little while, when old replied
thin piping Ncholas Vedder why, he dead and
eighteen years There wooden tombstone in the
churcard that used to tell all about him. but that's rotten and
gone too
'Where's Brom Dutcher?"
"Oh he the army in the beginning of the
say he was killed at the stormng Of Stony Ponoth9rs say
knOw'-he came back again
where's l}ummcl,
He off to the too, and was great military general
and is in congress-
Rips heart away hearing these sad changes his
home and friends and finding himself thus alone in the world
Every puzzled him by treating OF such ascs
of which he could understands
grcss-Sony Ponhc had courage to ask after any
friends but cried out despair docs nobody here know Rip Van
Winkle?'
Oh Rip Van Wnkc!" exclaimed two three. ooh, to be
that's Rip Van Wrinkle yondcr, leaning against the tree
Rip looked and bchcd counterpart himself as he
up the apparently as lazy and certainly ragged
The poor fellow completely conounded He doubted his
identity and whether he himself another In the
midst his bewdement the the cooked hat demanded who
he was and what his name?
God knows, exclaimed he, at his wits end; "lm not my
sel-Im somebody cse-thas yondernO-thas somebody
else got my shoesI myself last night but fell asleep
the mountain changed gun, and every things
changed and I'm changed and can't tell what's who
| am!
The by-sanders began look each other nod wink
Significantly and tap fingers against their There
Whisper also about securing the gun and keeping the old
fellow from doing mischief the suggestion OF which the self
important the cooked hat retired with precipitation
AT this critical moment fresh comc woman pressed through the
throng get peep the bearded She had chubby
child her which, frightened his looks began
Hush Rip She 'hush you little fool; the old won't
YOU" The the child the air of the mother the
her voice, all awakened of recOeCtions his mind
"What is your my good woman? asked he.
Judith GARDENER.
"And your fathers namc?"
"Ah poor man. Rip Wrinkle his but its twenty
years away home with his gum and has
sincc-h dog home without him; but whether
he shot himself carried away by the Indians nobody tell
+ | was then but little girl"
Rip had but question to ask; but he put with
| falterng voice:
"Whcrcs your mother?'
"Oh she had died but short time since she broke
bood-vcsse in a fit of passion a New England pcddlcr"
There drop of comfort least this intelligence The
honest could contain himself longer He caught his daugh
Young Rip Van Wrinkle Rip Van Wrinkle now!-Doc
nobody know poor Rip Van Wnklc?