The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-11

to be domiciled, one Hans Van Ripper,
and sailed forth in quest of love and
adventure. The animal which Ichabod
bestrode was a broken down plough
horse that had outlived everything ex-
cept his viciousness. He was gaunt
and shaggy; he was ewe-necked and
| his head was like a hammer. One eye
had losts its pupil and glared spectral
ly. But the other eye had the CLEAN
of the devil in 1t. He must have been
steed of mettle in his day, for his
| name was Gunpowder. Ichabod rode
with short stirrups, which brought his
knees nearly up to the pommel of the
saddle and his sharp elbows stuck out
like grasshoppers. He carried his whip
perpendicularly in his hand, like a
sceptre, and as his horse logged on the
motion of his arms was not unlike the
/ Tapping of pair of wings. The skirts
| of his black coat fluttered back al
most to the horses tail and on his
head the learned man wore small
wooden cap which seemed to rest upon
the top of his nose.
1t was a fine 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, when the apparition de-
scribed went stumbling on its way
through the fertile and smiling coun-
try toward the castle of Mynheer Van
Tassel. An early frost had painted
many of the trees with those bright
colors of orange, purple and scarlet
which make the woods of the dying
year so beautiful, while high in the
air files of wild ducks went winging
their southwark way and the bark of
the squirrel might be heard from the
groves of clustering beech and hick-
DRY trees. Flocks of birds chartered
and sang along the road and all ma
ture seemed to be in keeping with the
tender emotions and anticipations of
plenty which filed the heart of Icha-
bod.
AS the schoolmaster wendell his way
along the side of range of hills
which commanded one of the finest
views of the Hudson the sun wheeled
its golden disc down into the west and
the broad waters of the Tappan Zee
lay motionless and glossy. with here
and there a lettering sail upon its
CLASSY surfaces as some sloop dropped
down with the tide toward the distant
city of Manhattan. The loneliness of
the twilight scene did not fail to
awaken In the breast of the school
master some apprehension of witches
and other hobgobblins who, as is well
known, are so fond of disporting
themselves in the cleaning as we'll as
in the 'wtching hours" later in the
night. The shades of evening were
closing down when Ichabod alighted at
the gate of Farmer Van Tassel without
having encountered witch or warlock,
and, indeed, 1t would have been a brave
'hobgoblin that would not have fled be-
fore the sight of Ichabod perched upon
his bony steed tapping and jogging
across the landscape.
The worthy schoolmaster found the
house filled with the pride and flower of
the adjacent countryside. The leather
faced farmers, with their homespun coats
and breaches, blue stockings, huge shoes
and gorgeous pewter buckles; their brisk
withered little danes in close crimped
caps. long wasted short gowns, home
spun petticoats and scissors, pncushions
and gay calico pockets hanging on the
outside. And also, and more and most i'm
portant the buxom lasses, plump and
pleasant to look upon And the stalwart
sons were there In square-skirted coats,
their hair done In queues. after the
fashion of the times. Brom Bones was
there, of course, and had come riding up
to the gate upon his favorte steed Dare
DEVIL a creature, like himself, full of
life and mischief. No one but himself
could manage Brom Bones fiery steed
Ample as the charms of the buxom
lasses were those Of the well-filled table.