Evening star., 1927-12-08
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
RIP VAN WINKLE
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

This is story of a Dutch village
in old New York, about the time of
the American Revolution. and of the
kaatSkill Mountains. as the Dutch col.
onistS then spelled the name. One of
the colonists was Rip Van Wrinkle. a
happy-go-lucky fellow, who minded
every ones business but his own. He
helped his neighbors readily. but
would do nothing for himself. Not
finger would he lift around his own
house, which was in the worst condi-
toned in the vicinity.
Now Rip Van Winkle had a shrew
for wife. and she kept after him
from morning till night Her tongue
was never still when Rip was nigh.
and more than once she drove him
from the house to escape her nag
ging. Other housewives took Rips
part, for every one liked him, includ-
ing all the children and all the dogs
But it was always the same, and only
Rips dog seemed to be forever faith
full.
Times grew worse and worse with
Rip Van Wrinkle as years of matri-
mony rolled on; tart temper never
mellows with age and q sharp tongue
is the only edged tool that grows
keener with constant use. For q long
time he used to console himself among
congenial friends at the tavern, but
this did not always suffice. Rips wife
would pursue him there, and he had
to flee. Poor Rip was at last reduced
almost to despair, and his only alter
native to escape from labor at the
farm and the clamor of his wife was
TO take gun in hand and stroll away
into the woods. In a long ramble of
this kind on fine Autumn day Rip
had unconsciously scrambled to one of
the highest parts of the Kaatslill
Mountains.
Evening was coming on as Rip lay
resting on a green knoll, looking down
into a rocky glen. He got up and was
about to descend when he heard his
own name called aloud Seeing no
one, he thought he was mistaken, but
then he heard it again. This time he
perceived a strange figure toiling up
the rocks and being under the weight
of a great cask of liquor. Ever ready
to lend assistance. Rip helped the lit
tie man carry up the cask.
The stranger had n singular appear
ance-hiS dress was antique Dutch;
he was short and square built. with
thick, bushy hair and criZZled beard.
AS they ascended the gully. Rip heard
now and then long, rolling peals like
distant thunder, that seemed to come
out Of a ravine or cleft in the rocks
He paused, but thought it merely
some passing shower, and so proceed
ed. Finally they came TO a hollow,
like a small amphitheater, surrounded
by perpendicular precipices.
On a level spot in the center of this
opening was a company of odd-looking
personages playing at ninepins. They
were dressed in a quaint outlandish
fashion; some wore short doublets.
~ nprE iarlEinG In ~,
their belts, and most Of them had
enormous breeches. Their visages.
too, were peculiar; one had large
beard, broad face and small piggish
eyes; the face of another seemed to
consist entirely of nose and was sur
mounted by a white sugar-loaf hat, set
off with little red cocks tail They
all had boards, of various shapes and
colors. There was one who seemed to
be the commander. He was q stout
old gentleman with a weather-beaten
countenance; ne wore a laced doublet
broad belt and hanger, high-crowned
hats and feather, red stockings and
high-heeled shoes with roses in them
What seemed particularly odd TO
Rip was that, though these folks were
evidently amusing themselves, vet
they maintained the gravest faces, the
most mysterious silence. and were.
"4lHoi' tiie IloSL lneldUcnOIy party or
pleasure he had ever witnessed. Moth.
ing interrupted the stiffness of the
scehs but the noise of the balls which.
whenever they were rolled echoed
along the mountains like rumbling
pe%as of thunder.
AS Rip and his companion ap-
prest11ed them, they suddenly desist-
ed from their play and stared at him
with, such fixed, statuelike gaze and
such strange uncouth, lack -luster
countenances, that his heart turned
withlR him and his knees slnote to.
gethsr, His companion now emptied
the contents of the keg into large
faEans and made signs to him to wait
upon the company. He obeyed with
fearSand trembling; they quaffed the
liquor in profound silence and then
Returned to their game.
Rv deprees Pins nu.o nnd a,......