Evening star., 1928-03-23

Washington Irving. 15ss.IssSs; Iva. vas =;
| famous American humonst snd writer .t o.
sno%S sss,ory story ,na s RS.v read Is Rim Van
Wrinkle" Although the present tale; also
10 q close secondl
Sleepy Hollow. as the nook was called,
was haunted by many spirits. but the
leading one was the apparition OF a
figure on horseback without head. 1t
is said by some to be the ghost OF a
HesSian trooper, whose head had been
carried away by a cannon ball IN some
nameleSs battle during the Revolution
airy War, and who is ever and anon
seen by the country folk, hurrying along
in the gloom of the night, as II on the
wings of the wind. His haunts are not
confined to the valley. but extend at
times TO the adjacent roads. and espe-
ciaily to the vicinity OF church at no
great distance.
Indeed, certain of the most authentic
historians of those parts, who have been
careful in collecting and collating the
floating facts concerning this specter,
allege that the body of the trooper,
having been buried in the churchyard,
the ghost rides forth 10 the scene OF
battle in nightly quest Of his head, and
that the rushing speed with which he
sometimes passes along the Hollow.
like a midnight blast. Is owing TO his be-
ing beiated and in hurry TO get back
to the churchyard before daybreak. The
specter is known at all the country fiTe-
sides by the name of the HeadleSs
Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
Into this region there came worthy
by the name OF Tchabod Crane for the
purpose OF instructing the children OF
the vicinity. He was tau, but exceed
ingiy !ank, with narrow shoulders, long
arms and legs hands that dangled
mile out of his sleeves. feet that might
have served for shovels. and his whole
frame most loosely hung together. His
head was small and nat at top, with
huge ears, large green CLASSY eyes and
a long snipe nose, so that II looked like
a weathercock perched upon his spin
dle-neck. TO tell which way the wind
blew. To see him striding along the
profile of a hill on Q windy day, with
his clothes bagging and fiuttering about
him, one might have mistaken him Tor
the genius OF famine descending upon
the. earth, or some scarecrow eloped
from q cornfield.
Truth to say. he was a conscientious
man and ever bore In mind the golden
maxim: Spare the rod and spoil the
child" Ichabod Cranes scholars Ger
tainiy we're not spoiled When school
hours we're over, though. he was even
the companion and playmate Of the
larger boys and on holiday afternoons
would convey some OF the smaller ones
home, who happened TO have pretty
sisters or good housewives for mothers,
noted for the comforts Of the cup
bard.
Our man of letters was peculiarly
happy In the smiles Of all the country
dan1sels How he would figure among
them Ia the churchyafd between serv-
tees on Sundays Or gathering grapes
fer them from the wild vines, or recit-
ing for their amusement all the cpl
taphx en- the tombstoneS.
More. he was an odd mixture OF small
ahrewdness and simple erednlity. His
| appetite for tine marvellous and the
| powers OF dige6ting IL were equally
| extraordinary No tale was too gross
or nlonStrous for his capacious swallow.
He believed the legend Of the Headless
| Horscman.
Then Ichabod Crane fell In love with
| Kathrina Van TaSsel. the daughter of a
| substantial Dutch farmer, She was a
| blooming lass of fresh 10. universally
| famed not merely for her beauty but
| her vast expectations. But fchabod had
a competitor-a burly. roaring, roister-
| ing blade, of the name OF Abraham, or.
| according to the Dutch abbrcviation
| Brom van Brunt, the hero Of the eoin-
| try round which rang with his feats OF
strength and hardihood Prom his Her
| culean frame and great powers OF
| limb he had received the nickname OF
| Brom Bones. by which he was univer-
! sally known. He vas always ready Tor