The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Among the music pupils who gathered one evening each week for his lessons in singing psalms was Katrina Van Tassel, the only child of a prosperousmusical disciples who assembled, one evening in each week, to receive his instructions in psalmody, was Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and only child of a substantial Dutch farmer. She was a blooming lass justof fresh eighteen; plump as a partridge; ripe and melting and rosy-cheeked as one of her father’s peaches, and universally famed, not merely for her beauty, but the great fortune she expected to inherither vast expectations. She was also a little of a coquette, as even her dress showed. It mixed old and new fashions, chosenwithal a little of a coquette, as might be perceived even in her dress, which was a mixture of ancient and modern fashions, as most suited to set off her charms. She wore the ornaments of pure yellow gold, which her great-great-grandmother had brought over from Saardam; the tempting decorative panel at the front of her bodice of olden times, and a teasinglystomacher of the olden time, and withal a provokinglyExplanation: A stomacher is a decorative panel at the front of a bodice. It is one part of the garment. short petticoat, to display the prettiest foot and ankle in the country round.

Ichabod Crane had a soft and foolish heart where women were concerned. It is no wonder that so tempting a morsel soon found favour in his eyes, especially after he had visited her at her father’stowards the sex; and it is not to be wondered at that so tempting a morsel soon found favour in his eyes, more especially after he had visited her in her paternal mansion. Old Baltus Van Tassel was a perfect picture of a thriving, contented, liberal-hearted farmer. He seldom, it is true, sent either his eyes or his thoughts beyond the boundaries of his own farm. But within them, everything was snug, happy and in good order.farm; but within those everything was snug, happy and well-conditioned. He was satisfied with his wealth, but not proud of it; and prided himself onpiqued himself upon the hearty abundance, rather than the style in which he lived. His stronghold was situated on the banks of the Hudson, in one of those green, sheltered, fertile nooks in which the Dutch farmers are so fond of nestling. A great elm tree spread its broad branches over it, at the foot of which bubbled up a spring of the softest and sweetest water, in a little well formed of a barrel; and then stole sparkling away through the grass, to a neighbouring brook, that bubbled along among alders and dwarf willows. Near the farmhouse stood a vast barn that might have served for a church. Every window and crack seemed to burstHard by the farm-house was a vast barn, that might have served for a church; every window and crevice of which seemed bursting forth with the treasures of the farm; the flail was busily resounding within it from morning till night; swallows and martins skimmed twittering about the eaves; and rows of pigeons, some with one eye turned up, as if watching the weather, some with their heads under their wings or buried in their bosoms, and others swelling, and cooing, and bowing about their dames, were enjoying the sunshine on the roof. Sleek unwieldy porkers were grunting in the repose and abundance of their pens, from which troops of suckling piglets sallied forth now and then, as if to sniffwhence sallied forth, now and then, troops of sucking pigs, as if to snuff the air. A stately squadron of snowy geese were riding in an adjoining pond, convoying whole fleets of ducks; regiments of turkeys were gobbling through the farmyard, and Guinea fowls fretting about it, like ill-tempered housewives, with their peevish, discontented cry. Before the barn door strutted the gallant cock, that pattern of a husband, a warrior and a fine gentleman, clapping his burnished wings and crowing in the pride and gladness of his heart,—sometimes tearing up the earth with his feet, and then generously calling his ever-hungry family of wives and children to enjoy the rich morsel which he had discovered.

The schoolmaster’spedagogue’s mouth watered as he looked upon this sumptuous promise of luxurious winter fare. In his devouring mind’s eye, he pictured to himself every roasting-pig running about with a pudding in his belly, and an apple in his mouth; the pigeons were snugly put to bed in a comfortable pie, and tucked in with a coverlet of crust; the geese were swimming in their own gravy; and the ducks pairing cosily in dishes, like snug married couples, with a decent competency of onion sauce. In the porkers he saw carved out the future sleek side of bacon, and juicy relishing ham; he saw every turkey daintily tied up for roastingnot a turkey but he beheld daintily trussed up, with its gizzard under its wing, and, perhapsperadventure, a necklace of savoury sausages; and even the bright roosterbright chanticleer himself lay sprawling on his back, in a side dish, with uplifted claws, as if begging for the mercy that his chivalrous spirit had scorned to ask for in lifecraving that quarter which his chivalrous spirit disdained to ask while living.

The enraptured Ichabod imagined all this as his great green eyes rolled over the fat meadows, the rich fields of wheat, rye, buckwheat and Indian corn, and the orchard burdened with ruddy fruit around Van Tassel’s snug home. His heart yearned for the damsel who would inherit these domains. His imagination swelled with thoughts of turning them into cash and investing the money in immense stretches of wild land and palaces roofed with wooden shinglesAs the enraptured Ichabod fancied all this, and as he rolled his great green eyes over the fat meadow lands, the rich fields of wheat, of rye, of buckwheat, and Indian corn, and the orchard burdened with ruddy fruit, which surrounded the warm tenement of Van Tassel, his heart yearned after the damsel who was to inherit these domains, and his imagination expanded with the idea, how they might be readily turned into cash, and the money invested in immense tracts of wild land, and shingle palaces in the wilderness. Indeed, his busy imagination already made his hopes come true. He pictured the blooming Katrina with a whole family of children, sitting on top of a wagon loaded with household odds and ends, with pots and kettles dangling beneath. He saw himself astride a steadily pacing mare, a colt at her heels, setting out for Kentucky, Tennessee—orNay, his busy fancy already realized his hopes, and presented to him the blooming Katrina, with a whole family of children, mounted on the top of a wagon loaded with household trumpery, with pots and kettles dangling beneath; and he beheld himself bestriding a pacing mare, with a colt at her heels, setting out for Kentucky, Tennessee,—or the Lord knows where!

When he entered the house, the conquest of his heart was complete. It was one of those spacious farm-houses, with high-ridged but lowly sloping roofs, built in the style handed down from the first Dutch settlers; the low projecting eaves forming a porch along the front that could bepiazza along the front, capable of being closed up in bad weather. Under this were hung flails, harness, various farming toolsutensils of husbandry, and nets for fishing in the neighbouring river. Benches were built along the sides for summer use; and a great spinning-wheel at one end, and a churn at the other, showed the various uses to which this important porch might be devoted. From this porch, the wondering Ichabod entered the hall at the centre of the mansion, where the family usually gathered.piazza the wondering Ichabod entered the hall, which formed the centre of the mansion, and the place of usual residence. Here rows of resplendent pewter, ranged on a long dresser, dazzled his eyes. In one corner stood a huge bag of wool, ready to be spun; in another, a quantity of linsey-woolsey just from the loom; ears of Indian corn, and strings of dried apples and peaches, hung in gay festoons along the walls, mingled with the bright displaygaud of red peppers; and a door left ajar gave him a peep into the best parlour, where the claw-footed chairs and dark mahogany tables shone like mirrors; andirons, with their accompanying shovel and tongs, glistened from their covert of asparagus tops; mock-oranges and conch-shells decorated the mantelpiece; strings of birds’ eggs of various coloursvarious-coloured birds eggs were suspended above it; a great ostrich egg was hung from the centre of the room, and a corner cupboard, knowingly left open, displayed immense treasures of old silver and well-mended china.

From the moment Ichabod laid his eyes upon these regions of delight, the peace of his mind was at an end, and his only concernstudy was how to gain the affections of the peerless daughter of Van Tassel. In this enterprise, however, he faced more real difficulties than the wandering knights of old usually did. They seldom had to contend with anything but giants, enchanters, fiery dragons, and other such easily conquered enemies. They merely had to make their way through gates of iron and brass and walls as hard as diamond to the castle keep where the lady of their heart was confined. They managed all this as easily as a man might cut his way to the centre of a Christmas pie. Then, of course, the lady gave them her hand.had more real difficulties than generally fell to the lot of a knight-errant of yore, who seldom had anything but giants, enchanters, fiery dragons, and such like easily conquered adversaries, to contend with and had to make his way merely through gates of iron and brass, and walls of adamant to the castle keep, where the lady of his heart was confined; all which he achieved as easily as a man would carve his way to the centre of a Christmas pie; and then the lady gave him her hand as a matter of course. Ichabod, by contrast, had to find his way to the heart of a country coquette through a maze of whims and caprices that constantly raised new difficulties and obstacles. He also had to face a host of fearful enemies of real flesh and blood: her many country admirers. They guarded every doorway to her heart, watching one another angrily, yet ready to join forceson the contrary, had to win his way to the heart of a country coquette, beset with a labyrinth of whims and caprices, which were forever presenting new difficulties and impediments; and he had to encounter a host of fearful adversaries of real flesh and blood, the numerous rustic admirers, who beset every portal to her heart, keeping a watchful and angry eye upon each other, but ready to fly out in the common cause against any new competitor.

The most formidable of these was a burly, roaring, rowdy fellow named Abraham—or Brom Van Brunt, using the Dutch short form. He was the hero of the surrounding countryside, which rang with his feats of strength and daring.Among these, the most formidable was a burly, roaring, roistering blade, of the name of Abraham, or, according to the Dutch abbreviation, Brom Van Brunt, the hero of the country round, which rang with his feats of strength and hardihood. He was broad-shouldered and double-jointed, with short curly black hair, and a blunt but not unpleasant facebluff but not unpleasant countenance, having a mingled air of fun and arrogance. From his Herculean frame and great powers of limb he had received the nickname of BROM BONES, by which he was universally known. He was famed for great knowledge and skill in horsemanship, being as dexterous on horseback as a Tartar. He was foremost at all races and cock fights; and, with the authority that bodily strength brings in countryascendancy which bodily strength acquires in rustic life, was the umpire in all disputes, setting his hat on one side, and giving his decisions with an air and tone that allowed no contradictionadmitting of no gainsay or appeal. He was always ready for either a fight or a frolic; but had more mischief than ill-will in his composition; and with all his overbearing roughness, there was a strong dash of waggish good humour at bottom. He had three or four close companions who regarded him as their model. At their head, he rode all over the country, joining every quarrel or merry gathering for miles around.boon companions, who regarded him as their model, and at the head of whom he scoured the country, attending every scene of feud or merriment for miles round. In cold weather he was distinguished by a fur cap, surmounted with a flaunting fox’s tail; and when the folks at a country gathering spotteddescried this well-known crest at a distance, whisking about among a squad of hard riders, they always braced themselves for a stormstood by for a squall. Sometimes his crew would be heard dashing along past the farm-houses at midnight, with whoop and halloo, like a troop of Don Cossacks; and the old dames, startled out of their sleep, would listen for a moment till the hurry-scurry had clattered by, and then exclaim, “Ay, there goes Brom Bones and his gang!” The neighbours looked upon him with a mixture of awe, admiration, and good-will; and, when any madcap prank or rustic brawl occurred in the vicinity, always shook their heads, and declared thatwarranted Brom Bones was at the bottom of it.

For some time, this wild hero had singled out the blooming Katrina for his clumsy courtship. His loving attentions were rather like the gentle caresses of a bear. Still, peopleThis rantipole hero had for some time singled out the blooming Katrina for the object of his uncouth gallantries, and though his amorous toyings were something like the gentle caresses and endearments of a bear, yet it was whispered that she did not altogether discourage his hopes. One thing is certain: his advances were a signal for rival suitors to withdraw. They had no wish to cross a lion in love. When his horse was seen tied to Van Tassel’s fence on a Sunday night, it was a sure sign that his master was courting—or “sparking,” as they called it—inside. All the other suitors passed by in despair and carried the war elsewhere.Certain it is, his advances were signals for rival candidates to retire, who felt no inclination to cross a lion in his amours; insomuch, that when his horse was seen tied to Van Tassel’s paling, on a Sunday night, a sure sign that his master was courting, or, as it is termed, “sparking,” within, all other suitors passed by in despair, and carried the war into other quarters.

Such was the formidable rival Ichabod Crane had to contend with. All things considered, a braver man would have shrunk from the competition, and a wiser onewith whom Ichabod Crane had to contend, and, considering all things, a stouter man than he would have shrunk from the competition, and a wiser man would have despaired. He had, however, a happy mixture of pliability and perseverance in his nature; he was in form and spirit like a flexible vine—yielding,a supple-jack—yielding, but tough; though he bent, he never broke; and though he bowed beneath the slightest pressure, yet, the moment it was away—jerk!—he was as erect, and carried his head as high as ever.

To challenge his rival openly would have been madness. Like that stormy lover Achilles, Brom was not a man to be thwarted in love.have taken the field openly against his rival would have been madness; for he was not a man to be thwarted in his amours, any more than that stormy lover, Achilles. Ichabod, therefore, made his advances in a quiet and gently insinuating manner. In his role as singing-master, he made frequent visits to the farmhouse. He had nothing to fear from meddling parents, so often a stumbling blockUnder cover of his character of singing-master, he had made frequent visits at the farm-house; not that he had anything to apprehend from the meddlesome interference of parents, which is so often a stumbling-block in the path of lovers. Balt Van Tassel was an easy indulgent soul; he loved his daughter better even than his pipe, and, like a reasonable man and an excellent father, let her have her way in everything. His capablenotable little wife, too, had enough to do to attend to her housekeeping and manage her poultry; for, as she sagely observed, ducks and geese are foolish things, and must be looked after, but girls can take care of themselves. Thus, while the busy dame bustled about the house, or worked at her spinning-wheel at one end of the porchplied her spinning-wheel at one end of the piazza, honest Balt would sit smoking his evening pipe at the other, watching the achievements of a little wooden warrior, who, armed with a sword in each hand, was most valiantly fighting the wind on the pinnacle of the barn. In the mean time, Ichabod would continue courtingcarry on his suit with the daughter by the side of the spring under the great elm, or sauntering along in the twilight, that hour so favourable to the lover’s eloquence.

I do not claimprofess not to know how women’s hearts are wooed and won. To me they have always been matters of riddle and admiration. Some seem to have but one vulnerable point, or door of access; while others have a thousand avenues, and may be captured in a thousand different ways. It is a great triumph of skill to gain the former, but a still greater proof of generalship to maintain possession of the latter, for the man must battle for his fortress at every door and window. He who wins a thousand common hearts is therefore entitled to some renown; but he who keeps undisputed sway over the heart of a coquette is indeed a hero. One thing is certain: the formidable Brom Bones did not achieve this. From the moment Ichabod Crane began his courtship, Brom’s chances clearly declined. His horse was no longer seen tied at the fence on Sunday nights, and a bitter feud gradually arose between him and the schoolmasterCertain it is, this was not the case with the redoubtable Brom Bones; and from the moment Ichabod Crane made his advances, the interests of the former evidently declined: his horse was no longer seen tied at the palings on Sunday nights, and a deadly feud gradually arose between him and the preceptor of Sleepy Hollow.

Brom had a streak of rough chivalry and would gladly have declared open war. He wanted to settle their rival claims to the lady as those most concise and simple reasoners, the wandering knights of old, had done—by single combat. But Ichabod knew his enemy was far stronger and would not fight him. He had overheard Bones boasting that he would “fold the schoolmaster up and put him on a shelf in his own school-house.” He was too wary to give him the chance.Brom, who had a degree of rough chivalry in his nature, would fain have carried matters to open warfare and have settled their pretensions to the lady, according to the mode of those most concise and simple reasoners, the knights-errant of yore,—by single combat; but Ichabod was too conscious of the superior might of his adversary to enter the lists against him; he had overheard a boast of Bones, that he would “double the schoolmaster up, and lay him on a shelf of his own school-house;” and he was too wary to give him an opportunity. This stubbornly peaceful strategy was extremely provoking. It left Brom no choice but to draw on his stock of country mischief and play crude practical jokes onThere was something extremely provoking in this obstinately pacific system; it left Brom no alternative but to draw upon the funds of rustic waggery in his disposition, and to play off boorish practical jokes upon his rival. Ichabod became the object of whimsical persecution to Bones and his gang of rough riders. They harried his previouslyhitherto peaceful domains; smoked out his singing school by stopping up the chimney; broke into the school-house at night, in spite of its formidable fastenings of withe and window stakes, and turned everything topsy-turvy, so that the poor schoolmaster began to think all the witches in the country held their meetings there. But what was still more annoying, Brom took opportunities of turning him into ridicule in presence of the lady he was courtinghis mistress, and had a scoundrel dog whom he taught to whine in the most ludicrous manner, and presented it as Ichabod’s rival in teaching her to sing psalmsintroduced as a rival of Ichabod’s, to instruct her in psalmody.