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their subjects； on the contrary； he administered justice with
discrimination rather than severity； taking the burden off the
backs of the weak； and laying it on those of the strong。 Your
mere puny stripling； that winced at the least flourish of the
rod； was passed by with indulgence； but the claims of justice
were satisfied by inflicting a double portion on some little
tough wrong headed； broad…skirted Dutch urchin； who sulked and
swelled and grew dogged and sullen beneath the birch。 All this he
called 〃doing his duty by their parents；〃 and he never inflicted
a chastisement without following it by the assurance； so
consolatory to the smarting urchin； that 〃he would remember it
and thank him for it the longest day he had to live。〃
When school hours were over； he was even the companion and
playmate of the larger boys； and on holiday afternoons would
convoy some of the smaller ones home； who happened to have pretty
sisters； or good housewives for mothers； noted for the comforts
of the cupboard。 Indeed； it behooved him to keep on good terms
with his pupils。 The revenue arising from his school was small；
and would have been scarcely sufficient to furnish him with daily
bread； for he was a huge feeder； and； though lank； had the
dilating powers of an anaconda； but to help out his maintenance；
he was； according to country custom in those parts； boarded and
lodged at the houses of the farmers whose children he instructed。
With these he lived successively a week at a time； thus going the
rounds of the neighborhood； with all his worldly effects tied up
in a cotton handkerchief。
That all this might not be too onerous on the purses of his
rustic patrons； who are apt to considered the costs of schooling
a grievous burden； and schoolmasters as mere drones he had
various ways of rendering himself both useful and agreeable。
He assisted the farmers occasionally in the lighter labors of
their farms； helped to make hay； mended the fences； took the
horses to water； drove the cows from pasture； and cut wood
for the winter fire。 He laid aside； too； all the dominant
dignity and absolute sway with which he lorded it in his
little empire； the school； and became wonderfully gentle
and ingratiating。 He found favor in the eyes of the mothers
by petting the children； particularly the youngest； and like
the lion bold； which whilom so magnanimously the lamb did hold；
he would sit with a child on one knee； and rock a cradle with
his foot for whole hours together。
In addition to his other vocations； he was the singing…
master of the neighborhood； and picked up many bright shillings
by instructing the young folks in psalmody。 It was a matter of no
little vanity to him on Sundays； to take his station in front of
the church gallery； with a band of chosen singers； where； in his
own mind； he completely carried away the palm from the parson。
Certain it is； his voice resounded far above all the rest of the
congregation； and there are peculiar quavers still to be heard in
that church； and which may even be heard half a mile off； quite
to the opposite side of the mill…pond； on a still Sunday morning；
which are said to be legitimately descended from the nose of
Ichabod Crane。 Thus； by divers little makeshifts； in that
ingenious way which is commonly denominated 〃by hook and by
crook；〃 the worthy pedagogue got on tolerably enough； and was
thought； by all who understood nothing of the labor of headwork；
to have a wonderfully easy life of it。
The schoolmaster is generally a man of some importance in
the female circle of a rural neighborhood； being considered a
kind of idle； gentlemanlike personage； of vastly superior taste
and accomplishments to the rough country swains； and； indeed；
inferior in learning only to the parson。 His appearance；
therefore； is apt to occasion some little stir at the tea…table
of a farmhouse； and the addition of a supernumerary dish of cakes
or sweetmeats； or； peradventure； the parade of a silver teapot。
Our man of letters； therefore； was peculiarly happy in the smiles
of all the country damsels。 How he would figure among them in the
churchyard； between services on Sundays； gathering grapes for
them from the wild vines that overran the surrounding trees；
reciting for their amusement all the epitaphs on the tombstones；
or sauntering； with a whole bevy of them； along the banks of the
adjacent mill…pond； while the more bashful country bumpkins hung
sheepishly back； envying his superior elegance and address。
From his half…itinerant life； also； he was a kind of
traveling gazette； carrying the whole budget of local gossip from
house to house； so that his appearance was always greeted with
satisfaction。 He was； moreover； esteemed by the women as a man of
great erudition； for he had read several books quite through； and
was a perfect master of Cotton Mather's 〃History of New England
Witchcraft；〃 in which； by the way； he most firmly and potently
believed。
He was； in fact； an odd mixture of small shrewdness and
simple credulity。 His appetite for the marvelous； and his powers
of digesting it； were equally extraordinary； and both had been
increased by his residence in this spell…bound region。 No tale
was too gross or monstrous for his capacious swallow。 It was
often his delight； after his school was dismissed in the
afternoon； to stretch himself on the rich bed of clover bordering
the little brook that whimpered by his school…house； and there
con over old Mather's direful tales； until the gathering dusk of
evening made the printed page a mere mist before his eyes。 Then；
as he wended his way by swamp and stream and awful woodland； to
the farmhouse where he happened to be quartered； every sound of
nature； at that witching hour； fluttered his excited
imagination； the moan of the whip…poor…will from the hillside；
the boding cry of the tree toad； that harbinger of storm； the
dreary hooting of the screech owl； to the sudden rustling in the
thicket of birds frightened from their roost。 The fireflies； too；
which sparkled most vividly in the darkest places； now and then
startled him； as one of uncommon brightness would stream across
his path； and if； by chance； a huge blockhead of a beetle came
winging his blundering flight against him； the poor varlet was
ready to give up the ghost； with the idea that he was struck with
a witch's token。 His only resource on such occasions； either to
drown thought or drive away evil spirits； was to sing psalm tunes
and the good people of Sleepy Hollow； as they sat by their doors
of an evening； were often filled with awe at hearing his nasal
melody； 〃in linked sweetness long drawn out；〃 floating from the
distant hill； or along the dusky road。
Another of his sources of fearful pleasure was to pass long
winter evenings with the old Dutch wives； as they sat spinning by
the fire； with a row of apples roasting and spluttering along the
hearth； and listen to their marvellous tales of ghosts and
goblins； and haunted fields； and haunted brooks； and haunted
bridges； and haunted houses； and particularly of the headless
horseman； or Galloping Hessian of the Hollow； as they sometimes
called him。 He would delight them equally by his anecdotes of
witchcraft； and of the direful omens and portentous sights and
sounds in the air； which prevailed in the earlier times of
Connecticut； and would frighten them woefully with speculations
upon comets and shooting stars； and with the alarming fact that
the world did absolutely turn round； and that they were half the
time topsy…turvy！
But if there was a pleasure in all this； while snugly
cuddling in the chimney corner of a chamber that was all of a
ruddy glow from the crackling wood fire； and where； of course； no
spectre dared to show its face； it was dearly purchased by the
terrors of his subsequent walk homewards。 What fearful shapes and
shadows beset his path； amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a
snowy night！ With what wistful look did he eye every trembling
ray of light streaming across the waste fields from some distant
window！ How often was he appalled by some shrub covered with
snow； which； like a sheeted spectre； beset his very path！ How
often did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own
steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet； and dread to look
over his shoulder； lest he should behold some uncouth being
tramping close behind him！ and how often was he thrown into
complete dismay by some rushing blast； howling among the trees；
in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his
nightly scourings！
All these； however； were mere terrors of the night； phantoms
of the mind that walk in darkness； and though he had seen many
spectres in his time； and been more than