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of the mind that walk in darkness； and though he had seen many
spectres in his time； and been more than once beset by Satan in
divers shapes； in his lonely perambulations； yet daylight put an
end to all these evils； and he would have passed a pleasant life
of it； in despite of the Devil and all his works； if his path had
not been crossed by a being that causes more perplexity to mortal
man than ghosts； goblins； and the whole race of witches put
together； and that wasa woman。
Among the musical 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 booming lass of 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 her vast expectations。 She was withal 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 of
her charms。 She wore the ornaments of pure yellow gold； which her
great…great…grandmother had brought over from Saar dam； the
tempting stomacher of the olden time； and withal a provokingly
short petticoat； to display the prettiest foot and ankle in the
country round。
Ichahod Crane had a soft and foolish heart towards the sex；
and it is not to be wondered at； that so tempting a morsel soon
found favor 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 those everything was
snug； happy and well…conditioned。 He was satisfied with his
wealth； but not proud of it； and piqued 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 neighboring
brook； that babbled along among alders and dwarf willows。 Hard
by the farmhouse 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 to night； swallows and martins
skimmed twittering about the eaves； an 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 whence 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 pedagogue'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； not a turkey but he beheld daintily trussed up；
with its gizzard under its wing； and； peradventure； a necklace of
savory sausages； and even bright chanticleer himself lay
sprawling on his back； in a side dish； with uplifted claws； as if
craving that quarter which his chivalrous spirit disdained to ask
while living。
As 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 orchards
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。 Nay； 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 farmhouses； with high…
ridged but lowly sloping roofs； built in the style handed down
from the first Dutch settlers； the low projecting eaves forming a
piazza along the front； capable of being closed up in bad
weather。 Under this were hung flails； harness； various utensils
of husbandry； and nets for fishing in the neighboring 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 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 gaud of red
peppers； and a door left ajar gave him a peep into the best
parlor； 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
various…colored 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 study
was how to gain the affections of the peerless daughter of Van
Tassel。 In this enterprise； however； he 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； on 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。
Among these； the most formidable was a burly； roaring；
roystering 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 bluff but not unpleasant countenance； having a mingled air
of fun and arrogance From his Herculean f