Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.

           Apleasinglandofdrowsyheaditwas,

           Ofdreamsthatwavebeforethehalf-shuteye;

           Andofgaycastlesinthecloudsthatpass,

           Foreverflushingroundasummersky.

           CastleOfIndolence.

           InthebosomofoneofthosespaciouscoveswhichindenttheeasternshoreoftheHudson,atthatbroadexpansionoftheriverdenominatedbytheancientDutchnavigatorstheTappanZee,andwheretheyalwaysprudentlyshortenedsailandimploredtheprotectionofSt.Nicholaswhentheycrossed,thereliesasmallmarkettownorruralport,whichbysomeiscalledGreensburgh,butwhichismoregenerallyandproperlyknownbythenameofTarryTown.Thisnamewasgiven,wearetold,informerdays,bythegoodhousewivesoftheadjacentcountry,fromtheinveteratepropensityoftheirhusbandstolingeraboutthevillagetavernonmarketdays.Bethatasitmay,Idonotvouchforthefact,butmerelyadverttoit,forthesakeofbeingpreciseandauthentic.Notfarfromthisvillage,perhapsabouttwomiles,thereisalittlevalleyorratherlapoflandamonghighhills,whichisoneofthequietestplacesinthewholeworld.Asmallbrookglidesthroughit,withjustmurmurenoughtolullonetorepose;andtheoccasionalwhistleofaquailortappingofawoodpeckerisalmosttheonlysoundthateverbreaksinupontheuniformtranquillity.

           Irecollectthat,whenastripling,myfirstexploitinsquirrel-shootingwasinagroveoftallwalnut-treesthatshadesonesideofthevalley.