Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Whatfearfulshapesandshadowsbesethispath,amidstthedimandghastlyglareofasnowynight!Withwhatwistfullookdidheeyeeverytremblingrayoflightstreamingacrossthewastefieldsfromsomedistantwindow!Howoftenwasheappalledbysomeshrubcoveredwithsnow,which,likeasheetedspectre,besethisverypath!Howoftendidheshrinkwithcurdlingaweatthesoundofhisownstepsonthefrostycrustbeneathhisfeet;anddreadtolookoverhisshoulder,lestheshouldbeholdsomeuncouthbeingtrampingclosebehindhim!Andhowoftenwashethrownintocompletedismaybysomerushingblast,howlingamongthetrees,intheideathatitwastheGallopingHessianononeofhisnightlyscourings!
Allthese,however,weremereterrorsofthenight,phantomsofthemindthatwalkindarkness;andthoughhehadseenmanyspectresinhistime,andbeenmorethanoncebesetbySatanindiversshapes,inhislonelyperambulations,yetdaylightputanendtoalltheseevils;andhewouldhavepassedapleasantlifeofit,indespiteoftheDevilandallhisworks,ifhispathhadnotbeencrossedbyabeingthatcausesmoreperplexitytomortalmanthanghosts,goblins,andthewholeraceofwitchesputtogether,andthatwas—awoman.
Amongthemusicaldiscipleswhoassembled,oneeveningineachweek,toreceivehisinstructionsinpsalmody,wasKatrinaVanTassel,thedaughterandonlychildofasubstantialDutchfarmer.
