Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Shewasabloominglassoffresheighteen;plumpasapartridge;ripeandmeltingandrosy-cheekedasoneofherfather’speaches,anduniversallyfamed,notmerelyforherbeauty,buthervastexpectations.Shewaswithalalittleofacoquette,asmightbeperceivedeveninherdress,whichwasamixtureofancientandmodernfashions,asmostsuitedtosetoffhercharms.Sheworetheornamentsofpureyellowgold,whichhergreat-great-grandmotherhadbroughtoverfromSaardam;thetemptingstomacheroftheoldentime,andwithalaprovokinglyshortpetticoat,todisplaytheprettiestfootandankleinthecountryround.
IchabodCranehadasoftandfoolishhearttowardsthesex;anditisnottobewonderedatthatsotemptingamorselsoonfoundfavorinhiseyes,moreespeciallyafterhehadvisitedherinherpaternalmansion.OldBaltusVanTasselwasaperfectpictureofathriving,contented,liberal-heartedfarmer.Heseldom,itistrue,senteitherhiseyesorhisthoughtsbeyondtheboundariesofhisownfarm;butwithinthoseeverythingwassnug,happyandwell-conditioned.Hewassatisfiedwithhiswealth,butnotproudofit;andpiquedhimselfupontheheartyabundance,ratherthanthestyleinwhichhelived.HisstrongholdwassituatedonthebanksoftheHudson,inoneofthosegreen,sheltered,fertilenooksinwhichtheDutchfarmersaresofondofnestling.
