Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Thepedagogue’smouthwateredashelookeduponthissumptuouspromiseofluxuriouswinterfare.Inhisdevouringmind’seye,hepicturedtohimselfeveryroasting-pigrunningaboutwithapuddinginhisbelly,andanappleinhismouth;thepigeonsweresnuglyputtobedinacomfortablepie,andtuckedinwithacoverletofcrust;thegeesewereswimmingintheirowngravy;andtheduckspairingcosilyindishes,likesnugmarriedcouples,withadecentcompetencyofonionsauce.Intheporkershesawcarvedoutthefuturesleeksideofbacon,andjuicyrelishingham;notaturkeybuthebehelddaintilytrussedup,withitsgizzardunderitswing,and,peradventure,anecklaceofsavorysausages;andevenbrightchanticleerhimselflaysprawlingonhisback,inasidedish,withupliftedclaws,asifcravingthatquarterwhichhischivalrousspiritdisdainedtoaskwhileliving.
AstheenrapturedIchabodfanciedallthis,andasherolledhisgreatgreeneyesoverthefatmeadowlands,therichfieldsofwheat,ofrye,ofbuckwheat,andIndiancorn,andtheorchardsburdenedwithruddyfruit,whichsurroundedthewarmtenementofVanTassel,hisheartyearnedafterthedamselwhowastoinheritthesedomains,andhisimaginationexpandedwiththeidea,howtheymightbereadilyturnedintocash,andthemoneyinvestedinimmensetractsofwildland,andshinglepalacesinthewilderness.
