Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
SuchwastheformidablerivalwithwhomIchabodCranehadtocontend,and,consideringallthings,astoutermanthanhewouldhaveshrunkfromthecompetition,andawisermanwouldhavedespaired.Hehad,however,ahappymixtureofpliabilityandperseveranceinhisnature;hewasinformandspiritlikeasupple-jack—yielding,buttough;thoughhebent,heneverbroke;andthoughhebowedbeneaththeslightestpressure,yet,themomentitwasaway—jerk!—hewasaserect,andcarriedhisheadashighasever.
Tohavetakenthefieldopenlyagainsthisrivalwouldhavebeenmadness;forhewasnotamantobethwartedinhisamours,anymorethanthatstormylover,Achilles.Ichabod,therefore,madehisadvancesinaquietandgentlyinsinuatingmanner.Undercoverofhischaracterofsinging-master,hemadefrequentvisitsatthefarmhouse;notthathehadanythingtoapprehendfromthemeddlesomeinterferenceofparents,whichissooftenastumbling-blockinthepathoflovers.BaltVanTasselwasaneasyindulgentsoul;helovedhisdaughterbettereventhanhispipe,and,likeareasonablemanandanexcellentfather,letherhaveherwayineverything.Hisnotablelittlewife,too,hadenoughtodotoattendtoherhousekeepingandmanageherpoultry;for,asshesagelyobserved,ducksandgeesearefoolishthings,andmustbelookedafter,butgirlscantakecareofthemselves.
