Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Thus,whilethebusydamebustledaboutthehouse,orpliedherspinning-wheelatoneendofthepiazza,honestBaltwouldsitsmokinghiseveningpipeattheother,watchingtheachievementsofalittlewoodenwarrior,who,armedwithaswordineachhand,wasmostvaliantlyfightingthewindonthepinnacleofthebarn.Inthemeantime,Ichabodwouldcarryonhissuitwiththedaughterbythesideofthespringunderthegreatelm,orsaunteringalonginthetwilight,thathoursofavorabletothelover’seloquence.
Iprofessnottoknowhowwomen’sheartsarewooedandwon.Tometheyhavealwaysbeenmattersofriddleandadmiration.Someseemtohavebutonevulnerablepoint,ordoorofaccess;whileothershaveathousandavenues,andmaybecapturedinathousanddifferentways.Itisagreattriumphofskilltogaintheformer,butastillgreaterproofofgeneralshiptomaintainpossessionofthelatter,formanmustbattleforhisfortressateverydoorandwindow.Hewhowinsathousandcommonheartsisthereforeentitledtosomerenown;buthewhokeepsundisputedswayovertheheartofacoquetteisindeedahero.Certainitis,thiswasnotthecasewiththeredoubtableBromBones;andfromthemomentIchabodCranemadehisadvances,theinterestsoftheformerevidentlydeclined:hishorsewasnolongerseentiedtothepalingsonSundaynights,andadeadlyfeudgraduallyarosebetweenhimandthepreceptorofSleepyHollow.
