Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Brom,whohadadegreeofroughchivalryinhisnature,wouldfainhavecarriedmatterstoopenwarfareandhavesettledtheirpretensionstothelady,accordingtothemodeofthosemostconciseandsimplereasoners,theknights-errantofyore,—bysinglecombat;butIchabodwastooconsciousofthesuperiormightofhisadversarytoenterthelistsagainsthim;hehadoverheardaboastofBones,thathewould“doubletheschoolmasterup,andlayhimonashelfofhisownschoolhouse;”andhewastoowarytogivehimanopportunity.Therewassomethingextremelyprovokinginthisobstinatelypacificsystem;itleftBromnoalternativebuttodrawuponthefundsofrusticwaggeryinhisdisposition,andtoplayoffboorishpracticaljokesuponhisrival.IchabodbecametheobjectofwhimsicalpersecutiontoBonesandhisgangofroughriders.Theyharriedhishithertopeacefuldomains;smokedouthissingingschoolbystoppingupthechimney;brokeintotheschoolhouseatnight,inspiteofitsformidablefasteningsofwitheandwindowstakes,andturnedeverythingtopsy-turvy,sothatthepoorschoolmasterbegantothinkallthewitchesinthecountryheldtheirmeetingsthere.Butwhatwasstillmoreannoying,Bromtookallopportunitiesofturninghimintoridiculeinpresenceofhismistress,andhadascoundreldogwhomhetaughttowhineinthemostludicrousmanner,andintroducedasarivalofIchabod’s,toinstructherinpsalmody.
Inthiswaymatterswentonforsometime,withoutproducinganymaterialeffectontherelativesituationsofthecontendingpowers.
