Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Thescholarswerehurriedthroughtheirlessonswithoutstoppingattrifles;thosewhowerenimbleskippedoverhalfwithimpunity,andthosewhoweretardyhadasmartapplicationnowandthenintherear,toquickentheirspeedorhelpthemoveratallword.Bookswereflungasidewithoutbeingputawayontheshelves,inkstandswereoverturned,benchesthrowndown,andthewholeschoolwasturnedlooseanhourbeforetheusualtime,burstingforthlikealegionofyoungimps,yelpingandracketingaboutthegreeninjoyattheirearlyemancipation.
ThegallantIchabodnowspentatleastanextrahalfhourathistoilet,brushingandfurbishinguphisbest,andindeedonlysuitofrustyblack,andarranginghislocksbyabitofbrokenlooking-glassthathungupintheschoolhouse.Thathemightmakehisappearancebeforehismistressinthetruestyleofacavalier,heborrowedahorsefromthefarmerwithwhomhewasdomiciliated,acholericoldDutchmanofthenameofHansVanRipper,and,thusgallantlymounted,issuedforthlikeaknight-errantinquestofadventures.ButitismeetIshould,inthetruespiritofromanticstory,givesomeaccountofthelooksandequipmentsofmyheroandhissteed.Theanimalhebestrodewasabroken-downplow-horse,thathadoutlivedalmosteverythingbutitsviciousness.Hewasgauntandshagged,withaeweneck,andaheadlikeahammer;hisrustymaneandtailweretangledandknottedwithburs;oneeyehadlostitspupil,andwasglaringandspectral,buttheotherhadthegleamofagenuinedevilinit.
