Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
ItwastowardeveningthatIchabodarrivedatthecastleoftheHeerVanTassel,whichhefoundthrongedwiththeprideandfloweroftheadjacentcountry.Oldfarmers,aspareleathern-facedrace,inhomespuncoatsandbreeches,bluestockings,hugeshoes,andmagnificentpewterbuckles.Theirbrisk,witheredlittledames,inclose-crimpedcaps,long-waistedshortgowns,homespunpetticoats,withscissorsandpincushions,andgaycalicopocketshangingontheoutside.Buxomlasses,almostasantiquatedastheirmothers,exceptingwhereastrawhat,afineribbon,orperhapsawhitefrock,gavesymptomsofcityinnovation.Thesons,inshortsquare-skirtedcoats,withrowsofstupendousbrassbuttons,andtheirhairgenerallyqueuedinthefashionofthetimes,especiallyiftheycouldprocureaneel-skinforthepurpose,itbeingesteemedthroughoutthecountryasapotentnourisherandstrengthenerofthehair.
BromBones,however,wastheheroofthescene,havingcometothegatheringonhisfavoritesteedDaredevil,acreature,likehimself,fullofmettleandmischief,andwhichnoonebuthimselfcouldmanage.Hewas,infact,notedforpreferringviciousanimals,giventoallkindsoftrickswhichkepttheriderinconstantriskofhisneck,forheheldatractable,well-brokenhorseasunworthyofaladofspirit.
FainwouldIpausetodwellupontheworldofcharmsthatburstupontheenrapturedgazeofmyhero,asheenteredthestateparlorofVanTassel’smansion.
