Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Then,hethought,howsoonhe’dturnhisbackupontheoldschoolhouse;snaphisfingersinthefaceofHansVanRipper,andeveryotherniggardlypatron,andkickanyitinerantpedagogueoutofdoorsthatshoulddaretocallhimcomrade!
OldBaltusVanTasselmovedaboutamonghisguestswithafacedilatedwithcontentandgoodhumor,roundandjollyastheharvestmoon.Hishospitableattentionswerebrief,butexpressive,beingconfinedtoashakeofthehand,aslapontheshoulder,aloudlaugh,andapressinginvitationto“fallto,andhelpthemselves.”
Andnowthesoundofthemusicfromthecommonroom,orhall,summonedtothedance.Themusicianwasanoldgray-headednegro,whohadbeentheitinerantorchestraoftheneighborhoodformorethanhalfacentury.Hisinstrumentwasasoldandbatteredashimself.Thegreaterpartofthetimehescrapedontwoorthreestrings,accompanyingeverymovementofthebowwithamotionofthehead;bowingalmosttotheground,andstampingwithhisfootwheneverafreshcoupleweretostart.
Ichabodpridedhimselfuponhisdancingasmuchasuponhisvocalpowers.Notalimb,notafibreabouthimwasidle;andtohaveseenhislooselyhungframeinfullmotion,andclatteringabouttheroom,youwouldhavethoughtSt.Vitushimself,thatblessedpatronofthedance,wasfiguringbeforeyouinperson.
