Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Andtherewasanoldgentlemanwhoshallbenameless,beingtoorichamynheertobelightlymentioned,who,inthebattleofWhitePlains,beinganexcellentmasterofdefence,parriedamusket-ballwithasmallsword,insomuchthatheabsolutelyfeltitwhizroundtheblade,andglanceoffatthehilt;inproofofwhichhewasreadyatanytimetoshowthesword,withthehiltalittlebent.Therewereseveralmorethathadbeenequallygreatinthefield,notoneofwhombutwaspersuadedthathehadaconsiderablehandinbringingthewartoahappytermination.
Butallthesewerenothingtothetalesofghostsandapparitionsthatsucceeded.Theneighborhoodisrichinlegendarytreasuresofthekind.Localtalesandsuperstitionsthrivebestinthesesheltered,long-settledretreats;butaretrampledunderfootbytheshiftingthrongthatformsthepopulationofmostofourcountryplaces.Besides,thereisnoencouragementforghostsinmostofourvillages,fortheyhavescarcelyhadtimetofinishtheirfirstnapandturnthemselvesintheirgraves,beforetheirsurvivingfriendshavetravelledawayfromtheneighborhood;sothatwhentheyturnoutatnighttowalktheirrounds,theyhavenoacquaintancelefttocallupon.Thisisperhapsthereasonwhywesoseldomhearofghostsexceptinourlong-establishedDutchcommunities.
Theimmediatecause,however,oftheprevalenceofsupernaturalstoriesintheseparts,wasdoubtlessowingtothevicinityofSleepyHollow.
