Легенда о Сонной Лощине
Found Among The Papers Of The Late Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Thatallthismightnotbetooonerousonthepursesofhisrusticpatrons,whoareapttoconsiderthecostsofschoolingagrievousburden,andschoolmastersasmeredrones,hehadvariouswaysofrenderinghimselfbothusefulandagreeable.Heassistedthefarmersoccasionallyinthelighterlaborsoftheirfarms,helpedtomakehay,mendedthefences,tookthehorsestowater,drovethecowsfrompasture,andcutwoodforthewinterfire.Helaidaside,too,allthedominantdignityandabsoluteswaywithwhichhelordeditinhislittleempire,theschool,andbecamewonderfullygentleandingratiating.Hefoundfavorintheeyesofthemothersbypettingthechildren,particularlytheyoungest;andlikethelionbold,whichwhilomsomagnanimouslythelambdidhold,hewouldsitwithachildononeknee,androckacradlewithhisfootforwholehourstogether.
Inadditiontohisothervocations,hewasthesinging-masteroftheneighborhood,andpickedupmanybrightshillingsbyinstructingtheyoungfolksinpsalmody.ItwasamatterofnolittlevanitytohimonSundays,totakehisstationinfrontofthechurchgallery,withabandofchosensingers;where,inhisownmind,hecompletelycarriedawaythepalmfromtheparson.Certainitis,hisvoiceresoundedfarabovealltherestofthecongregation;andtherearepeculiarquaversstilltobeheardinthatchurch,andwhichmayevenbeheardhalfamileoff,quitetotheoppositesideofthemillpond,onastillSundaymorning,whicharesaidtobelegitimatelydescendedfromthenoseofIchabodCrane.
