“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” By Washington Irving

Do you believe in ghosts? Well, there are You see, he wasn’t a cruel man, he just some places where people do and for a Good reason! believed in the old motto, “Spare the rod and spoil If you travel up the Hudson River from noisy the child.” Ichabod Crane’s students were certainly and crowded New York City, you will come to cozy not spoiled… nor were they abused. Indeed, it was little valley, hidden away among high hills where wise of him to stay on good terms with his pupils, time seems to have stopped. The people who live for he relied on the generosity of their parents for here are the families of the first Dutch settlers. They his living. like their old ways and see no reasons to travel to the big cities of the outside world. I have heard it When school hours were over, he would said that long before the first white man came, an usually walk some of the smaller children home… old Indian chief cast a magic spell on the land. especially those who had pretty sisters, or good Whether it is true or not, there certainly is an cooks for mothers. His visits always caused some enchanted feeling that hangs over this region and Enchanted – Filled with great commotion at a farmhouse. it’s easy to believe that some very strange things can delight and charm “Set out the best plates and use the silver happen here. In fact, everything is so dream-like in teapot,” the mothers would instruct their daughters. this little valley that it’s known by the name of “Master Crane is a learned gentleman- like person, Sleepy Hollow. and I am sure he has vastly superior tastes. Be sure Sweetmeats – Sweet to make extra cakes and sweetmeats, for I never saw One day, a long time ago, a stranger came to crystallized fruit or candy a man who could eat as much as the schoolmaster.” Sleepy Hollow. He was so tall and so thin that you Ichabod was particularly happy in the might have mistaken him for some scarecrow that company of the country girls. The more bashful had run away from its cornfield. His name was country bumpkins would hang back sheepishly,

Ichabod Crane, and he had traveled all the way from secretly envying Ichabod’s education and elegant Connecticut to be Sleepy Hollow’s new manners he displayed to the ladies. schoolteacher. The schoolhouse was a little one-room On cold autumn evenings, Ichabod loved to building, made of logs. Through its patched visit with the old Dutch wives, as they sat spinning windows you could hear the murmur of the by the fire, telling their tales of haunted brooks and students’ voices, reading out their lessons, and haunted bridges, not to mention numerous ghosts Hessian – A German then… “Whack!!” … the rightful sound of the birch mercenary soldier in the and goblins. rod as it met the bottom of some particularly British army during the It was on one evening that he first heard the naughty child. Revolutionary War story of the most famous spirit of them all. It was, “It may hurt now,” Ichabod Crane would tell they said, the ghost of a Hessian trooper who, the smarting urchin, “but you will remember this Urchin – A mischievous young during the Revolutionary War, had his head shot off lesson and thank me for it for the rest of your days.” child by the cannonball! “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” By Washington Irving

“They buried the body in the churchyard,” “Master Crane, Father and I would have you said one old dame. give me lessons in the art of singing,” Katrina “But they never found his head,” added informed the delighted Ichabod. another. Awestruck – Filled with He gazed around in awestruck wonder. His “His ghost rides out in the town in the wonder or amazement mouth watered as his ever hungry mind pictured all gloom of the night to the old battlefield where he the bounty of the farm, cooked and ready for the searches for his lost head.” dinner table. And then there was Katrina, rosy “And then he thunders back along the roads cheeked as one of her Father’s peaches, the as if on the wings of the wind until he reaches the crowning jewel in this sumptuous setting. church bridge, where he vanishes in a flash of fire and brimstone!” “By hook or by crook” – “My peace of mind is at an end!” thought “He is known as the Headless Horseman of English idiom (phrase) Ichabod. “I must, somehow by hook or by crook, win meaning by any means the Hollow.” the hand of Katrina Van Tassel!” necessary “Heaven preserve us!” exclaimed Ichabod, Now, Ichabod Crane wasn’t the only who had a most fearful walk home that evening, bachelor with his eye on Katrina. Oh, no, there was imagining he saw the ghostly form of the Headless also Brom Bones. He was the local hero, famed for Horseman in every shadow that crossed his path. his great skill in horsemanship and feats of strength Madcap – Crazy or reckless and daring. When a madcap prank took place, the Be that as it may, the morning sun sent any neighbors always smiled, shook their heads and ghost or goblin scampering back to its secret lair, said, “Brom Bones must be at the bottom of it.” This and shone once again on the rich and friendly hero had singled out Katrina as the object of his farmland of the Hollow. gallantries, and though he had not courted her for On this day, Ichabod found himself some time, Brom had never actually asked her for summoned to the largest and most prosperous of her hand in marriage. It was whispered that Katrina the Dutch homesteads. It was owned by one Baltus would have gladly accepted Brom’s offer. Well, that Van Tassel. was the situation Ichabod had to contend with. “My greatest treasure,” boasted the old Van Considering all things, a stronger man would have Tassel, “is not my full barn, nor my fields of rye, Rye – A wheat-like cereal shrunk from the competition. A wiser man would buckwheat, or Indian corn, nor my cattle, nor have despaired. Buckwheat – Starchy seed horses, nor pigs, nor fowls, nor even my house and ground into flour Ichabod made his advances in a quiet all the goods therein. No, Sir, my greatest treasure and subtle way. Using the excuse of giving singing is my daughter my only child, Katrina.” lessons, he made frequent visits to the manor And there she was, Katrina Van Tassel, house. And so, while the busy dame Van Tassel famed not only for her great beauty, but also for the worked at her spinning wheel, and the honest Balt fact that she stood to inherit all the Van Tassel sat smoking his evening pipe, Ichabod would pay wealth. court to Katrina. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” By Washington Irving

scene. He had come to the gathering on his favorite “The devil take that schoolmaster!” fumed horse, Daredevil, a creature like himself, full of Brom Bones. “Every time I visit the Van Tassels, Mettle – Spirit, temperament mettle and mischief.

Ichabod Crane is there singing with Katrina! I’ll double that schoolmaster up, and stick him on a Oh! The world of charms that burst upon shelf in his own schoolhouse!” the ever-hungry Ichabod as he entered the Van Ichabod was too conscious of the superior Tassel’s mansion. might of Bones to give him any such opportunity. As “Welcome, Master Crane,” greeted Katrina. a result, Ichabod became the object of practical “I’m so pleased you could come. Won’t you have jokes played by Brom and his gang of Sleepy Hollow something to eat? There are doughnuts and Oly Oly Koek – Type of doughnut boys. Things went on this way for some time Koek and crullers: sweet-cakes and short-cakes, without Brom being able to discourage the elusive Elusive – difficult to find ginger-cakes and honey-cakes. And there’s apple Ichabod. pie, peach pie and pumpkin pie. There’s ham and Quince – A yellow, hard, pear- smoked beef, and here preserved plums, and One fine autumn afternoon, as Ichabod sat shaped fruit. It tastes like an peaches and pears, and quinces. And here are watching over his schoolroom, a messenger came apple with the texture of a boiled shad and roasted chickens. I know, I’ll just chattering up to the door. pear give you some of each!”

“Master Crane, you are hereby invited to And she did. Frolic – To make merry or fun, attend the merrymaking-quilting frolic to be held celebration Ichabod’s eyes rolled with delight as he ate. this very evening at the home of the Van Tassels.” “To think, soon I might be master of all this All was now hustle and hubbub. Books Hubbub – Chaotic, noisy, busy luxury and splendor!” were flung aside and the whole school was turned And now the sound of music summoned all out an hour early. The gallant Ichabod spent at to the dance. The fiddler’s bow worked its magic on least an extra half-hour arranging his locks and Ichabod, enlivening every inch of his delighted brushing his best and only suit. He borrowed a frame. How could our flogger of urchins be anything horse from an old Dutch farmer, so that he might but animated and joyous? The lady of his heart was make his appearance before Katrina in the true Cavalier – Gallant or courtly smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous style of a romantic cavalier. The animal, named oglings. All the while, the frustrated Brom Bones, Gunpowder, was a broken-down plough horse that Ogling – A flirty stare sorely smitten with love and jealously, sat brooding had outlived everything but his bad temper. Thus, by himself in a corner. gallantly mounted, Ichabod rode forth like a knight of old in search of adventure. When the dancing was over, Ichabod joined

It was towards evening that Ichabod arrived at the a group of elders who sat out on the porch, smoking Van Tassel manor. He found it thronged with the Throng – Large, densely their long clay pipes and telling their wild and local people, all turned out in their best attire. packed crowd wonderful legends. They told of the Woman in White Brom Bones was there, as usual the hero of the who haunted the dark glen at Raven Rock. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” By Washington Irving

“She was on her way home one night when a as they swayed in the breeze. He passed in safety, sudden snowstorm caught her out in the open. She but knew dangers lay ahead. took shelter in a cleft in the rock, but it did no good, Cleft – Split or partially divided she froze to death before dawn. And to this day, you A small brook crossed the road and ran into can still hear her bone-chilling shrieks on cold a dark hollow called Wiley’s Swamp. A few rough winter nights, just before a storm” logs served as a bridge over this stream. Ichabod

The old folks all puffed on their pipes and attempted to dash quickly across the bridge, but old nodded their heads in agreement. Gunpowder came to a short stop and refused to Now Brom Bones spoke up. move. In the dark shadow of the grove, Ichabod saw “A fearful thing happened to Hans Van something huge and misshapen. Ripper last night. He was chased all along the His heart began to thump as he demanded, church road by none other than the ghost of the “Who are you?”

Headless Horseman! Yes, and poor old Van Ripper There was no reply. was nearly carried off to hell by the goblin. He Once again he called out, “Who are you? would’ve been, too, but he reached the church Speak!” Ichabod’s hair stood on end as the silence bridge first, beating out the headless ghost, who, all continued. of a sudden, vanished in a flash of fire.” The schoolmaster used both whip and heel His listeners all shook their heads, on old Gunpowder, who finally started forward. But muttering, “Lucky old Hans.” the shadowy figure was also in motion. Ichabod

urged Gunpowder to a faster pace. But the stranger

The party now began to break up. The old quickened his horse to equal it. As they came to the farmers gathered their families in their wagons, and top of a hill, the dark figure could be seen clearly were heard for some time, rattling along the roads against the sky. The stranger was headless!—Not and over the distant hills. Ichabod was the last to only that, he carried his severed head in front of leave, and in the very witching time of night, he Witching Time - Midnight him on the saddle! mounted old Gunpowder and set out for home.

Ichabod’s terror rose to desperation. He

All the tales of ghosts and goblins that he showered kicks and blows on the terrified had heard that evening now suddenly came back to Specter - Ghost Gunpowder, who leapt into action. But the specter him. The night grew darker and darker. The road started full jump with him. Away they dashed, now led into the very shadow of Raven Rock. As he stones flying, sparks flashing at every bound! Over approached this terrible spot, Ichabod cast the road, plunging down, into the Hollow they raced! frightened glances to the right and to the left for any Over logs, under branches, galloping side by side. sign of the ghostly Woman in White. Suddenly he “Faster! Faster!” Ichabod urged. heard a groan—his teeth chattered at the sound; Gunpowder bolted ahead. Suddenly, his but it was only one tree branch rubbing on another saddle slipped from beneath him. It fell to earth, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” By Washington Irving trampled under the thundering hooves of the demon burst into a hearty laugh—especially at the mention Demon – Evil, destructive horse. of the pumpkin. Ichabod clung desperately to the neck of old Gunpowder, as he raced for his life. An opening in It is true that Hans Van Ripper, who had the trees ahead revealed the church bridge. “If I can been down to New York on a visit several years after, reach that bridge, I’m safe” Brought home news that Master Crane was still Another kick in the ribs, and old Gunpowder alive and married to a plump and wealthy widow, sprang onto the bridge. He thundered over the who just happened to own a prosperous tavern, planks. He reached the opposite side. Ichabod cast a famed for its good food. But of course, we only have look behind, hoping to see the ghostly Horseman Brimstone – Sulfuric smoke, old Hans’ word on that. The old country wives, vanish in a flash of fire and brimstone. Instead, he used to describe Hell however, who are the best judges of these matters, saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, in the very act maintain that Ichabod was spirited away by of hurling his head at him. Ichabod tried to dodge, Supernatural – Beyond supernatural means. but too late! It hit him with a tremendous CRASH! scientific understanding or the To this day, the local people swear that on laws of nature crisp autumn evenings, in the road by the church

The next morning, old Gunpowder was bridge, you can still hear the echo of hoof beats and found without his saddle, happily chomping the see, rushing by, like mist blown by the wind, the grass at his master’s gate. Ichabod did not make his ghosts of Ichabod Crane and the Headless appearance at breakfast. His students assembled at Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. the schoolhouse, but no schoolmaster. In one part of the road leading to the church, the saddle was found, trampled in the dirt. There were tracks of horses’ hooves which led to the bridge, where the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod was discovered, and close beside it, most curious, a shattered pumpkin. The brook was searched, but the body of the school teacher was never found.

Shortly after the disappearance of Ichabod, all of Sleepy Hollow rejoiced at the wedding of Katrina and Brom. Could it be, as some whispered, that Katrina’s encouragement to the schoolmaster was merely a trick to get Brom to the altar? As to “Get Brom to the altar” – To Brom Bones, some suspected that he knew more make Brom marry her than he chose to tell about the is appearance of Ichabod, for whenever the story was told, he always