The old horse tried to run, but almost fell in the river, instead. But no, it was only the moonlight shining and moving on the tree. He thought he saw something white move in the tree. He began to whistle as he came close to the tree where a man had been killed years ago by rebels. Well, Ichabod began his long ride home on the hills that surround Tarry Town. Had Katrina been seeing Ichabod just to make Brom Van Brunt jealous so he would marry her? Was she ending their romance? He left feeling very sad. Ichabod seemed very happy until he said goodnight to Katrina. The stories ended and time came to leave the party. All that was left was a man with white bones shining in the moonlight. There the headless horseman suddenly stopped. The horseman followed over bush and stone until they came to the end of the valley. The farmer ran his horse faster and faster. One farmer told how he raced the headless man on a horse. The most feared story was about the rider looking for his lost head. Soon stories about Sleepy Hollow were told. The music stopped, and the young people sat together to tell stories about the revolutionary war. Ichabod was happy dancing with Katrina as Brom looked at them with a jealous heart. Soon music filled the rooms and everyone began to dance and sing. All the young ladies smiled happily when they saw him. Wine filled many glasses.īrom Van Brunt rode to the party on his fastest horse called Daredevil. The tables were filled with different things to eat. The house was filled with farmers and their wives, red-faced daughters and clean, washed sons. A farmer loaned him an old horse for the long trip to the party. One day in autumn Ichabod was asked to come to a big party at the Van Tassel home. Brom's horse was never seen at Katrina's house on Sunday nights anymore. Time passed, and the town people thought Ichabod was winning. He made many visits to Katrina's farm and made her think he was helping her to sing better. He could not fight his enemy in the open. Stronger and wiser men would not have tried. Such was the enemy Ichabod had to defeat for Katrina's heart. Tired old ladies would awaken from their sleep and say: "Why, there goes Brom Van Brunt leading his wild group again!"
Sometimes late at night Brom and his friends would rush through town shouting loudly from the backs of their horses. He always won the horse races in Tarry Town and earned many prizes. One was a strong young man named Brom Van Brunt. He saw himself as master of the Van Tassel farm with Katrina as his wife.īut there were many problems blocking the road to Katrina's heart. Ichabod's eyes opened wide when he saw the riches of Katrina's farm: the miles of apple trees and wheat fields, and hundreds of fat farm animals. Ichabod had a soft and foolish heart for the ladies, and soon found himself interested in Miss Van Tassel. She was a girl in bloom…much like a round red, rosy apple. She was the only daughter of a rich Dutch farmer. Every Sunday after church Ichabod taught singing.Īmong the ladies Ichabod taught was one Katrina Van Tassel.
To help him pay for his food he earned extra money teaching young people to sing. And although he was tall and thin, he ate like a fat man. Ichabod did not make much money as a teacher. He had big ears, large glassy green eyes and a long nose. His head was small, too, and flat on top. His shoulders were small, joined two long arms. Ichabod Crane was a good name for him, because he looked like a tall bird, a crane. It was settled many years ago by people from Holland. Near Sleepy Hollow is a village called Tarry Town. Every night he rises from his burial place, jumps on his horse and rides through the valley looking for his lost head. The story says the man died many years ago during the American Revolutionary War. But the story that people believe most is about a man who rides a horse at night. There are many stories told about the quiet valley. The valley known as Sleepy Hollow hides from the world in the high hills of New York state.
It is about something strange that happened long ago in a valley called "Sleepy Hollow". Today's story is called "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
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