按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
building stone…fences； the women of the village； too； used to employ
him to run their errands； and to do such little odd jobs as their less
obliging husbands would not do for them。 In a word Rip was ready to
attend to anybody's business but his own； but as to doing family duty；
and keeping his farm in order； he found it impossible。
In fact； he declared it was of no use to work on his farm； it was
the most pestilent little piece of ground in the whole country；
every thing about it went wrong； and would go wrong； in spite of
him。 His fences were continually falling to pieces； his cow would
either go astray； or get among the cabbages； weeds were sure to grow
quicker in his fields than anywhere else； the rain always made a point
of setting in just as he had some out…door work to do； so that
though his patrimonial estate had dwindled away under his
management； acre by acre； until there was little more left than a mere
patch of Indian corn and potatoes； yet it was the worst conditioned
farm in the neighborhood。
His children； too； were as ragged and wild as if they belonged to
nobody。 His son Rip； an urchin begotten in his own likeness；
promised to inherit the habits； with the old clothes of his father。 He
was generally seen trooping like a colt at his mother's heels；
equipped in a pair of his father's cast…off galligaskins； which he had
much ado to hold up with one hand； as a fine lady does her train in
bad weather。
Rip Van Winkle； however； was one of those happy mortals； of foolish；
well…oiled dispositions； who take the world easy； eat white bread or
brown； whichever can be got with least thought or trouble； and would
rather starve on a penny than work for a pound。 If left to himself； he
would have whistled life away in perfect contentment； but his wife
kept continually dinning in his ears about his idleness； his
carelessness； and the ruin he was bringing on his family。 Morning；
noon； and night； her tongue was incessantly going； and every thing
he said or did was sure to produce a torrent of household eloquence。
Rip had but one way of replying to all lectures of the kind； and that；
by frequent use； had grown into a habit。 He shrugged his shoulders；
shook his head； cast up his eyes； but said nothing。 This； however；
always provoked a fresh volley from his wife； so that he was fain to
draw off his forces； and take to the outside of the house… the only
side which； in truth； belongs to a hen…pecked husband。
Rip's sole domestic adherent was his dog Wolf； who was as much
hen…pecked as his master； for Dame Van Winkle regarded them as
companions in idleness； and even looked upon Wolf with an evil eye； as
the cause of his master's going so often astray。 True it is； in all
points of spirit befitting an honorable dog； he was as courageous an
animal as ever scoured the woods… but what courage can withstand the
ever…during and all…besetting terrors of a woman's tongue？ The
moment Wolf entered the house his crest fell； his tail drooped to
the ground； or curled between his legs； he sneaked about with a
gallows air； casting many a sidelong glance at Dame Van Winkle； and at
the least flourish of a broomstick or ladle； he would fly to the
door with yelping precipitation。
Times grew worse and worse with Rip Van Winkle as years of matrimony
rolled on； a tart temper never mellows with age； and a sharp tongue is
the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use。 For a long
while he used to console himself； when driven from home； by
frequenting a kind of perpetual club of the sages； philosophers； and
other idle personages of the village； which held its sessions on a
bench before a small inn； designated by a rubicund portrait of His
Majesty George the Third。 Here they used to sit in the shade through a
long lazy summer's day； talking listlessly over village gossip； or
telling endless sleepy stories about nothing。 But it would have been
worth any statesman's money to have heard the profound discussions
that sometimes took place； when by chance an old newspaper fell into
their hands from some passing traveller。 How solemnly they would
listen to the contents； as drawled out by Derrick Van Bummel； the
schoolmaster； a dapper learned little man； who was not to be daunted
by the most gigantic word in the dictionary； and how sagely they would
deliberate upon public events some months after they had taken place。
The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas
Vedder； a patriarch of the village； and landlord of the inn； at the
door of which he took his seat from morning till night just moving
sufficiently to avoid the sun and keep in the shade of a large tree；
so that the neighbors could tell the hour by his movements as
accurately as by a sun…dial。 It is true he was rarely heard to
speak； but smoked his pipe incessantly。 His adherents； however （for
every great man has his adherents）； perfectly understood him； and knew
how to gather his opinions。 When any thing that was read or related
displeased him； he was observed to smoke his pipe vehemently； and to
send forth short； frequent and angry puffs； but when pleased； he would
inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly； and emit it in light and
placid clouds； and sometimes； taking the pipe from his mouth； and
letting the fragrant vapor curl about his nose； would gravely nod
his head in token of perfect approbation。
From even this stronghold the unlucky Rip was at length routed by
his termagant wife； who would suddenly break in upon the
tranquillity of the assemblage and call the members all to naught； nor
was that august personage； Nicholas Vedder himself； sacred from the
daring tongue of this terrible virago； who charged him outright with
encouraging her husband in habits of idleness。
Poor Rip was at last reduced almost to despair； and his only
alternative； to escape from the labor of the farm and clamor of his
wife； was to take gun in hand and stroll away into the woods。 Here
he would sometimes seat himself at the foot of a tree； and share the
contents of his wallet with Wolf； with whom he sympathized as a
fellow…sufferer in persecution。 〃Poor Wolf；〃 he would say； 〃thy
mistress leads thee a dog's life of it； but never mind； my lad； whilst
I live thou shalt never want a friend to stand by thee！〃 Wolf would
wag his tail； look wistfully in his master's face； and if dogs can
feel pity I verily believe he reciprocated the sentiment with all
his heart。
In a long ramble of the kind on a fine autumnal day； Rip had
unconsciously scrambled to one of the highest parts of the Kaatskill
mountains。 He was after his favorite sport of squirrel shooting； and
the still solitudes had echoed and re…echoed with the reports of his
gun。 Panting and fatigued； he threw himself； late in the afternoon； on
a green knoll； covered with mountain herbage； that crowned the brow of
a precipice。 From an opening between the trees he could overlook all
the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland。 He saw at a
distance the lordly Hudson； far； far below him； moving on its silent
but majestic course； with