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  InthiswayPhilipbecameathemeofuniversalapprehension。The

  mysteryinwhichhewasenvelopedexaggeratedhisrealterrors。Hewas

  anevilthatwalkedindarkness;whosecomingnonecouldforesee,

  andagainstwhichnoneknewwhentobeonthealert。Thewholecountry

  aboundedwithrumorsandalarms。Philipseemedalmostpossessedof

  ubiquity;for,inwhateverpartofthewidely—extendedfrontieran

  irruptionfromtheforesttookplace,Philipwassaidtobeits

  leader。Manysuperstitiousnotionsalsowerecirculatedconcerning

  him。Hewassaidtodealinnecromancy,andtobeattendedbyanold

  Indianwitchorprophetess,whomheconsulted,andwhoassistedhimby

  hercharmsandincantations。Thisindeedwasfrequentlythecase

  withIndianchiefs;eitherthroughtheirowncredulity,ortoactupon

  thatoftheirfollowers:andtheinfluenceoftheprophetandthe

  dreameroverIndiansuperstitionhasbeenfullyevidencedinrecent

  instancesofsavagewarfare。

  AtthetimethatPhilipeffectedhisescapefromPocasset,his

  fortuneswereinadesperatecondition。Hisforceshadbeenthinnedby

  repeatedfights,andhehadlostalmostthewholeofhisresources。In

  thistimeofadversityhefoundafaithfulfriendinCanonchet,

  chiefSachemofalltheNarragansetts。Hewasthesonandheirof

  Miantonimo,thegreatSachem,who,asalreadymentioned,afteran

  honorableacquittalofthechargeofconspiracy,hadbeenprivately

  puttodeathattheperfidiousinstigationsofthesettlers。\"Hewas

  theheir,\"saystheoldchronicler,\"ofallhisfather’sprideand

  insolence,aswellasofhismalicetowardstheEnglish;\"—he

  certainlywastheheirofhisinsultsandinjuries,andthelegitimate

  avengerofhismurder。Thoughhehadforbornetotakeanactivepart

  inthishopelesswar,yethereceivedPhilipandhisbrokenforces

  withopenarms;andgavethemthemostgenerouscountenanceand

  support。ThisatoncedrewuponhimthehostilityoftheEnglish;

  anditwasdeterminedtostrikeasignalblowthatshouldinvolveboth

  theSachemsinonecommonruin。Agreatforcewas,therefore

  gatheredtogetherfromMassachusetts,Plymouth,andConnecticut,and

  wassentintotheNarragansettcountryinthedepthofwinter,when

  theswamps,beingfrozenandleafless,couldbetraversedwith

  comparativefacility,andwouldnolongerafforddarkandimpenetrable

  fastnessestotheIndians。

  Apprehensiveofattack,Canonchethadconveyedthegreaterpartof

  hisstores,togetherwiththeold,theinfirm,thewomenand

  childrenofhistribe,toastrongfortress;whereheandPhiliphad

  likewisedrawnupthefloweroftheirforces。Thisfortress,deemedby

  theIndiansimpregnable,wassituateduponarisingmoundorkindof

  island,offiveorsixacres,inthemidstofaswamp;itwas

  constructedwithadegreeofjudgmentandskillvastlysuperiorto

  whatisusuallydisplayedinIndianfortification,andindicativeof

  themartialgeniusofthesetwochieftains。

  GuidedbyarenegadeIndian,theEnglishpenetrated,through

  Decembersnows,tothisstronghold,andcameuponthegarrisonby

  surprise。Thefightwasfierceandtumultuous。Theassailantswere

  repulsedintheirfirstattack,andseveraloftheirbravest

  officerswereshotdownintheactofstormingthefortressswordin

  hand。Theassaultwasrenewedwithgreatersuccess。Alodgmentwas

  effected。TheIndiansweredrivenfromoneposttoanother。They

  disputedtheirgroundinchbyinch,fightingwiththefuryofdespair。

  Mostoftheirveteranswerecuttopieces;andafteralongandbloody

  battle,PhilipandCanonchet,withahandfulofsurvivingwarriors,

  retreatedfromthefort,andtookrefugeinthethicketsofthe

  surroundingforest。

  Thevictorssetfiretothewigwamsandthefort;thewholewassoon

  inablaze;manyoftheoldmen,thewomenandthechildrenperished

  intheflames。Thislastoutrageovercameeventhestoicismofthe

  savage。Theneighboringwoodsresoundedwiththeyellsofrageand

  despair,utteredbythefugitivewarriors,astheybeheldthe

  destructionoftheirdwellings,andheardtheagonizingcriesoftheir

  wivesandoffspring。\"Theburningofthewigwams,\"saysacontemporary

  writer,\"theshrieksandcriesofthewomenandchildren,andthe

  yellingofthewarriors,exhibitedamosthorribleandaffecting

  scene,sothatitgreatlymovedsomeofthesoldiers。\"Thesamewriter

  cautiouslyadds,\"theywereinmuchdoubtthen,andafterwards

  seriouslyinquired,whetherburningtheirenemiesalivecouldbe

  consistentwithhumanity,andthebenevolentprinciplesofthe

  Gospel。\"**MS。oftheRev。W。Ruggles。

  ThefateofthebraveandgenerousCanonchetisworthyofparticular

  mention:thelastsceneofhislifeisoneofthenoblestinstanceson

  recordofIndianmagnanimity。

  Brokendowninhispowerandresourcesbythissignaldefeat,yet

  faithfultohisally,andtothehaplesscausewhichhehad

  espoused,herejectedalloverturesofpeace,offeredoncondition

  ofbetrayingPhilipandhisfollowers,anddeclaredthat\"hewould

  fightitouttothelastman,ratherthanbecomeaservanttothe

  English。\"Hishomebeingdestroyed;hiscountryharassedandlaid

  wastebytheincursionsoftheconquerors;hewasobligedtowander

  awaytothebanksoftheConnecticut;whereheformedarallyingpoint

  tothewholebodyofwesternIndians,andlaidwasteseveralofthe

  Englishsettlements。

  Earlyinthespringhedepartedonahazardousexpedition,withonly

  thirtychosenmen,topenetratetoSeaconck,inthevicinityof

  MountHope,andtoprocureseedcorntoplantforthesustenanceof

  histroops。Thislittlebandofadventurershadpassedsafely

  throughthePequodcountry,andwereinthecentreofthe

  Narragansett,restingatsomewigwamsnearPawtucketRiver,whenan

  alarmwasgivenofanapproachingenemy。—Havingbutsevenmenby

  himatthetime,Canonchetdespatchedtwoofthemtothetopofa

  neighboringhill,tobringintelligenceofthefoe。

  Panic—struckbytheappearanceofatroopofEnglishandIndians

  rapidlyadvancing,theyfledinbreathlessterrorpasttheir

  chieftain,withoutstoppingtoinformhimofthedanger。Canonchet

  sentanotherscout,whodidthesame。Hethensenttwomore,oneof

  whom,hurryingbackinconfusionandaffright,toldhimthatthewhole

  Britisharmywasathand。Canonchetsawtherewasnochoicebut

  immediateflight。Heattemptedtoescaperoundthehill,butwas

  perceivedandhotlypursuedbythehostileIndiansandafewofthe

  fleetestoftheEnglish。Findingtheswiftestpursuercloseuponhis

  heels,hethrewoff,firsthisblanket,thenhissilver—lacedcoatand

  beltofpeag,bywhichhisenemiesknewhimtobeCanonchet,and

  redoubledtheeagernessofpursuit。

  Atlength,indashingthroughtheriver,hisfootslippedupona

  stone,andhefellsodeepastowethisgun。Thisaccidentso

  struckhimwithdespair,that,asheafterwardsconfessed,\"his

  heartandhisbowelsturnedwithinhim,andhebecamelikearotten

  stick,voidofstrength。\"

  Tosuchadegreewasheunnerved,that,beingseizedbyaPequod

  Indianwithinashortdistanceoftheriver,hemadenoresistance,

  thoughamanofgreatvigorofbodyandboldnessofheart。Buton

  beingmadeprisonerthewholeprideofhisspiritarosewithinhim;

  andfromthatmoment,wefind,intheanecdotesgivenbyhis

  enemies,nothingbutrepeatedflashesofelevatedandprince—like

  heroism。BeingquestionedbyoneoftheEnglishwhofirstcameupwith

  him,andwhohadnotattainedhistwenty—secondyear,the

  proud—heartedwarrior,lookingwithloftycontemptuponhisyouthful

  countenance,replied,\"Youareachild—youcannotunderstand

  mattersofwar—letyourbrotheroryourchiefcome—himwillI

  answer。\"

  Thoughrepeatedoffersweremadetohimofhislife,onconditionof

  submittingwithhisnationtotheEnglish,yetherejectedthemwith

  disdain,andrefusedtosendanyproposalsofthekindtothegreat

  bodyofhissubjects;saying,thatheknewnoneofthemwould

  comply。Beingreproachedwithhisbreachoffaithtowardsthe

  whites;hisboastthathewouldnotdeliverupaWampanoagnorthe

  paringofaWampanoag’snail;andhisthreatthathewouldburnthe

  Englishaliveintheirhouses;hedisdainedtojustifyhimself,

  haughtilyansweringthatotherswereasforwardforthewaras

  himself,and\"hedesiredtohearnomorethereof。\"

  Sonobleandunshakenaspirit,sotrueafidelitytohiscause

  andhisfriend,mighthavetouchedthefeelingsofthegenerousand

  thebrave;butCanonchetwasanIndian;abeingtowardswhomwarhad

  nocourtesy,humanitynolaw,religionnocompassion—hewascondemned

  todie。Thelastwordsofhimthatarerecorded,areworthythe

  greatnessofhissoul。Whensentenceofdeathwaspasseduponhim,

  heobserved\"thathelikeditwell,forheshoulddiebeforehisheart

  wassoft,orhehadspokenanythingunworthyofhimself。\"Hisenemies

  gavehimthedeathofasoldier,forhewasshotatStoningham,by

  threeyoungSachemsofhisownrank。

  ThedefeatattheNarragansettfortress,andthedeathofCanonchet,

  werefatalblowstothefortunesofKingPhilip。Hemadean

  ineffectualattempttoraiseaheadofwar,bystirringuptheMohawks

  totakearms;butthoughpossessedofthenativetalentsofa

  statesman,hisartswerecounteractedbythesuperiorartsofhis

  enlightenedenemies,andtheterroroftheirwarlikeskillbeganto

  subduetheresolutionoftheneighboringtribes。Theunfortunate

  chieftainsawhimselfdailystrippedofpower,andhisranksrapidly

  thinningaroundhim。Someweresubornedbythewhites;othersfell

  victimstohungerandfatigue,andtothefrequentattacksbywhich

  theywereharassed。Hisstoreswereallcaptured;hischosenfriends

  weresweptawayfrombeforehiseyes;hisunclewasshotdownbyhis

  side;hissisterwascarriedintocaptivity;andinoneofhis

  narrowescapeshewascompelledtoleavehisbelovedwifeandonlyson

  tothemercyoftheenemy。\"Hisruin,\"saysthehistorian,\"beingthus

  graduallycarriedon,hismiserywasnotprevented,butaugmented

  thereby;beinghimselfmadeacquaintedwiththesenseandexperimental

  feelingofthecaptivityofhischildren,lossoffriends,slaughter

  ofhissubjects,bereavementofallfamilyrelations,andbeing

  strippedofalloutwardcomforts,beforehisownlifeshouldbe

  takenaway。\"

  Tofillupthemeasureofhismisfortunes,hisownfollowersbegan

  toplotagainsthislife,thatbysacrificinghimtheymight

  purchasedishonorablesafety。Throughtreacheryanumberofhis

  faithfuladherents,thesubjectsofWetamoe,anIndianprincessof

  Pocasset,anearkinswomanandconfederateofPhilip,werebetrayed

  intothehandsoftheenemy。Wetamoewasamongthematthetime,and

  attemptedtomakeherescapebycrossinganeighboringriver:either

  exhaustedbyswimming,orstarvedbycoldandhunger,shewasfound

  deadandnakednearthewaterside。Butpersecutionceasednotat

  thegrave。Evendeath,therefugeofthewretched,wherethewicked

  commonlyceasefromtroubling,wasnoprotectiontothisoutcast

  female,whosegreatcrimewasaffectionatefidelitytoherkinsmanand

  herfriend。Hercorpsewastheobjectofunmanlyanddastardly

  vengeance;theheadwasseveredfromthebodyandsetuponapole,and

  wasthusexposedatTaunton,totheviewofhercaptivesubjects。They

  immediatelyrecognizedthefeaturesoftheirunfortunatequeen,and

  weresoaffectedatthisbarbarousspectacle,thatwearetoldthey

  brokeforthintothe\"mosthorridanddiabolicallamentations。\"

  HoweverPhiliphadborneupagainstthecomplicatedmiseriesand

  misfortunesthatsurroundedhim,thetreacheryofhisfollowersseemed

  towringhisheartandreducehimtodespondency。Itissaidthat

  \"heneverrejoicedafterwards,norhadsuccessinanyofhisdesigns。\"

  Thespringofhopewasbroken—theardorofenterprisewas

  extinguished—helookedaround,andallwasdangeranddarkness;there

  wasnoeyetopity,noranyarmthatcouldbringdeliverance。Witha

  scantybandoffollowers,whostillremainedtruetohisdesperate

  fortunes,theunhappyPhilipwanderedbacktothevicinityofMount

  Hope,theancientdwellingofhisfathers。Herehelurkedabout,

  likeaspectre,amongthescenesofformerpowerandprosperity,now

  bereftofhome,offamilyandfriend。Thereneedsnobetterpictureof

  hisdestituteandpiteoussituation,thanthatfurnishedbythehomely

  penofthechronicler,whoisunwarilyenlistingthefeelingsofthe

  readerinfavorofthehaplesswarriorwhomhereviles。\"Philip,\"he

  says,\"likeasavagewildbeast,havingbeenhuntedbytheEnglish

  forcesthroughthewoods,aboveahundredmilesbackwardand

  forward,atlastwasdriventohisowndenuponMountHope,wherehe

  retired,withafewofhisbestfriends,intoaswamp,whichproved

  butaprisontokeephimfasttillthemessengersofdeathcameby

  divinepermissiontoexecutevengeanceuponhim。\"

  Eveninthislastrefugeofdesperationanddespair,asullen

  grandeurgathersroundhismemory。Wepicturehimtoourselves

  seatedamonghiscare—wornfollowers,broodinginsilenceoverhis

  blastedfortunes,andacquiringasavagesublimityfromthewildness

  anddrearinessofhislurking—place。Defeated,butnotdismayed—

  crushedtotheearth,butnothumiliated—heseemedtogrowmore

  haughtybeneathdisaster,andtoexperienceafiercesatisfactionin

  drainingthelastdregsofbitterness。Littlemindsaretamedand

  subduedbymisfortune;butgreatmindsriseaboveit。Theveryideaof

  submissionawakenedthefuryofPhilip,andhesmotetodeathoneof

  hisfollowers,whoproposedanexpedientofpeace。Thebrotherof

  thevictimmadehisescape,andinrevengebetrayedtheretreatofhis

  chieftain。AbodyofwhitemenandIndianswereimmediatelydespatched

  totheswampwherePhiliplaycrouched,glaringwithfuryanddespair。

  Beforehewasawareoftheirapproach,theyhadbeguntosurroundhim。

  Inalittlewhilehesawfiveofhistrustiestfollowerslaiddead

  athisfeet;allresistancewasvain;herushedforthfromhiscovert,

  andmadeaheadlongattempttoescape,butwasshotthroughthe

  heartbyarenegadeIndianofhisownnation。

  Suchisthescantystoryofthebrave,butunfortunateKing

  Philip;persecutedwhileliving,slanderedanddishonoredwhendead。

  If,however,weconsidereventheprejudicedanecdotesfurnishedusby

  hisenemies,wemayperceiveinthemtracesofamiableandlofty

  charactersufficienttoawakensympathyforhisfate,andrespect

  forhismemory。Wefindthat,amidstalltheharassingcaresand

  ferociouspassionsofconstantwarfare,hewasalivetothesofter

  feelingsofconnubialloveandpaternaltenderness,andtothe

  generoussentimentoffriendship。Thecaptivityofhis\"belovedwife

  andonlyson\"arementionedwithexultationascausinghimpoignant

  misery:thedeathofanynearfriendistriumphantlyrecordedasanew

  blowonhissensibilities;butthetreacheryanddesertionofmany

  ofhisfollowers,inwhoseaffectionshehadconfided,issaidtohave

  desolatedhisheart,andtohavebereavedhimofallfurther

  comfort。Hewasapatriotattachedtohisnativesoil—aprincetrue

  tohissubjects,andindignantoftheirwrongs—asoldier,daringin

  battle,firminadversity,patientoffatigue,ofhunger,ofevery

  varietyofbodilysuffering,andreadytoperishinthecausehehad

  espoused。Proudofheart,andwithanuntamableloveofnatural

  liberty,hepreferredtoenjoyitamongthebeastsoftheforestsor

  inthedismalandfamishedrecessesofswampsandmorasses,rather

  thanbowhishaughtyspirittosubmission,andlivedependentand

  despisedintheeaseandluxuryofthesettlements。Withheroic

  qualitiesandboldachievementsthatwouldhavegracedacivilized

  warrior,andhaverenderedhimthethemeofthepoetandthe

  historian;helivedawandererandafugitiveinhisnativeland,

  andwentdown,likealonelybarkfounderingamiddarknessand

  tempest—withoutapityingeyetoweephisfall,orafriendlyhandto

  recordhisstruggle。

  THEEND。

  1819—20

  THESKETCHBOOK

  RIPVANWINKLE

  APOSTHUMOUSWRITINGOFDIEDRICHKNICKERBOCKER

  byWashingtonIrving

  ByWoden,GodofSaxons,

  FromwhencecomesWensday,thatisWodensday。

  TruthisathingthateverIwillkeep

  UntothylkedayinwhichIcreepinto

  Mysepulchre—

  CARTWRIGHT。

  [ThefollowingTalewasfoundamongthepapersofthelate

  DiedrichKnickerbocker,anoldgentlemanofNewYork,whowasvery

  curiousintheDutchhistoryoftheprovince,andthemannersofthe

  descendantsfromitsprimitivesettlers。Hishistoricalresearches,

  however,didnotliesomuchamongbooksasamongmen;forthe

  formerarelamentablyscantyonhisfavoritetopics;whereashe

  foundtheoldburghers,andstillmoretheirwives,richinthat

  legendarylore,soinvaluabletotruehistory。Whenever,therefore,he

  happeneduponagenuineDutchfamily,snuglyshutupinitslow—roofed

  farmhouse,underaspreadingsycamore,helookeduponitasalittle

  claspedvolumeofblack—letter,andstudieditwiththezealofa

  book—worm。

  Theresultofalltheseresearcheswasahistoryoftheprovince

  duringthereignoftheDutchgovernors,whichhepublishedsomeyears

  since。Therehavebeenvariousopinionsastotheliterarycharacter

  ofhiswork,and,totellthetruth,itisnotawhitbetterthanit

  shouldbe。Itschiefmeritisitsscrupulousaccuracy,whichindeed

  wasalittlequestionedonitsfirstappearance,buthassincebeen

  completelyestablished;anditisnowadmittedintoallhistorical

  collections,asabookofunquestionableauthority。

  Theoldgentlemandiedshortlyafterthepublicationofhiswork,

  andnowthatheisdeadandgone,itcannotdomuchharmtohismemory

  tosaythathistimemighthavebeenmuchbetteremployedinweightier

  labors。He,however,wasapttoridehishobbyhisownway;andthough

  itdidnowandthenkickupthedustalittleintheeyesofhis

  neighbors,andgrievethespiritofsomefriends,forwhomhefeltthe

  truestdeferenceandaffection;yethiserrorsandfolliesare

  remembered\"moreinsorrowthaninanger,\"anditbeginstobe

  suspected,thatheneverintendedtoinjureoroffend。Buthoweverhis

  memorymaybeappreciatedbycritics,itisstillhelddearbymany

  folk,whosegoodopinioniswellworthhaving;particularlybycertain

  biscuit—bakers,whohavegonesofarastoimprinthislikenesson

  theirnew—yearcakes;andhavethusgivenhimachancefor

  immortality,almostequaltothebeingstampedonaWaterlooMedal,or

  aQueenAnne’sFarthing。]

  WHOEVERhasmadeavoyageuptheHudsonmustrememberthe

  Kaatskillmountains。Theyareadismemberedbranchofthegreat

  Appalachianfamily,andareseenawaytothewestoftheriver,

  swellinguptoanobleheight,andlordingitoverthesurrounding

  country。Everychangeofseason,everychangeofweather,indeed,

  everyhouroftheday,producessomechangeinthemagicalhuesand

  shapesofthesemountains,andtheyareregardedbyallthegood

  wives,farandnear,asperfectbarometers。Whentheweatherisfair

  andsettled,theyareclothedinblueandpurple,andprinttheirbold

  outlinesonthecleareveningsky;but,sometimes,whentherestof

  thelandscapeiscloudless,theywillgatherahoodofgrayvapors

  abouttheirsummits,which,inthelastraysofthesettingsun,

  willglowandlightuplikeacrownofglory。

  Atthefootofthesefairmountains,thevoyagermayhavedescried

  thelightsmokecurlingupfromavillage,whoseshingle—roofsgleam

  amongthetrees,justwherethebluetintsoftheuplandmeltaway

  intothefreshgreenofthenearerlandscape。Itisalittle

  village,ofgreatantiquity,havingbeenfoundedbysomeofthe

  Dutchcolonists,intheearlytimesoftheprovince,justaboutthe

  beginningofthegovernmentofthegoodPeterStuyvesant,(mayherest

  inpeace!)andthereweresomeofthehousesoftheoriginal

  settlersstandingwithinafewyears,builtofsmallyellowbricks

  broughtfromHolland,havinglatticedwindowsandgablefronts,

  surmountedwithweather—cocks。

  Inthatsamevillage,andinoneoftheseveryhouses(which,to

  telltheprecisetruth,wassadlytime—wornandweather—beaten),there

  livedmanyyearssince,whilethecountrywasyetaprovinceof

  GreatBritain,asimplegood—naturedfellow,ofthenameofRipVan

  Winkle。HewasadescendantoftheVanWinkleswhofiguredso

  gallantlyinthechivalrousdaysofPeterStuyvesant,and

  accompaniedhimtothesiegeofFortChristina。Heinherited,however,

  butlittleofthemartialcharacterofhisancestors。Ihave

  observedthathewasasimplegood—naturedman;hewas,moreover,a

  kindneighbor,andanobedienthen—peckedhusband。Indeed,tothe

  lattercircumstancemightbeowingthatmeeknessofspiritwhich

  gainedhimsuchuniversalpopularity;forthosemenaremostapttobe

  obsequiousandconciliatingabroad,whoareunderthedisciplineof

  shrewsathome。Theirtempers,doubtless,arerenderedpliantand

  malleableinthefieryfurnaceofdomestictribulation;anda

  curtainlectureisworthallthesermonsintheworldforteachingthe

  virtuesofpatienceandlong—suffering。Atermagantwifemay,

  therefore,insomerespects,beconsideredatolerableblessing;and

  ifso,RipVanWinklewasthriceblessed。

  Certainitis,thathewasagreatfavoriteamongallthegoodwives

  ofthevillage,who,asusual,withtheamiablesex,tookhispart

  inallfamilysquabbles;andneverfailed,whenevertheytalked

  thosemattersoverintheireveninggossipings,tolayalltheblame

  onDameVanWinkle。Thechildrenofthevillage,too,wouldshoutwith

  joywheneverheapproached。Heassistedattheirsports,madetheir

  playthings,taughtthemtoflykitesandshootmarbles,andtold

  themlongstoriesofghosts,witches,andIndians。Wheneverhewent

  dodgingaboutthevillage,hewassurroundedbyatroopofthem,

  hangingonhisskirts,clamberingonhisback,andplayinga

  thousandtricksonhimwithimpunity;andnotadogwouldbarkat

  himthroughouttheneighborhood。

  ThegreaterrorinRip’scompositionwasaninsuperableaversion

  toallkindsofprofitablelabor。Itcouldnotbefromthewantof

  assiduityorperseverance;forhewouldsitonawetrock,witha

  rodaslongandheavyasaTartar’slance,andfishalldaywithout

  amurmur,eventhoughheshouldnotbeencouragedbyasingle

  nibble。Hewouldcarryafowling—pieceonhisshoulderforhours

  together,trudgingthroughwoodsandswamps,anduphillanddown

  dale,toshootafewsquirrelsorwildpigeons。Hewouldnever

  refusetoassistaneighborevenintheroughesttoil,andwasa

  foremostmanatallcountryfrolicsforhuskingIndiancorn,or

  buildingstone—fences;thewomenofthevillage,too,usedtoemploy

  himtoruntheirerrands,andtodosuchlittleoddjobsastheirless

  obliginghusbandswouldnotdoforthem。InawordRipwasreadyto

  attendtoanybody’sbusinessbuthisown;butastodoingfamilyduty,

  andkeepinghisfarminorder,hefounditimpossible。

  Infact,hedeclareditwasofnousetoworkonhisfarm;itwas

  themostpestilentlittlepieceofgroundinthewholecountry;

  everythingaboutitwentwrong,andwouldgowrong,inspiteof

  him。Hisfenceswerecontinuallyfallingtopieces;hiscowwould

  eithergoastray,orgetamongthecabbages;weedsweresuretogrow

  quickerinhisfieldsthananywhereelse;therainalwaysmadeapoint

  ofsettinginjustashehadsomeout—doorworktodo;sothat

  thoughhispatrimonialestatehaddwindledawayunderhis

  management,acrebyacre,untiltherewaslittlemoreleftthanamere

  patchofIndiancornandpotatoes,yetitwastheworstconditioned

  farmintheneighborhood。

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