Self-reliance is its aversion.

He would utter opinions on all passing affairs, which being seen to be not private, but necessary, would sink like darts into the ear of men, and put them in fear.

Lethe

You must court him: he does not court you

Do not think the youth has no force, because he cannot speak to you and me.

Infancy conforms to nobody: all conform to it

must accept

the absolutely trustworthy

Accept the place the divine providence has found for you

It is a deliverance which does not deliver

The power which resides in him is new in nature

none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried

We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents.

he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion

envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide

They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side.

Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius.

admonition

original and not conventional.

Suckle him with the she-wolf’s teat; Wintered with the hawk and fox, Power and speed be hands and feet.

Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.”

“Man is his own star; and the soul that can Render an honest and a perfect man, Commands all light, all influence, all fate; Nothing to him falls early or too late.

Ne te quaesiveris

He used to tell his story to every stranger that arrived at Mr. Doolittle’s hotel.

without dreading the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle.

“I am your father!

“Oh, she, too, had died but a short time since; she broke a blood-vessel in a fit of passion at a New England peddler.”

“Oh, Rip Van Winkle!” exclaimed two or three, “oh, to be sure! that’s Rip Van Winkle yonder, leaning against the tree.”

why, he is dead and gone these eighteen years!

“A tory! a tory! a spy! a refugee! hustle him! away with him!”

“I am a poor, quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the king, God bless him!”

the ruby face of King George, under which he had smoked so many a peaceful pipe; but even this was singularly changed. The red coat was changed for one of blue and buff, a sword was held in the hand instead of a scepter, the head was decorated with a cocked hat, and underneath was painted in large characters, General Washington.

He found the house gone to decay—the roof fallen in, the windows shattered, and the doors off the hinges. A half-starved dog that looked like Wolf was skulking about it. Rip called him by name, but the cur snarled, showed his teeth, and passed on. This was an unkind cut indeed. “My very dog,” sighed Rip, “has forgotten me!”

he found his beard had grown a foot long!

but none whom he knew,

but no traces of such opening remained

but to his astonishment a mountain stream was now foaming down it

As he rose to walk, he found himself stiff in the joints

but no dog was to be seen.

Wolf, too, had disappeared

what excuse shall I make to Dame Van Winkle?”

He even ventured, when no eye was fixed upon him, to taste the beverage, which he found had much of the flavor of excellent Hollands. He was naturally a thirsty soul, and was soon tempted to repeat the draught. One taste provoked another; and he repeated his visits to the flagon so often that at length his senses were overpowered, his eyes swam in his head, his head gradually declined, and he fell into a deep sleep.

He obeyed with fear and trembling

desisted from their play, and stared at him with such fixed, statue-like gaze, and such strange, uncouth countenances, that his heart turned within him, and his knees smote together

vDominie Van Shaick

Rip and his companion had labored on in silence; for though the former marveled greatly, what could be the object of carrying a keg of liquor up this wild mountain, yet there was something strange and incomprehensible about the unknown that inspired awe and checked familiarity.

muttering of one of those transient thundershowers which often take place in mountain heights

Though rather shy and distrustful of this new acquaintance, Rip complied with his usual valacrity

His dress was of the antique Dutch fashion

He was surprised to see any human being in this lonely and unfrequented place

Wolf bristled up his back, and giving a low growl, skulked to his master’s side, looking fearfully down into the glen. Rip now felt a vague apprehension stealing over him

he heaved a heavy sigh when he thought of encountering the terrors of Dame Van Winkle.

throw their long blue shadows over the valleys

he looked down into a deep mountain glen, wild and lonely,

purple cloud

Poor Wolf

was to take gun in hand and stroll away into the woods.

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 nod his head in approbation.

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.

profound discussions

talking listlessly over village gossip, or telling endless sleepy stories about nothing.

and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.

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.

but what courage can withstand the ever-enduring and all-besetting terrors of a woman’s tongue?

He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, cast up his eyes, but said nothing.

would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound

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.

He would carry a fowling piece on his shoulder for hours together, trudging through woods and swamps, and up hill and down dale, to shoot a few squirrels or wild pigeons.

was a strong dislike of all kinds of profitable labor

Whenever he went dodging about the village, he was surrounded by a troop of them, hanging on his skirts, clambering on his back, and playing a thousand tricks on him

and not a dog would bark at him throughout the neighborhood

I have observed

to lay all the blame on Dame Van Winkle

great favorite among all the goodwives of the village

simple, good-natured man; he was, moreover, a kind neighbor and an obedient, henpecked husband

vchivalrous

the good Peter Stuyvesant (may he rest in peace!)

great age

At the foot of these fairy mountains the traveler may have seen the light smoke curling up from a village, whose shingle roofs gleam among the trees, just where the blue tints of the upland melt away into the fresh green of the nearer landscape.

vbarometers

magical hues and shapes of these mountains,

swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country.

must remember

Affliction I wanted, and affliction I had

When I lived in prosperity, having the comforts of the world about me, my relations by me, my heart cheerful, and taking little care for anything, and yet seeing many, whom I preferred before myself, under many trials and afflictions, in sickness, weakness, poverty, losses, crosses, and cares of the world, I should be sometimes jealous least I should have my portion in this life

my thoughts are upon things past, upon the awful dispensation of the Lord towards us, upon His wonderful power and might, in carrying of us through so many difficulties,

I can remember the time when I used to sleep quietly without workings in my thoughts, whole nights together, but now it is other ways with me.

“Money answers all things”

The Indians often said that I should never have her under twenty pounds

received one of our children, we hastened toward the other.

I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death

Here was mercy on both hands.

who told us that our son Joseph was come in to Major Waldron’s, and another with him, which was my sister’s son.

how it was buried by the heathen in the wilderness from among all Christians

it suffered with its wounds

In that poor, and distressed, and beggarly condition I was received in

straw to lie on.

So I took my leave of them, and in coming along my heart melted into tears, more than all the while I was with them

“Oh give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever.”

I told him no: I was not willing to run away, but desired to wait God’s time, that I might go home quietly, and without fear.

n my travels an Indian came to me and told me, if I were willing, he and his squaw would run away, and go home along with me.

At first they were all against it

But to return again to my going home

Now the heathen begins to think all is their own, and the poor Christians’ hopes to fail (as to man) and now their eyes are more to God, and their hearts sigh heaven-ward; and to say in good earnest,

“The bitterness of Death is past.”

(with their black faces)

But now our perverse and evil carriages in the sight of the Lord, have so offended Him, that instead of turning His hand against them, the Lord feeds and nourishes them up to be a scourge to the whole land.

I can but stand in admiration to see the wonderful power of God in providing for such a vast number of our enemies in the wilderness, where there was nothing to be seen, but from hand to mouth.

The chief and commonest food was ground nuts. They eat also nuts and acorns, artichokes, lilly roots, ground beans, and several other weeds and roots,

Though many times they would eat that, that a hog or a dog would hardly touch; yet by that God strengthened them to be a scourge to His people.

strangely did the Lord provide for them; that I did not see (all the time I was among them) one man, woman, or child, die with hunger.

that that river should be impassable to the English.

It is the Lord’s doing, and it should be marvelous in our eyes.

God seemed to leave his People to themselves, and order all things for His own holy ends.

when our English army was so numerous, and in pursuit of the enemy, and so near as to take several and destroy them, and the enemy in such distress for food that our men might track them by their rooting in the earth for ground nuts, whilst they were flying for their lives.

I told them, they had as good knock me in head as starve me to death.

Then I went home to my mistress’s wigwam; and they told me I disgraced my master with begging, and if I did so any more, they would knock me in the head.

“The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.” Thus the Lord made that pleasant refreshing, which another time would have been an abomination.

Then I took it of the child, and eat it myself, and savory it was to my taste.

then she cut me off a little piece, and gave one of the English children a piece also.

horses feet

another wigwam

Then I went into another wigwam, where they were boiling corn and beans, which was a lovely sight to see, but I could not get a taste thereof.

there were four English children, captives; and one of them my own sister’s

So like were these barbarous creatures to him who was a liar from the beginning.

vanity and lies.

viz. Thomas Read. They all gathered about the poor man, asking him many questions. I desired also to go and see him; and when I came, he was crying bitterly, supposing they would quickly kill him. Whereupon I asked one of them, whether they intended to kill him; he answered me, they would not. He being a little cheered with that, I asked him about the welfare of my husband.

But I knew that He laid upon me less than I deserved.

Then also I took my Bible to read, but I found no comfort here neither, which many times I was wont to find.

my spirit was now quite ready to sink.

I thought of the English army, and hoped for their coming, and being taken by them, but that failed.

I began to think that all my hopes of restoration would come to nothing.

And here I cannot but remember how many times sitting in their wigwams, and musing on things past, I should suddenly leap up and run out, as if I had been at home, forgetting where I was,

Yet upon this, and the like occasions, I hope it is not too much to say with Job, “Have pity upon me, O ye my Friends, for the Hand of the Lord has touched me.”

I removed a stick that kept the heat from me. A squaw moved it down again, at which I looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in mine eyes. I thought I should have been quite blinded, and have never seen more, but lying down, the water run out of my eyes, and carried the dirt with it, that by the morning I recovered my sight again.

horrible addictedness to lying

He answered me that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a piece of him, as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat. But the Lord upheld my Spirit, under this discouragement; and I considered their horrible addictedness to lying, and that there is not one of them that makes the least conscience of speaking of truth.

Here one asked me to make a shirt for her papoose, for which she gave me a mess of broth, which was thickened with meal made of the bark of a tree, and to make it the better, she had put into it about a handful of peas, and a few roasted ground nuts.

Instead of going toward the Bay, which was that I desired,

that it would be no matter if my head were off too.

I went with a good load at my back (for they when they went, though but a little way, would carry all their trumpery with them).

and through the good providence of God, I had a comfortable lodging that night.

Friend Indian

Then one of the company drew his sword, and told me he would run me through if I did not go presently. Then was I fain to stoop to this rude fellow, and to go out in the night, I knew not whither.

home again

they bade me to go out, and lie somewhere else, for they had company (they said)

sticks for my own comfort

but going out to see what I could find, and walking among the trees, I found six acorns, and two chestnuts, which were some refreshment to me.

But a sore time of trial, I concluded, I had to go through, my master being gone, who seemed to me the best friend that I had of an Indian

As soon as I had the opportunity, I took my Bible

I thought I could as well have died as went back

My spirit was, upon this, I confess, very impatient, and almost outrageous.

on a sudden my mistress gives out; she would go no further, but turn back again, and said I must go back again with her

But the thoughts of my going homeward (for so we bent our course) much cheered my spirit, and made my burden seem light, and almost nothing at all.

their insolency grew worse and worse.

I complained

gave me my load

she found me sitting and reading in my Bible; she snatched it hastily out of my hand, and threw it out of doors.

This morning I asked my master whether he would sell me to my husband. He answered me “Nux,” which did much rejoice my spirit.

Sabbath-day-morning

I thought I should have been blind. I could scarce discern one wigwam from another

Hearing that my son was come to this place

I offered the money to my master, but he bade me keep it

for which he gave me a shilling

There one of them asked me why I wept.

yet could I not shed one tear in their sight;

I observed they asked one another questions, and laughed, and rejoiced over their gains and victories. Then my heart began to fail: and I fell aweeping, which was the first time to my remembrance, that I wept before them.

my son Joseph unexpectedly came to me.

I must go four or five miles up the river farther northward.

there was a sudden outcry among them

On the morrow morning we must go over the river, i.e. Connecticut, to meet with King Philip.

od did not give them courage or activity to go over after us.

set their wigwams on fire,

I told them it was the Sabbath day, and desired them to let me rest, and told them I would do as much more tomorrow; to which they answered me they would break my face.

it was very hard to get down their filthy trash

they boiled an old horse’s leg which they had got,

For they went as if they had gone for their lives

their moving at this time was the English army

“Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine Heart, wait I say on the Lord.”

(all of them children, except one woman)

turn all those curses upon our enemies

Oh, the hideous insulting and triumphing

destroyed

viz.

God having taken away this dear child, I went to see my daughter Mary,

where I saw the ground was newly digged, and there they told me they had buried it.

it

but I was sold to him by another Narragansett Indian, who took me when first I came out of the garrison)

home to my master’s wigwam

preserving me in the use of my reason and senses in that distressed time, that I did not use wicked and violent means to end my own miserable life.

my sweet babe like a lamb departed this life on Feb. 18, 1675. It being about six years, and five months old.

This was the comfort I had from them, miserable comforters are ye all, as he said.

sometimes one Indian would come and tell me one hour that “your master will knock your child in the head,” and then a second, and then a third, “your master will quickly knock your child in the head.”

having nothing to revive the body,

but as they carried him, and as he took oaken leaves and laid to his wound, and through the blessing of God he was able to travel again. Then I took oaken leaves and laid to my side, and with the blessing of God it cured me also;

Hearing, I say, that I was in this Indian town, he obtained leave to come and see me.

I then remembered how careless I had been of God’s holy time; how many Sabbaths I had lost and misspent, and how evilly I had walked in God’s sight; which lay so close unto my spirit, that it was easy for me to see how righteous it was with God to cut off the thread of my life and cast me out of His presence forever. Yet the Lord still showed mercy to me, and upheld me; and as He wounded me with one hand, so he healed me with the other

pagans

viz.