It was toward evening that Ichabod arrived at the castle of 
the Heer Van Tassel, which he found thronged with the pride and 
flower of the adjacent country Old farmers, a spare leathern-
faced race, in homespun coats and breeches, blue stockings, huge 
shoes, and magnificent pewter buckles.  Their brisk, withered 
little dames, in close crimped caps, long waisted short-gowns, 
homespun petticoats, with scissors and pin-cushions, and gay 
calico pockets hanging on the outside.  Buxom lasses, almost as 
antiquated as their mothers, excepting where a straw hat, a fine 
ribbon, or perhaps a white frock, gave symptoms of city 
innovation.  The sons, in short square-skirted coats, with rows of 
stupendous brass buttons, and their hair generally queued in the 
fashion of the times, especially if they could procure an eelskin 
for the purpose, it being esteemed throughout the country as a 
potent nourisher and strengthener of the hair.

    Brom Bones, however, was the hero of the scene, having come 
to the gathering on his favorite steed Daredevil, a creature, 
like himself, full of mettle and mischief, and which no one but 
himself could manage.  He was, in fact, noted for preferring 
vicious animals, given to all kinds of tricks which kept the 
rider in constant risk of his neck, for he held a tractable, 
wellbroken horse as unworthy of a lad of spirit.

    Fain would I pause to dwell upon the world of charms that 
burst upon the enraptured gaze of my hero, as he entered the 
state parlor of Van Tassel's mansion.  Not those of the bevy of 
buxom lasses, with their luxurious display of red and white; but 
the ample charms of a genuine Dutch country tea-table, in the 
sumptuous time of autumn.  Such heaped up platters of cakes of 
various and almost indescribable kinds, known only to experienced 
Dutch housewives!  There was the doughty doughnut, the tender 
olykoek, and the crisp and crumbling cruller; sweet cakes and 
short cakes, ginger cakes and honey cakes, and the whole family 
of cakes.  And then there were apple pies, and peach pies, and 
pumpkin pies; besides slices of ham and smoked beef; and moreover 
delectable dishes of preserved plums, and peaches, and pears, and 
quinces; not to mention broiled shad and roasted chickens; 
together with bowls of milk and cream, all mingled higgledy-
pigglely, pretty much as I have enumerated them, with the 
motherly teapot sending up its clouds of vapor from the midst--
Heaven bless the mark!  I want breath and time to discuss this 
banquet as it deserves, and am too eager to get on with my story.  
Happily, Ichabod Crane was not in so great a hurry as his 
historian, but did ample justice to every dainty.

    He was a kind and thankful creature, whose heart dilated in 
proportion as his skin was filled with good cheer, and whose 
spirits rose with eating, as some men's do with drink.  He could 
not help, too, rolling his large eyes round him as he ate, and 
chuckling with the possibility that he might one day be lord of 
all this scene of almost unimaginable luxury and splendor.  Then, 
he thought, how soon he 'd turn his back upon the old 
schoolhouse; snap his fingers in the face of Hans Van Ripper, and 
every other niggardly patron, and kick any itinerant pedagogue 
out of doors that should dare to call him comrade!

    Old Baltus Van Tassel moved about among his guests with a 
face dilated with content and goodhumor, round and jolly as the 
harvest moon.  His hospitable attentions were brief, but 
expressive, being confined to a shake of the hand, a slap on the 
shoulder, a loud laugh, and a pressing invitation to "fall to, 
and help themselves."

    And now the sound of the music from the common room, or 
hall, summoned to the dance.  The musician was an old gray-headed 
negro, who had been the itinerant orchestra of the neighborhood 
for more than half a century.  His instrument was as old and 
battered as himself.  The greater part of the time he scraped on 
two or three strings, accompanying every movement of the bow with 
a motion of the head; bowing almost to the ground, and stamping 
with his foot whenever a fresh couple were to start.

    Ichabod prided himself upon his dancing as much as upon his 
vocal powers.  Not a limb, not a fibre about him was idle; and to 
have seen his loosely hung frame in full motion, and clattering 
about the room, you would have thought St. Vitus himself, that 
blessed patron of the dance, was figuring before you in person.  
He was the admiration of all the negroes; who, having gathered, 
of all ages and sizes, from the farm and the neighborhood, stood 
forming a pyramid of shining black faces at every door and 
window; gazing with delight at the scene; rolling their white 
eye-balls, and showing grinning rows of ivory from ear to ear.  
How could the flogger of urchins be otherwise than animated and 
joyous? the lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and 
smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings; while 
Brom Bones, sorely smitten with love and jealousy, sat brooding 
by himself in one corner.