Now and then she made some blushing reply, and when his eye was turned away she would steal a sidelong glance at his romantic countenance, and heave a gentle sigh of tender happiness. He worried from top to bottom of the castle with an air of infinite anxiety; he continually called the servants from their work to exhort them to be diligent; and buzzed about every hall and chamber, as idly restless and importunate as a blue-bottle fly on a warm summer's day. Stories range from the maudlin (such as "The Wife" and "The Widow and Her Son") to the picaresque ("Little Britain") and the comical ("The Mutability of Literature"), but the common thread running through Little more than five of the 33 chapters deal with American subjects: the essays "English Writers on America", "The Traits of Indian Character", "Philip of Pokanoket: An Indian Memoir", and parts of "The Author's Account of Himself" and "The Angler"; and Knickerbocker's short stories "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The bridegroom listened to this tale with profound attention. The aunts were continually hovering around her, for maiden aunts are apt to take great interest in affairs of this nature. When they had reached the portal, whose deep archway was dimly lighted by a cresset, the stranger paused, and addressed the baron in a hollow tone of voice, which the vaulted roof rendered still more sepulchral.
The young lady had taken advantage of their contest to follow the bent of her own taste; and fortunately it was a good one. The preliminaries had been conducted with proper punctilio. There was something in this reply and the tone in which it was uttered that made the baron's heart misgive him; but he rallied his forces and repeated his hospitable entreaties. Matters, therefore, were happily arranged.
Here the baron interrupted him with a world of compliments and greetings, for, to tell the truth, he prided himself upon his courtesy and eloquence. As it raised its head a beam of moonlight fell upon the countenance. There was still the semblance of manly beauty, and, though the shadow of a man is but little calculated to satisfy the affections of a lovesick girl, yet where the substance is not to be had even that is consoling. While staying in a small Flemish village inn, Crayon hears laughter emanating from the kitchen, where he finds a group of travelers and local “hangers on” sharing stories, “some very extravagant, and most very dull.” The only tale Crayon …
The cavalier (for, in truth, as you must have known all the while, he was no goblin) announced himself as Sir Herman Von Starkenfaust. His heart was heavy and his head perplexed; for he was to present himself an unbidden guest among hostile people, and to damp their festivity with tidings fatal to their hopes. This, however, drew on him, the indignation of the whole company, and especially of the baron, who looked upon him as little better than an infidel; so that he was fain to abjure his heresy as speedily as possible and come into the faith of the true believers. But the situation of the widowed bride was the most pitiable. Her aunts looked upon her with pride and exultation, and vaunted that, though all the other young ladies in the world might go astray, yet thank Heaven, nothing of the kind could happen to the heiress of Katzenellenbogen. He had encountered at Wurtzburg a youthful companion-in-arms with whom he had seen some service on the frontiers--Herman Von Starkenfaust, one of the stoutest hands and worthiest hearts of German chivalry--who was now returning from the army.
She was rarely suffered out of their sight; never went beyond the domains of the castle unless well attended, or rather well watched; had continual lectures read to her about strict decorum and implicit obedience; and, as to the men--pah!--she was taught to hold them at such a distance and in such absolute distrust that, unless properly authorized, she would not have cast a glance upon the handsomest cavalier in the world--no, not if he were even dying at her feet. He was no longer pale and melancholy. The aunts, who were deeply versed in the mysteries of the heart, declared that they had fallen in love with each other at first sight. Broadview Literary Texts, New York: Broadview Press, The pieces for the Sketch Book were originally written by Irving when he was in Europe and were sent to his publishers in New York for publication in periodicals in the U.S.— Excerpted from The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon on …
It was published serially throughout 1819 and 1820. Still, there were certain whisperings of curiosity in his bosom to see this far-famed beauty of Katzenellenbogen, so cautiously shut up from the world; for he was a passionate admirer of the sex, and there was a dash of eccentricity and enterprise in his character that made him fond of all singular adventure. The baron was obliged reluctantly to give orders for the feast without the presence of the guest. The baron was a little mortified that he should have come in this simple, solitary style. He was slowly and carefully conveyed back to the city of Wurtzburg, and a friar summoned from a neighboring convent who was famous for his skill in administering to both soul and body; but half of his skill was superfluous; the moments of the unfortunate count were numbered. Lowering clouds began to steal over the fair serenity of her brow, and tremors to run through her tender frame. Hour rolled after hour. In this way they had entered among the mountains of the Odenwald, and were traversing one of its most lonely and thickly wooded passes. She had even made considerable proficiency in writing; could sign her own name without missing a letter, and so legibly that her aunts could read it without spectacles. They defended themselves with bravery, but were nearly overpowered when the count's retinue arrived to their assistance.