His haunts are not confined to the valley, but
extend at times to the adjacent roads, and especially to the
vicinity of a church at no great distance. Indeed, certain of the
most authentic historians of those parts, who have been careful
in collecting and collating the floating facts concerning this
spectre, allege that the body of the trooper, having been buried
in the churchyard, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle
in nightly quest of his head, and that the rushing speed with
which he sometimes passes along the Hollow, like a midnight
blast, is owing to his being belated and in a hurry to get back
to the churchyard before daybreak.
Such is the general purport of this legendary superstition, which
has furnished materials for many a wild story in that region of
shadows; and the spectre is known at all the country firesides by
the name of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
It is remarkable that the visionary propensity I have mentioned
is not confined to the native inhabitants of the valley, but is
unconsciously imbibed by every one who resides there for a time.
However wide awake they may have been before they entered that
sleepy region, they are sure in a little time to inhale the
witching influence of the air and begin to grow imaginative--to
dream dreams and see apparitions.
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