The Prince and the Pauper Page #3

For it behooved him to keep on|good terms with his pupils...

especially if their mothers|happened to be good cooks.

# Who's the town's|ladies' man? #

# Gets around|like nobody can #

# Has to be|none other than #

# Ichabod.|Ichabod Crane #

Thus. As time went by.|it may be seen...

that the pedagogue got on|tolerably enough.

Moreover. Ichabod|found diverse ways...

to increase|his slender income...

and at the same time...

awaken the cultural interests|of the sleepy little village.

It was inevitable|that such a man as Ichabod...

would become|an object of ridicule...

to Brom Bones|and his gang.

And yet to Ichabod.|these were small matters.

Indeed. The schoolmaster|possessed...

a remarkable equanimity...

which remained|quite undisturbed...

until that fatefuI day...

when his path|was crossed by a woman...

a certain woman...

Katrina Van Tassel...

daughter and only child|of old Baltus Van Tassel...

the richest farmer|in the county.

She was a blooming lass...

plump as a partridge...

ripe. melting...

and rosy-cheeked.

# Once you have met|that little coquette #

# Katrina #

# You won't forget|Katrina #

# But nobody yet|has ever upset #

# Katrina #

# That cute coquette|Katrina #

# You can do more #

# With Margaret or Helena #

# Or Ann or Angelina #

# But Katrina|will kiss and run #

# To her.|a romance is fun #

# With always another one|to start #

# And yet when you've met|that little coquette #

# Katrina #

# You've lost your heart #

Now. There was no doubt|the fair Katrina...

was the richest prize|in the countryside...

and the schoolmaster.|being an ambitious man...

at once began to fill his mind|with many sugared thoughts...

and hopefuI suppositions.

Ah, Katrina, my love...

who can resist your grace...

your charm...

and who can resist|your father's farm?

Boy, what a set-up.

There's gold in them acres,|and that ain't hay.

Not to mention|that lovely green stuff.

Katrina, my sweet,|my treasure.

Treasure...|That ban's a gold mine.

How I'd love to hit|the jackpot.

Dear Katrina...

Papa's only child.

Papa!

The old goat|can't take it with him...

and when he cuts out,|that's where I cut in.

Sweet Katrina.|Poor little rich girl.

Don't worry, Katie,|Ichabod will protect you.

Yes, Katrina, you've won me.|I surrender.

# And yet when you've met|that little coquette #

# Katrina #

# You've lost your heart #

Truth to say. Every portal|to Katrina's heart...

was jealously guarded by|a host of rustic admirers.

Ah. But Ichabod|was confident...

he'd soon ride roughshod over|these simple country bumpkins.

The most formidable obstacle|of all. Lhowever...

the schoolmaster|failed to reckon with.

That was the redoubtable|Brom Bones himself.

Now. The ease with which Brom|cleared the field of rivals...

both piqued and provoked|the fair Katrina...

and she often wished that|some champion would appear...

and for once|take the field openly...

against the boisterous Brom.

And though a wiser man would've|shrunk from the competition...

Iove. They say. Is blind...

and Ichabod was aware|only that Dame Fortune...

was at last thundering|at his door.

It's true that Brom liked|a joke as well as the next...

but enough was too much.

It's time to carry the issue|to open warfare.

Why. Lhe'd double|that schoolmaster up...

and lay him on a shelf|in his own schoolhouse.

But this. It seemed.|was easier said than done.

No doubt of it.|this was Ichabod's lucky day.

It was evident|the schoolmaster...

was indeed a man|of hidden talents...

a rival to be reckoned with.

Still. Wars are|neither won nor lost...

with the first encounter.

The high-flying pedagogue|might be brought to earth...

for Brom Bones was never|a man to cry quits.

It was upon the occasion...

of her father's|annual Halloween frolic...

that Katrina again chose|to stir the embers...

of the smouldering rivalry.

Thus one invitation|in particular...

carried a most personal|and provocative summons.

The worthy schoolmaster|was in a transport of joy.

To him. This could mean|but one thing.

Icky, you sly old dog, you.

What is this strange power|you have over women?

Tonight's the night, boy.

Just tun on the old charm...

and fair Katrina|is yours for the asking.

So gaily bedecked and|nobly mounted upon a horse...

he had borrowed|for the occasion...

Ichabod issued forth|like a knight errant of old...

to keep a tryst|with his lady fair.

In all the countryside...

there was nothing|to equal a merrymaking...

at Mynheer Van Tassel's farm.

To Ichabod. Lhere was a perfect|field for his endeavours.

Now. Indeed. Would he put|his best foot forward...

for beyond|all his other talents...

the schoolmaster prided|himself upon his dancing.

The unhappy Brom.|already bested at every turn...

saw himself|once more outmatched.

For as he watched|the posturing pedagogue...

he was forced to admit|that here...

here was a flawless picture|of ease and grace.

There was no doubt that Ichabod|was the man of the hour.

Brom knew that|he must concede his rival...

still another victory.

And yet. There was still|a chance his time would come...

for when the hour grew late...

Van Tassel always|called upon his guests...

to tell him ghostly tales|of Halloween.

And Brom knew there was|no more firm believer...

in spooks and goblins|than Ichabod Crane.

Just gather 'round,|and I'll elucidate...

on what goes on outside|when it gets late.

'Long about midnight|the ghosts and banshees...

they get together for|their nightly jamborees.

There's things with hons|and saucer eyes...

and some with fangs|about this size.

- Some are fat.|- And some are thin.

And some don't even|wear their skin.

I'm telling you, brother.

It's a frightfuI sight...

to see what goes on|Halloween night.

# When the spooks have|a midnight jamboree #

# They break it up|with fiendish glee #

# Ghosts are bad.|but the one that's cursed #

# Is the Headless Horseman.|and he's the worst #

# That's right #

# He's a fright|on Halloween night #

# When he goes a-joggin'|'cross the land #

# Holdin' his noggin|in his hand #

# Demons take one look|and groan #

# And they hit the road|for parts unknown #

# Beware. Take care.|he rides alone #

# And there's no spook|like a spook that's spurned #

# They don't like him.|and he's really burnt #

# He swears to the longest day|he's dead #

# He'll show them|that he can get a head #

# They say he's tired|of his flamin' top #

# He's got a yen|to make a swap #

# So he rides|one night each year #

# To find a head|in the Hollow here #

# Now. Lhe likes 'em little.|he likes 'em big #

# Parted in the middle|or a wig #

# Black or white|or even red #

# The Headless Horseman|needs a head #

# With a hip hip|and a clippity clop #

# He's out lookin'|for a top to chop #

# So don't stop to figure|out a plan #

# You can't reason|with a headless man #

Now, if you doubt|this tale is so...

I met that spook|just a year ago.

Now, I didn't stop|for a second look...

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