The whole course of this river from its spring heads to its outlet in the Hudson, is fraught with scenes of picturesque and romantic beauty. " Far in the foldings of the hills, (says the author of the Sketch Book) winds this wizard stream, sometimes silently and daikly through solemn woodlands, sometimes sparkling between grassy borders or fresh green meadows, sometimes stealing along the feet of rugged heights under tlie balancing sprays of beech and chesnut trees. A thousand chrysial springs with which this neighborhood abounds, sent down from the hill sides their whimpering rills, as if to pay tribute to tlie Pocanteco."a In the neighborhood of the acqueduct, is a deep ravine, which forms the dreamy region of sleepy hollow. A narrow and broken path which sweeps along the south east bank of the hollow, leads to the foot of the redoubted hill where once stood the

• Kuickerbocker Magazine for 1839.

COUiNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 347

school house, in which the celebrated Ichabod Crane " tarned," for the purpose of instructing the youth of this vicinity. *• The whole of the neighborhood (observes the author of the Sketch Book) abounds with local tales, haunted spots and twilightsuperstitions." " The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback without a head. It is said by some, to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon ball in some nameless battle during the revolutionary war, and who is ever and anon seen by the country folks, hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind."