e you would rather have him than his ghost, wouldn't you,
Alice?

KNICKERBOCKER.

That's a very smart child. But Alice, sweet Alice, can't I drop in this
evening, when the old folks are out of the way?

ALICE.

Not for the world; if the dame were to find you in the house, I don't
know what would happen.

LORRENNA.

Don't you know, Alice, mammy always goes out for an hour in the evening,
to see her neighbour, Dame Wrigrim; now, if you [_To_ KNICKERBOCKER.]
come at eight o'clock, and throw some gravel at the window, there's no
knowing but you might see Alice.

KNICKERBOCKER.

That's an uncommon clever girl; but, Alice, I'm determined to turn over
a new leaf with Dame Van Winkle; the next time I see her, I'll pluck up
[my] courage and say to her--

DAME.

[_Without._] Alice! Alice! odds bodikins and pins, but I'll give it you
when I catch you.

_The_ VILLAGERS _exit._

KNICKERBOCKER.

Run, Alice, run!

[ALICE, LORRENNA _and_ KNICKERBOCKER _run to right._

DAME.

[_Without._] Alice!

[ALICE, LORENNA _and_ KNICKERBOCKER _exeunt hastily_.

RORY.

Egad! the dame's tongue is a perfect scarecrow!

VEDDER.

The sound of her voice sets them running just as if she were one of the
mountain spirits, of whom we hear so much talk. [But where the deuce can
Rip be all this while? [RIP _sings without._] But talk of the devil and
his imps appear.](2)

_Enter_ RIP VAN WINKLE, _with gun, game-bag, &c._

RIP.

Rip, Rip, wass is dis for a business. You are a mix nootze unt dat is a
fact. Now, I started for de mountains dis mornin', determined to fill my
bag mit game, but I met Von Brunt, de one-eyed sergeant--[comma see hah,
unt brandy-wine hapben my neiber friend];(3) well, I couldn't refuse to
take a glass mit him, unt den I tooks anoder glass, unt den I took so
much as a dozen, [do](4) I drink no more as a bottle; he drink no more
as I--he got so top heavy, I rolled him in de hedge to sleep a leetle,
for his one eye got so crooked, he never could have seed his way
straight; den I goes to de mountain, [do](5) I see double, [d----d](6) a
bird could I shooted. But I stops now, I drinks no more; if anybody ask
me to drink, I'll say to dem--[VEDDER _comes down, and offers cup to
him._]--here is your [go-to-hell],(7) and your family's [go-to-hell], and
may you all live long and [prosper].(8) [_Drinks._