Rip van Winkle [antikvár]

Long ago in North America, in a village at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, lived a man called Rip van Winkle. Rip was a good-natured man who was always ready to lend his neighbors a helping hand, or listen to their troubles. He was very popular with everyone, but best of all Rip liked to spend his time with his little daughter and the other village children. He taught them to fly kites, carved them boats to sail and told them long stories of ghosts, witches and Indians. Unfortunately, Rip's wife did not share other people's good opinion of her husband. She had a terrible temper and nagged poor Rip from morning till night. "You are always willing to help other people," she complained, "but you will never do a stroke of work at home. Our farm is falling into ruins and your family is dressed in rags." To escape from his wife's temper, Rip would often take his gun and go hunting in the Catskill Mountains.