Ichabod spent a long time getting ready for the party. He had an old black suit of
clothes. It was his only suit. He brushed it carefully. When Ichabod looked at himself in
a mirror, he was very pleased.
“How handsome I look,” he thought. “Tonight, I’ll win Katrina’s love – I’m sure
of that. But I must have a fine horse to ride to the party. Where can I get one? Perhaps I
can borrow a horse from Hans Van Ripper.”
Hans Van Ripper owned the farm where Ichabod was staying this week. Ichabod
asked to borrow a horse from him. The farmer decided to play a trick on the
schoolmaster.
“Yes, you can borrow one of my horses, Ichabod,” he said. “I’ll lend you my
best one.”