This short story begins with a statement qualifying the source of the tale. The statement was among the papers left by the deceased Diedrich Knickerbocker. This opening is followed by a poem, describing a place where dreams flourish under the summer sky. The story itself actually begins with a description of a neighboring community. It's a market town nicknamed Tarry Town, so called because husbands like to stay for a while in the tavern on market days. Tarry Town is sheltered from the elements by a cove, and not far from there is Sleepy Hollow, a place along the Hudson River, untouched by time and reason.

The narrator recalls how he was out hunting and one day happened upon this sleepy village. The day was Sunday and nature seemed irritated at the disruption of his gun's discharge. The narrator shares with the reader that he...