"Oh，shetoohaddiedbutashorttimesince；shebrokea
　　blood—vesselinafitofpassionataNew—Englandpeddler。"
　　Therewasadropofcomfort，atleast，inthisintelligence。The
　　honestmancouldcontainhimselfnolonger。Hecaughthisdaughterand
　　herchildinhisarms。"Iamyourfather！"criedhe"YoungRipVan
　　Winkleonce—oldRipVanWinklenow！—DoesnobodyknowpoorRipVan
　　Winkle？"
　　Allstoodamazed，untilanoldwoman，totteringoutfromamongthe
　　crowd，putherhandtoherbrow，andpeeringunderitinhisface
　　foramoment，exclaimed，"Sureenough！itisRipVanWinkle—itis
　　himself！Welcomehomeagain，oldneighbor—Why，wherehaveyoubeen
　　thesetwentylongyears？"
　　Rip’sstorywassoontold，forthewholetwentyyearshadbeento
　　himbutasonenight。Theneighborsstaredwhentheyheardit；some
　　wereseentowinkateachother，andputtheirtonguesintheir
　　cheeks：andtheself—importantmaninthecockedhat，who，whenthe
　　alarmwasover，hadreturnedtothefield，screweddownthecornersof
　　hismouth，andshookhishead—uponwhichtherewasageneral
　　shakingoftheheadthroughouttheassemblage。
　　Itwasdetermined，however，totaketheopinionofoldPeter
　　Vanderdonk，whowasseenslowlyadvancinguptheroad。Hewasa
　　descendantofthehistorianofthatname，whowroteoneofthe
　　earliestaccountsoftheprovince。Peterwasthemostancient
　　inhabitantofthevillage，andwellversedinallthewonderfulevents
　　andtraditionsoftheneighborhood。HerecollectedRipatonce，and
　　corroboratedhisstoryinthemostsatisfactorymanner。Heassuredthe
　　companythatitwasafact，handeddownfromhisancestorthe
　　historian，thattheKaatskillmountainshadalwaysbeenhauntedby
　　strangebeings。ThatitwasaffirmedthatthegreatHendrickHudson，
　　thefirstdiscovereroftheriverandcountry，keptakindofvigil
　　thereeverytwentyyears，withhiscrewoftheHalf—moon；being
　　permittedinthiswaytorevisitthescenesofhisenterprise，and
　　keepaguardianeyeupontheriver，andthegreatcitycalledbyhis
　　name。ThathisfatherhadonceseenthemintheiroldDutchdresses
　　playingatnine—pinsinahollowofthemountain；andthathe
　　himselfhadheard，onesummerafternoon，thesoundoftheirballs，
　　likedistantpealsofthunder。
　　Tomakealongstoryshort，thecompanybrokeup，andreturnedto
　　themoreimportantconcernsoftheelection。Rip’sdaughtertookhim
　　hometolivewithher；shehadasnug，well—furnishedhouse，anda
　　stoutcheeryfarmerforahusband，whomRiprecollectedforoneofthe
　　urchinsthatusedtoclimbuponhisback。AstoRip’ssonandheir，
　　whowasthedittoofhimself，seenleaningagainstthetree，hewas
　　employedtoworkonthefarm；butevincedanhereditarydispositionto
　　attendtoanythingelsebuthisbusiness。
　　Ripnowresumedhisoldwalksandhabits；hesoonfoundmanyof
　　hisformercronies，thoughallrathertheworseforthewearand
　　tearoftime；andpreferredmakingfriendsamongtherising
　　generation，withwhomhesoongrewintogreatfavor。
　　Havingnothingtodoathome，andbeingarrivedatthathappyage
　　whenamancanbeidlewithimpunity，hetookhisplaceoncemoreon
　　thebenchattheinndoor，andwasreverencedasoneofthepatriarchs
　　ofthevillage，andachronicleoftheoldtimes"beforethewar。"
　　Itwassometimebeforehecouldgetintotheregulartrackofgossip，
　　orcouldbemadetocomprehendthestrangeeventsthathadtakenplace
　　duringhistorpor。Howthattherehadbeenarevolutionarywar—that
　　thecountryhadthrownofftheyokeofoldEngland—andthat，
　　insteadofbeingasubjectofhisMajestyGeorgetheThird，hewasnow
　　afreecitizenoftheUnitedStates。Rip，infact，wasno
　　politician；thechangesofstatesandempiresmadebutlittle
　　impressiononhim；buttherewasonespeciesofdespotismunder
　　whichhehadlonggroaned，andthatwas—petticoatgovernment。Happily
　　thatwasatanend；hehadgothisneckoutoftheyokeof
　　matrimony，andcouldgoinandoutwheneverhepleased，without
　　dreadingthetyrannyofDameVanWinkle。Wheneverhernamewas
　　mentioned，however，heshookhishead，shruggedhisshoulders，and
　　castuphiseyes；whichmightpasseitherforanexpressionof
　　resignationtohisfate，orjoyathisdeliverance。
　　HeusedtotellhisstorytoeverystrangerthatarrivedatMr。
　　Doolittle’shotel。Hewasobserved，atfirst，tovaryonsomepoints
　　everytimehetoldit，whichwas，doubtless，owingtohishavingso
　　recentlyawaked。ItatlastsettleddownpreciselytothetaleI
　　haverelated，andnotaman，woman，orchildintheneighborhood，
　　butknewitbyheart。Somealwayspretendedtodoubttherealityof
　　it，andinsistedthatRiphadbeenoutofhishead，andthatthis
　　wasonepointonwhichhealwaysremainedflighty。TheoldDutch
　　inhabitants，however，almostuniversallygaveitfullcredit。Even
　　tothisdaytheyneverhearathunderstormofasummerafternoonabout
　　theKaatskill，buttheysayHendrickHudsonandhiscrewareat
　　theirgameofnine—pins；anditisacommonwishofallhen—pecked
　　husbandsintheneighborhood，whenlifehangsheavyontheirhands，
　　thattheymighthaveaquietingdraughtoutofRipVanWinkle’s
　　flagon。NOTE。
　　TheforegoingTale，onewouldsuspect，hadbeensuggestedtoMr。
　　KnickerbockerbyalittleGermansuperstitionabouttheEmperor
　　FrederickderRothbart，andtheKyffhausermountain：thesubjoined
　　note，however，whichhehadappendedtothetale，showsthatitis
　　anabsolutefact，narratedwithhisusualfidelity：
　　"ThestoryofRipVanWinklemayseemincredibletomany，but
　　neverthelessIgiveitmyfullbelief，forIknowthevicinityof
　　ouroldDutchsettlementstohavebeenverysubjecttomarvellous
　　eventsandappearances。Indeed，Ihaveheardmanystrangerstories
　　thanthis，inthevillagesalongtheHudson；allofwhichweretoo
　　wellauthenticatedtoadmitofadoubt。IhaveeventalkedwithRip
　　VanWinklemyself，who，whenlastIsawhim，wasaveryvenerable
　　oldman，andsoperfectlyrationalandconsistentoneveryother
　　point，thatIthinknoconscientiouspersoncouldrefusetotake
　　thisintothebargain；nay，Ihaveseenacertificateonthesubject
　　takenbeforeacountryjusticeandsignedwithacross，inthe
　　justice’sownhandwriting。Thestory，therefore，isbeyondthe
　　possibilityofdoubt。
　　D。K。"POSTSCRIPT。
　　Thefollowingaretravellingnotesfromamemorandum—bookofMr。
　　Knickerbocker：
　　TheKaatsberg，orCatskillMountains，havealwaysbeenaregionfull
　　offable。TheIndiansconsideredthemtheabodeofspirits，who
　　influencedtheweather，spreadingsunshineorcloudsoverthe
　　landscape，andsendinggoodorbadhuntingseasons。Theywereruledby
　　anoldsquawspirit，saidtobetheirmother。Shedweltonthehighest
　　peakoftheCatskills，andhadchargeofthedoorsofdayandnightto
　　openandshutthemattheproperhour。Shehungupthenewmoonsin
　　theskies，andcutuptheoldonesintostars。Intimesofdrought，if
　　properlypropitiated，shewouldspinlightsummercloudsoutof
　　cobwebsandmorningdew，andsendthemofffromthecrestofthe
　　mountain，flakeafterflake，likeflakesofcardedcotton，tofloatin
　　theair；until，dissolvedbytheheatofthesun，theywouldfallin
　　gentleshowers，causingthegrasstospring，thefruitstoripen，
　　andthecorntogrowaninchanhour。Ifdispleased，however，she
　　wouldbrewupcloudsblackasink，sittinginthemidstofthemlikea
　　bottle—belliedspiderinthemidstofitsweb；andwhentheseclouds
　　broke，wobetidethevalleys！
　　Inoldtimes，saytheIndiantraditions，therewasakindofManitou
　　orSpirit，whokeptaboutthewildestrecessesoftheCatskill
　　Mountains，andtookamischievouspleasureinwreakingallkindsof
　　evilsandvexationsupontheredmen。Sometimeshewouldassumethe
　　formofabear，apanther，oradeer，leadthebewilderedhuntera
　　wearychasethroughtangledforestsandamongraggedrocks；andthen
　　springoffwithaloudho！ho！leavinghimaghastonthebrinkofa
　　beetlingprecipiceorragingtorrent。
　　ThefavoriteabodeofthisManitouisstillshown。Itisagreat
　　rockorcliffontheloneliestpartofthemountains，and，fromthe
　　floweringvineswhichclamberaboutit，andthewildflowerswhich
　　aboundinitsneighborhood，isknownbythenameofGardenRock。
　　Nearthefootofitisasmalllake，thehauntofthesolitary
　　bittern，withwater—snakesbaskinginthesunontheleavesofthe
　　pond—lilieswhichlieonthesurface。Thisplacewasheldingreatawe
　　bytheIndians，insomuchthattheboldesthunterwouldnotpursue
　　hisgamewithinitsprecincts。Onceuponatime，however，ahunterwho
　　hadlosthisway，penetratedtothegardenrock，wherehebehelda
　　numberofgourdsplacedinthecrotchesoftrees。Oneofthesehe
　　seizedandmadeoffwithit，butinthehurryofhisretreatheletit
　　fallamongtherocks，whenagreatstreamgushedforth，whichwashed
　　himawayandswepthimdownprecipices，wherehewasdashedtopieces，
　　andthestreammadeitswaytotheHudson，andcontinuestoflowto
　　thepresentday；beingtheidenticalstreamknownbythenameofthe
　　Kaaters—kill。
　　THEEND。
　　1819—20
　　THESKETCHBOOK
　　ROSCOE
　　byWashingtonIrving
　　ROSCOE
　　—Intheserviceofmankindtobe
　　Aguardiangodbelow；stilltoemploy
　　Themind’sbraveardorinheroicaims，
　　Suchasmayraiseuso’erthegrovellingherd，
　　Andmakeusshineforever—thatislife。
　　THOMSON。
　　ONEofthefirstplacestowhichastrangeristakeninLiverpoolis
　　theAthenaeum。Itisestablishedonaliberalandjudiciousplan；it
　　containsagoodlibrary，andspaciousreading—room，andisthegreat
　　literaryresortoftheplace。Gothereatwhathouryoumay，youare
　　suretofinditfilledwithgrave—lookingpersonages，deeply
　　absorbedinthestudyofnewspapers。
　　AsIwasoncevisitingthishauntofthelearned，myattentionwas
　　attractedtoapersonjustenteringtheroom。Hewasadvancedinlife，
　　tall，andofaformthatmightoncehavebeencommanding，butitwasa
　　littlebowedbytime—perhapsbycare。HehadanobleRomanstyleof
　　countenance；aheadthatwouldhavepleasedapainter；andthoughsome
　　slightfurrowsonhisbrowshowedthatwastingthoughthadbeenbusy
　　there，yethiseyestillbeamedwiththefireofapoeticsoul。
　　Therewassomethinginhiswholeappearancethatindicatedabeing
　　ofadifferentorderfromthebustlingracearoundhim。
　　Iinquiredhisname，andwasinformedthatitwasRoscoe。Idrew
　　backwithaninvoluntaryfeelingofveneration。This，then，wasan
　　authorofcelebrity；thiswasoneofthosemen，whosevoiceshavegone
　　forthtotheendsoftheearth；withwhosemindsIhavecommuned
　　eveninthesolitudesofAmerica。Accustomed，asweareinour
　　country，toknowEuropeanwritersonlybytheirworks，wecannot
　　conceiveofthem，asofothermen，engrossedbytrivialorsordid
　　pursuits，andjostlingwiththecrowdofcommonmindsinthedusty
　　pathsoflife。Theypassbeforeourimaginationslikesuperiorbeings，
　　radiantwiththeemanationsoftheirgenius，andsurroundedbya
　　haloofliteraryglory。
　　Tofind，therefore，theeleganthistorianoftheMedici，mingling
　　amongthebusysonsoftraffic，atfirstshockedmypoeticalideas；
　　butitisfromtheverycircumstancesandsituationinwhichhehas
　　beenplaced，thatMr。Roscoederiveshishighestclaimstoadmiration。
　　Itisinterestingtonoticehowsomemindsseemalmosttocreate
　　themselves，springingupundereverydisadvantage，andworkingtheir
　　solitarybutirresistiblewaythroughathousandobstacles。Nature
　　seemstodelightindisappointingtheassiduitiesofart，withwhich
　　itwouldrearlegitimatedulnesstomaturity；andtogloryinthe
　　vigorandluxurianceofherchanceproductions。Shescatterstheseeds
　　ofgeniustothewinds，andthoughsomemayperishamongthestony
　　placesoftheworld，andsomebechokedbythethornsandbrambles
　　ofearlyadversity，yetotherswillnowandthenstrikerootevenin
　　thecleftsoftherock，strugglebravelyupintosunshine，and
　　spreadovertheirsterilebirthplaceallthebeautiesofvegetation。
　　SuchhasbeenthecasewithMr。Roscoe。Borninaplaceapparently
　　ungenialtothegrowthofliterarytalent；intheverymarket—placeof
　　trade；withoutfortune，familyconnections，orpatronage；
　　self—prompted，self—sustained，andalmostself—taught，hehas
　　conqueredeveryobstacle，achievedhiswaytoeminence，and，having
　　becomeoneoftheornamentsofthenation，hasturnedthewhole
　　forceofhistalentsandinfluencetoadvanceandembellishhisnative
　　town。
　　Indeed，itisthislasttraitinhischaracterwhichhasgivenhim
　　thegreatestinterestinmyeyes，andinducedmeparticularlytopoint
　　himouttomycountrymen。Eminentasarehisliterarymerits，heis
　　butoneamongthemanydistinguishedauthorsofthisintellectual
　　nation。They，however，ingeneral，livebutfortheirownfame，or
　　theirownpleasures。Theirprivatehistorypresentsnolessontothe
　　world，or，perhaps，ahumiliatingoneofhumanfrailtyand
　　inconsistency。Atbest，theyarepronetostealawayfromthebustle
　　andcommonplaceofbusyexistence；toindulgeintheselfishnessof
　　letteredease，andtorevelinscenesofmental，butexclusive
　　enjoyment。
　　Mr。Roscoe，onthecontrary，hasclaimednoneoftheaccorded
　　privilegesoftalent。Hehasshuthimselfupinnogardenof
　　thought，norelysiumoffancy；buthasgoneforthintothehighways
　　andthoroughfaresoflife；hehasplantedbowersbytheway—side，
　　fortherefreshmentofthepilgrimandthesojourner，andhasopened
　　purefountains，wherethelaboringmanmayturnasidefromthedust
　　andheatoftheday，anddrinkofthelivingstreamsofknowledge。
　　Thereisa"dailybeautyinhislife，"onwhichmankindmaymeditate
　　andgrowbetter。Itexhibitsnoloftyandalmostuseless，because
　　inimitable，exampleofexcellence；butpresentsapictureofactive，
　　yetsimpleandimitablevirtues，whicharewithineveryman’sreach，
　　butwhich，unfortunately，arenotexercisedbymany，orthisworld
　　wouldbeaparadise。
　　Buthisprivatelifeispeculiarlyworthytheattentionofthe
　　citizensofouryoungandbusycountry，whereliteratureandthe
　　elegantartsmustgrowupsidebysidewiththecoarserplantsof
　　dailynecessity；andmustdependfortheirculture，notonthe
　　exclusivedevotionoftimeandwealth，northequickeningraysof
　　titledpatronage，butonhoursandseasonssnatchedfromthepursuit
　　ofworldlyinterests，byintelligentandpublic—spiritedindividuals。
　　Hehasshownhowmuchmaybedoneforaplaceinhoursofleisureby
　　onemasterspirit，andhowcompletelyitcangiveitsownimpressto
　　surroundingobjects。LikehisownLorenzoDe’Medici，onwhomheseems
　　tohavefixedhiseyeasonapuremodelofantiquity，hehas
　　interwoventhehistoryofhislifewiththehistoryofhisnative
　　town，andhasmadethefoundationsofitsfamethemonumentsofhis
　　virtues。WhereveryougoinLiverpool，youperceivetracesofhis
　　footstepsinallthatiselegantandliberal。Hefoundthetideof
　　wealthflowingmerelyinthechannelsoftraffic；hehasdivertedfrom
　　itinvigoratingrillstorefreshthegardenofliterature。Byhis
　　ownexampleandconstantexertionshehaseffectedthatunionof
　　commerceandtheintellectualpursuits，soeloquentlyrecommendedin
　　oneofhislatestwritings：*andhaspracticallyprovedhow
　　beautifullytheymaybebroughttoharmonize，andtobenefiteach
　　other。Thenobleinstitutionsforliteraryandscientificpurposes，
　　whichreflectsuchcreditonLiverpool，andaregivingsuchanimpulse
　　tothepublicmind，havemostlybeenoriginated，andhaveallbeen
　　effectivelypromoted，byMr。Roscoe；andwhenweconsiderthe
　　rapidlyincreasingopulenceandmagnitudeofthattown，whichpromises
　　tovieincommercialimportancewiththemetropolis，itwillbe
　　perceivedthatinawakeninganambitionofmentalimprovementamong
　　itsinhabitants，hehaseffectedagreatbenefittothecauseof
　　Britishliterature。*AddressontheopeningoftheLiverpoolInstitution。
　　InAmerica，weknowMr。Roscoeonlyastheauthor—inLiverpoolhe
　　isspokenofasthebanker；andIwastoldofhishavingbeen
　　unfortunateinbusiness。Icouldnotpityhim，asIheardsomerich
　　mendo。Iconsideredhimfarabovethereachofpity。Thosewholive
　　onlyfortheworld，andintheworld，maybecastdownbythefrowns
　　ofadversity；butamanlikeRoscoeisnottobeovercomebythe
　　reversesoffortune。Theydobutdrivehiminupontheresourcesof
　　hisownmind；tothesuperiorsocietyofhisownthoughts；whichthe
　　bestofmenareaptsometimestoneglect，andtoroamabroadinsearch
　　oflessworthyassociates。Heisindependentoftheworldaround
　　him。Heliveswithantiquityandposterity；withantiquity，inthe
　　sweetcommunionofstudiousretirement；andwithposterity，inthe
　　generousaspiringsafterfuturerenown。Thesolitudeofsuchamindis
　　itsstateofhighestenjoyment。Itisthenvisitedbythoseelevated
　　meditationswhicharetheproperalimentofnoblesouls，andare，like
　　manna，sentfromheaven，inthewildernessofthisworld。
　　Whilemyfeelingswereyetaliveonthesubject，itwasmyfortune
　　tolightonfurthertracesofMr。Roscoe。Iwasridingoutwitha
　　gentleman，toviewtheenvironsofLiverpool，whenheturnedoff，
　　throughagate，intosomeornamentedgrounds。Afterridingashort
　　distance，wecametoaspaciousmansionoffreestone，builtinthe
　　Grecianstyle。Itwasnotinthepuresttaste，yetithadanairof
　　elegance，andthesituationwasdelightful。Afinelawnslopedaway
　　fromit，studdedwithclumpsoftrees，sodisposedastobreaka
　　softfertilecountryintoavarietyoflandscapes。TheMerseywasseen
　　windingabroadquietsheetofwaterthroughanexpanseofgreen
　　meadow—land；whiletheWelshmountains，blendedwithclouds，and
　　meltingintodistance，borderedthehorizon。
　　ThiswasRoscoe’sfavoriteresidenceduringthedaysofhis
　　prosperity。Ithadbeentheseatofeleganthospitalityandliterary
　　retirement。Thehousewasnowsilentanddeserted。Isawthewindows
　　ofthestudy，whichlookedoutuponthesoftsceneryIhavementioned。
　　Thewindowswereclosed—thelibrarywasgone。Twoorthree
　　ill—favoredbeingswereloiteringabouttheplace，whommyfancy
　　picturedintoretainersofthelaw。Itwaslikevisitingsome
　　classicfountain，thathadoncewelleditspurewatersinasacred
　　shade，butfindingitdryanddusty，withthelizardandthetoad
　　broodingovertheshatteredmarbles。
　　IinquiredafterthefateofMr。Roscoe’slibrary，whichhad
　　consistedofscarceandforeignbooks，frommanyofwhichhehaddrawn
　　thematerialsforhisItalianhistories。Ithadpassedunderthe
　　hammeroftheauctioneer，andwasdispersedaboutthecountry。The
　　goodpeopleofthevicinitythrongedlikewreckerstogetsomepartof
　　thenoblevesselthathadbeendrivenonshore。Didsuchasceneadmit
　　ofludicrousassociations，wemightimaginesomethingwhimsicalin
　　thisstrangeirruptionintheregionsoflearning。Pigmiesrummaging
　　thearmoryofagiant，andcontendingforthepossessionofweapons
　　whichtheycouldnotwield。Wemightpicturetoourselvessomeknotof
　　speculators，debatingwithcalculatingbrowoverthequaintbinding
　　andilluminatedmarginofanobsoleteauthor；oftheairofintense，
　　butbaffledsagacity，withwhichsomesuccessfulpurchaserattempted
　　todiveintotheblack—letterbargainhehadsecured。
　　ItisabeautifulincidentinthestoryofMr。Roscoe’smisfortunes，
　　andonewhichcannotfailtointerestthestudiousmind，thatthe
　　partingwithhisbooksseemstohavetoucheduponhistenderest
　　feelings，andtohavebeentheonlycircumstancethatcouldprovoke
　　thenoticeofhismuse。Thescholaronlyknowshowdearthese
　　silent，yeteloquent，companionsofpurethoughtsandinnocenthours
　　becomeintheseasonsofadversity。Whenallthatisworldlyturns
　　todrossaroundus，theseonlyretaintheirsteadyvalue。Whenfriends
　　growcold，andtheconverseofintimateslanguishesintovapid
　　civilityandcommonplace，theseonlycontinuetheunaltered
　　countenanceofhappierdays，andcheeruswiththattruefriendship
　　whichneverdeceivedhope，nordesertedsorrow。
　　Idonotwishtocensure；but，surely，ifthepeopleofLiverpool
　　hadbeenproperlysensibleofwhatwasduetoMr。Roscoeand
　　themselves，hislibrarywouldneverhavebeensold。Goodworldly
　　reasonsmay，doubtless，begivenforthecircumstance，whichit
　　wouldbedifficulttocombatwithothersthatmightseemmerely
　　fanciful；butitcertainlyappearstomesuchanopportunityasseldom
　　occurs，ofcheeringanoblemindstrugglingundermisfortunes，by
　　oneofthemostdelicate，butmostexpressivetokensofpublic
　　sympathy。Itisdifficult，however，toestimateamanofgenius
　　properlywhoisdailybeforeoureyes。Hebecomesmingledand
　　confoundedwithothermen。Hisgreatqualitieslosetheirnovelty，
　　webecometoofamiliarwiththecommonmaterialswhichformthe
　　basisevenoftheloftiestcharacter。SomeofMr。Roscoe’stownsmen
　　mayregardhimmerelyasamanofbusiness；othersasapolitician；
　　allfindhimengagedlikethemselvesinordinaryoccupations，and
　　surpassed，perhaps，bythemselvesonsomepointsofworldlywisdom。
　　Eventhatamiableandunostentatioussimplicityofcharacter，which
　　givesthenamelessgracetorealexcellence，maycausehimtobe
　　undervaluedbysomecoarseminds，whodonotknowthattrueworthis
　　alwaysvoidofglareandpretension。Butthemanofletters，who
　　speaksofLiverpool，speaksofitastheresidenceofRoscoe。—The
　　intelligenttravellerwhovisitsitinquireswhereRoscoeistobe
　　seen。—Heistheliterarylandmarkoftheplace，indicatingits
　　existencetothedistantscholar。—Heis，likePompey’scolumnat
　　Alexandria，toweringaloneinclassicdignity。
　　Thefollowingsonnet，addressedbyMr。Roscoetohisbookson
　　partingwiththem，isalludedtointheprecedingarticle。Ifany
　　thingcanaddeffecttothepurefeelingandelevatedthoughthere
　　displayed，itistheconviction，thatthewholeisnoeffusionof
　　fancy，butafaithfultranscriptfromthewriter’sheart。TOMYBOOKS。
　　Asonewho，destinedfromhisfriendstopart，
　　Regretshisloss，buthopesagainerewhile
　　Tosharetheirconverseandenjoytheirsmile，
　　Andtempersashemayaffliction’sdart；
　　Thus，lovedassociates，chiefsofelderart，
　　Teachersofwisdom，whocouldoncebeguile
　　Mytedioushours，andlighteneverytoil，
　　Inowresignyou；norwithfaintingheart；
　　Forpassafewshortyears，ordays，orhours，
　　Andhappierseasonsmaytheirdawnunfold，
　　Andallyoursacredfellowshiprestore：
　　When，freedfromearth，unlimiteditspowers，
　　Mindshallwithminddirectcommunionhold，
　　Andkindredspiritsmeettopartnomore。
　　THEEND。
　　1819—20
　　THESKETCHBOOK
　　RURALFUNERALS
　　byWashingtonIrving
　　Here’safewflowers！butaboutmidnightmore：
　　Theherbsthathaveonthemcolddewo’thenight；
　　Arestrewingsfitt’stforgraves—
　　Youwereasflowersnowwither’d；evenso
　　Theseherbletsshall，whichweuponyoustrow。
　　CYMBELINE。
　　AMONGthebeautifulandsimple—heartedcustomsofrurallifewhich
　　stilllingerinsomepartsofEngland，arethoseofstrewingflowers
　　beforethefunerals，andplantingthematthegravesofdeparted
　　friends。These，itissaid，aretheremainsofsomeoftheritesof
　　theprimitivechurch；buttheyareofstillhigherantiquity，having
　　beenobservedamongtheGreeksandRomans，andfrequentlymentionedby
　　theirwriters，andwere，nodoubt，thespontaneoustributesof
　　unletteredaffection，originatinglongbeforearthadtaskeditselfto
　　modulatesorrowintosong，orstoryitonthemonument。Theyarenow
　　onlytobemetwithinthemostdistantandretiredplacesofthe
　　kingdom，wherefashionandinnovationhavenotbeenabletothrongin，
　　andtrampleoutallthecuriousandinterestingtracesoftheolden
　　time。
　　InGlamorganshire，wearetold，thebedwhereonthecorpseliesis
　　coveredwithflowers，acustomalludedtoinoneofthewildand
　　plaintivedittiesofOphelia：
　　Whitehisshroudasthemountainsnow
　　Lardedallwithsweetflowers；
　　Whichbe—wepttothegravedidgo，
　　Withtrueloveshowers。
　　Thereisalsoamostdelicateandbeautifulriteobservedinsomeof
　　theremotevillagesofthesouth，atthefuneralofafemalewhohas
　　diedyoungandunmarried。Achapletofwhiteflowersisbornebefore
　　thecorpsebyayounggirlnearestinage，size，andresemblance，
　　andisafterwardshungupinthechurchovertheaccustomedseatof
　　thedeceased。Thesechapletsaresometimesmadeofwhitepaper，in
　　imitationofflowers，andinsideofthemisgenerallyapairof
　　whitegloves。Theyareintendedasemblemsofthepurityofthe
　　deceased，andthecrownofglorywhichshehasreceivedinheaven。
　　Insomepartsofthecountry，also，thedeadarecarriedtothe
　　gravewiththesingingofpsalmsandhymns：akindoftriumph，"to
　　show，"saysBourne，"thattheyhavefinishedtheircoursewithjoy，
　　andarebecomeconquerors。"This，Iaminformed，isobservedinsome
　　ofthenortherncounties，particularlyinNorthumberland，andithasa
　　pleasing，thoughmelancholyeffect，tohear，ofastillevening，in
　　somelonelycountryscene，themournfulmelodyofafuneraldirge
　　swellingfromadistance，andtoseethetrainslowlymovingalongthe
　　landscape。
　　Thus，thus，andthus，wecompassround
　　Thyharmlesseandunhauntedground，
　　Andaswesingthydirge，wewill
　　Thedaffodill
　　Andotherflowerslayupon
　　Thealtarofourlove，thystone。
　　HERRICK。