第9章
"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。