New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-10
Washington Irving 20 Ichnbod Crane.

The KinderAOek Sentinel publishes the follow
ng letter OF Washington Irving written to his
friend Jesse Merwin of that town, the original
"Ichabod Crane of the Sleepy Hollow" legend
sunni SIDE, February H. 1851.
"You must excuse me, nay good friend Merwia.
for suffering your letter TO remain so long unan-
swered. You can have no idea how many letters
have to answer, besides tagging with my pen al
nv own literary tasks go that it is impossible fsr
me 10 avoid being behindhand in my correspond
ence Your letter was indeed most welcome
calling up as it did the recollection OF pleasant
scenes and pleasant days passed together In times
long since at Judge Van Nesss, 10 Kinderhook.
Your mention Of the death of good old Dominic
Van Nest, recalls the apostolic yea! with which
he took our little sinful community in hand. when
he put up for day or two at the Judges; and
the wholesome castigation he gave US all on Sun
day, beginning with the two country bellies who
came huttering into the school house during the
sermon, decked out in their city fnery and ending
with the Judge himself, in the stronghold Of his
own mansion. How soundly he gave 1t to usl
how be peeled of every rag Of selfrighteousness
with which we tried 20 cover ourselves, and laid
the rod on the bare backs Of our consoienoes =
The good, plain spoken, honest old mani Howl
honored him for his simple, straightfc rward earn
estness; his homely sincerity He certainly
handled US without mittens; but trust we arc
all the better for il. How different he was from
the brisk dapper, self sufficient little apostle who
csntered up to the Judges door day or two a.
ter; who was so full OF himself that no had no
thought to bestow on our religious delinquenoiss;
who did nothing but boast OF his public trials of
skill in argument with rival preachers of other
denominations and how he had driven them OF
the field, and crowed over them. You must ra-
member the bustling, selfconfdent little MAJ.
with a tin trumpet in the handle of his riding
whip, with which presume he blew the trump pet
in Zion
"Do you remember eur fishing expedition Ia
company with Congressman Van Allen to the
little lake few miles from Undertook and
John Moore, the vagabond admiral of the lake.
who sat crouched in heap in the middle of his
canoe in the center Of the lake, with fishing rods
stretching out In every direction like the long legs
OF spideri And do you remember our piratical
prank, when we made up for our bad luck In fish,
ing by plundering bis canoe OF its fish when we
found it adriftl And do you remember how John
Moore came splashing along the marsh on the oP.
posite border of the lake, roaring at Us, and how
finished our frolic by driving off and leaving
the Congressman to John Moore's mercy, tickling
ourselves with the idea Of his being scalped at
leasta
"Ab, vel. a.day friend Merwin, these were the
days Of our youth and folly. ! trust we have
grown wiser and better since then; we certainly
have grown older. | don't think we could rob
John Moore's fishing canoe now. By the way.
that same John Moore, and the anecdotes you
tod of him, gave me the idea of vagabond char
acter, Dirck Schuyler. In my Knickerbocker his
tory Of New.York, which was then writing:
"You tell me the old schoo.house is torn down
and new one built In its place. / am sorry for
it, should have liked to see the old school house
once more where, after my morning sterary task
was over, j used to come and wait for you ocoa-
sionally until school was dismissed, aud you used
TO promise TO keep back the punishment OF soma
little, tough, broad bottomed Dutch boy until /
should come, for my amusenent-but never kept
your promise. / don't think should look with q
friendly eye the new school house, however
nice il might be.
Since | saw you in New York, | have had
severe attacks Of bilious intermittent fever, which
shook me terribly but they cleared out my sys-
tenn and have ever since been 10 my usual ex-
cellent health, able to mount my horse and gaIlop
about the country almost as brisky as when vas
a youngster. Wishing you the enjoy ment OF the
same inestmable blessing. and begging you to
remember me TO your daughter who penned your
letter. and 20 your son whom out Of old kndness
and companioDship you have named after me.
. remain eyer, my old friend,
Yours very truly and cordially.
WASHINGTON IRVING
Hso