Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-27

tlenlan to whom ! aiiude, was an lntlnate as
sociate Of Mr.. lrving's, since one OF his pail
bearers. On Sunday, July fourth, Iaccompa-
MED the family of my friend to service at their
place of worship, Christ's Church, Tarrytown,
of which both he aud Mr.. Irving were vesiry-
men, After The conclusion of the Order Of
Morning prayer, the venerable rec,or aunounc-
ed collection for the poor; and as the vestry-
men were waiting on the congregation, TOR their
contributors, the son of my frieua directed my
atteation to one of them, and whispered, sslhat
Is Mr.. Irving" tiy eye followed him, as he
passed up the aisle and laid the days gifts,
within the ehancel, and turned to go TO bis pew.
was disappointed; not in the face; it was the
same handsome, intellectual, thought-beaming
conntenance, had seen in MS portraits, taken
10 bis manhood's prime; though older, and /
thought, touched with shade of sadness. But
my fancy had gi-en him tail, imposing fern,
whereas be was not above medium height, slight
ly bent, and somewhat inclined to corpuleney;
and bis mein was not as / had deemed it,
jestic; but humble, though digni6ed, and
though, beneath the stained light of the sacred
place, full Of reverence.
When next | saw him, it was 10 different
scene, on the evening of the fifth there was
festive gathering. and display of fire works,
at the villa of New York merchant, resident
in the neighborhood. The scene was one of
gaiety and of grandeur. The palace, (for ii is
regal editice,) stands on high elevation,
over looking the Hudson. The lawn in front
secured perfect feu de jois and in all direc-
tions for many miles, on either side of the river
for hours, tue night was illuminated BY rockets
and other pygrotecnie displays,sen off from the
towns and villages and country seats, aud to
one unascustoned to such sceaes, Il seemed the
enchantDent OF fairy land. 1t was here l mad
the honor IF being presented to Mr. Irving
He was surrounded upon all sides, the centre
Of attraction TO mlny anxious to converse With
him, and did little else but look and listeu;
bur, il was something worth, TO look aud listen
there. shall long remember it, neither shall
| 5000 forget his warm shake Of the hand and
his cordial good night, as We parted from him
to go home.
The mex. day visited scenes made classic
ground by tue touch Of his magic pen-- the
place aF .An5re's csptnfss Sleepy Holics
The old dutch church, with its grave yard aud
quaint epitaphs ;-Roamed over The hills, aud
batbed in the Tappan Zee, and towards even
Jog of tho next, with friend, sirolled over to
Sunnyside. AS we approached the antique
edi6ce, We observed through the opeo window,
that the family were at dinner SO we coutnu-
ed our walk, though the grounds, and Gu to the
adjoining grounds. of Mr.. Grinnell and whiled
away half hour, looking at the objects Of in
terest-tbe beautiful vistas; the rustic bridges,
the grotesque statues, the miniature lake., tae
mimic waterfalls; and returning, found Mf.
Irving with MS brother aad the Indies of his
household-his neiees, sitting in the open air on
the peranda aud beneath the trees. Mr.. Irving
rose to meet US, and In reply TO a remark, that
We bad taken the liberty of trespa>siug upon
bis domain, he said "all, even strangers, feel at
liberty to CONS here, then certainly we should
IN axe our friends welcome." Knowing how
precious was his time, and how prosecuted ne
was with admiri1g visitors, We tarrIed but
little while ia common placed conversation,
makiog reference TO the fact, that he had
even written book, for my friend knew, nd
had heard, how such illusions annoyed hin-.
After bidding the family good evening, We
fingered on the lawn, to take last look at The
beautiful Tappan Zee, spread out beneath the
setting summers sun, like a lake Of molten
golj :-once more looked at the old mansion OF
Suunyside (immortalized by its great owner as
" AhOOob Win It's
and ivy, covered roofs; its a:chcd portal and
ancient weatllercoek (the same that of yore
graced the old "Stadt Haus" at Albany stop
ped to view the old English park gateway with
ITS vine covered stone pillars, taking from it as
memerto of my visit, leaf of scion of the
Abbotsford Ivy, brought by Irving from Eng
land; and We we're beyond the precincts made
sacred by the residence and touch of one of
Americas greatest sons, ,--oertsiuly her greatest
author.
/; is past, but | shall not be thought weak
nor vain, by those who appreciate the great
genius, aud great heart of Irving, that have
dwelt with pleasure on the honor | enjoyed, in
having pressed his hand, and listened to his
voice. That hand is cold that voice is hush
ed iu death but that voice will never be silent
while fame lasts--that hand has inscribed his
among
esThe bright, immortal names
That We're not born to die''
While his own Hudson rolls its mighty tide
to the ocean, bis memory must live He dies
TO earth, but it is to add another star to The
bright galaxy of those, who have reached forth
and seized 40 Immortality.
The cattle of Deacon Johnstoa's neighbors
kept getting into his pasture. The pasture
was bad enough for the deacon's cattle, and
was mighty poor feed for other peoples, when
they sought to share it. Deacon johnson had
tried, with his hired man, to keep them out,
aud couldn't, and at las. Pat said, With o
scratch of his head:
"I'll tell you. Mr.. Johnston, how you can
h. ffar hut nf 81,
that come here thaving their feed
''Aud how shall we do that thing, PAt!"
,"WhY, sir, whin they git in aglp, just let
US 60 and put up the inces and kape them in,
and my word fur it, they'll all starpe 10 death