The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-06-07
IRvrNG,s LOVE STORY.

Many years ago, according to 'Norwes-
ter" of the Boston Post, Washington r.
wing wrote the explanation of his bachelor
hood to lady who inquired of him the rea-
son of his never having married. The sto-
ry is in accordance with an impression that
has gained circulation, and we quote it:
1t was while engaged in writing his His
tory of New York." that Irving, then a
young man of twenty-six, was called to
mourn the somewhat sudden death of Ma
| tilda Hoffman. whom he had hoped to call
his wife. This young lady was the second
daughter of Josiah Ogden Hoffman, and
the sister of those two talented men, Chas.
Fenno Hoffman, the poet, and Ogden Hoff-
man, the eloquent jurist. In her fathers
Office Washington Irving had essayed to
study law, and with every prospect, if in
dusLrious and studious, of a partnership
with Mr.. Hoffman as well as a matrimonial
alliance with Matilda. These high hopes
were disappointed by the decease of the
young lady on the 26th of April, 1909, in
the 18th year of her aye.
There is a psthos about Irving's recital
of the circumstances of her death, and his
own feelings, that is truly painful and tear
impelIing. He says: "She was taken i'll
with cold. Nothing was thought of it at
first; but she grew rapidly worse. and fell
into consumption. l cannot tell you what
I suffered. Il = saw her fade
rapidly away; beautiful and more beautiful
and more angelic to the very last. was
often by her bedside; and in her wandering
state of mind she would talk to me with a
sweet, natural and affecting eloquence, that
was overpowering. l saw more of the
beauty of her mind in that delirious state
than had ever known before. Her mala-
dy was rapid in ito career, and hurried her
off In two months. Her dying struggles
were painful and protracted. For three days
and nights did not leave the house and
scarcely slept. l was by her when she
died; all the family were assembled around
her, some praying, others weeping, for she
was adored by them all. Twas the last one
she looked upon.
1 cannot tell you what horrid state OF
mind was in for long time. I seemed
to care for nothing; the world was blank
to me. l abandoned all thoughts of law.
l went into the country, but could not bear
solitude; yet could not enjoy society.
There was dismal horror continually in
my mind that made me fear to be alone. !
had often to get up in the night, and seek
the bedroom of my brother, as if the hay-
ing human being by me would relieve me
from the frightful gloom of my own
thoughts. Months elapsed before my mind
would resume any tone; but the despond-
ency had suffered for long time in the
course of this attachment, and the anguish
that attended its catastrophe, seemed to
give turn to my whole character, and
threw some clouds into my disposition,
which have ever since hung about it. x :
| seemed to drift about without aim OF
object. at the mere mercy of every breeze
my heart wanted anchorage. l was natu-
rally susceptible, and tried to form other at
tachments. but my heart would not hold on
it would continually recur to what it haG
lost; and whenever there was pause In the
hurry of novelty and excitement, would
sink into dismal detection. For years
could not talk on the subject ofthis hopeless
! regret; could not even mention her name
but her image was continually before me, anc
l dreamt of her necessarily
How sweetly, too, does Irving portray
with his artist pen the lineaments of his low
ed one! He says, in the same letter, "Th'
more saw her the more l had reason to ad
mire her. Her mind seemed to unfold itsel
leaf by leaf, and every time to discover new
sweetness. Nobody knew her so we'll as
for she was generally timid and silent; bu
in manner studied her excellence. New
Ell did I meet with more intuitive rectitud'
of mind, more native delicacy, more exqui
;, site propriety in word, thought and action
than in this young creature. I am not ex
aggerating; what say was acknowledged
: by all that knew her. Her brilliant little
sister used to say that people began by ad
miring her, but ended by loving Matilda
For my part idolized her. felt at time
rebuked by her superior delicacy and puri
: ty, and as if I was coarse, unworthy be
ing in comparison"
Irving seldom or never alluded to thi
sad event nor was the name of Matilda eve
spoken in his presence. Thirty years ate
, her death. Irving was visiting Mr.. Hoffman
and a grand daughter in drawing out som
sheets of music to be performed upon tn
piano, accidentally brought with them
piece of embroidery which dropped upon tn
floor. Washington" said Mr.. Hoffman
''this is piece of poor Matilda's workman
ship" His biographer describes the effec
as electric. ''He had been conversing in tn
sprightliest mood BEFORE says Pierre n
Irving, "and he sunk at once into utter 81
r lence, and in few moments got up an
r left the house"
: GEH. ScoTr Co.'s IN FOR HANGINe.-Th
I'll