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。