Dream Life | Page 3

To this Mr. Irving was
not averse, both from his extreme love of music, and his kindliness
toward the artists themselves; yet, in his own quiet way, I think he
fretted considerably at being pounced upon at odd hours to give them
French talk.
"It's very awkward," said he to me one day; "I have had large occasion
for practice to be sure; but I rather fancy, after all, our own language;
it's heartier and easier."
He was utterly incapable of being lionized. Time and again, under the
trees in the court of the hotel, did I hear him enter upon some pleasant
story, lighted up with that rare turn of his eye, and by his deft
expressions, when, as chance acquaintances grouped about him,--as is
the way of watering-places,--and eager listeners multiplied, his hilarity
and spirit took a chill from the increasing auditory, and drawing
abruptly to a close, he would sidle away with a friend and be gone.
Among the visitors was a tall, interesting young girl--from Louisiana, if

I mistake not--who had the reputation of being a great heiress, and who
was, of course, beset by a host of admirers. There was something very
attractive in her air, and Mr. Irving was never tired of gazing on her as
she walked, with what he called a "faun-like step," across the lawn, or
up and down the corridors. Her eyes too--"dove-like," he termed
them--were his special admiration. He watched with an amused interest
the varying fortunes of the rival lovers, and often met me with--"Well,
who is in favor to-day?" And he discussed very freely the varying
chances.
One brusque, heavy man, who thought to carry the matter through by a
coup de main, he was sure could never succeed. A second, who was
most assiduous, but whose brazen confidence was unyielding, he
counted still less upon. But a quiet, somewhat older gentleman, whose
look was ever full of tender appeal, and who bore himself with a
modest dignity, he reckoned the probable winner. "He will feel a Nay
grievously," said he; "but for the others, they will forget it in a supper."
I believe it eventually proved that no one of those present was the
successful suitor. I know only that the fair girl was afterward a bride;
and (what we all so little anticipated) her home is now a scene of
desolation, her fortune very likely a wreck, her family scattered or slain,
and herself, maybe, a fugitive.
I saw Mr. Irving afterward repeatedly in New York, and passed two
delightful days at Sunnyside. I can never forget a drive with him upon a
crisp autumn morning through Sleepy Hollow, and all the notable
localities of his neighborhood, in the course of which he kindly called
my attention, in the most unaffected and incidental way, to those which
had been specially illustrated by his pen; and with a rare humor
recounted to me some of his boyish adventures among the old Dutch
farmers of this region. Most of all, it is impossible for me to forget the
rare kindliness of his manner, his friendly suggestions, and the beaming
expression of his eye.
I met it last at the little stile from which I strolled away to the station at
Dearman; and when I saw the kind face again, it was in the coffin, at
the little church where he attended service. But the eyes were closed,

and the wonderful radiance of expression gone. It seemed to me that
death never took away more from a living face; it was but a cold
shadow lying there, of the man who had taught a nation to love him.
Edgewood, Sept. 1863.

CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY.
page
I. With my Aunt Tabithy 1
II. With my Reader 9
DREAMS OF BOYHOOD.
Spring 21
I. Rain in the Garret 26
II. School-Dreams 33
III. Boy Sentiment 43
IV. A Friend made and Friend lost 49
V. Boy Religion 60
VI. A New-England Squire 67
VII. The Country Church 78
VIII. A Home Scene 86
DREAMS OF YOUTH.

Summer 97
I. Cloister Life 104
II. First Ambition 115
III. College Romance 120
IV. First Look at the World 132
V. A Broken Home 142
VI. Family Confidence 151
VII. A Good Wife 159
VIII. A Broken Hope 167
DREAMS OF MANHOOD.
Autumn 179
I. Pride of Manliness 184
II. Man of the World 191
III. Manly Hope 198
IV. Manly Love 207
V. Cheer and Children 213
VI. A Dream of Darkness 221
VII. Peace 229
DREAMS OF AGE.
Winter 239

I. What is Gone 243
II. What is Left 249
III. Grief and Joy of Age 255
IV. The End of Dreams 261

INTRODUCTORY.
I.
With my Aunt Tabithy.
"Pshaw!" said my Aunt Tabithy, "have you not done with dreaming?"
My Aunt Tabithy, though