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According to Irving “Sunnyside” was once the property of old Baltus Van Tassel, and here lived the fair Katrina, beloved by all the youths of the neighborhood, but more especially by Ichabod Crane, the country school-master, and a reckless youth by the name of Van Brunt.  Irving tells us that he thought out the story one morning on London Bridge, and went home and completed it in thirty-six hours.  The character of Ichabod Crane was a sketch of a young man whom he met at Kinderhook when writing his Knickerbocker history.  It will be remembered that Ichabod Crane went to a quilting-bee at the home of Mynheer Van Tassel, and, after the repast, was regaled with various ghost stories peculiar to the locality.  When the “party” was over he lingered for a time with the fair Katrina, but sallied out soon after with an air quite desolate and chop-fallen.  The night grew darker and darker.  He had never before felt so lonesome and miserable.  As he passed the fatal tree where Arnold was captured, there started up before him the identical “Headless Horseman” to whom he had been introduced by the story of Brom Bones.  Nay, not entirely headless; for the head which “should have rested upon his shoulders was carried before him on the pommel of the saddle.  His terror rose to desperation.  He rode for death and life.  The strange horseman sped beside him at an equal pace.  He fell into a walk.  The strange horseman did the same.  He endeavored to sing a psalm-tune, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth.  If he could but reach the bridge Ichabod thought he would be safe.  Away then he flew in rapid flight.  He reached the bridge, he thundered over the resounding planks.  Then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of launching his head at him.  It encountered his cranium with a tremendous crash.  He was tumbled headlong into the dirt, and the black steed and the spectral rider passed by like a whirlwind.  The next day tracks of horses deeply dented in the road were traced to the bridge, beyond which, on the bank of a broad part of the brook, where the water ran deep and black, was found the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close beside it a shattered pumpkin.”  All honor to him who fills this working-day world with humor, romance and beauty!

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I beg you will have the kindness to let me know when Mr. Irving takes pen in hand again; for assuredly I shall expect a very great treat which I may chance never to hear of but through your kindness.

    Walter Scott.

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    I want to visit Washington Irving, I want to see your
    stupendous scenery, I want to go to the grave of
    Washington.

    Lord Byron.

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