The sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, gent[pseud.] together with Abbotsford and other selections from the writings of Washington Irving .. . ossiping away the evening of life; and in a shorttime they will probably be buried together in the neighboringchurchyard. It is not often that we see two streams ofexistence running thus evenly and tranquilly side by side; itis only in such quiet bosom scenes of life that they are to bemet with. 10. I had hoped to gather some traditionary anecdotes ofthe bard from these ancient chroniclers: but they had nothingnew to impart. The long interval during which S
The sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, gent[pseud.] together with Abbotsford and other selections from the writings of Washington Irving .. . ossiping away the evening of life; and in a shorttime they will probably be buried together in the neighboringchurchyard. It is not often that we see two streams ofexistence running thus evenly and tranquilly side by side; itis only in such quiet bosom scenes of life that they are to bemet with. 10. I had hoped to gather some traditionary anecdotes ofthe bard from these ancient chroniclers: but they had nothingnew to impart. The long interval during which Shakspeareswriting lay in comparative neglect has spread its shadow overhis history; and it is his good or evil lot that scarcelyanything remains to his biographers but a scanty handful ofconjectures. 11. The sexton and his companion had been employedas carpenters on the preparations for the celebrated Stratfordjubilee, and they remembered Garrick, the prime mover ofthe fete, who superintended the arrangements, and who,according to the sexton, was a short punch man, very livelyand bustling. John Ange had assisted also in cutting down. STRATFORD-ON-AVON 181 Shakspeares mulberry-tree, of which he had a morsel in hispocket for sale; no doubt a sovereign quickener of literaryconception. 12. I was grieved to hear these two worthy wights speakvery dubiously of the eloquent dame .who shows the Shaks-peare house. John Ange shook his head when I mentionedher valuable collection of relics, particularly her remains ofthe mulberry-tree; and the old sexton even expressed adoubt as to Shakspeare having been born in her house. Isoon discovered that he looked upon her mansion with an evileye, as a rival to the poets tomb: the latter having com-paratively but few visitors. Thus it is that historians differat the very outset, and mere pebbles make the stream of truthdiverge into different channels even at the fountain-head. 13. We approached the church through the avenue oflimes, and entered by a
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