INTERVIEWS WITH WASHINGTON IRVING. 249 



* 



The return of his birthday (August 8, 1856,) was 

 marked, as usual, by reflections in his Diary. 



August 8. Again my birthday has returned ; it has 

 pleased God to permit me to finish my seventy-seventh 

 year. I have lived beyond the allotted age of man, not 

 merely threescore years and ten, but threescore years and 

 seventeen, and my only brother, the only one I ever had 

 of the whole blood, should he live to October 26, will then 

 enter his eightieth year. May God grant that our lives, 

 protected to old age, may for the remaining time be de- 

 voted to the wisest and best purposes. It may be written 

 concerning me, " This year shalt thou die." As yet I have 

 no admonition from physical infirmities. My health and 

 strength and power of endurance, and of performance of 

 duty, are undiminished, may God be praised, and my 

 eye is not dim ; I am writing this page without glasses. My 

 appetite is very good, and my sleep quiet, much better than 

 in former years. As physical causes, I impute much to cold 

 water faithfully applied every morning over the entire sur- 

 face, and followed by vigorous friction. I have for thirty- 

 three years drunk only water, tea, and milk, rarely coffee. 

 My food is the same with that of other people. This health- 

 ful physical condition favors cheerfulness of temper, which 

 is natural to me, and I hope I have a willing confidence in 

 God, my Creator, my Saviour and Sanctifier, that He is 

 preparing me for the exchange of worlds. 



A visit to friends on the Hudson brought him into 

 intercourse with Mr. Irving. 



August 19, 1856. In the evening we enjoyed a rich 

 treat in a free conversation with Mr. Washington Irving, 

 who, by invitation of Mr. Thomas, came to see me. The 

 next morning we returned the call, and found him at his 

 beautiful villa of Sunnyside, upon the bank of the river, 



