GRAVE OF IRVING. 105 



the month of August, when the Antiquarian 

 Society, whose property the building has be- 

 come, open it for preaching, rather for purposes 

 of curiosity than for devotion. 



In this cemetery is the grave of Irving. 

 Wiien I visited it a few years ago and stood 

 by the simple white slab on which is inscribed 

 his name and the date of his birth and death, 

 and saw that it was evidently new, I asked the 

 keeper if it could be possible that all this time 

 should have gone by with nothing to designate 

 the spot. *' Oh, no, indeed ; " he replied, '' a 

 stone v/as put up almost immediately, but the 

 curiosity-hunters chipped it to pieces, and this 

 has taken its place. They will probably serve 

 it in the same way and then there will be 

 another." 



And yet let us not too hastily accuse them 

 of desecrating his grave. The stone was not 

 broken down and strewed around with mali- 

 cious intent. Each little bit may have been 

 carried away with thoughtlessness, but with 

 pious motive, and wherever it is, it may be 

 cherished as a token sacred to his memory. 



