improper, unfitting.



XXXV. THE THUNDERSTORM.

Washington Irving (b. 1783, d. 1859). This distinguished author, whose
works have enriched American literature, was born in the city of New York.
He had an ordinary school education, and began his literary career at the
age of nineteen, by writing for a paper published by his brother. His
first book, "Salmagundi," was published in 1807. Two years later he
published "Knickerbocker's History of New York." In 1815 he sailed for
Europe, and remained abroad seventeen years, during which time he wrote
several of his works. From 1842 to 1846 he was minister to Spain. The last
years of his life were passed at "Sunnyside," near Tarrytown, N.Y. He was
never married. "The Life of Washington," his last work, was completed in
the same year in which he died. Mr. Irving's works are characterized by
humor, chaste sentiment, and elegance and correctness of expression. The
following selection is from "Dolph" in "Bracehridge Hall."

1. In the second day of the voyage, they came to the Highlands. It was the
latter part of a calm, sultry day, that they floated gently with the tide
between these stern mountains. There was that perfect quiet which prevails
over nature in the languor of summer heat. The turning of a plank, or the
accidental falling of an oar, on deck, was echoed from the mountain side
and reverberated along the shores; and, if by chance the captain gave a
shout of command, there were airy tongues that mocked it from every cliff.


2. Dolph gazed about him, in mute delight and wonder, at these scenes of