He then returned home and for the rest of his life resided at his cottage residence "Sunnyside," near Tarrytown, the spot wliich he had described years before in the " Legend of Sleepy Hollow " as the castle of the Herr Van Tassel, and of which he wrote -- " If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might steal from the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the remainder of a troubled life, I know of none' more promising than this little valley." Here in this retreat he lived in the midst of a family circle composed of his brother and his nieces, hospitably entertaining his friends and engaged in writing his biographies of Goldsmith and Mahomet and his " Life of Washington."

His life at "Sunnyside" was simple, kindly and affectionate. He was a good friend and neighbor and a devout communicant at Christ Episcopal Church in Tarrytown. For many years he was a vestryman and warden, and it was his i)ractice during the greater part of this time to take up the collection at the Sunday services. He never married, having lost by death his betrothed wife, Matilda Hoffman, a beautiful young girl. His death occurred at Tarrytown, November 28, 1859, and he was buried in the beautiful cemetery of Sleepy Hollow. The ivy upon the tower of Christ Church wiis taken from "Sunnyside" and planted by Irving himself. It was originally brought from ^lelrose Abbey, His pew in the church is marked with his name and Wiis set apart years ago by the vestry for the use of any members of the Irving family who might wish to worship there. As near the pew as it could be placed is a mural tablet