it was to read these books
under cover of his desk at school, or in bed at night by the light of
candles smuggled into his room! It is no wonder that he grew to wish
with all his heart that he could go to sea, and that he haunted the
wharves watching the out-going vessels.

When only fifteen years old, Washington finished his schooling. In later
life he was always very sorry that he had not been sent to college at
this time. Within a year he began the study of law, but he went at his
work in such a half-hearted way that although he passed his examination
in 1806, he was really very poorly fitted for his calling.

The last two years of this time had been passed in Europe, where he had
been sent to recover his health; and it is safe to say that thoughts of
his legal studies troubled young Irving but little during this
interesting trip. If as a boy he had been thrilled merely in reading of
voyages and travels, what was now his pleasure in journeying through one
strange scene after another and meeting with such exciting adventures as
that which befell him on the way from Genoa to Sicily, when the vessel
on which he was sailing was boarded by pirates. On this occasion, as he
could translate the questions of the attacking party and could answer
these men in their own tongue, he was forced to go on the pirate ship,
among an evil-looking crew, armed with stilettos, cutlasses and pistols,
and act as interpreter before the captain. As it turned out that the
booty was too small to be worth taking, Irving and his companions
escaped without hurt. In the course of his further travels he found
especial delight in the works of art at Rome, and in attending the
theater and opera in Paris and London.

In January, 1807, several months after his return to America, Irving,
with one of his brothers and a friend, began to publish _Salmagundi_, a
magazine containing humorous articles on the social life of New York.
This became so popular that twenty numbers were issued. Having found so
much of interest in the life of his native city, Irving next wrote a
comic _History of New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker_, dealing with the
early period when the city was ruled by the Dutch. The novel way in
which this work was announced would do credit to the most clever
advertiser. About six weeks before the book was published, appeared this
notice in the _Evening Post_:

"_Distressing._

"Left his lodgings some time since, and has not since been heard