Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-06-22

tnnrtty, WHICH nCNtt nc dhASu hS'N hSsS
not whsn her son had bee ONE most Illus
trious of men.-It seemed to say, | am
your mother, the being who gave you
fife, the guide who directed your steps,
when they needed the guidance OF age
and wisdom, the paternal affection winch
claimed your love, the paternal authori-
ty which commanded your obediencei
whatever may be your success, what
ever your renown, next to your Zoo,
|you owe them most 10 me. Nor did
THE chief dissent from these truths, nat
Ito the last moments Of this venerable pa
|rent. Welded to her will the most dutIiul
add implicit obedience, and i'!t Tor Der
|person and character the most entnu-
(s;astic reverence aud attachment
"rhis lady possessed not the ambition
|whichis common to lesser minds; and
the peculiar plaiimess, yet dignity, oil
liner habits and manners, became IN no
wise altered, when the sun OF glory rose
upon her house.
The late Laurence Washington, Esq
' of Chotank, one OF the associates oil the
juvenile wears of the chief, and remem-
|bered by him in his will, thus describes
| the home OF the mother.
81 was often there with George, his
playmate, schoo|mate, and young man 5
the mother was ten
! times more afraid than ever was OF my
iown parents; she awed me IN the midst
| of her kindness, for she WAS truly End
have often been present with her sons,
proper tall fellows too, and we were all
as mute as mice; and even now, when
time has whitened my locks. and J am
the grandparent Of a second generation,
could not behold that remarkable wc-
man. without feelings it is impossible to
describe. Whoever has seen that ave.
inspiring air and manner, SO character
istic in the father OF his country, will
remember the matron as SHE appeared
when the presiding genius OF her wei
ordered household, Commanding and
being obeyed.'
"Of the many anecdotes touching the
early life of the chief, we shall present
our readers with one of no ordinary in
terest and character.
1.-The blooded horse was the Virginia
favorite of those days as well as these.
The mother, fond of the animal to which
her deceased husband had always been
particularly attached, had preserved the
race in its greatest purity, and at the
time of our story possessed several
young horses Of superior promise.
Zone there was sorrel, destined to
be famous land for much better reason)
as the horse which brutal emperor
raised to the dignity of consul. This !
sorrel was of fierce and ungovernable' 1
nature, and resisted all attempts to sub
iect him to the rein. He had reached
bis fullest size aud vigor, Unconscious OF
a rider. ranged free as the air. which
he snuffed in triumph, tossing his name
to the winds, and spucning the earth, IN
the p,ide of his freedom.
SIT was matter of common remark,
that a man never would be found hardy
enough to back and ride this vicious
horse. Several had essayed. but deter
red, by the fury of the animal, and the
steed remained unbroked.
"The young Washington proposed to
his companions, that il they would as
sist him in con6ning the steed, so that
bride could be placed lii his mouth, he
would engage to tame this terror OF the
parish. Accordingly, early the ensuing
morning, the associates decoytd the
horse into an enclosure, where they Sc
cured him. and forced a bill into his
mouth Bold, vigorous and young, the
daring chief sprang to his unenvied seat
and bidding his comrades remove their
tackle, the indignant courser rushed to
the plain.
"As if disdaining his burden, he at first
attempted to fly, but soon felt the power
of an arm, which could have tanned his
Arab grandsires, in widest course, on
their native deserts. The struggle now
became terrific to the beholders; who
almost wis he'd they had not joined in
an enterprise, so likely to be fatal to
their daring associate. But the youth
full hero, that ''spirit-protected man,"
chung to the furious steed, till Centuar-
like. he appeared to make part of the
animal itself. Long was the conflict,
and the fears Of the associates became
more relieved as, with matchless skill
the rider preserved his seat, and with
matchless force controlled the courser's
rage, when the gallant horse, summon
-, ~ all ME ,,OtyprS to ono MIGHTY effort