Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-27

in plain dra5 clothes, broad brimn,ed phite haf'
hickory s,pitch in his hand, and carrying an am'
5rella ,rih a long staff, Uhtch IS attached 10 ma
saddle bow-ihat parsonage, sir, is General VASE
ingion! The stranger, much amused at our de'
/ scription, observed with good humored smile
Thank We, thank we, young gentlemen; think
| if | fall in with the General,I shall be rather
apt to know him. AT dinner, We had the pea
sure of being introduced to Colonel Meade, VINO
had been id-de-Camp TO the Commander IN
Chief, in the war of The Revolution The UNI
brella was NOT used as an article OF luxury: loi
Injuries were to him known only by name
Being naturally Of avery fair complexion, his
skin was liable TO be affected by the influence oil
the sun. =.
This umbrella, just as it was when last he had
| il down, never again TO require its friendly
shade, we have had the good fortune 10 pre-
5. rye for quarter of a century, and the hap
piness 10 present it to the patriarch 81 La
Grange, in whose possession it will long be
| treasured as the relique OF his Paternal Chief,
and as an appropriate memorial OF the modern
Cincin,atus Precisely At a quarter before
three, the industrious farmer returned, dressed
Sc dined at thee O'Clock. AT this meal he ate
heartily, but was not particular in his diet, with
the exception of fish, of which he was exces-
sively fond, partook sparingly Of dessert, drank
homemade beverage; and from four TO five
glasses of Madeira wine. When the cloth was
removed, with old-fashioned courtesy he drank
to the health OF every person present, andethen
gave his toas,--hs only loast-aN our friends:
than which nobler or kindlitr sentiment
never was pledged at the board of social friend
ship, or "brayed out with the trumpet's tri-
umphs," at the "carousals" Of u King,
While IN the subject If tOoStS we would ask
permission to give one more. The late Colonel
Chopper, Of Accomac, was Captain in the 9th
Virginia Regiment OF the line, which formed
part Of the Southern Division under Greene,
and covered The retreat Of our discounted ar
my at the battle of Brandywine. On the eve
ming Of that hard fought day, Chopper marched
the remains Of his company into Chester, hav
ing his handkerchief fastened TO ramrod in
place Of a flag. After serving his country with
fidelity and distinction, Colonel Chopper retired
to his estate OH the Eastern Shore, where he
lived to an advanced age. This worthy vete-
ran, like his General, had but one toast, which
he gave every day, and TO all companies: it was
"God bless General Washington" Toasts az
to convey the feelings and wishes Of
our heal Is; and if ever an aspiration, warm and
direct from the heart, deserved 10 find favor
with "Heaven's Chancery" on high, it was
when, with .pious fervor, this old soldiers
prayer implored blessing upon his revered
The afternoon was usually devoted to the IL
brary. AT night, his labors DER, the venerable
citizen would join his family and friends al the
tea-table, and ENJOY their society for several
hours-took no supper, and about O'Clock re-.
tired to bed. Wnen without company he fire.
quently read TO his family extracts from the
new publications Of the day, and, on Sunday,
sermons and other sacred Nv.
broken by a pulmonary affection In earlysiie,
md which, when greatly excited, produced Ia
,or,np of the chest. He would frequently,
when sitting with his family, appear absent; his
ms would move, his hand be raised, and ne
would evidently seem under the influence oil
thoughts, which had nothing to do with Inc
,uiescent scene around him. This pecuiiari'
" is readily accounted for, since 1t must be
no very easy matter for one who so long had
borne the cares Of public life, at once to lay a
side all thou ght for Others, and become contenl
With Individual concerns.
In Winter, when stress Of weather prevented
his taking his usual exercise, he was In he ha-
bit of walking Tor an hour In the Portico, before
retiring to rest AS The Eastern portico OF The
Mansion House is more than ninety feet III
length, this walk would comprise several m'les.
Thus, in The seldom varied routine oil useini
industry, temperate enjoyment, and the heart
felt qualifications OF domestic felicity, sped the
latter days Of the Father Of his Country; and
oh! it was luxurious 10 behold this "time ho-
nored man." the race Of whose glory was run,
who had seized the goal Of all his wishes, OBJ
tanned the reward of all his tolls, i'll the freedom
and happiness of rising Empire, resting from
his mig hty labors, amid The tranquil retiremen.
of Mount Vernon.
: The sedrn,ary occupations Of President OF
the United States necessarily limited the op-
por,uni,ies Of active exercise. These were
principally enjoyed in occasional rides to the
country, aud in frequen, walks to his watch
makers IN Second street, for the purpose Of re-
pu.a,ing his watch by the time keeper AS ne
passed along often would mothers bring their
children 10 look On the Paternal Chief. yet not
word was heard Of President OF The United
States; the I,,le innocents alone were taught
to lisp the name of Washington"
He was rather partial to children; their 'nian,
tine playfulness appeared to please him., and
many are the parents who al TINS day rejoice
that his pa,riarchal hands have touched their
offspring.
General Washington was always s'rie. and
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