The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-11-08
DEATH OF WASHINGTON.

Inc ioloWing VIVID and touchnS sKetch OF the
| last moments Of the Father Of his Country is from
letter in the American.
| Passing through the great hall, ornamentcd with
pictures of English hunting scenes, assembled the
oaken stair case with its carved and antique balus-
trade. We stood at the door-we pressed the han
! de-the room and the bed where he died were be-
fore Nothing in the lofty drama of his existence
surpassed the grandeur of that final scene. The cold
which he had taken from exposure, in overseeing
some part of his grounds, and which resisted tho
Tier domestic remedies that were applied, advanced
IN the course oftwo short days into that ghtfu form
OF the disease of the throat, LaryngitS 1t became
necessary for him to take his bed His valued friend
! DIR Craik, was instantly summoned and assisted by
the best medical skill Of the surrounding country,
haused all the ofhis art, but without afording
him relief He patiently submitted, though in great
distress, to the various remedies proposed, but it be-
came apparent from the deep gloom setting upon the
counenances of the medical gentlemen, that the case
was hopeless Advancing insidiously, the disease
had fastened itself with deadly certainty. Looking
with perfect calmness on the sobbng group around
him, he said-"grieve not my friends-it is anti
cipaed from the first-the debt which we all owe
now about to be pad-I am resigned to the event"
from his escrtoire, he directed one to be burnt and
placed the other in her hands as his last will and tes-
lament and then gave some final instructions to MIR
Lear his secretary and relation as tothe adiustment
of his business affairs lie soon after became greatly
distressed, and rs, in the pnroxysms which became
more frequent and violent, Mr. Lear, who was ex-
tended on the bed by his side assisted him to turn
he, with Kindness but with difficulty, articulated,
''I fear give you great trouble sr-but-pclhap it
is duty all owe, to another-I trust that you
may receive the same attention. when you shall re.
quirc it,
AS the night wancd, the fatal symptoms became
more imminent His breath became more aborod
and suffocating, and his voice soon after failed him.
Perceivng his end approaching, he raghtened him
self to his full length, he folded his hands in the
necessary attitude upon his chest placing his finger
upon the pulse Of the left wrist, and thus calmly pre-
pared and watching his own dissolution he awaited
the summons Of his Maker. The last faint hopes of
his friends had disappeared. Mrs Washington, stu
p6ed with grief sat at the foot of the bed, her eyes
fixed stcadiasty upon him; DR. Craik, in deep gloom,
stood with his face buried in his hands at the fire
his faithful black sarvant Christopher the tears
controlled trickling down his face, side, took
the last look of his dying master; while Mr. Lear, in
speechless grief with folded hands. bent his pill
low the other. Nought broke the stiffness Of his
last moments, but the suppressed sobs of the alcc-
tomato servants collected the star-case the tick
of the large clock in the hail. it measured off with
painful dstinctness, the last fleeing moments of his
existence, and the low of the winter wind, as
swept through the leaess covered trees; the
laboring and wearied spirit drew nearer, and nearer
to its goal; the blood lang0idly coursed slower and
more slowly through its channels-the noble heart
stopped ugglcd-s oppcd-futtercd- right
hand slowly slid from the wrist upon which its finger
had been paced-it fell at the side-and the manly
elligy of Washington all that remained, extend
ed upon the death couch.