Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-09-29

ID y
he in moments Of he Fssbsr of bis csnAsfy. is
from lsiier ia he N. \. American
Passing tbrouxh The great ball. oFnaS
nsnled with pictures Of English hunting
scenes. We assembled the paken STAR case
with IL carved and antique bal1strtde.--
We rood al ihe door--ge pressed the
Ehandle-ihe room and the bed where pc
died. we're before is. Nothing 10 the lofty
drama 81 bis existence surpassed the
grandeur Of hal final scere. The cold
which re had taken from exposure. in
overseeing sons pari of bis grounds. ard
which resisted llis earlier domestic rame-
dies that were applied, a1vanced % ihe
course Or short days i1lo thai frightiul
form Of The disease Of the throat, Larya-
gifis II became Necessary for him %
take 10 bis bed. His valued friend, pr.
GEAk K SISsI s a.;
rounding country, exhausted ali The means
OF bis arr. butwithons afcFdinghiln relief
He patiently submitted, ihous III 10 great
distress, 10 the various remedies proposed,
but il became evident from the deep gloom
settling upon the couotensnees Of the
medical genllenen, that the case was
hopeless. Advancing insidiously, The
disease had fastened itself with deadly
certainty. Looking With perfect calm
ness on the sobblng group around bin,
be said--. Grieye not my friends-if il as
anticipated from the firs,--,he debt
which We all owe is now about to be paid
II amlresignt d tothe event" Request
ing Mis-. Washington to bring him two
wills from bis escreioir. he directed one
TO be burnt, and placed the other iniher
hands. as bis last will and testament, and
then gave some final instructions 10 Mr..
Lear his secretary snd relation, Is 10 the
adjustment Of his business <ffairs He
soon after became greatly distressed. and
as. IN the Paroxysms which became more
frequent and violent, Mr.. Lear, who was
extended on the bed by bis side, assisted
him 10 turn, be, with kindness, out with
difficulty. arliculated. II fear give you
great trouble, sir-but-perhsps II is q
duty that we all owe, one 10 another-l
trust that you may receive ,hesame atlen-
ton. when you shall require ii.
As the nightwaned, the fatal symptoms
becamerno.e d nfinent His breathing be-
came. more labored and suffbcating, and
his voice. soon after failed hin. Psfeeiv-
leg bis end approaching. be slaughtered
himself TO bis full length, and folded bis
own hands 10 the necessary altitude upon
his chesi--plaeine his huger upon The
pulse Of the left wrist, and thus calmly
prepared. and watching bis own dissolu.
lion, he awaited the summe ems his Maker.
The last faint hope. nf his friends had dis.
appeared. Mrs Washington, supplied
with grief. sat a.the foot or The bed. her
ewes nxeu strudfassty --r-.ezl sas-l,.1 -ss>7-
Qraik. 10 deep gloom, stood with bis face
buried 10 bis hands at the 6re-the faith
fhl black servant Christopher. the tears
uncontrolled lrickling down his face, on
one side, took the last look 81 bis dying
master, while Mr.. Lear. 10 speechless grief,
with folded baads. bent over bis pillow on
the other.
Nanght, broke the stiffness Of bis last
nomenis, bu. the suppressed sobs d The
aaffeciionste servants collected on the stair.
case the lick 81 The large clock 10 The
hall, as i: measured %. with painful dis
linc,ness, theslast fleeing moments Of his
existence, and the low moan Of the win
Ten wind as il swept through the leaaess
snow. covered trees; The Iaboring and
wearied spirit drew nearer and nearer 10
liz goal The blood lsngaidly co rsed
slower and more slowly through lis chan
nels-ihe noble heart sioppsd-strsggled
--s:opped--l uitered--ihe right hand
slowly slid from The wrist upon which il.
finger had been placed-t fell at the side
add The manly sffigy d Washington
was aIlthat remained, extended upon tbs
death cosch.