Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-01-06
From the Democ, attic Review, for December.
WASHINGTON.
ORIGINAL ANECDOTES OF THE FATHE r

From the Democratic Review, for December.
WASHINGTON.
ORIGINAL ANECDOTES OF THE FArHE r
OF HIS COUNTRY.
During protracted sojourn in the
Old Dominion, Immediately subsequent
10 the year 1902, | once took leisure
ly tour to Mount Vernon, and thence
to the birthplace and other scenes Of
the carly life of Washington, for the
purpose, not only of gratifying my
feelings by viewing places hallowed by
the memory of man whose name and
deeds had, from my childhood, occu-
pied SO much space in my mind, bnt
also to see what new incidents connect
ed with his private character might
yet be CLEANED among the old inhab!-
ants who had personally known him.
And it was in this ramble, made inter-
esting and pleasant from the nature of
its object, and the attentions of the
most hospitable peoele on earth, that |
fell in with a venerable and highly in
telligent relative Of Washington, whom
| soon found TO be, from having lived
much in the Generals family, and act
ed for some years as his private secre-
tary, rich depository OF what | was
anxious to learn; and from him | OBJ
tanned among many others that less in
terested me, the following reminicen-
ces, which, | believe, have never been
published, but which may neverthe-
less be relied on as infinitely correct.
"On one of ashington's return Wis
its TO Mount Vernon, while Comman-
der-in-chief of the revolutionary arm
ies," said my informant, whom | shall
call Captain l., she came to Freder-
I'icksburg to pay his respects to his aged
mother. And when about to take his
leave of her, he brought in small bag
Of silver dollars, and placing them on
the table before her, said:
"'Here, mother, not knowing when
I s,ay be permitted to visit you again,
| have brought you these, TO be used
by you as your comforts shall require,
or as your pleasures shall dictate. And
| hope you viii be free to accept and
use them
"'You was always good and dutiful
to me, George replied she with emo
ton; sand have often taxed myself,
in your absence of late years, with be-
ing backward in making suitable ac-
acknowledgements to you, and resolved
within myself, that when next saw
you, would have a more familiar talk
with you, and tell you how much |
think of your kind, very kind a,ten-
tions. But it has always happened,
that when | again found myself in your
presence, the thought of your elevation
by your coun,rymen, or something
else, which I cannot define, has pre-
vented me from talking to you, as |
should TO my other children
"Washington attempted some play
full reply, but could not succeed in dis
arming even his mother Of the awe
which his presence never failed to in
spre in the bosoms of all who APP
preached him.
"Washngion, while in the army, was
known to be exceedingly careful Of
human lives; and he applied the prln-
cipie TO the brute creation, by abstain
ing from the destruction of all animals,
however inferiir, whenever it could be
done consistently with the safety and
absolute wants of man, with unusual
scrupulousness. AS | was once walk
ing with him over the grounds Of
Mount Vernon, a small snake, of a
harmless species, appeared in our path
Iinstinctively lifted my heel to crush
it, when he instantly caught my arm,
and in tone of earnest expostuation,
exclaimed, Stay, sir! is there no, room
enough in the world for you and that
harmless little reptile? Remember,
that life is all-every thing TO the crea-
ture, and cannot be unnecessarily TAX
en- without indirectly impugning its
Creator, who bestowed it TO be enjoy
ed, with its appropriate pleasures,
through its natural term of existence
The same system and order which
was exhibited by Washington 10 all his
public transactions, was seen in all his
private acts and domestic arrange
ments; even his charities, which were
not stinted, were nicely systematized.
Il was his custom, in years of plenty,
TO hoard up grain against times Of scar
city. And when such times arrived he
,bre,y onsn his storehouse 10 the moor: