The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-18
AN EXAMPLE WORTHY TO BE FOL-
LOwEDBY EVERY PARENT.

| poWc Weehs nSo, VIC hct "tNhbobi .
Hotel in this city, an elderly gentleman, with
benign face and a long, thin, white beard.
1t was the author Of the following admirable
letter. His countenance has not done njus-
ticc 70 his heart, and in this letter he has
set an example worthyto be followed by
every parent.
soIon Robinson.
Our old friend, Scion Robinson, has been for sew
eral months eisurely travelling through the south
western and southern States. His habit Is to take
notes Of what he sees and hears, and sometimes of
what he feels for future - and he Is very apt to
make good use of his notes. The following interest
ing letter was written by him 10 his young daughter,
and its familiar plain way Of narra:ing things are
well calculated to enlist the attention OF young read
ers, as well us older ones.-C hcinnati Gasette.
(Near) ALEXANDRIA,, Va,
Sunday June 3, ls49.
EMrss LEILA RoBlssoN. My dear little girl Not
Josephine into the mail yet thought would add
one for you though have nothing very interesting
to WRITE suppose II will not be very interesting TO
you TO hear me tell how this part OF Virginia, that
was once in high state Of Improvement has nearly
all grown up again into forest just 10 1t may be
some day where you now live. All the houses rotten
down. or burnt up, or tumbing into piles OF ruins,
and all the fences gone, and fields covered with trees
among which may be growing old apple trees cherry
trees, &c; may be the condition Of all the land
around our present home, as 1t Is in some parts of
this country, that was once SO rich and 1ourishing
one hundred y6ars ago.
There is one thing, though, that never will be there
us il IL herehat Is the old roads quilted and wished
down the hills until II Is like travelling in the bottom
of great ditch sometimes 30 or 40 feet deep.
There is another thing here that never will be there
! that Is, old stone houses and mills, for this is d
stony country. l travelled yesterday mile up the
side OF a very rocky hill, almost mountain-so
narrow and difficult that Ii was troublesome passing
other wagons Now that is something that you
never have seen, and never see upon the pnire.
| Mother tell you something about such roads
and rocky hills, for she has travelled over them across
the Allegheny Mountains, from Philadelphia.
Yesterday visited Mount Vernon, which you
have read about suppose for II was once the home
Of Washington, whose character would have you
study well in some of your books.
/ When he was alive, upon the way OF going 10 his
house, one passed some two miles through the well
cultivated fields OF his plantation, on ench side OF
the road. and at nearly mile from the house enter
ed the AMOUNT Vernon gate" between two neat little
buildings called gate lodges, where lived some old
negroes to open the gate after old English ashion,
when gentlemens houses and castles were walled in
and guarded From this outside gate fine carriage
road lead through sort Of wide lawn, or woodland
pasture, hill and vale up TO the house, The on
trance TO this was hanked with q Tow OF brick
houses for the servants and offices OF various kinds,
that gave il kind of fortified or guarded appearance.
Passing between these you entered the great yard
and came to the house, not before seen. This s OF
wood two low stories high and built in old style,
having fine view of the Potomac and across into
/ Maryland. Every thing around wore the air OF
neatness, taste and comfort, and prosperity. But
OH how melancholy IL all looks now.
4 As l entered the premises from the old Alexan-
dria road, coming from the SOUTH passed through
an old dilapidated gate, and along the avenue Of
brush and brars, grown up where was once fences.
On either side lie broad waste fields In part and part
enclosed by sort of hreerai fence and brush fence,
until at length came to the original entrance into
the park. Here still stand the lodges without doors
or windows, and there hangs the gate, but there is
no of shutting II, for on either side the frames
arc all gone, and the once smooth drive up 10 the
house is now full OF stones mud and gues, and II is
necessary to leave the old road in places and seek
new track among the trees. -
As VIC approach the outposts, we find part OF the
roof of the range of outbuildings fallen in and the
way checked with rubbish and dirty, lucy negroes
stlessy hanging about and inside of the yard, shrub
berry and flowers no longer require the " notice to
vsiters" not to touch theR which was once painted
upon boards and put up around the yard but SO long
ago that the letters like the ancient glory OF the
house of Washington, arc nearly all faded away, and
I gone with flowers and shrubbery.
| Everything about looks dingy and time-worn, and
fast decaying, and 1t made such melancholy inn
preston upon my mind that turned about my
horses and hastened away as fast as could drive.
The place is still occupied by of the old fami
ly, Mr. John A. Washington, but Is most undeslra-
Bile residence, because everybody like myself that
comes within reach of the home and tomb OF the
great and good George Washington, feels 1t almost
sacred duty to make pilgrimage to visit the sacred
| spot The consequence Is, that the house Is con-
SANITY overrun with visitors have no doubt but
that the family are literally "eaten out Of house and
b ONE" E
There has been some talk in former years Of Con-
gross buying the place. think it should be done
9th erwse II must inevitably go to ruin. l think 1t
is duty of the grateful and great American family,
who love everything connected with the name and
memory Of their countrys father, that Congress
shou Id buy his old home and tomb, and put It in
good state Of repair, and keep 1t as near exactly as
he left It as possible for coming ages to look at and
| love, without feeling oil do now who visit It,
grieved at the thought that unless the decayng
hand of time is Immediately arrested, we shall soon
have TO mourn over what was once tho home OF
| Washington
II might be made the home Of some old war-worn
worthless, who should live there pensioners Of the
government, and preserve the place In order, and
show it to vsiters, and from whom display Of hos
| pitality would not be expected.
| am sorry to think our government so poor that
they would hesitate TO buy It, or so careless of the
memory Of Washington, as TO see his house become
the hootiHg place for owls, or his tomb left aonea
| deserted spot in the wilderness.
| II there any OF the American family so welded
to their golden gods that they would hesitate
count of cost, | care not to know them. They are
not congental with mine
! Now, my dear little daughter, you may think this
very uninteresting letter; but If you will preserve
It until you grow old enough TO read and understand
more Of American history, you will then read 1t with
| more interest.
Iwant you, my daughter, to study the map of the
United States, as 10 be able not only to point ont
where now am, but to trace my long Journey through
the different States during the last eight months.
Start upon the map from our house near the head Of
| Luke Michigan. and down through the State of In
DIANA Illinois, Missouri Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis-
sisslpp Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Virginia. and after this through Maryland,
| Delaware Pennsylvania, New Jersey 20 New York.
What long drive for one to take all alone by him
self and what diversity of people, soil cultivation,
and manners and customs have seen within the last
| eight months.
Ihave learned great deal the country that never
could have learned from books. continue to write
letters TO the American Agriculturist every month,
but that paper cannot publish tenth Of the inter.
esling matters that have seen and might write
about also write some letters to other papers, as
often as can find time, amid all my other engage
| ments
| Perhaps after get home, shall be able TO write
| OUT a full account Of my observations, and have
| them published in book. have no doubt but
could write one that would be very interesting, and
one that perhaps would sell and bring US little
money for our comfort and convenience. Many
gentlemen have urged me to do SO.
1 T..