The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-04-10
ADAY AT MOUNT VERNON.
(Concluded from LIST page.)

\SUItUutu J'om LOT p"Se'J
inspired words fell from the lips of our
et-companion; and the carriage rising
an eminence, gave us glimpse OF the
wall and observatory of the Home OF
Washinetoa.W are not ashamed to con-
TESS. that as we gazed on it our eyes fiji.
led with tears.
We reached the gate of the mansion:
rum an old ruin stood before us. 1t
was not feudal castle, with deep
trench once filled with water; nor draw
bridge, over which once clattered the
hoots of warriors steeds; nor massive ar
ches, under which bent the plume of a
knight; NOR spacious courtyard in which
the spears of an heroic band flashed in
the moonlight; nor vast banqueting-hall,
that rang to the clangor Of the Crusader;
nor the merry shout of the victorious
warrior, who had come frem measuring
lance with the lnfdel, to tell his tales
OF heroisn to the startled ear of Europe.
There was no watch-word; no vesper
chime stealing softly on the evening air;
no hollow chant or monkish prayer in
the gloomy chapel; no solemn moonlit
watch on the overlooking tower. No
one of all these. twas grander, better,
dearer than all this heroic legend.
1t was once the home ofthe Father of
great and glorious nation, whose ca
gle wings now stretch from the turbu-
lent Atlantic,-far away over the rich
valleys, waving with corn, and dotted
with happy habitations, and rugged
mountains and wide rivers, and green
praries,-to the golden shores OF the
Pacific, where Empire looks towards
the purple East, and has made the Cir
cult O. the globe. 1t was ruin! The
master of the horse had long since gone
away to another country, and time had
left the mansion like
"some banquet-hall deserted"
The master would never return.
The servants told US that the present
master would nert gear repair the dwell
ling! "Oh, MOI" we would have said
to him, ''leave the holy place as HE left
it ! Ye cannot make us think HE has
come back again; We cannot make good
HIS place! Let the spot where HE lived
and died be left. Eternity is his dwell
ling now. Let Time spread its ivy
never-sear kindly over the mansion, and
let not the winds blow harshlv against
it for the great master isgone, and will
return no more. Ye cannot make the
place what it once Was"
bnu III no bo -, 4, h; oh
are thrown open to visitors. We had
lie ters but we asked no privileges there
which may not be accorded to all. We
saw the hall, the dra wing-room, the par
Tor and the dining room, with the richly
sculptured mantel-piece which La Fay
cite gave him.
As We passed out under the open sky,
thew pointed out to us the chamber
where Washington died. We looked
up 10 :he windows. They showed us
the lemon.tree HE planted; il is DID, but
it is green still; and many plants in the
conservatory, with long box alleys and
large squares, and page-bushes, all P Ian
ned and planted by HIS hand.
Down the green slope towards the riv-
er, not far from the bank, they showed
us WASHINGTON ToNB. We slowly
and reverenty gathered there, and bow.
ed before it, in gratitude silence and
tears.
As the sun was going down the west
ern sky, fringing the edges of the clouds
with gold, we entered our boat, ard
sailed slowly by, under the lengthening
sh dow of the sacred groves which clus-
ter their foliage around MOUNT VERNON.