The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-04-09
From tn" National lntclligcnrer Feb o.
THE LAST DAYS AT MT. VERNON


"i the life and character of Washington
The year 80 was in its last month; Wash
in"ton had nearly completed his sixtv-eighth
year: the century was fast drawingto to a close
and with it this great mans life Yet the
winter of his age had shed its SHOWS so kind
lv upon him as to mellow without impairing
his capacities. both physical and mental, and
to give fair promise of additional length of
davS
Nor was Washington unmindful of the sure
progress of time and of his liability to be
called at any moment to that bourne from
which no traveller returns" He had for
wears kept will by him. and after mature
reflection had 50 disposed Of his larre proper
" AS to hc satisfactory to himself and to the
many who were so fortunate and hannv As 10
share IN his tc>tamcntary remembrance.
The last days. like those that preceded
them III the course of a lon" and well spent
life wer" devoted to constant u>ctul employ
ment. After the active exercise of the morn
In- in attention To agriculture and rnral af-
falr>, IN III" evening came the post bag. load
ed with letters. papers and pamphlets His
correspondence at both home and abroad was
immense: vet 1t was promptly and fully re-
piled to. NJ letter was unanswered. One
Of the best bred men Of his time. Wa>hinrton
deemed it a crave offence again>t the rules of
good manners and rroprrtv to leave letters
unanswered He wrote with great tarilitv.
and it would hc difficult matter 10 find an
other. who had written 81 well Hi cpi>'o-
larry writings will descent to lo,tcritv a>
models of Goo'l taste, a well a> dcvcnrinr
superior powers Of mind, General Henry
Lr" once observed to the chief. We are a
mnzrd. sir. at the vast amorut o, work that
Won accomplish" Washington replied. SRI
rise at tonr o'clork, and 4 rrcat deal Of my
work Is done while others are asleep"
80 runctna! a man drI1@htrd in always
harin. about him rood rmr-krcpcr. In
rh;laI,lphia the first President regularly
walked M TO his watrhmal"r. (Clarkc in
second >'rce:.) 10 comp I-- watch with
the regulator, A Mount N,rl ,n thea ,,c
vet always pnnrtral f;lrm,r Invariably cor
suited the 3i,l when returning from HI mo II.
I'M ride and before cntrriur his house
Th, affairs of thr household took order
from the masters accurate and mriholral
arrangement Of time. Even the fisherman
on the river watched for the cooks signal
when to phil in shore. so a~ to deliver his
Scalv products in time for Inner.
The establishment of Mount Vernon en-
ploycd a perfect army of servants: vet to each
one was assigned certain special duties. and
these were required to be strictly performed.
| pom the extensive estate there was rigid
discipline. without severity. There could lc
no confusion where all was order: and the
affairs of the vast concern. embracing thou
sands OF acres and hundreds of dependents.
were conducted with as much ease. method
and regularity as the affairs OF an ordinary
homestead.
Mrs Washington. an accomplished Nir.in,
ia housewife of the oldcn time gave her con,
slant attention to all matters of her domestic
household. and tv her skill and superior man
aycmcnt greatly contributed To the comforta
be reception and entertainment of the crowd,
of quests always to he found in the ho>pitabl,
mansion of Mount Vernon
Invariably neat and clean in his person
with clothes OF. old fashioned cut. bu, mad,
of the best materials. Washington requirct
less waiting upon than any man of his az,
and condition in the world. When rising a
four o'clock he lighted his own candles mad,
up his fire. and went diligently to work with
ont disturbing the >lumhrrs of his numcrnu.
household.
In the last days of Mount Vernon de>irou
of riding pleasantly. the General procure,
from the North two horses of the Naracan>r
breed, celebrated as saddle horses. Thc'
Were well to look at. and were pleasant,
gated under the saddle. but were Scarv an,
quietly on his farm, occasionally di>momutin:
and walking in his fields to inspect his i'm
IL, Il
General sustained heavy fall, probably III,
only fall he ever had from horse in ls life
1t was in November. late in the evening. TIN
General. accompanied by Major Lewis, NJ
Pcake. ca gentleman rc>iling in the nrinh
groom. were returning from Alexandria t,
Mount Vernon. Having halted few mo
ment>,the General dl>monnted, and upon ri>
ln@ III his >ilrrup a"ain. the Naraeansett, a
Harmed At the glare from a fire near the roa,
heavily to the ground. Oar saddles wcr,
empty in an in>iant,ani We rushed uN to aiv,
our assistance. fearing he was hurt 1t wa
unnecessary. The vigorous old man was up
on his feet again brushing the dust from hi
clothes, and after thanking Us for our promp
assistance. observed that he was not hurt
that he had d v,ry complete tumble. and tiIa
1t was OWN. t. a cau>" that no h0r>cman coui,
well avoid or control that he was only pois