The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-04-19
DEATH-BED, OF WASHINGTON

& ~ Y |ua7 NY % d o.
q Proceeding still farther over very bad
road, We came suddenly in view of The
Potomac Z and Noun, Vernon, with its
mansion house and smooth green lawn was
before ms: Having sent 10 our address,
we received permission from the courteous
brapch Of The, family, who now hold the
estate, TO enter. and survey, the INTERIOR
we were struck, with lis extreme sim
pliciiy, lbe lOwnsss Of ihe, walls and cell.
ings,, and The bare floors which were wax.
ed, not as with US csIpeied.1 s,,,I /
Passing through The great hall, ornamen.
led with pictures Of English huniug scenes,
wepscended The oaken stair case, with its
carved and antique bal1stradc; we stood
az the door--we pressed the handle---lhe
room, and the bed where he died, were be-
fore 20. Nothing in the lofty drama Of
his existence surpassed The grandeur Of
that final scene ;-the cold which he had
taken from exposure, in overseeing some
parts Of his grounds, and which had re-
sisted the earlier domestic remedies that
were applied, advanced in The course Of
two short days into The frighGul form Of
The disease of the throat, laryngifis. Ii
became necessary for him 10 take 10 his
bed. His valued friend, DR.. Craig, was
instantly summoned, and assisted by the
best medical skill Of The surrounding coun.
try, exhausted all the means of bis art, but
without affording him relief. He patient.
ly submitted, though in great distress, 10
The various remedies proposed but il be-
came evident from the deep gloom settling
upon the cpuntenance Of the medical gen.
llemen, that the case was hopeless lad.
.yancing ipsidiously, The disease had Ihs,en.
FED itself with deadly certainty. Looking
with aperfect calmness upon the sobbing
group, around. him, he said,--.Grieye not
my friends it is as | anticipated from the
first; the debt, which we all owe is now
about 10 be paid-I am resigned 10 the
even" Requesting Mrs. Washington TO
bring two wills from his escritoire, he di.
rrected oPe TO be burni,'and placed The 9th,
er in her hands. as bis last will and tesla
ment, and then gave some final Instructions
10 Mr.. Lear, his secretary and relative. as
10 the adjustment Of his business affairs.
Ho soon after became greatly distracted /;
and as, in the paroxysms which became
more fre luent and violent, Mr.. Lear, who
was at his side, assisted him 10 turn, he,
with kindness, but with difficulty, articu.
lated, 81 fear | give you grea, trouble, sir
--but--Perhaps i, is duty which we all
owe one 10 anoher,-7l trust that you may
receive The same attention when you shal
require H." '"-' e'' '' "''' ~ "
As the night waned, the fatal symptoms
became more imnineni-ahis breath noiG
labored and suff'ocaiing, and his voice soor
failed him. Perceiving his end approach
ing, he Strengthened himself 10 his ful
length; he folded his own hands in tn,
necessary attitude upon his chest-placinl
his finger upon the pulse of the left wrist
and thus calmly prepared, and watching
his own dissolution, he awaited The sum
mons of his Maker The last faint hopt
of his friends had disappeared; Mrs
Washington, supplied with grief, sat a
the foo. Of The bed, her eyes fixed stead
faslly upon him; DR.. Craig, in deep gloom,
stood with his face buried in his hands al
the fre,-his faithful servant, Christopher
the tears, uncontrolled, iricklng down hi,
face, on one side, took the last look of hi,
dying master; while Mr.. Lear, in speech
less gliel, with folded hands, bent over hi,
pillow on the other. mona ,..-l how'd OH.
| Nought broke the stiffness of his las
moments, but the suppressed sobs Of tht
aileclionale servants collected on the stair
case; The tick Of the large clock in III,
hall, as it measured of, with painful dis
li1clness, The last fleeing moments Of hi
existence, and the low moan of the winte
Wind, as it swept through the leaaess, snow
covered trees. The Rbc-ed and weary
spirit drew nearer 10 its gost; the blool
languidly coursed slower and more slosly
lbroogh its chanuels-lhe noble heart stop
ped-slruggled-.siopped- 1utered-.,h
right hand Slowly slid from The wrist, up
on which its finger had been Placed
fell at his sde--and the manly effigy a
Washington was all that remained extend
ed upon the death couch."-N. 2. Coz
and Eng.b ..,..t.. ,..,,r .lf