Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-12-04
B1@@ R APP Mw.
'Sl Prom Curtis Recollections.
Last Hours Of Washington.

death room, and witnessed the last hours
of Washington. So keen and unspar.
ing had been the sy,he OF time, that OF
all those who watched over The patriots
couch, on the 18Th and l4th OF Dec,
1890, but single parsonage survives.
On the morning OF the 18th, the gen.
eral was engaged in making some i'm.
provements ia tho front Of Mount Yer.
non. As was usual with him, he car.
ried his own compass, noted his obser.
vation., and marked out the ground.-l
TIE day became rainy with sleet, and
he remained so long exposed to the in.
clemency Of the weather, as 10 be con.
siderably wetted before his return 10 the
house. About one o'clock he was seiz.
ed with chilIness and nausea, but hav.
ing changed his clothes, he sat down to
his indoor work; there being no moment
of his time for which ne had not pIovi.
ded an appropriate employment.
At night, on joining his family circle,
the gentleman complained OF slight
indisposlion. and after single cup Of
tea, repaired to his library, where he re.
mainsd writing until between / and ~
o'clock. Mrs. Washington retired
about the usual family hour, bnt becom'
ing alarmed a. not hearing the acc custom.
ed sound Of the library door as it closed
for the night, and gave signal for rest IN
the we'll regulated mansion, she rose
again, and continued sitting up in much
anxiety and suspense. AT length the
we'll known step was heard on the stair,
and upon the generals entering his
chamber, the lady chided him for staying
up so late, knowing himself to be 'un.
we'll; TO which General Washington
made this memorable rcply:-
81 came as soon as my business was
| acc ccomplished. You we'll know, ,ha,
through long life, it has been my un.
varied rule, never to put off till the NOR.
row the duties which should be perform.
ed 10. day."
Having first covered the fire with care,
the man with mighty labors sought re.
pose; but it came not, as it had long
bean wont to do, TO comfort and restore,
after the many and earnest occupations
of the we'll spent day. The night was
passed in feverish restlessness and pain.
s'Tired natures sweet restorer. balmy Sleep"
was destined no more 10 visit his couch; !;
yet the manly sufferer uttered no com.
plant, would permit no one TO be dis.
lurbed in his rest on his account, and il
was only at daybreak that he would con.
SEM that the oversees might be called in,
aud bleeding resorted TO. A vein was
opened, but no relief afforded. Couri.
ers were dispatched TO summon Dr..
Craik, the family, and Drs. Dick and
Brown, as consulting physicians, all Of
whom came with speed. The proper
remedies were administered, but without
producing their healing effects, while
the patient yielding 10 the anxious looks
around him, waived his usual objections
to medicines, and took those which were
prescribed without hesitation OF remark.
The medical gentlemen spared not their
! skill, and all resources Of their art we're
exhaus sted in ,unwearied endeavors to
preserve this noblcst work Of nature.
The night approachei--the last night
Of Washington; the weather became Sc.
verely cold, while the group gathered
nearer TO the couch Of the sufferer, watch.
ing with intense anxiety for the slight.
est dawning Of hope. He spoke but lit.
tie. To the respectful and affectonate
inquiries Of an old family servant, as
she smoothed down his pillow, how he
felt himself. he answered, 81 am very
.[ill." To Dr.. Craik, his earliest com.
panion in arms, his longest tried and
bosom liiend, he observed, 81 am dying.
sir, but am not afraid TO die." To Mrs.
Washing .on he said. $50 to my escri.
toir, and in the private drawer you will
find two papers-bring them to me."-
They were Brought. He continued;
"These are my wills; preserve this one,
and burn the oiher," which was accor.
dingly. done. Calling to Col. Lear, he
direc,ed-"Let my corpse be- kept for
the usual period of three days"
Here we would beg leave 10 remind
our readers, that, in former part Of this
work, we have said that Washington
was old. fashioned in some Of his habits
and manners, and in some Of his opin.
ions; nor was hethe less 10 be admired
on these accounts. The custom ol
ktepluS tu6 uedo lUI tHo oCiPkuidi pun
cd Of three days, is derived from remote
antiquity, and arose, not ftom fear ol
premature interment, as in more modern
times, but, from motives Of veneration
toward the deceased; for the better en-.
abling the relatives AMI friends to assem-
BILE from a distance, 10 perform the fu.
neral rites; for the pious watching ol
the corpse, and for many sad. ye, en-
dearing ceremonies with which we de
| light TO psy our last duties to the. re.
mains Of those We loved. 49,,
:. The patient bore his acute suferings
with manly fortitude, and perfect resig
nation 10 the Divine will, while, as the
!. night advanced, it became evident tha,
he was sinking, and seemed fully aware
that "his last hour .was nigh" He in.
quired tho time and was answered, a few
minutes to twelve. bespoke no more
the hand Of death was upon him, and hs
was conscious that '.his last hour va,
come" With surprising self.possessior
be prepared 10 die. Comp mposing bis forn
at Lengths aad foldiaS bic. asmss on BIZ
bosom, without sigh, without groar
Il the Father of bis -Cssntsy died, gently Il
though ana infaat. died. No Psae mo