The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-11

had quick eye at catching each mans
capabilities. An entry in his diary gave
curious instance Of this. Four of his
negroes employed as carpenters were hew-
ing and shaping timber. 1t appeared to
INN, IN noticing the amount of work ac-
oomplished betweed two succeeding NOR
nlngs, that they loitered at their labor.
Sitting down quietly he timed their ope-
rat'ons; how longittook them to get their
cross-cut saw and other implimeuts ready;
how long to clear away the branches from
the trunk of fallen tree; how long to
hew and saw it; what time was expend-
ell in considering and consulting, and al.
all, how much work was effected DURING
tue time he looked on. From this he
made his computation how much they
could execute in the course OF the day.
working entirely at their case.
AT another time we find him working
tor part Of two days with Peter, his
smith, to make aplow on a new inven.
ton OF his own. This, after two or three
failures he accomplished. Then, with
less than his usual judgement, he put his
two chariot horses to the plow, and ran a
great risk of spoiiins them in giving his
new invention trial over ground thicklv
swarded.
Anon, during a thunder storm a fright
ened negro alarms the house with word
that the mill is giving way, upon which
there is general turn out Of all the forces.
with Washington at their head, wheeling
and sboveling gravel, during pelting
rain, to check the rising water.
Washington delighted in the chase.
In the hunting season, when he rode out
early in the morning TO visit distant parts
OF tue estate where work was going on.
he often took some of the dogs with him
for the chance Of starting fox, which he
occasionally did, though he was not al
ways successful in killing him. lie was
bold rider and an admirable horscm an,
though he never claimed tie merit Of
being an accomplished fox-hunter. In
The height Of the season, however, he
would be out with the fox hounds two or
three times week, accompanied by Ills
guests at MountVernon and the gentlemen
of the neighborhood, especially the Fair
faxes, OF Belvoir, Of which estate his friend
George William Fairfax was now the pro-
prietor. On such occasions there would
be hunting dinner at one or the other
OF those establishments, at which conviv-
ial repasts Washington is said to have
enjoyed himself with unwonted hilarity.
Now and then his old friend and in.
structor in the noble art of renery, Lord
Fairfax would be on visit to his rela.
tive at BeIvoir, and then the hunting was
kept up with unusual spirit.
His lordship however, since the alarms
OF the indian war had ceased, lived al
most entirely at Greenway Court, where
Washington was occasionally a guest
when called by public business to Win
chester. Lori Fairfax had made himself
favorite throughout the neighborhood.
As lord-Iieutenant and custos- -rotulorum
OF Frederick County, he presided at county
courts, held at Winchester, where during
the session he kept open table. lie acted
also as surveyor and overseer of the pub
roads and highways, and was unremi,ted
in his exertions and plans for the improve
ment Of the country. Hunting, however,
was his passion. When the sport was
poor nearhome, he would take his hounds
to distant part Of the country, establish
himself at an inn, and keep open house
and open table to every person of good
character and respectable appearance who
chose to join him in following the hounds.
i