The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-05-22

rHg BOY coxxAxpKR.IScBlEf. .


Extrs~ss frsn irsiass Washiassss.
rHR BOY coxxASpKR-IS-cBIEf. 90
We have here the secret Of that martial spi
rt so often cited Of George. in his boyish days
He had sen his brother fitted out ior the wan
lie had heard. by letter and otherwise, IL th,
warlike scenes in which he was mingling. Al
his amusemcnts took military turn. lie b..
made soldiers of his schoolnsstss they ha.
mimic parsdss, reviews, and sham fights.
boy named William Bastle, was sometimes Ii,
competitor. but George was commander -n-chie
Of Hobby's school.
THE YOUNG HRRo Is AN ARTIST.
/ His manuscript school books still exist, snt
arc models OF neatness aud accuracy Ouc O
them, h is true-a cphering book, preserved
In the library ut Mount Vernon som,
school boy attempts at caligraphy noDdescrip
birds. executed with q flourish Of the pen ; o,
prodles Of hSes. probably intended Tor those o
his schoolmates the rest are oil grave snc
businesslike, Before be WAS thirteen years o
age, he had copied into volume forms Of al
kinds Of mercantile and legal papers-bils o
| like
! DoWA " - sotthI tbh
Traditioe gives an interesting picture Of the
widow, with her little 1ock gathered round her
as was her daily won't reading TO them lesson.
Of religion and morality out Of some standard
work. Her iavorite volume was "Sir Mathew
Hale's Contemplations, Moral and Divine -
The admirable maxims therein contained, for
outward action - well ~ sclfgovenmcnt, sank
assf is the ulNd Of GeoSge. and, doubtless bad
great iuhucuce In forming his character. They
certainly we're exempli6ed 10 his conduct through
life. This mothers manual, bearing his moth
r's . name, Mary Washington, written with her
own hand, was ever preserved BY him with fili
al care, and NAV still be seen 10 the archives Of
Mount Vernon. A precious document! lie,
those who wish to know the moral foundation
OF his character consult its pages.
wAsHISoroN's rHrHrAL rRAISiSo
lie was a selfdisciplnarisn in physical, as
well as mental matters, and practiced himself
n oil kinds OF athletic exercises. such . run.
ming, leaping, wrestling pitching quoits, and
tossing bars. His frame even in infancy, he'd
been large and powerful, and be now excelled
most OF his playmatcs in contests oi agility and
strength As proof OF his muscular power. Q
place is stiIl pointed out. in fredericksburg
near the lower ferry, where, when boy, be
flung a stone across the Rappahsnnock In
horsemanship he already excellsd. and was
ready to back. and able to manage, the most
fiery steed Traditional anecdotes remain Of
his achievements in this respect.
WASHINGTON STUDYING ETIQUETTE
An intimacy with q family like this, In which
the fraDkness and simplicity OF ruxl and colo.
nial life were united with European refinement
could not but have beneficial effect 10 mould-
ing the character aud manners Of somewhat
homebred boy. 1t was probably his inter.
course with them. and his ambition 10 acqui,
himself well in their society, that set him upon
compiling . code oi morals and manners, which
still exists in o manuscript in his own hand.
writing, entitled, Rules for Behavior in Com.
pany and Conversation II is extremely mi
mute and circumstantial. Some OF the rules for
personal deportment extend 10 such trivial mat.
ters. and so quaint and formal ~ almost TO pro-
woke a smile but, in the main, a better man
ual Of conduct could not be put into the hands
ola youth. The whole code cvinces that rigid
propriety and selfcon troll 10 which he subjected
himseH, aud by which he brought all the i'm
pulses Of u somewhat ardent temper under COZ
scicntious government
YOUNG wAsHISoroS AS LOVER AID royr.
There arc evidences. in his own handwriting,
that before he was fifteen years Of sge. he had
conceived passion for SONS unknown beauty.
so serious NJ 70 disturb his otherwise we'll reg.
ulsted mind, and TO make him really unhappy.
Why this juvenile attachment was . source Of
unhs ppiness. we have no positive means OF as
certaining. Perhaps the object OF II may have
considered him . mere school boy and treated
him rs such; or bis own shyness may have been
in his way, and his Rules for Behaviour and
Conversation may as yet have sat awkwa-dly
upon him. and rendered him formal and ungaiD-
ly when he most sought TO please. Even In
his latter years be was apt TO be silent and
embarrassed in female society Tie was very
bashful young man said sn old lady whom be
used To visit when they were both in their non
age. Il used often to wish ths, he would talk
more
Whatever may have been the reason, this
early attachment seems 10 have besn . source
OF poignant discomfort 10 MIN II ciuug 10
him after be took final leave Of school In the
autumn Of l74.. and went to reside with bis
brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon Here
be continued his mathematical studies and his
practice In surveying disturbed at TINES by
recurrenccs OF his unlucky passion. Though
by no means Of q poeticsl temperament the
waste pages OF his journal betray several at.
tempts to pour forth bis smorous sorrows 10
verse. They are mere common place rhymes,
such as lovers at his age are apt to write, in
which he bewaik his poor restless heart. woand
ed by Cupid dart, and bleeding fac one who re.
mains pitiIess Of bis griets aud woes
! The tenor Of some 81 his sere induces US to
believe that be never tod is love; bat ss we
have already surmisd was prevented by bash.
| falness.
Al 80 - ~, thai skssts love AAd eoaesst
ioss have ~tshsd and never ssrs reveal
I II IL difficult to reconcile ooes self " the
idea Of the eooi and ssiaie Washington thu
great champion Of American liberty. = woe
worn lover in his youthful days. 'sighing like .
furnace, and iDditing plaintive verses about
the groves Of Mount Vernon We ARE glad o.
IN opportunity however. of FRUSTRATING tn hi,
native feelings, sbj finding that, npder hi
studied decorum and reserve, b. hal hesr o
aoh throbbing with the warm impal~- n hu
man nature
vrKsrsIAS oAsUK IN HE 1.prs TIM
While thus employed ior months at . tin,
surveying the lands beyond the Blue Ridge
Washington vas often an inmate Of Greenua,
Court. The projected manor house wss seve
even commenced. On green knoll ovrrsi,sd
owed BY trees, vas long stoDe building, op'
story in height. with dorner windows to-
vooien belfriss. chimDeys ssuclded with swallow
and martin cooJs. and roof sloping down II
the Old Virginisn fashion into low projectips
caves that fp-us-i Q verands the whoie l~ngti
u the house II uss probably the hons orig