Smyrna times., 1858-11-11
NJ | S CELLANE ECU S.
Washington as a Farmer.

S The following extracts from Irving's I.if
OF Washington showing his love for countr
f life, and his habits as farmer, will interest ON
readers, If they love their farms as he did his
In his letter from Mount Vernon, he writes
am now, believe, fixed in this seat, and
nope 10 hnd more happiness in retirement thar
ever experienced in the wide and bustlnn
world"
This was deliberate purpose with hm-tbe
results of enduring !nclinati0ns throughout
the whole course of his career, agricultural life
appears to have been his beau ideal of exis-
'ence' which haunted bis thoughts, even amid
the stern duties of the field, and to which he
recurred with unfagging interest, whenever
enabled TO indulge his natural bias. Mount
Vernon was his harbor of repose where he re-
pealedly furled his sail, and fancied himself
anchored for life. No impulse of ambition
tempted him thence; nothing but the call of
h's country, and his devotion TO the public
good. The place was endeared to him by the
remembrance OF his brother, and of the happy
dayS he had passed here with tina: brother in
lhe days OF his boyhood but it was a delight
ful place in itself, and well calculated to inspire
the rural feeling.
The mansion was beautifully situated on a
swelling height, crowned with wood, aud CON-
Inandlng magnificent view up and down the
Fotomac. The grounds Immediately about il
were laid out somewhat in the English TASTE
Ihe estate was apportioned into several farms
devoted to different kinds of culture. Much.
however, was still covered with wild woods nd
lndented with lnets; haunts of deer and Iurk.
ng-Places of foxes. Z" No estate in United
America" observes he in one of his letters. sis
more pleasantly situated. In high and healthy
country, IN latitude between the extremes of
heat and cold; on one of the finest rivers of
the wOrld-a river well stocked with various |
Kinds oil fish at all seasons OF the year, and in
ths spring with shad, herring, bass, carp, stur |
geon, etc, IN great abundance. The borders of
the estate are washed by more than ten miles |
Of tide water; the whole shore, in fact, is one
entire fishery"
Washington carried into his rural affairs the
same method, activity, and circ inspection that
had distinguished him in military life. He
Kept his own accounts, posted up his books, and
balanced tAem with mercantile exactness. The
products OF his estate, also, became so noted for
me tdlthtunesS, as to quality and quantity,
win winch they were put up, that it is said any
oarrel OF flour that bore the brand of George
w Washington, Mount Vernon. was exempt from
he Customary inspection in the West IndIa
ports.
Hew an early riser-often before aybreak
II Tue winter, when the nights were long. On
such occasions he lit his own fire, and wrote
Ind read by candle-llght. He brea aktasied at Z
~ summer aud in winter. Two small cups
IT tea and three or four cakes of Indian meal
called hoe-cakes) formed his frugal repast.-
immediately after breakfast, he mounted his
Iorse, and visited those parts of his estate where
NY work was going on, seeing to everything
with his own eyes, and often aiding with his
'vn hand. Dinner was served at two. He
tie heartily but was no epicure, nor critical
bout his food. HIS beverage was small-beer
n cider, and two glasses OF old Madeira. He
oOk tea, ot which he was very fond, early in
he evening, and retired for the night about 9
o'clock.
We find him working for part of two days
NIth Peter, his smith, to make plow on a new
INVENTION. This, after two or three failures
re accomplished. Then. with less than his
Usual Judgment, he put his two chariot horses
o the plOw, and rau risk of spelling them in
giving his new invention trial over ground
hcky swarded. Anon, during a thunder.
storm, frightened negro alarms the house,
With word that the null is giving way, upon
which there ~ a general turn out of all the for
les, with Washington at their head, wheeling
md shogelIIng gravel, during q peting rain, to
top the rushing water.