The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-29
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

States, vii! bc especially interesting to thos,
who have heard Mr.. Everetts Grafton 0,
his Character
WASHINGTON.
Washington was then 13 years Of age
In stature lie u little exceeded six feet hi.
limbs were sinewy and well proporti"ncd
Ills chest broad his figure stately, blending
aigni'y Of presence with ctsc. Ills robust
constitution had been ,rc,, ard invi-oratcl
9'y his early life in the wilderness, hi, l.ah;,
Of occupation out of doors, and his iiyi'i
temperance; 50 that few cqna!rl him in
strength OF arm or power "t endurance.
His complexion WAS lloril; his hair ,!;r:,
brown: his head i'll is shape perfect V round.
His broad n"s.rilS seemed formed IL Civ.
expression and c$c"pa'l 10 scurnfnl anger.
Ills dark blue eyes, which were deeply set.
had an expression cf resignation ANA an
earrcs!neSs that WAS almost sadness.
At eleven years Old left m orphan to the
care Of an excellent but unettr,r. mother.
he grew up without learning. Ot arit:,mrl,
and gcomr'ry he acquired Just know l"'iy"
enough to be able to practice measuring
land; but III, this instruction at school
taught linn not so much as the or,lln~ra,,',v
or rules of grammar Of his own ,ongnc
His culture w:,s altogether his own work,
and he waS in the Str!c:"S: SclIs Il clt'lna,!c
man; yet from his early i!,' liz never seemed
unc,'ucatr1. At sixteen lie went into the
wilderness rs Il surveyor, AMI for three
years continued the pursuit, where the
forest trained him. in mc'iila,ivc solitude,
{" freedom and iar.cnr>5 OF u.inG; and
Nature revealed tp him her u!".i;r" t. l."
serene and silent laws. In his Intervals
from toll, he seemed always - hr attracted
to the best men. and to nc c!r.silr, bv
them. Fairfax, his cnI yer, IN Oxford
scholar, already aged, !rcamc his last friend.
lie rca,l l:ilc, Ln, with close attention.
Whatrvc: hr took in hand he app,i.,
himself to with care ; anI his papers. wl'i",
have been preserved tn show how he a!no~.
inpcrcrp,itiy g;,i'r' Tie power of writing
rorrccIly-always expressing hims"!i with
ccarncss and lir:ctness, often with felicity
Of language an'l grace.
Courage WAS So natural to .,im, that ilwas
hardly spoken Otto his praise; no one ever,
ut any moment OF his lie; discovered in
him the least shrinking in danger; aud he
had II hariiho"d Of daring which escaped
notice, because it was so cnvo!opc,l hy su-
perinr caimness auI wisdom.
IL. was rs cheerful rs he WAS spirited.
frank AMI communicative i" the society of
friends, fond Of the tox.cLa>c ani The ,l,mr..
often sportre in his letters, aud liked
hearty laugh. This joyou,ncss of disposition.
remained to the last, though the va>tnrSs of
his responsibilities was soon to take from
him the right Of displaying the impulsive
qualities Of his nature, and the weight
which he was to bear up was to overIay
and rcrress his gayety anal openness.
His hand WAS liberal giving qui!ely and
pi'SC'Nttiou, NS tHOuVu Hc WIS
ashamed of nothing but being discovered
in doing good. lie WAS kindly aud com
passionate, and Of lively scnsibIi!y to the
sorrows of others; so that if his coun-
try only needed Il victim for its rcliei, lie
would have willingly offered himself lis
sacrifice. But while he was progial. Of
himself, he was con>idcratc for others.
ever parsimonious of the blood of his coun-
trymen.
lie WAS prudent in the management of
his private affairs, purchased! rich land from
the Mohawk Valley to the flats Of he
Kanawl,a, and improved his fortune by the
correctness Of his judgment; but as "a pub
lie man he knew no other aim than the
good Of his country, and in the hour Of his
country's poverty, he refused personal
emohIRent for his service.
His faculties were so we'll balanced ard
combined, that his constitution, free from
excess, was tempered evenly with all the .le-
ments Of ACTIVITY, aud his mind rescmblel'
a well ordered commonwealth; his pas.
sions, which had tue intenscst yigor, owned
allegiance to reason; and, with all the fiery
,quickncss Of his spirit, his impetuous and
massive will was held in check by consum-
mate judgement. lie had in his compost
..ion calm, which gave him in moments
of highest excitement tho power Of selfcon-
troll, and enable him to excel in patience,
even when lie had most cause for disgust.
Washington was offered q COMMAND when
there was little to bring out. the unorganiz
ed resources Of the continent but his own
influence, and authority was connected will,
the people by the most fruit, most altenu-
ated, scarcely discernibIe threads ; yet vehe.
rpent as was his nature, impassioned as was
his courage, he SO rctrained his ardor that
he neyer failed continuously to exert the at.
traeting power Of that influence, and meyer
exerle4 it 50 sharply as to break its force.
in secresy he was unsurpassed but his