The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-11-26
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Washinaton Farmer.


Washington as a Farmer,
The following extracts from 1rving's
Life Of Washington" showing Lis love
Tor county life, and his habits as a far
mer, will interest our readers, if they love
their farms as he did his.
"This was deliberate purpose with
bim-lho result Of enduring inulinations.
Throughout tho whole course Of his ca
roer, agricultural life appears to have been
his beau ideal Of existence, which haunted
his thoughts even amid the stern duties
Of the field, and 10 which he REQUIRED
with unhaggug interest, whenever ena-
bled to indulge his natural bias. Mount
Vernon was his haTbor olrepose, where he
repeatedly furled his sail, and fincied
himself anchored for life. No impulse OF
ambition tempted him thence; nothing but
the call Of his country, aud his devotion to
TO the public good. The place cndearod
to him by the remembrance OF his brother,
and Of the happy days ho had pas, Q III, r.
with that brother in the days Of his boy
hood: but it was q delightful placc ia it-
self, and well calculated to inspire the ru
raj feeling
The mtnsion was beautifully situated
on a swelling height, crowned with wood,
and commanding a magnificent view up
and down the Potomac. Tho grounds
Immediately about IL were laid out some
what ia tho English taste. Tho estate
was apportioned Into separate farms de-
votel 10 different kinds of culture, Much
however, was still covered with Wild
WOO Is aud indented with inlets, haunts Of
deer and lurking places Of foxes. "No es-
tate in the United America" observes he
in one OF his letters "is more pleasantly
situated. In q high aad healthy country,
IN a latitude between the extremes OF heat
and cold; on one Of the finest rivers Of the
worlJ-a river well stocked with various
kinds Of fish at all seasons Of the year
and in the spring with shad, herring
bass, carp, sturgeon, etc, in great abuu
dance. The borders OF the estate are
washed by more than ten miles Of tide wa
ter; the whole shore, la fact, is one en-
tire fishery"
Washington carried into his rural af-
fairs the same method, activity and cir
oumspeGtion that bad distinguished him
in military life. lie kept his own ac
counts, posted up his books, and balanc' ID
them with mercantile exaoness. Tnc
products Of his estate, also, became $50
noted for the faithCulness, ms to quality aud
quantity, with which they wore pu, ~
that it is said any barrel of flour tha bore
the brand Of George Wa hington, Mount
Vernon, was exempt from the customary
inspection in the West India ports,
He was an early riser-often before
daybreak in the winter, when the nights
were long. On such occasions, he liz his
own fire, and wrote and read by candle.
light lie broakiasted at seven in sum-
mer and at eight in winter. Two small
cups Of tea, aud three or four cakes Of In.
dian meal (called hoo.oakes) formed his
frugal repast. Immediately after break
fast, he mounted his horse, aud visited
those parts of his estate where any work
was going on, seeing to every thing with
his own eyes, and often aiding with his
own hand. Dinner was served at two
lie alto heartily, but WAS no opicure, nor
critical about his food His beverage was
small beer or cider, and two glasses Of
old Madeira. He took tea, Of which he
was very fond, curly in the evening, and
retired for the night about 8 O'clock
We 6nd him working for part Of two
days with Peter, his smith, to make a
plough on a new invention. This, after
two or three days, he accomplished
Then, with less than his usual judgment,
he put his two chariot horses 10 the plough
and ran risk Of spelling them in giving
his new invention trial over ground
thiokly swarded Anon, during a thun-
der.storm, frightened negro alarms the
house, with word that the mill is giving
away, upon which there is general turn.
out Of all the forces, with Washington at
their head, wheeling and shoveling gray
s, during pelting rain, to stop the rush
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