The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-10
An Incident In The Life Of Washing

Some years ago there lived in Edge !
field District, South Carolina, an old lady
named Perry. | was passing the road on
which she lived, in a carriage with the |
late Judge Butler. lie said tc me that it !
WAS his habit to call upon her, whenever |
he was in the neighhorhood that she !,
WAS a great Whig-had seen Washington, |
and spoke Of him with a lrrvor An! devo
ton rarely equalled. She had often des
cribed the great man to him, and recoun.
ted the incidents Of their meeting; but lie |
desired that should hear the story from
her own lips. When we reached the
house, we ahghtcd and entered. was
introduced hy the Judge, and in few
moments, mentioned the name of Wash
ington. To her, it was name dear above
all others, and her heamlng countenance
AT once showed that had touched tie
deep fountain OF her love and affections.
'llave you ever seen Washington z Yes,
yes she replied; "a great many years
ago he passed through this neighborlood.
Ny father was n Wing in the Revolution,
and Captain. lie rendered good service
to his country, and at the eud of the war
lost his life in battle. He eft a " fe aud
several children. We were living not far
from this spot, when Washington came
to the South. One afternoon, about dark,
a carriage stopped at our door. There
were three or four horses, and two ser.
wants. A gentleman came in, ard asked
to stay all night. was in The 70 I'm,
when lie entered, and, young as was, |
was struck by his appearance. lie did
not look ike other men. He was a large,
tall, sweet, pleasant, smooth iookjng man.
| had no suspicion as to who he was, but
| was certain, that he ,OaS ce,y uncom.
mon for something. In a short time lie
told me that lie was George Washington
And now the younget Of us looked upon
him AS a father, for we had all heard of
him. and been taught to love him. He
said to us that our deceased father was
brave man, and a patriot that lie knew
what he had done for his country that
he had made a long drive to reach our
house, that he nigh: see his family. In
about half an hour, he left the house and
| followed him secretly. He went to the
horseIot, to see about his horses, and
tell you, he scolded his man for rot pro
pery attending to them. In n short time,
he returned, and took his Seat with the
family. lie then called me TO him.
was shy, and would not go, but lie urged
me, and at last went to him. lie took
me in his lap, put his arm around me,
talked about my father, and 'Iold me
how he loved all Of us. He was so atfec
tomato, and talked so kindly, that soon
forgot had rever seen him before. While
he had me in his lap, he slipped two gold
pieces into my hand, and oh was so
young and foolish, that soon parted
with them If | had them now, how !
would prize them We'll, when supper
WAS ready. lac took his seat at the table.
We were poor, and some Of the elder
part Of the family had to serve as wait.
ers. Washington's servant was in the
room, and seeing how the waiting on
supper table was done, he said to him
| with great feeling, in these very words
why do you not wait upon the table,
sir why do you stand there like log 2"
Coming, as this story does, from re.
liable source, it may serve to illustrate
the character Of Washington. 1t is pic
ture Of that great man on the roadside
IN the intercourse Of common life. 1t ia
not Washington surrounded by the pomp
and pageantry OF military cheitain-
Washington, the head Of great nation,
with all the splendors which attach to
court; but Washington, The man, in the
naked simplicity of his character. Here,
he is presented rs moved by the common
affections WHICH actua.e humanity as
letting his love GO forth towards little
girl, and bestowing caresses which the
innocence and simplicity of childhood are
apt to inspire in common bosoms; as alive
to the necessities of family in straight.
eaed circumstances, and anxious to abate
as far as possible, the trouble OF giving
him entertainment as striving 10 make
himself agreeable in their household, and
lastly, as exhibiting benevolence which
though il not beneath ils proper exsctions
to look to his horses and provide for their
wants and necessities.
Such picture gives rs a view OF WASH
ington which appeals to every heart. II
touches a sympathetic chord in every DO.
som, and emboldcus the humblest even
to call bin friend and brother
SouM Carolina College, Colombia, s. @