The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-28

~ OOJ tudt WAS, " . 10
And he thinks and smiles with Joy,
On the lucky day, when he passed that way,
To be q farmers boy.
THE List SCENE OF WASHINGTON
LIFE.
The following description of the final an
peaceful scene in the life of WAsHINaToN
from the pen of the gifted IRVING SO latel.
deceased, viii be read with interest on the ina
4al day of the Father of his Country.
s.He burst the letters of the land,
tze He taught US to be free;
He raised the dignity of man,
~ And babe q nation be-"
Winter had now set IN, with occasional wind
and rain, and frost, yet Washington still KEEP
up his active round of in door and out dool
avocations, as his diary records. He was ii
full health and vigor, dined ont occasionally
and had frequent guests at Mount Vernon
and, as usual, was part of every day in the sad
die, going the rounds of the estate, and, in his
military phraseology, twisting the out-posts.'
He had recently walked with his favorite
nephew about the grounds, showing the i'm
prevements he intended to make, and especial.
" pointed out the spot where he purposed
Building a new family vault, the old one being
damaged by the roots of trees, which.had over
grown it and caused tito leak. eThis change"
said he, at shall make the first of all, for l
maYsrequire it before the rest"
"When / parted from him." added the ne
phew, che stood on the steps of the front door,
where he took leave of myself and another
It was a bright frosty morning; he had taken
his usual ride, and the clear, healthy flush on
his cheek, and his s~prightly manner, brought
the remark from both of us that we had never
seen the general look so well. / have some
times thought him decidedly the handsomest
man I ever saw, and when in a lively mood, SO
full of pleasantly, so agreeable to ell with whom
he associated, that I could hardly realize he
was the same Washington whose dignity awed
all who approached him."
For some time past, Washington had been
occupied in digesting a complete system on
which his estate was to be managed for several
succeeding years /; specifying the cultivation
of the several farms, with tables designating
the rotation of crops. 1t occupied thirty folio
pages, and was executed with that cleanness
and method which characterized all his bust
ness papers. This was finished on the 18th of
December, and was accompanied by a letter of
that date to his messenger or steward. 1t is a
valuable document, showing the soundness and
vigor of his intellect at this advanced stage of
his existence, and the love of order that reign
ed throughout his affairs. My greatest ankle
ty," said he on previous occasion, "is to have
all these concers in such a clear and distinct
form, that no reproach may attach itself to me
when I have taken my departure for the land
Of spirits"
According to his dairy, the morning on
which the voluminous Instructions to his stew
ard were dated, was clear and calm, but the
afternoon was lowering. The next day-14th
he notes there was wind and rain, and Sat
night q large circle round the moon"
The morning of the 18th was overcast
That morning he wrote a letter to Hamilton,
heartily approving of a plan for a military
academy, which the latter had submitted to
the Secretary of War.
About ten O'Clock, he mounted his horse,
and rode ont as usual to make the rounds
of the estate. The ominous ring around the
moon which he observed the preceding night,
proved a fatal portent. "About one O'Clock"
he notes, sit began to rain" Having on an
overcoat, he continued his ride without regard
ing the weather, and did not return to his
house till after three.
His secretary approached him with letters
tobe franked, that they might be taken to the
Office In the evening. Washington franked
the letters, but observed that the weather was
too bad to send a servant out with them. Mr..
Lear preeeived that snow was hanging from his
hair, and expressed his fears that he had got
wet but he replied, "No, his great coat had
kept him dry" As dinner had been waiting
1OI AkIl, A6 Sal uOHA tdDlC W1b1OuJ CnduSiuS
his dress. ain the evening" writes his secre-
tary, she appeared as well as usual"
On the following morning the snow was
three inches deep and still falling, which pre-
vented him from taking his usual ride. He
complained of a sore throat and had evidently |
taken cold the day before. In the afternoon
the weather cleared up, and he went out on
the grounds between the house and the river,
to mark some trees which were to be cut down.
A loorzopoco ~hfnh= haA hnncr about Lin,
through the day grew worse toward night, but
he made light of it.
He was very cheerful in the evening, as he
sat in the parlor with Mrs. Washington and
Mr.. Lear, amusing himself with the papers
which had been brought from the post Office
When he met with anything interesting or en-
tertaining, he would read it aloud as well as
his hoarseness would permit, or he listened and
made occasional comments, while Mr.. Lear
read the debates of the Virginia Assembly.
On retiring to bed, Mr.. Lear suggested that
he should take something to relieve his cold
@No," replied he, ."you know 1 never take any
thing for a cold. Lett it go as it come"
In the night he was extremely i'll with ague
difficulty of breathing. Between two and
three o'clock in the marning, he awoke Mrs.
Washington, who would have risen to call a
servant, but he would not permit her, lest size
should take cold. AT day break, when the
,eryant-Woman entered to make-a fire, she was
,ent to call Mr. Lear. He found the General
breathing with difficulty, and hardly able to
tier q word intelligibly. Washington desired
hat DR.. Craik, who lived in Alexandra, should
g sent for, and that in the meantime Raylins,
ne of the overseers, should be summond, to
Iced him before the doctor could arrive. r
A gargle was prepared for his throat, but q
'hsnsysrshe attsmpted TO swallow any of IT. :