Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-03
APRIL 3, 1861.

DAD brought; it contained these words -
l have only one counsel to give my child
with regard to his profession: let him choose
one which is in accordance with his tastes and
talent Let him follow it honorably and " ith
loyal heart; but let him beware of en- ering
the service of England, that he may remain
free to combat one day against her power
wen, 6eorge, asked his mother, when he
had finished perusing this letter, do you
now wish to enter the f Iglish navy
No, no, my mother exclaimed the young
man, laying bis hand upon his fathers tomb;
| vow by these sacred ashes, never 10 fight
beneath the British flag
The widow embraced her son and charged
nm to preserve his fathers letters to the la
test day of his existence.
Next day, as the English nobleman was
about to embark, hisyoung friend joined him
on the shore
We'll, you are coming with me 2 said the
former, with that frank kindness for which
be was distinguished
No remain here, replied the young
American, 'but we shall one dly nle t again.
And they did meet again, in ISL under
the walls Of Yorktown-the one in the CD n,
mand of the whole English army, the other
at the head Of the American troops. They
met az that critical moment which wrested
from Great Britain her over-5rawn trans
Atlantic colonies, and established on 4 firm
basis the independence Of the United States.
The elder of the two was Lord Cornwallis
the younger was George Washington
Having renouncel al thought oy entering
the English navy, Washington resume d those
mathematic il studies which had hitherto beea
his chief delight, and turned his attention
more especially to farming and agricllturc
When hostiiities commenced with thC
mother country, he quilted tac plough fol
the sword, and was placed at the age 0
nineteen, at the head OF the Viiginia militia
He rose rapidly from one step to annthe
until he was appointed general Of the Who'll
American army, and became the leader Q
the celebrated eight Nar's war. His un
alterable ftmness and calm good sense, caI
ried him through all the complicated diff
culties he had to encounter from undiScip
lined soldiers, anda nation sill in the infanc
of civilization.
On the Goth of January, 1888, the treat
of Versailles proclaimed, in the face of tn
whole world, the Independence of the Uni
ted States of America. Then was Wasl
ington received in triumph eyerywher
and the victorious general, 'fccltng that hi
warlike career was now terminated hi
1Ii -" Cil W illo al dIl l II iiI1 bDAU III
sword, returned once more to cultivate HI
favorito estate of Mount Vernon, on tn
river Potomac
His mother now advanced in the vale
years, stood awaiting her noble hearted so
when he returned to his home. and folde
to her heart the libe:ator whom she ha
given to America, and whom America no
~ restored to her.-l laden with sl4r.-aad- -4.,ia
George Washington again resumed tt
spade and the plough, and tridmphed owe
nature in the wild and uncultvated llair
of the New world, even as he had II
umphed over the enemy in the battle fel
He organized the great company Of Gil
cinnatus, which brought vast extent
land under cultivation, and multi piled ii
riches of the United States Many of Il
officers and soldiers who had served und
him in former days enrolled themselves u
der his orders in this new campiign.
We need not dwell on his political iii
which was marked by the same straightfc
ward singlenindedness and good sense tn
distinguished every other step of his cares
After having been, on two different occ
sions, unanimously elected President of t
Republic, he, in 1907 refused the off.
and retired to private life.
, On the 9TH of December, 1799, Was
, ington-then in the sixty-eighth year
t his age, and still enjoying that fall viz
: both ofbody and mind which had been
!, portion through life, was engaged in sup
: intending some improvement which lie v
! carrying on in distant part of the grour
of Mount Vernon. A heavy shower
o rain came on, and having remained
: some time in his wet clo,hes he complain
r in the evening of a slight sore throat
IA of ~
: and in nine days he was dying man.
II last thoughts were devoted to his countr
welfare, and then calmly, as if he were
+ " about to retire to rest after day Of t
: he embraced his wife and bid farewell
e those around him, and having commen,
! his soul to God, he quietly breathed
# last.