The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-21

= Public SerNleeaDd the fa1ghest Offices
OF friendship and affection We're the
business of Washington's life; no man
ever was more completely efficiently
the servant of the public. Yet in all
the minor matters OF life
His heart
The lowliest duties on herself did lay
Planting trees and shrubs at Mount
Vernon was one Of his favorite employ
ments, and he did ii often with his own
hands. He went daily through his
woods, selecting and marking young
trees for transplanting to theWalks about
his house, and when the time sulted,
would go and supefiHtend the "hoie
operation. In one of the diaries we ma
him employed i'll the pleasant laoof
when load Of company arrives; anu ne
makes a rather doleful entry that he was
obliged TO cover up the young trees IN
the earth to keep them from drying, 50
as to be useless.
tsThere were, from day to day, and
week to week, perfect aNalanchess, OF
company. and we find by the diary that
peonle made nothing of staying week
or two. The general would breakfast
with his guests, and then telling them
he hoped they would take good care of
themselves, that there We're horses for
those who liked to ride, the library for
the studious, etc, he mounted his horse
for his usual morning ride OF ten on
twelve miles round the estate, and was
not seen again until a quarter before
three, when he returned and dressed ior
dinner.
s.s Dinner at three, When,' says Mr..
Gusts, the General ate heartily, being.
no way particular, except as to fish, OF
which he was very fond.
dessert he took but sparingly, but
the Marquis de ChasteleX, who visited
him in camp, says that he would eat
nuts after dinner for two hours, While
eonversing. Mr.. Irving says, that some
times he would dine on baked apples
or berries with cream and milk. He
preserved, to the last, the plain and
simple tastes he brought from. his
mothers frugal household, and belonged
decidedly to that class Of sturdy people
who eat to live, not to the other-those
who live to eat.
!" He liked to have company at dinner,
for conversation was his chief indoor
amusement; but he never, in his youth,
relished what is called conviviality.
He drank home-brewed with his dinner,
and after it, three or four glasses of
S0OQ OItl w HIM. N1IiSti IiC OOilsIStSi0Sl, eto
did every gentleman in his days, as
meat. After the cloth was removed, he
drank to those present, and gave his
only toast: All our friends
" Mr.. Gusts mentions one OF the
Generals neighbors, who had q single
toast; it was. God bless General Wash
ington
q In the afternoon the General went
to his library, where he was understood
to be occupied with business papers, or
in reading. In the evening he joined
the family circle, took his cup of tea
with the rest, and, when there was no
company to prevent, read aloud the
news of the day, or passages from any
book which happened to engage him for
the time, Mrs. Washington at her cease
less knitting, sitting very quietly in a
corner Of the sofa.
"On Sundays he attended church in
the morning, and in the evening read
aloud some sermon or other religious
book He read with care and distinct-
ness, though With voice which was
somewhat broken by some pulmonary
attacks in his youth.
$ We need hardly say that crowds of
company followed him to his home, for
it may easily be imagined with what in
ttiCSp stilst looitS iiC w DIS It1itttt; llOl
only by his own countrymen, but by in
telligent foreigners, many of whom were
attracted to this country by the wonder
full success Of our struggle with Great
Britain. It was in view of this that the
Executive Council of Pennsylvania con-
eeived the generous idea of making an
express provision for the expense that
must arise from the reception of somueh
company in a lonely house, SO far from
places OF public entertainment that no
visitors could be allowed to depart unre-
freshed, and few without an invitation
for the night, or for several days.
Frequently, when sitting silent in
the family, he would be wholly absorbed
in thought, and seem unconscious of all
around him. At such times it was not
unusual for him to raise his hand to his
head and move his lips, as if debating
or giving orders. His habit of attend
ing to public business was not easily
overcome and hismind was one of cease
less activity.
Like many other great men, WASH
ington was very early riser. He kept
as good hours when he was President,
as he had kept at his mothers at Pope
Creek. He generally made a very early