Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-12-21
BY w. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON.

or the best locat ions then known, us well
as shares in several incorporated compa-
MICS lie derived an important part Of
his influence from the GREATNESS of his
wealth and the antiquity Of his faniy-
things which Were then held in much more
respect than they are now. Wash;nston's
estate WAS net worth more than three
quarters of million dollars; bat it gave
him far more personal consequence il the
country than ten times such a fortune
could at present. The rich planter of that
day, living as he did Oh wide domain Of
his own, the owner of those who served
him, riding about in his coach ami six, and
with no near neighbors to restrain, cc,,-
sure, or outshine him, was kind Of far
mer. prince.
it was fortunate for as!,ington that he
come to his wealth when his character was
| mature. Being younger son, he had no
expectations OF wealth in his youth, AMI
he grew up in very hardy, sensible nan-
ncr, on an enormous farm, not fourth
part Of Which was cultivated. Ills father
dying when he was eleven years old, he
came directly under the influence Of his
mother, who was one Of the women of
| whom people say, there is no nonsense
about her. She was a plain, il!;,cra.e,
energetic, strong-willed lady. perfectly ca.
pabie of conducting the ail,.irs Of farm,
and scorning tho help Of others. When
she was advanced in years, her son in law
offered 10 manage her business for her.
You may keep the accounts, Fieiding,'
was her reply, 'ior your evesigh, is better
than nine, b.; cau manage my affairs my
SELF
On another occasion, General Washing
Ton asked her to come and live with him at
Mount Vernon.
Il thank you, George, said she, "5u,
prefer being inde?enl len!.'
Aud so to the last sh,. l:yc,i in her own
plain farmhouse, and supcrintenicI the cul
turc OF her OWE acres, no: dt,dai!imr to
labor with her own hands. When l. LAY
cite visited l:cr he found her at work in
her garden, with her Old snn bonnet on,
and she came in to see him saying:
i would notpa you SO poor compli-
men, Marquis, as to stay to change my
dress
have often thought iI:at size must have
r"scm,!eI Betsy T:otwoo.l, as d:rwm hv
Char: pckcn; iii Davis C"pp.'ci,!, and
as Jou~l i'll many country homes 18th il,
Old Englanl and in New-;icucst,
strict, energetic women, lille rough in
'hrir ln.nners, but capable OF eminent gen
crosby when there is occasion for 1t. Be
ing tne son OF such woman, and trs:neh
by her in simple, rational manner, George
Washington was prepared TO enjoy the
lot that tr! to him, without bsng spoiled
by it.
With all lis wealth he was not excnn.
!; from labor. C,Ilivating largo tract Of
country, he spent much OF his time in
riding about 10 visit the different farm, to
consult his ovcrseers and superintcnd his
Improvements. It is computed that he
spent abont one.half ,sof the days OF his
life on horseback. Like all ont cf-,loor
men, ho was exceedingly fond of good
horse-a taste which lie had in common
with his mother, who was said TO be rs
gool ju'ike Of horses rs any man in Vir-
si'ia. Nothing was more common than
for him 10 mount his horse after break.
fast and ride all day, only dismounting for
IL few minutes at time.
On those great plantations far from any
large town, and worked by negroes, The
master was often obliged personally to su.
perinteud any operation which was but
Of the ordinary routine. No dcu>l
wien General Washington entered in his
diary, "bolll Ell thirty-fve dozen OF cidcr,''
the hand with which he wrote the words
still smelt Of the liquid. We find in
his diary many such entries as these:
spent the greater part Of the day in
making new plough Of my own inyen-
ton"
'Peter (my SMITH and I, after several
efforts to make ap|ough after my own new
model, partly OF my own contrivng, were
fa'n to give it over, at least for the pre-
seut."
"Fited twoeycd plough, instead of a
duck-bill plough, and with much Difficult
ty made my chariot wheel-llorses plough.
Put the pole-end horses into the plough
in the morning and putt the postiilion and
hind horse in tie afternoonj but the ground