The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-08-18

teman, with the most elegant man.
ners-very nice in his dress, careful
and punctual. 1 suppose he would
be thought little stiff nowadays"
"Did you ever hear him laugh
heartily ?'
"Why, no, I think I never did,"
"Was he always grave, as you re-
member him, or did he smile now and
then ?"
''Why, bless you, yes, he always
smiled on children p! He was particu-
larly popular with small boys. When
he went in state to Independence Hall,
in lis cream colored chariot, drawn by
six bays, and with positions and out
riders, and when he set out for and
returned from Mount Vernon, we
boys were on hand; he could always
count us in to huzza and wave our
hats for him, and he used to touch his
hat to us as politely as though we had
been so many veteran soldirrs on
parade"
;"Were you ever in his house as a
child ?' .s.......-. ..-.t
"Oh! yes; after his great dinners
he used to tell the steward to let in
the little fellows, and we, the boys oi
the immediate neighborhood, who
were never far off on such occasions,
crowded about the table and made
quick work with the remaining cakes,
nuts, and raisins.
"Washington had bad habit Of
pacing up and down the large front
room on the first floor, in the early
twilight with his hands behind him ;
and one evening little boy, who had
never seen him, IN attempting to
climb up to an open window to look
upon him, fell and hurt himself
Washington heard him cry, rung fol
servant, and sent him to inquire
about the accident-for, after all he
was very soft hearted, at least toward
children. The servant came back and
said: The boy was trying to get q
look at you sir Bring him in said
the General. and, when the boy came
in, he patted him on the head and
said: You wanted to see General
Washington, did you? Well. I am
General Washington. But the little
fellow shook his head and said: NO
you are only just a man, l want to
see the President
They say Washington laughed and
told the boy that he was the Presi-
dent, and a man for all that. Then
he had the Sc; want give the little fel-
low some nuts and cakes and dismiss
ed him."
1 asked Mr.. Gray if he remember
ed the Custis children.
eyes," he said ssI often saw them
at the window, or driving out with
Mrs. Washington in her English coach.
They did not seem to have left a
very vivid and human impression on
his memory. With fine clothes and
company manners, with their attend
ants, tutors, dancing and music mas
tiers, they must have seemed very
strange, inaccessible, and enviable lit
tie personages to all the happy, free
an6-easy children of the neighborhood
"Do you remember Washington IS
lerees, and Mrs. Washingtor's draw
ing-rooms?" 1 asked.
"Yes, I remember hearing about
them. All the evening parties were
over by 8 o'clock, and the President s
house was dark and silent by TO-
They were great affairs, but 1 was too
young to know much about them. ]
attended his horse leuees. I was very
fond of visiting his stables, early in
the morning, at the hour when he al
ways went to inspect them. 1 liked
to see him at that work, for he seemed
to enjoy it himself. Like President
Grant he was a great lover of horses.
I can almost think l see him now,
come striding out of his house across
the yard to the stables, booted and
spurred, but bare-headed and in his
shirt t-sleeves,' -.
"Washington' in his shirt-sleeves ~
.'ftYes, madam but he was always
Washington. The grooms stood aside,
silent ard respectful, while he exam
ined every stall and manger, and reg
ular1y went over every horse mean,
he passed over d portion of its coat
his large white hands, always looking
to see if it was soiled, or if any loose
hairs had come off on it. IF so, the
groom was reprimanded and ordered
to do his work over. Generally, how
ever, Washington would say: Very
well. Now, John, get out Prescott
and Jackson his white chargers. tPl
be ready hy the time you come round ,"
'.Did he ride at so early an hour ?"
eyes. Generally between 5 and 6
of pleasant morning he was off and
he almost always rode up to Point-no
Point, on the Delaware, little way
above Richmond. He was fine
horseman, and, being long-bodied
man, looked grandlY on horseback
1t was a sight worth getting up early
to see."
Here came pause, and then pro-
pourced the momentous old question:
'Did Washington ever swear 2"
"Well, as for that, / can not sreak
from my own observation. Washing
ton had great selfcontrol-he was
moral mana religious man, fol, those
times, and did not swear upon small
occasions, and l should say, never be-
fore children; but; from what I have
heard my father and old soldiers say,
/. think he must have blazed away
considerably in times of great excite
ment. He was very tender of his fa-
vorite horses, and, at one time, 1 re-
member to have heard a young aide,
or secretary, ask leave to ride one of
his white chargers, on the way to-
Mount Vernon, and the General al: