Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-06
General Washington and the Boys.


In the month of October, 1880, General
George Washington, who was then President
Of the United States, and residing in New
York city, made a tour attended by his sec
retaries, Messrs. Lear and Jackson, to the
states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and
New Hampshire
History tells us how in every part of the
country through which he passed the cit
liens embraced the opportunity then offered
TO testify their respect and even veneration
for this man, in whose character whatever
was great and good, whatever digniied and
adorned human nature was so happily
blended.
Whenever he approached town or vii
lage the roads were lined with the inhabit-
ants who had turned out to bid him well
come; and, in many instances, was escorted
by local companies of militia from point
TO point.
The whole community was now wrought
up to the highest pitch OF excitement in re-
gard to the presence of the distinguished
visitor, and hardly anything else was talked
Of in the towns and villages through which
he was to pass.
Esquire Samuel Dunton came home from
trip from Norwich to Wellington, little
township nestled among and almost hidden
by the hills of eastern Connecticut, and set
all the men, women and children into blaze
of enthusiasm with the news that the presi-
dental party were to pass over the Hartford
& Providence turnpike" and would arrive
at point in the south part of Wilmington,
near Mansfield, at about eleven o'clock the
next forenoon.
The Wellington folks Immediately set
;o;n tbe TansGa1d col, n g;v;ny General
Wasb hin "o P hll recantion ''' ~
Of cenrsa ,here was nlentv If vida
awake mis- and hovs ubo wanted 10 On with
tbe older neonle and get n glimnse of the
great man Int in those DAVIS children were
faugbt Thai tbav were " 10 he seen and NOT
ard and on ali imn,rtant Occasions were
kent rather in the backgronnd
The October morning opened bright and
rbeantif1l and tbe preston family a, the
tannery were early astir and with their
neigbhors the Hollis the Westons. the
Aliens the pasr,s and the Dnntons started
in the aarlv morn in holiday array down
the woody Mansfield road
A pro1p of eager active. bricht-faced
bows Were gathered on the bridge to see
them .ff sThay watched the laval .ade
men ard woman ali on horsehack each horse
carving a man with n woman behind him
m a "n;lion :" until II d;sanneared in the
grov m; r;s;n, n,'ar Eonton r;var
'Tba.a ,,'ara fa,,, ,,,om,auts Of s;lanoa and
tho lnrnhr;ons f,ces ,f Tho hovs ware grow.
inc IL sger and longer over the;r d,san5oint-
ns,t ,s,han T;nnshv Pc, ,ba Oldest and
most dar;na of Tho arorn aid
I" In I'll ,'o, ,J hors ;s Coner,I
Wasb;natnn 10 W mass so neay ns to.dav I
intend 70 oat s;obt Of him Esou;re Dim.
ron said he,J GLeiy be along down on the
crnss'roads sbon, eisvsn oaIndi Pm go;ng 70
r,, a.,a,, -, 80 H. ,nru,S;ha Uos NAM
n e" away ,s; u'"n ~ III; ;e a 10 wa ao ,nross
' w. ~ wv" al ,ho Lille and s,ar
'o.o, ahu lun uo"h al VI. Miss ""I S.
| 9P'y w 'e'e y. sne "ay, ."e ~ III
'dI eau se' III .i, ~ .ae W q H.
| = uoHen " vi. h o' t taLsA j., W "a a;r
""'s, i'iu swinging .ne.u us" IN ou1 ai'
3aso ,n'ee tou11ius enee' ~. III ;us, , a.e
i ieS,aene WasnnsV?n i,''u'e I m,
onu Ahos '.soon JahPeu u s duu 49," u,
'"ius'ns nis ,asSe'eu nav ~ ..as as
9 WLn .t @ ms o'u p, st.r, Ia
49, ar W ~, 80 -, a.. }onna
| we're on Win ieaPirog jump 'ney iou"'
''n bringing up .ne 'ea' y, yo,,.5;.h ,s.r,,
| Amos, you eau 80. se,,n Ia,
| -. -, - - ~,
''ss are w 'no nS soa cold Amos saut,v
iry, me ana see, salu Am w s!ou.ly
- think us 700 oau II uenerh wasninsSo,
Is 70 come 50 near anu no. sec niw 40 Nc.
do .he res. oi YOU wan " aoe ~, nun jus
as much as II my legs were longer ~.
Let MN Co. sara DaViu ui'llei, WHY
was only MUS oiue' .'ial A.uos, oue te.'
much taller ness PHEASANT ne''e teio~
ana never complains nor "hinnpeis "nen ~
Is tired. we oig boys can give nun a Az a..
ne tuckefs' anu reachihs guy nc eooA .. 1An'o
ny the IL ma, anu 'ne ooSs s.a' onoe A.
Away they Went, striking ouI aoLosS Wv
heios ana woous gay wi.u .ne saa.e'
leaves not stopping 10 uiseuro 'he squitien
laying III iheir store oi nuts hot IAN
ime 10 pause III 'ne snauowy olcna,us .
M their VIDE pockets WIN '.e fragrant E lra,
that Jay .hicAly s.rewh on 'he ua st,ai Amo
Que ahu tneh ano'ne, VI suo pyo ' p;', ir,",
oy lh1 manu- iol ,ua, -, " re- ueP III. ~
over .ne nsse iaien s'e'' VI ''e 'A' VIM
intercepted .he,1 Nay. A.. 49,.
just before .hs boys caiie upon sne suin
PIKE, they paused unuer group Vi inaPie
10 TAKE p,eaVh' -. ii,
"How IKE iagalhunins we 10 loon wiz
our ola ciothes on ana thsy al % 'oin , an'
muddy sara LsDaioh Srocker; Mna
WIN the general LINK Vi US no 'nou'
haPPen :" spy 10 n sa;d I,,l
Let's trlln ourselves uP, saiu h'.i
Amos here iots VI piiSne zoo" gu
there's tnorh ousn MN Pien'y Vi '"o'n
70 hasten tneun on w',n' .A. -,
sure enousn' anu wen Vnous"s ~, sa
Ellan ElOrluBe. Alnos huo"o lhinb v