The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-02-28
ACurious Document.

Washington, as everybody knows,
was very methodical; and he was
particular to have matters about
which dispute might arise "put in
to writing" The article below is cop
led from one of his ''papers," and is
both characteristic and amusing. 1t
is an agreement with his gardener,
which it appears, was in the habit of
getting slight"
"Articles of agreement made this
18th day of April, Ammo Domini one
thousand seven hundred and eighty
seven, by and between George Wash
ington, Esq, OF the Parish Of Truror,
in the county of Fairfax, State of
Virginia, on one part, and Philip Ba-
ter, gardener, on the other. Witness,
that the said Philip Batter for and in
consideration of the covenants herein
after mentioned, doth promise
and agree to serve the said George
Washington for the term of one year
as gardener, and that he will, during
the said time, conduct himself sober
ly, diligently and honestly-that he
will faithfully and industriously per-
form every part of his duty as
gardener to the ! est Of his knowledge
and abilities, and that he will not at
any time suffer himself to be disguised
with liquor,except on times hereafter
mentioned.
ain consideration of these things
being well and truly performed on
the part of said Philip Batter, the
said George Washington doth agree
to allow him (the said Philip the
same kind and quality Of provisions
as he has heretofore had and likewise
annually, decent suit Of clothes, be-
fitting man in his station; to consist
of coat, vest and breaches as working
Jacket and breeches, of homespun, be-
sides; two white shirts; three check
do; two linen pocket handkerchiefs;
two pair linen overhauls; as many
pair shoes as are necessary for him;
four dollars at Christmas, with which
he may be drunk four days and four
nights;two dollars at Easter to effect
the same purpose; two dollars at
Whitsuuide, 10 be drunk two days;a
dram in The morning, and a drink OF
gror at dinner at noon.
For the true and faithful perform
ance of all and each part Of these
things, the parties have hereunto set
their hands this twenty-third day Of
April, Ammo Domini 1857,
his
PHILIP < BATTER.
marx.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
/ GEORGE 4. WASHINGTON,
/ TOBIAS LEAR.
\ TEMPERANCE ADDREss.---iu this
connection it may be well to add the
close a of letter from Washington to
one Of his overseers. The"temperauce
cause as such. had not been heard
of in the days of Washington; he WAS
moderate drinker," but he was
clown on" intemperance. Here is
the way he talks to his oyerseer:
81 close this letter without eXhort-
my you to refrain from spirituous
liquors; they will prove your ruin if
You do not. Consider how little
drunken man differs from a beast;the
latter is not endowed with reason,the
former deprives himself Of it; and
when that is the case, acts like
brute, annoying and disturbing every
one around him; nor is this all, nor,
as it respects himself, the worst Of it.
BY degrees it renders a person feeble,
and not only unable to serve others,
but to help himself; and being an act
Of his own, he falls from a state Of
usefulness into contempt, and at
last suffers. if not perishes, in Penury
and want.
"Don't let this be your case. Show
yourself more ufaman auda Christian
than to yield to so intolerable a vice,
which cannot am certain to the
greatest lover Of liquor give more
pleasure to sip in the poison, (lor it is
no better than the consequence Of it /
in bad behavior at the moment, and
the serious evils produced by after
wards, must give pain, ! am your
friend,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.