The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-05-07
In Washington, House.

Two Or three huni,ed steps to the
right and up gencrs, incline and you
stand on the brnai, high porch Of
Mount Vernon
The great river creeps close under
meath, one hundred feet or two below.
You might suppose that you could
throw stone. standing on the porch,
into the Potomac as seen through tho
trees that hug the hillside and the W.
ter's bank below. All is quiet. SO quiet
Now and then e barnvard fowl, back in
the rear. strained his glossy neck and
called out loud and clear in the eternal
Sabbath here; a fine shaggy dog wal
lowed and rompcd about the grassy
door-yard, and while far out over the
vast river some black, widc-winged
birds kept circiing round and round. l
went back and into the BARNARD to in
quire what kind of birds they were. 1
met very respectful but a very stam-
merry negro. lie took his cap in his
hand aud twisted it oil about and open
ing his mouth many times, he finally
said:
'.Do-do-dose burLs was created by
de Lord to p-p-pu-purify de ycarth. y
But what do you call them, uncie?"
''Tur-tur-tur-"a and ne twisted his
cap, backed ont, came forward, winked
his eyes, but could not 60 on.
'.Do you mean turkey-bGzzards?"
"Ya-ya-yas, sah; d-do-do-dose burds
eats up de carrion of de yearth, sab.
Down yondcr the tomb, the family
vault, placed in tho rear of the two
marble collins, whore about thirty of
the Washington family lie buried, is
locked up and closed forever. The key
has been thrown into the trusty old
Potomac to lie there until tho last
trump shall open ali tombs.
The thing, however. of the most sim
gular interest here, is the key OF the
Bastile. presented by Thomas Paine
to Lafayette, who brought it to
America and presented it to WASH
ington. 1t hangs here in glass case.
massive and monstrous. 1t is a hide
Gus. horrible thing and has, perhaps,
more blood and misery on it than any
other piece Of iron or steel that ever
was seen.
Let no ono hereafter complain of
having to live in garret alone and
without a fire. For hero, with all
this spacious and noble house TO select
from. the widow of Washington chose
q garret looking to the south and out
upon his tomb. This is tho old tomb
where ho first was laid to rest, and
where the fallen oak leaves are crowd
ing in heaps now and almost filing up
the low, dark doorway.
This garret has but one window, q
small and narrow Gormer window, and
it is otherwise quite dark. A bottom
corner of the door Is cut away SO that
her cat might come and go at will.
And this is the saddest, tendsrest sight
at Mount Vernon. 1t seemed to me
that could sec this noble lady sitting
there. looking out upon the tomb OF her
mighty dead, the great river sweeping
fast beyond, her heart full Of the MEM
ory of mighty nations birth-wait-
ing. waiting. waiting. Her work was
done. She rad lived quite the allotted
thros score years and ten. Her COM
panions were iu the tomb, and SO she
chose this garret, just above the bed in
which her immortal husband had died,
IS a sacred place in which 20 sit down
and cherish her memories, and wait
with folded hands the end. And so
here, after a year AMI y half OF wait
ing, the angei of death founi her; the
hands were folded forever, and tho ma
ton mourncd her rs lis mo:her.-JoG-
gXi,a Miller.