The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-07-04

She was not tender IN the partlnS
Her last days had come, and she had
set herself to bear with grim resolu'
ton the fatal disease that had long
been upon her. She had never been
tender. and these latter days had add
ed their touch of hardness.
But it was a tonic to her son 10
take her farewell. none the less to
hear her once more bid him God
speed, and once more command him.
as she did, to his duty.
On the morning of April 16 Wash
ington took the northern road as SO
often before, and pressed forward on
the way for New York.
The setting out was made with
very heavy heart; for duty had never
seemed to him so unattractive as II
seemed now, and his difference mao
never been 80 distressing.
For myself the delay may be com
pared to a reprieve," he had written TO
Knox, when he learned how slow con-
gress was in coming together, for in
confidence ! tell you that my move
ments to the chair of government will
be accompanied by feeling not unlike
those Of culprit who Is going to the
place of execution"
Departs with Heavy Heart.
When the day for his departure
came, his diary spoke the same heavi
ness of heart. About ten O'Clock"
he wrote. 81 babe adieu to Mount Yer
non, to private life, and to domestic
felicity; and with mind oppressed
with more anxious and painful sensa-
tions than have words to express, set
out for New York"
He did not doubt that he was doing
right; he doubted his capacity in civil
affairs, and loved the sweet retirement
and the free life he was leaving be
hind him.
Grief and foreboding did not in the
least relax his proud energy and
in action. He was not
whit the less resolute to attempt this
new role, and stretch his powers to the
uttermost to play it in masterful fash
ion.
He was only wistful and full of
sort of manly sadness; lacking not
resolution, but only alacrity.
Obliged to Borrow Money.
He had hoped to the last that he
would be suffered to spend the rest of
MS days at Mount Vernon; he knew
he place must lack efficient keeping,
and fall once more out of repair I'M
Ter hired overseers; he feared his
strength would be spent and his last
years come ere he could return to look
10 it and enjoy it himself again.
He had but Just now been obliged to
borrow a round sum of money to meet
pressing obligations; and the expenses
Of this very journey had made it neces-
sary to add a full hundred pounds to
that new debt.
II the estate brought money so slow
ly in while he farmed n. he must
count upon its doing even less while
he was away; and yet he had deter
minsd to accept no salary as presi.
dent, but only his necessary expenses
while in the discharge of his official
duties, as in the old days Of the war.
Washington Perplexed.
1t had brought distressing perplexi-
ties upon him to be thus drawn from
his private business to serve the ma
ton. Private cares passed off, no
doubt, and were forgotten as the jour
ney heightened But the other anx-
iety, how he should succeed in this
large business of craftsmanship to
which he had been called, did not
pass off; the incidents of that mem
orable ride only served to heighten it.
When he had ridden to Cambridge
that anxious summer of 1875, he had
been hailed by cheering crowds upon
the way, who admired the fine figure
he made, and shouted for the cause ne
was destined to lead; but he know
himself soldier then, was but forty
three, and did not fear to find his
duty uncongenial.
The people had loved him and had
thronged about him with looks and
words it had quickened his heart to
see and hear as he made his way
from New York to Annapolis to resign
his commission but six years ago; but
that was upon the morrow OF a task
accomplished, and the plaudits he
heard upon the way we're but greet
ings to speed him the more happily
homeward.
Things stood very differently now.
Though he felt himself grown old,
he had come out to meet hope he
could not share, and it struck subtle
pain to his heart that the people
should so trust him-should give him
so royal a progress as he Jared on his
way to attempt an untried task.
A Royal Welcome.
No king in days of kings divinity
could have looked for so heartfelt a
welcome to his throne as this modest
gentleman got to the Office he feared
to take.
Not only were there civil fete and
military parade at every stage of the
tourney; there was everywhere, be-
sides, a running together from all the
country roundabouts of people who
bore themselves not as mere sight
seers. but as if they had come out OF
love for the man they were to see