The Ordway new era., 1913-10-10

finger of the good generals remark
| able hand, which ESQ large that
handy" was all the tiny fellow could
manage.
These children took Washington
back more completely than anything
else to the old days when he had
brought his bride home with her own
little ones. He felt those days come
back. too. when he was on his horse
in the open, going the round Of good
twelve miles and more that carried
him to all the quarters of his planta-
ton.
Again a Farmer.
Once more he was the thorough
farmer, ransacking books, when men
and his own observation failed him,
to come at the best methods OF culti-
walton. Once more he took daily ac-
count OF the character of his slaves
and servants. and OF the progress OF
their work. talking with them when
he could. and gaining a personal mas
terry over them.
Contracts for work he drew up with
his own hand. with minuteness and
particularly which were sometimes
/
gleam of grim humor
He agreed with Philip Barter that
II he would serve him faithfully as
gardener and keep sober at all other
times he would allow him -four dol
lars at Christmas. with which to be
drunk four days and four nights; two
dollars at Easter. to effect the same
purpose: two dollars at Whitsuntide.
to be drunk for two days; dram in
the morning. and a drink of grog at
dinner. at noon:" and the contract
was drawn, signed. and witnessed
with all formality.
A Thoroush.Goins Master.
Philip no doubt found short sh<ft
Of consideration from his thorough
going master II there was any drunk
enness In the garden beyond the limit
Of the eight days nominated in the
bond. and found the contract no Jest
in the end. for Washington had small
patience and no soft words for
breach Of agreement. whatever its
kind.
He would help men in distress with
a generosity and wise choice of
means which few took the pains to
exercise. but he had only sharp re-
buke' for carelessness or neglect or
any slackness in the performance Of
a duty. Men who had cheated or
sought to impose upon him deemed
him harsh and called him hard mas.
ter. SO sharply did they smart after
he had reckoned with them.
Washington exacted the uttermost
farthing. But he spent 1t. with the
other hand. to relieve genuine suffer
ing and real want, though 1t were de-
served and the fruit of crying fault.
In his home dealings. as in every
thing else, his mind kept that trait by
which men had been awed In the
camp-that trick. as II of Fate. OF let
ting every act come at its conse-
quences and its full punishment or re-
ward, as II he but presided at proc
ess which was just Natures own.
When he succored distress. he did
1t in pity, not in justice-not exclsing
fault. but giving leave to mercy. II
he urged the government to pension
and reward the soldiers of the war.
who had only done their duty. he him
self set an example.
| Rewarded for Service.
There were black pensioners not a
few about his own homestead Bishop.
his old body.servant, lived like a re-
tired gentleman in his cottage there;
even Nelson. the good sorrel who had
borne him SO bravely In the field till
Yorktown. now went forever unsad-
died. free in his own pasture.
But, much as he loved his home
| MT
ties of planter, the old life would not
come back. was gone forever.
He was too famous, and there was
an end on it. He could not go abroad
without drawing crowds about him
II he attended s.rvice on Sunday
away from home. though 1t were in
never SO quiet parish. the very walls
OF the church groaned threateningly
under the unaccustomed weight of
people gathered in the galleries and
packed upon the floor to see the hero
of the Revolution. Not even a ride
into the far west, to view his lands
and pull together his neglected bust
ness on the Ohio. was long enough to
take him beyond the reach of public
affairs.
A Trip Into the West.
On the LIST Of September. 1884. with
DR.. Craik for company. he set out on
horseback to go by Braddock's road
again into the west.
For nearly five weeks he was deep
in the wilderness. riding close upon
seven hundred miles through the for
ested mountains. and along the remote
courses Of the long rivers that ran in
to the Mississippi: camping out as In
the old days when he was a surveyor
and soldier In his premiership in
these very wilds; renewing his zest
for the rough life and the sudden ad-
ventures OF the frontiersman.
! But. though he had come upon his