The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-06-20


friend. being the order of my march,
l will move gently down the stream OF
time until 1 sleep with my fathers"
The simple gentleman did not yet
realize what the breaking up of the
frosts would bring.
With the spring the whole life Of
the world seemed to come pouring in
upon Washington.
Men of note everywhere pressed
their correspondence upon him; no
stranger visited America but thought
first of Mount Vernon in planning
where he should go and what he
should see; new friends and old sat
every day at his table; year and a
half had gone by since his home-com-
ing before he could note in his diary
June 80, 1889: "Dined with only
Mrs. Washington, which, believe, is
the first instance Of it since my re-
tirement from public life"-for some
visitors had broken their way even
through the winter roads.
All Roads Lead TO Mount Vernon.
Authors sent him what they wrote;
inventors submitted their ideas and
models to him; everything that was
being said, everything that was being
done, seemed to ind its way, II mo-
where else, to Mount Vernon-till
those who knew his occupations could
speak Of Washington, very justly, as
the focus Of political intelligence for
the new world"
He would not alter his way Of Nv
ing even in the face Of such over
whelming Interruptions.
Sticks to His Business.
His guests saw him for little aft.
er dinner, and once and again, it
might be, in the evening also; but he
kept to his business throughout all
the working hours of the day; was
at his desk even before breakfast,
and after breakfast was always early
in the saddle and off to his farms.
Only at table did he play the host.
lingering over the wine to give and
call for toasts and relax in genial con-
versation, losing as the months pass
ed by, some of the deep gravity that
had settled upon him in the camp, and
showing once more an enjoying relish
for "a pleasant story, an unaffected
sally of wit, or burlesque descrip-
tion," as in the old days after hunt
ing.
Strangers in Awe Of Him.
Strangers we're often in awe of him.
It did not encourage talk in those who
had little to say to sit in the presence
of a man who so looked his greatness
in the very proportions of his strong
figure even, and whose grave and
steady eyes so challenged the signifl-
canoe Of what was said.
Young people would leave off dan
cling and romping when he came into
the room, and force him to withdraw,
and peep at the fun from without the
door, unobserved.
1t was only among his intimates
that he was suffered and taken to be
the simple, straightforward, sympa-
thizing man he was, exciting, not awe,
but only a warm and affectionate al
legiance. "The General with a few
glasses of champagne, got quite mer-
ry," young Englishman could report
who had had the good luck to be in
troduced by Richard Henry Lee, "and,
being with his intimate friends, laugh.
ed and talked good deal"
Resumes His Old Life.
AS much as he could, he resumed
the old life, and the thoughts and
pastimes that had gone with it.
Once more he became the familiar
of his hounds at the kennels, and fol-
lowed them as often as might be in
the hunt at sunrise. He asked but
one thing of a horse, as of old, "and
that was to go along. He ridiculed
the idea that he could be endorsed,
provided the animal kept on his legs"
The two little children, tiny boy
and a romping, mischievous lassie,
not much bigger, whom he had adopt
ed at Jack Custis' death-bed, took
strong hold upon his heart, and grew
slowly to an intimacy with him such
as few ventured to claim any longer
amidst those busy days in the guest
crowded house.
,Lafayette's Word Picture.
It seemed to Lafayette very en-.
gaging picture when he saw Washing
ton and the little toddling boy togeth-
era very little gentleman with
feather in his hat, holding fast to one
finger of the good generals remark
able hand, which ESQ large that
handD" 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 q Farmer.
Once more he was the thorough
farmer, ransacking books, when men
and his own observation failed him,
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