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THE 
 
 FARMER BOY, 
 
 HOW HE BECAME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 
 
 BY UNCLE JUVINELL. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 9G^a^^^^^^ 
 
 WILLIAM M. THAYER, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE PIONEER BOY," ETC. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 WALKER, WISE, AND COMPANY, 
 
 245, Washington Street. 
 
 18 64. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by 
 
 WALKER, WISE, AND COIMPANY, 
 
 in the Clerk's OfiSce of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts 
 
 ^ k r ^ 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BT JOHN WILSON AND SON, 
 
 No. 6, Water Street. 
 
INTEODUCTION. 
 
 BY REV. WILLIAM M. THAYER. 
 
 The reader will remember, that, in the preface of 
 "The Printer Boy," I promised the next vol- 
 ume should be " The Farmer Boy ; or. How 
 George Washington became President." That 
 pledge has never been redeemed, though some labor 
 has been performed with reference to it. And now 
 Providence seems to direct the fulfilment of the pro- 
 mise by the pen of another, well known among 
 youthful readers as that popular writer, " Uncle Ju- 
 vineU." 
 
 The advance sheets of a volume from his pen, upon 
 the early hfe of Washington, have been placed in my 
 hands for examination. I have carefully perused the 
 work, and find it to be of so high a character, and so 
 well adapted to the exigencies of the times, that I 
 voluntarily abandon the idea of preparing the pro- 
 posed volume myself, and most cordially recommend 
 this work to the youth of our beloved land. I take 
 this step with all the more readiness, when I learn 
 that the author has persevered in his labors, though 
 
4 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 totally blind and almost deaf; and I gladly transfer 
 the title which I proposed to give my own book to 
 his excellent w^ork, well satisfied that the act will 
 prove a public benefit. 
 
 The reader w^ill find that Mr. Heady (Uncle Juvi- 
 nell) has produced a very entertaining and instructive 
 volume. It is written in a racy, S23rightly style, that 
 cannot fail to captivate the mind. Partaking himself 
 of the buoyancy and good humor of boyhood, the 
 author is able to write for the boys in a manner that 
 is at once attractive and profitable. He has written 
 a live book of one, who, " though dead, yet speaketh." 
 It is replete with facts, and lessons of wisdom. The 
 virtues are taught both by precept and example, and 
 the vices are held up in all their deformity to warn 
 and save. Religion, too, receives its just tribute, 
 and wears the crown of glory. 
 
 The appearance of this volume is timely. Adapted 
 as it is to magnify the patriotic virtues, and the 
 priceless worth of the government under which we 
 live, it will prove a valuable contribution to the juve- 
 nile literature of the land. In this period of mighty 
 struggles and issues, when our nation is groaning 
 and travailing in pain to bring forth a future of sur- 
 passing renown and grandeur, it is important to 
 inspire the hearts of American youth by the noblest 
 examples of patriotism and virtue. And such is 
 Washington, the " Father of his Country." It is best 
 that the young of this battling age should study his 
 
INTRODUCTION. & 
 
 character and emulate his deeds. His life was the 
 richest legacy that he could leave to unborn genera- 
 tions, save the glorious Republic that he founded ; 
 and well will it be for the youth of our country when 
 that life becomes to them the stimulus to exalted aims. 
 Then loyalty will be free as air, and rebellions be 
 unknown ; then treason will hide its hydra-head, 
 and our insulted flag wave in triumph where the last 
 chain of slavery is broken. 
 
 Tliis volume will do its part to hasten this consum- 
 mation of our patriot-hopes. Over its pleasant pages, 
 then, we extend the right hand of fellowship to its 
 author, though a stranger to us. Long may his 
 able pen hold out ! Widely may this his last work 
 circulate ! Blessed may be the fruits ! 
 
 W. M. T. 
 
 Franklin, Mass., October, 1863. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Our beloved country, my dear young readers, has 
 passed through one great revolution ; and it is now in 
 the midst of another, which promises to prove even 
 more momentous in its consequences. 
 
 Ejiowing, therefore, the deep and lasting impres- 
 sion the great events of the day must needs produce 
 upon your opening minds, the author of this book 
 has been casting about him how he might contribute 
 to your and the nation's good. As he is altogether 
 bereft of sight, and nearly so of hearing, he is, of 
 course, unable to Hft a hand in his country's defence, 
 or raise his voice in her justification. But she has a 
 future ; and for that he entertains an earnest hope, 
 that through you, the rising generation, he may do 
 something. 
 
 To this end, therefore, he has written this volume, 
 wherein he has endeavored to set forth, in a manner 
 more calculated to attract and impress the youthful 
 mind than has perhaps been heretofore attempted, 
 the life and character of our good and great George 
 Washington. 
 
 [vii] 
 
Vm PREFACE. 
 
 By so doing, he hopes to awaken In your minds 
 a desire to imitate the example and emulate the vir- 
 tues of this greatest and wisest of Americans. For 
 should he succeed in this, and thereby influence a 
 thousand of you, when arrived at man's estate, to 
 remain loyal to your country in her hour of peril 
 (who might else have been tempted to turn their 
 hand against her) , then shall his humble pen have 
 done more for her future welfare than he could 
 have done for her present deliverance, had he the 
 wielding of a thousand swords. 
 
 And, should he ever have reason to suppose that 
 such were really the case, far happier would he be, 
 even in the dark and silent depths of his solitude, 
 than the renowned victor of a hundred battle-fields, 
 in all the blaze and noise of popular applause. Hop- 
 ing that this little book may, for your sakes, fulfil 
 the object for which it was written, and prove but the 
 beginning of a long and pleasant acquaintance, he 
 will conclude by begging to subscribe himself your 
 true friend and well-wisher,. 
 
 MORRISON HEADY. 
 Elk Ckeek, Spencer County, Ky., 1863. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction .... * 17 
 
 WHEREIN IT WILL APPEAR WHO UNCLE JUVINELL IS, AND HOW 
 HE CAME TO WRITE THE LIFE OP " THE FARMER BOY » FOR THE 
 LITTLE FOLKS. 
 
 I. 
 
 George at School 35 
 
 IN WHICH THE YOUNG READER WILL FIND SOME ACCOUNT OP 
 THE BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY EDUCATION OF GEORGE 
 WASHINGTON, AND THE STORY OF HIS LITTLE HATCHET ; FROM 
 WHICH HE MAY DRAW A WHOLESOME MORAL, IF HE BE DESIROUS 
 OF GROWING IN VIRTUE ; TOGETHER WITH OTHER MATTERS OF 
 INTEREST AND IMPORTANCE HARDLY TO BE FOUND ELSEWHERE. 
 
 n. 
 
 The First Sorrow 46 
 
 SHOWING HOW GEORGE MET WITH THE FIRST GREAT SORROW 
 OF HIS LIFE IN THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER ; AND HOW HIS MOTHER 
 WAS LEFT A YOUNG WIDOW, WITH THE CARE OF A LARGE FAMILY ; 
 WITH SOME REMARKS ON THE PRUDENCE AND WISDOM SHE DIS- 
 PLAYED IN THE REARING OF EEER CHILDREN ; TOGETHER WITH THE 
 STORY OF THE SORREL COLT, WHICH UNCLE JUVINELL INTRODUCES 
 BY WAY OF ILLUSTRATING THE CHARACTERS OF BOTH MOTHER 
 AND SON. 
 
 [ix] 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 ni. 
 
 Flaying Soldier 54 
 
 WHEREIN THE YOUNG READER WILL FIND HOW GEORGE FIGURED 
 AS A LITTLE SOIxDIER AT SCHOOL ; WITH SOME REMARKS TOUCHING 
 HIS WONDERFUL STRENGTH AND ACTIVITY OF BODY, AND COURAGE 
 OF SPIRIT ; AND HOW HE WOULD HAVE FIGURED AS A LITTLE SAILOR, 
 HAD HE NOT BEEN PREVENTED BY A MOTHER'S ANXIOUS LOVE ; 
 WHICH INFLUENCED NOT ONLY THE WHOLE COURSE OF HIS FUTURE 
 LIFE, BUT ALSO THE DESTINY OF HIS NATIVE COUNTRY, AND, IT 
 MAY BE, THAT OF THE WHOLE WORLD; AS THE LITTLE READER 
 WILL FIND OUT FOR HIMSELF, IF HE BUT HAVE THE PATIENCE TO 
 BEAR UNCLE JUVINELL COMPANY TO THE END OF THIS INTERESTING 
 HISTORY. 
 
 IV. 
 
 ^^ Rides of Behavior ^^ 61 
 
 AFFORDING TO THE READER ANOTHER AND HIS LAST GLIMPSE 
 OF WASHINGTON AS A SCHOOL-BOY. HERE HE WILL LEARN OF 
 WASHINGTON'S MANY INGENIOUS MODES OF GAINING AND RETAIN- 
 ING KNOWLEDGE, AND HIS HABITS OF PUTTING IT TO PRACTICAL 
 USES ; AND WILL FIND HIS RULES OF BEHAVIOR IN COMPANY AND 
 IN CONVERSATION, WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF THIRTEEN, WHICH 
 UNCLE JUVINELL WOULD EARNESTLY RECOMIMEND HIM, AND, IN 
 FACT, ALL HIS READERS, BE THEY BOYS OR GIRLS, MEN OR WOMEN, 
 TO STORE AWAY IN THEIR MEMORIES, IF THEY BE DESIROUS OP 
 GROWING IN VIRTUE, AND OF DEPORTING THEMSELVES IN SUCH 
 A MANNER AS TO GAIN THE GOOD -WILL AND ESTEEM, AND CON- 
 TRIBUTE TO THE HAPPINESS, OF ALL AROUND THEM. 
 
 V. 
 
 In the Wilderness 70 
 
 IN WHICH WILL BE SEEN HOW GEORGE BECAME ACQUAINTED 
 WITH OLD LORD FAIRFAX, AND WAS EMPLOYED BY THIS GREAT 
 NOBLEMAN TO ACT AS SURVEYOR OP ALL HIS WILD LANDS; WITH 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE HE LED IN THE WILDERNESS, AND 
 A SOMEWHAT HIGHLY COLORED PICTURE OF A WAR-DANCE PER- 
 FORMED BY A PARTY OF INDIANS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF HIM 
 AND HIS FRIENDS. 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 YI. 
 
 The Yoting Surveyor 78 
 
 REVEALING STILL FURTHER GLIMPSES OF WASHINGTON AS A 
 YOUNG SURVEYOR, — IN WHICH THE READER WILL SEE HOW THAT 
 GREAT MAN BROUGHT HIS LABORS IN THE WILDERNESS TO AN 
 END; WITH SOME REMARKS RESPECTING THE LOWLAND BEAUTY, 
 AND HOW LITTLE IS KNOWN OF HER. 
 
 vn. 
 
 First Military Appointment 89 
 
 IN WHICH THE YOUNG READER WILL LEARN HOW WASHINGTON, 
 AT THE EARLY AGE OF NINETEEN, BECAME ONE OF THE ADJUTANT- 
 GENERALS OF THE PROVINCE OF VIRGINIA ; AND HOW HE WENT ON 
 A VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES IN COMPANY WITH HIS BROTHER 
 LAWRENCE, WHO, BEING IN QUEST OF HEALTH, AND FAILING TO 
 FIND IT THERE, RETURNED HOME TO DIE. 
 
 vm. 
 
 Important Explanations 96 
 
 WHEREIN UNCLE JUVINELL AND THE LITTLE FOLKS TALK TOGE- 
 THER, IN A PLEASING AND FAMILIAR STYLE, OF CERTAIN MATTERS 
 CONTAINED IN THE FOREGOING PAGES; WHICH, BEING SOMEWHAT 
 DIFFICULT OF COMPREHENSION, NEED TO BE MORE FULLY AND 
 CLEARLY EXPLAINED, THAT THEY MAY THE BETTER UNDERSTAND 
 WHAT IS TO COME HEREAFTER IN THIS INTERESTING HISTORY. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Indian Troubles ^ • • .105 
 
 WHEREIN UNCLE JUVINELL GOES ON WITH HIS STORY, AND TELLS 
 THE LITTLE FOLKS ALL THAT IS NEEDFUL FOR THEM TO KNOW 
 CONCERNING THE CAUSES THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE OLD FRENCH 
 WAR ; TO WHICH THE YOUNG READER WILL DO WELL TO PAY VERY 
 PARTICULAR ATTENTION. 
 
XU CONTENTS. 
 
 X. 
 
 ^^Bio- Talk'' ivkh ''White Thunder'' ... 115 
 
 o 
 EXPLAINING HOW MAJOR WASHINGTON CAME TO BE SENT BY 
 GOVERNOR DINVflDDIE ON A MISSION TO THE FRENCH, NEAR LAKE 
 ERIE. — HOW HE SET OUT. — WHAT BEFELL HIM BY THE WAY. — 
 HOW HE STOPPED AT LOGSTOWN TO HAVE A BIG TALK WITH THE 
 HALF-KING, WHITE THUNDER, AND OTHER INDIAN WORTHIES. — 
 HOW HE AT LAST REACHED THE FRENCH FORT, AND WHAT HE DID 
 AFTER HE GOT THERE. 
 
 • XI. 
 
 Christmas in the Wilderness . . . *. . . 126 
 
 ENABLING THE YOUNG READER TO FOLLOW MAJOR WASHINGTON 
 TO HIS JOURNEY'S END, AND SEE HOW HE AND HIS PARTY SPENT 
 THEIR CHRISTMAS IN THE WILDERNESS. — HOW HE TWICE CAME 
 NEAR LOSING HIS LIFE, FIRST BY THE TREACHERY OP AN INDIAN 
 GUIDE, AND THEN BY DROWNING; WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS 
 INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIAN PRINCESS, ALIQUIPPA. 
 
 xn. 
 
 Washington's First Battle 134 
 
 IN WHICH THE YOUNG READER, AFTER GETTING A HINT OF THE 
 TREMENDOUS CONSEQUENCES THAT ENSUED FROM THE FRENCH 
 GENERAL'S LETTER, WILL FIND SO MUCH TO ENTERTAIN HIM, THAT 
 HE WILL READILY EXCUSE UNCLE JUVINELL FROM GIVING THE 
 REMAINING HEADS OF THIS CHAPTER ; FURTHER THAN TO SAY, THAT 
 IT WINDS UP WITH QUITE A LIVELY AND SPIRITED ACCOUNT OP 
 WASHINGTON'S FIRST BATTLE. 
 
 • 
 
 XIII. 
 Fort Necessity 146 
 
 WHAT BEFELL COLONEL WASHINGTON IN AND AROUND FORT NE- 
 CESSITY, AND HOW HE SUSTAINED HIS FIRST SIEGE ; WHICH WILL 
 BE FOUND EVEN MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE ACCOUNT OF HIS 
 FIRST BATTLE, NARRATED IN THE LAST CHAPTER. 
 
CONTENTS. xm 
 
 XIV. 
 
 General Braddock . . . 158 
 
 IN WHICH THE YOUNG READER AND COLONEL WASHINGTON FORM 
 THE ACQUAINTANCE OF GENERAL BRADDOCK, AND COME TO THE 
 SAME CONCLUSIONS REGARDING HIS CHARACTER; AND IN WHICH 
 THE READER IS HONORED WITH A SLIGHT INTRODUCTION TO THE 
 GREAT DR. FRANKLIN, WHO GIVES SOME GOOD ADVICE, WHICH 
 BRADDOCK, TO HIS FINAL COST, FAILS TO FOLLOW; AND IS ENTERr- 
 TAINED WITH A FEW GLIMPSES OF LIFE IN CAMP. 
 
 XV. 
 Rough Work 172 
 
 THE READER WILL SEE HOW GENERAL BRADDOCK AT LAST SET 
 OUT ON HIS MARCH TO FORT DUQUESNE. — HOW HE GOT ENTANGLED 
 IN THE WILDERNESS, AND WAS FORCED TO CALL UPON THE YOUNG 
 PROVINCIAL COLONEL FOR ADVICE, WHICH, THOUGH WISELY GIVEN, 
 WAS NOT WISELY FOLLOWED.— HOW CAPTAIN JACK MADE AN OFFER, 
 FOR WHICH HE GOT BUT SORRY THANKS ; AND WILL FIND A SPRINK- 
 LING OF WAYSIDE ITEMS HERE AND THERE ; WHICH SAVES THIS 
 CHAPTER FROM BEING CONSIDERED A DULL ONE. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Braddock'' s Defeat 186 
 
 IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE BLOODIEST PAGE IN THE ANNALS 
 OF AMERICA ; OR, TO EXPRESS IT OTHERWISE, AN ACCOUNT OF THE 
 FAMOUS BATTLE OF THE MONONGAHELA, COMMONLY CALLED BRAD- 
 DOCK'S DEFEAT; WHICH, IT WILL BE SEEN AT A GLANCE, MIGHT 
 HAVE TURNED OUT A VICTORY AS WELL, HAD WASHINGTON'S AD- 
 VICE BEEN FOLLOWED. 
 
 xvn. 
 
 Explanations 200 
 
 WHEREIN UNCLE JUVINELL AND THE LITTLE FOLKS DISCOURSE 
 TOGETHER, IN A LIVELY AND ENTERTAINING STYLE, OF DIVERS MAT- 
 TERS TO BE FOUND, AND NOT TO BE FOUND, IN BOOK THURSDAY; 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 WHICH MAY SEEIM OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE TO THOSE ELDERLY 
 PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO WISE TO BE AMUSED, AND WHO WOULD, ANY 
 TIME, RATHER SEE A FACT BROUGHT OUT STARK NAKED THAN 
 DRESSED HANDSOMELY. SUCH 0^^1.8 ARE REQUESTED TO PASS OVER 
 THIS CHAPTER, AND PERCH UPON BOOK FRIDAY, PORTIONS OF WHICH 
 WILL BE FOUND QUITE AS DRY AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY DESIRE. 
 
 XVIII. 
 TVork ill Earnest 210 
 
 SHOWING HOW BRADDOCK'S ARMY CONTINUED ITS FLIGHT TO 
 PHILADELPHIA. — HOW WASHINGTON RETURNED TO MOUNT VERNON, 
 AND WAS SHORTLY AFTERWARDS MADE COMMANDER OF ALL THE 
 FORCES OF VIRGINIA ; AND HOW HE WENT TO BOSTON, AND WHY ; 
 WITH OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 DarJc Days 222 
 
 STILL FARTHER ACCOUNT OF WASHINGTON'S TROUBLES WITH THE 
 INDIANS AND WITH HIS OWN IMEN, AND NOTICE OF HIS MISUNDER- 
 STANDING WITH GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE ; ALL OF WHICH, COMBINED, 
 RENDER THIS THE SADDEST AND THE GLOOMIEST PERIOD OF HIS 
 LIFE. 
 
 XX. 
 
 A New Enter pise 233 
 
 CONTAINING GLIMPSES OUTSIDE OF THE DIRECT LINE OF OUR 
 STORY, WITH A MORE MINUTE AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL ACCOUNT OF 
 HOW WASHINGTON WOOED AND WON A FAIR LADY THAN IS TO BE 
 MET WITH ELSEWHERE ; WITH SOME PARTICULARS TOUCHING AN 
 INTENDED EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT DUQUESNE. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 More Blundering 244 
 
 SHOWING HOW BRADDOCK'S FOLLY WAS REPEATED BY MAJOR 
 GRANT, AS FOREBODED BY WASHINGTON; AND ALSO WHAT CAME 
 OF THE EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT DUQUESNE. 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Washington at Home , . 255 
 
 GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF WASHINGTON'S MARRIAGE WITH SIRS. 
 CUSTIS. — HIS RECEPTION BY THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF BURGESSES.— 
 HIS HABITS AS A MAN OF BUSINESS. — HIS RURAL PURSUITS AND 
 AMUSEMENTS. — HIS LOVE OP SOCIAL PLEASURES. — HIS ADVENTURE 
 AVITH A POACHER ; AND MANY OTHER ITEMS ; ALL OF WHICH, COM- 
 BINED, MAKE THIS CHAPTER ONE OF THE MOST PLEASING AND 
 ENTERTAINING OF THE WHOLE BOOK. 
 
 XXUI. 
 
 A Family Quarrel . 269 
 
 WHEREIN THE YOUNG READER WILL FIND WHAT WILL BE EX- 
 PLAINED MORE TO HIS SATISFACTION IN CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 XXIY. 
 
 Tlie Cause of the Quarrel 276 
 
 AFFORDING A MORE CLEAR AND SATISFACTORY ACCOUNT OF THE 
 CAUSES THAT BROUGHT ABOUT OUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR THAN 
 WAS GIVEN IN CHAPTER XXIII. ; BUT CHAPTER XXV. MUST NEEDS 
 BE READ, BEFORE A FULL AND COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF 
 THESE MATTERS CAN BE ARRIVED AT. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Resistance to Tyranny 288 
 
 ILLUSTRATING WHAT PART WASHINGTON TOOK IN THESE MEA- 
 SURES OF RESISTANCE TO BRITISH TYRANNY.— HOW HE BECAME A 
 REPRESENTATIVE OF VIRGINIA IN THE GREAT COLONIAL ASSEMBLY, 
 OTHERWISE CALLED THE OLD CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; AND HOW, 
 UPON THE BREAKING-OUT OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE COLONIES 
 AND THE MOTHER-COUNTRY, HE WAS MADE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
 OF ALL THE FORCES OF THE UNITED COLONIES ; WITH OTHER ITEMS 
 TOUCHING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, AND 
 PATRICK HENRY, THE GREAT VIRGINIA ORATOR. 
 
XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 XXYI. 
 
 Conclusion 301 
 
 WHEREIN THE YOUNG READER WILL BE ENTERTAINED WITH 
 THE PLEASING AND EDIFYING CONVERSATION WHICH TOOK PLACE 
 BETWEEN UNCLE JUVINELL AND THE LITTLE FOLKS, TOUCHING 
 DIVERS MATTERS IN BOOK FRIDAY ; WHICH DEMAND FURTHER CON- 
 SIDERATION FOR A MORE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR HIS- 
 TORY, PAST AND TO COME. 
 
THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 SOMEWHERE in green Kentucky, not a great 
 many years ago, the ruddy light of a Christmas 
 sunset, streaming in at the windows of an old-fash- 
 ioned brick house, that stood on a gentle hillside, 
 half hidden by evergreens, shone fidl and broad on a 
 group of merry little youngsters there met together 
 to spend the holiday with their Uncle Juvinell, a 
 charming old bachelor of threescore and ten. 
 
 What with "blind man's buff," "leap-frog," 
 " hide-and-seek," " poor pussy wants a corner," Mo- 
 ther Goose, dominos, sky-rocket§ and squibs, and 
 what with the roasting of big red apples and the 
 munching of gingerbread elephants, the reading of 
 beautiful story-books, — received that morning as 
 Christmas presents from their Uncle Juvinell and 
 other loving relatives, — these little folks had found 
 this day the most delightful of their lives. 
 
 [17] 
 
18 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Tired at last of play, and stuffed with Christmas 
 knick-knacks till their jackets and breeches could hold 
 no more, they had now betaken themselves to the 
 library to await the return of their Uncle Juvinell, 
 who had gone out to take his usual evening walk ; 
 and were now quietly seated round a blazing winter 
 fire, that winked and blinked at them with its great 
 bright eye, and went roaring right merrily up the 
 wide chimney. Just as the last beam of the setting 
 sun went out at the window. Uncle Juvinell, as if to 
 fill its place, came in at the door, all brisk and ruddy 
 from his tramp over the snow in the sharp bracing 
 air, and was hailed with a joyous shout by the little 
 folks, who, hastening to wheel his great arm-chair 
 for him round to the fire, pushed and pulled him 
 into it, and called upon him to tell one of his most 
 charming stories, even before the tingling frost was 
 out of his nose. ■ 
 
 As this worthy old gentleman has done much for 
 the entertainment and instruction of the rising gene- 
 rations of the land, it is but due him that some 
 mention, touching his many amiable traits of charac- 
 ter and his accomplishments of mind and person, 
 should be made in this place for the more complete 
 satisfaction of those who may hereafter feel themselves 
 indebted to him for some of the most pleasant 
 moments of their lives. 
 
 In person. Uncle Juvinell is stout and well-rounded. 
 His legs are fat, and rather short ; his body is fat, 
 
INTKODUCTION. 19 
 
 and rather long ; his belly is snug and plump ; his 
 hands are plump and white; his hair is white and 
 soft ; his eyes are soft and blue ; his coat is blue 
 and sleek ; and over his sleek and dimpled face, from 
 his dimpled cliin to the very crown of his head, — 
 which, being bald, shines like sweet oil in a warm 
 fire-light, — there beams one unbroken smile of fun, 
 good-humor, and love, that fills one's heart with 
 sunshine to behold. Indeed, to look at him, and be 
 with him a while, you could hardly help half believing 
 that he must be a twin-brother of Santa Claus, so 
 closely does he resemble that far-famed personage, 
 not only in appearance, but in character also ; and 
 more than once, having been met in his little sleigh 
 by some belated school-boy, whistling homeward 
 through the twilight of a Christmas or New Year's 
 Eve, he has been mistaken for the jolly old saint 
 himself. In short, his whole appearance is in the 
 highest degree respectable ; and there is even about 
 him an air of old-fashioned elegance, which of course 
 is owing chiefly to the natural sweetness and polite- 
 ness of his manners, and yet perhaps a little height- 
 ened withal by the gold-bowed spectacles that he 
 wears on his nose, the heavy gold bar that pins his 
 snowy linen, the gold buttons that shine on his coat, 
 his massive gold watch-chain (at the end of which 
 hangs a great red seal as big as a baby's fist) , and by 
 his gold-headed ebony cane, that he always carries on 
 his shoulder like a musket when he walks, as much 
 
20 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 as to say, " Threescore and ten, and no need of a 
 staff yet, my Christian friend." No man is more 
 beloved and esteemed by all who know him, old and 
 young, than he ; for like Father Grimes, whose 
 nephew he is by the mother's side, — 
 
 *' He modest merit seeks to find, 
 And give it its desert ; 
 He has no malice in his mind, - 
 
 No ruffles on his shirt. 
 
 His neighbors he does not abuse ; 
 
 Is sociable and gay : 
 He wears large buckles in his shoes, 
 
 And changes them each day." 
 
 If there is one thina: about Uncle Juvinell that we 
 might venture to pronounce more charming than 
 another, it is the smile of mingled fun, good-humor, 
 and love, with which his countenance never ceases to 
 shine, save when he hears the voice of pain and his 
 breast with pity burns. Touching this same trait 
 of his, a lady once said in our hearing, that she verily 
 believed a cherub, fresh from the rosy chambers of 
 the morning, came at the opening of each day to 
 Uncle Juvinell's chamber, just on purpose to dash 
 a handful of sunbeams on his head ; and, as there 
 were always more than enough to keep his face 
 bathed with smiles for the next twenty-four hours, 
 they were not wasted, but, falling and lodging on 
 his gold spectacles, his gold breast-pin, his gold but- 
 tons, his gold watch-chain, and the gold head of 
 
INTRODUCTION. 21 
 
 his ebony cane, washed them with lustre ever new, 
 as if his face, bright and broad as it was, were not 
 enough to reflect the love and sunshine ever dwelling 
 in his heart. We will not undertake to vouch for 
 the truth of this, however. As the young lady was a 
 marriageable young lady, and had been for a num- 
 ber of years, it would not be gallant or generous for 
 us to mention it ; but of this we are certain, that, 
 when this good old gentleman enters a room, there 
 is a warmth and brightness in his very presence, 
 that causes you to look round, half expecting to see 
 the tables and chairs throwino^ their shadows alonsf 
 the floor, as if, by the power of magic, a window had 
 suddenly been opened in the wall to let in the morn- 
 ing sunshine. *^ 
 
 If the affections of Uncle Juvinell's heart are child- 
 like in their freshness, the powers of his intellect are 
 gigantic in their dimensions. He is a man of pro- 
 digious learning : for proof of which, you have but to 
 enter his library, and take note of the books upon 
 books that crowd the shelves from the floor to the 
 ceiling ; the maps that line the walls ; the two gi-eat 
 globes, one of the earth and the other of the heavens, 
 that stand on either side of his reading-desk ; and the 
 reading-desk itself, whereon there always hes some 
 book of monstrous size, wide open, which no one has 
 ever had the courage to read from beginning to end, 
 or could comprehend if he did. 
 
 In the languages he is very expert ; speaking 
 
22 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 French with such clearness and distinctness, that any 
 native-born Frenchman, with a fair knowledge of the 
 English, can with but little difficulty understand 
 more than half he says ; and in German he is scarcely 
 less fluent and ready ; while his Latin is the envy 
 of all who know only their "mother- tongue. In 
 mathematics, his skill is such, that you might give him 
 a sum, the working-out of which would cover three 
 or four large slates ; and he would never fail to 
 arrive at the answer, let him but take his time. 
 
 In astronomy, he is perfectly at home among the 
 fixed stars ; can distinguish them at a single glance, 
 and that, too, w^ithout the help of his spectacles, from 
 the wandering planets ; and is as familiar with the 
 motion and changes of the moon, as if he had been in 
 the habit for the last forty years of spending the hot 
 summer months at some of the fashionable waterine;- 
 places of that amiable and interesting orb. But it is 
 in the history of the nations and great men of the 
 earth that Uncle Juvinell most excels, as shall be 
 proved to your entire satisfaction before reaching the 
 end of this volume. 
 
 And yet, notwithstanding the vastness of his learn- 
 ing and the gigantic powers of his mind, he can, 
 when it so pleases him, disburden himself of these 
 great matters, and descend from liis lofty height to 
 the comprehension of the little folks, with as much 
 ease as a huge balloon, soaring amidst the clouds, can 
 let off* its gas, and sink down to the level of the kites, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 23 
 
 air-balls, and sky-rockets wherewith they are wont 
 to amuse themselves. 
 
 Being an old bachelor, as before noticed, he, of 
 course, has no children of his own ; but, Hke the 
 philosopher that he is, he always consoles himself for 
 this misfortune with the reflection, that, had he been 
 so favored, much of his love and aflection must needs 
 have been wasted on his own six, eight, or ten, as 
 the case might have been, instead of being divided 
 without measure among the hundreds and thousands 
 of Httle ones that gladden the wedded Hfe, and fill 
 with their music the homes of others more blessed. 
 
 Living, as all his brothers do, in easy circum- 
 stances, he has abundant time and leisure to devote 
 himself to the particular interest and enjoyment of 
 these little ones ; and is always casting in his mind 
 what he may be doing to amuse them, or make them 
 wiser, better, and happier. 
 
 Such is the ease, heartiness, and familiarity with 
 which he demeans himself when among them, and 
 enters into all their httle pastimes and concerns, that 
 they stand no more in awe of him than if he were 
 one of their own number ; and make him the butt 
 of a thousand impish pranks, at which he laughs 
 as heartily as the merriest rogue among them. And 
 yet it is for that very reason, perhaps, that they 
 love him so devotedly, and would give up their dog- 
 knives or wax dolls any day, sooner than show 
 themselves unmindful of his slightest wishes, or do 
 
24 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 aught that could bring upon them even his softest 
 rebuke. They make nothing of taking off his gold 
 spectacles, and putting them on their own little pugs 
 to look wise ; or running their chubby fists into the 
 tight, warm pockets of his breeches, in quest of liis 
 gold pencil or pearl-handled knife ; or dashing like 
 mad over the yard, with his gold-headed cane for a 
 steed ; or steaHng up beliind him, as he stands with 
 his back to the fire, and slyly pulling out his big red 
 bandanna handkerchief, wherewith to yoke the dog 
 and cat together as they lie sociably side by side on 
 •the hearth-rug. In short, he will suffer them to tease 
 him and tousle him and tumble him to their hearts' 
 content, and set no limits to their Hberties, so long as 
 they are careful not to touch his snowy linen with 
 their smutched fingers ; for, if Uncle Juvinell has one 
 fault in the world, it is his unreasonable partiality for 
 snowy hnen. But, were we to go on with our praises 
 and commendations of this best of men, we should 
 fill a large volume ftdl to overflowing, and still leave 
 the better half unsaid : so we must exercise a little 
 self-denial, and forego such pleasing thoughts for the 
 present, as it now behooves us to bring our minds to 
 bear upon matters we have more nearly in view. 
 
 Seeing how earnestly the httle folks w^ere bent 
 upon drawing out of him one of his longest stories, 
 Uncle Juvinell now bade them sit down and be quiet 
 till he should have time to conjure up something more 
 charming than any Arabian tale they had ever heard ; 
 
INTKODUCTION. 25 
 
 and tlirowing himself back in his great arm-chair, 
 and fixing his eyes on the glowing coals, that seemed 
 to present to his fancy an ever-shifting panorama, 
 was soon lost in profound meditation. And the 
 longer he thought, the harder he looked at the fire, 
 which knowingly answered his look with a winking 
 and bhnking of its great bright eye, that seemed to 
 say, " Well, Uncle Juvinell, what shall we do for the 
 entertainment or instruction of these little people 
 to-night? Shall we tell them of that crew of antic 
 goblins we wot of, who are wont to meet by moon- 
 light, to play at football with the hanged man's head, 
 among the tombstones of an old graveyard ? Or may 
 be that dreadful ogre, with the one fiery eye in the 
 middle of his forehead, who was in the habit of roast- 
 ing fat men on a spit for his Christmas dinners, would 
 be more to their taste. Or, if you prefer it, let it be 
 that beautiful fairy, who, mounted on a milk-white 
 pony, and dressed in green and gold, made her home 
 in an echoing wood, for no other purpose than to 
 lead little children therefrom, who might by some ill 
 chance be separated from their friends, and lose their 
 way in its tangled wilds. Or perhaps you are 
 thinking it would be more instructive to them were 
 we to conjure up some story of early times in green 
 Kentucky, when our great-grandfathers were wont to 
 take their rifles to bed with them, and sleep with them 
 in their arms, ready to spring up at the sHghtest 
 rusthng of the dry leaves in the woods, and defend 
 
 2 
 
2(3 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 themselves against the dreaded Indian, as with pan- 
 ther-like tread he sknlked around their lonely dwell- 
 ings." 
 
 To each and all of these, Uncle Juvinell shook his 
 head ; none of them being just exactly the tiling he 
 wanted. At length, finding that the fire hindered 
 rather than helped him to make a choice, lie rose 
 from his seat, turned his back upon it, and lool^ed 
 from one bright face to another of the circle before 
 him, till his eye rested on Daniel, who was among 
 the oldest of the children, and was, by the way, the 
 young historian of the family, and, in his own opinion, 
 a youth of rather uncommon parts. He had that 
 morning received from his uncle, as a Christmas pre- 
 sent, that most delightful of story-books, "Robinson 
 Crusoe ; " but having seen the unlucky sailor high, but 
 not dry, on his desert island, and having run his eye 
 over all the pictures, he had laid it aside, and was 
 now standing at the reading-desk, looking as wise as 
 a young owl in a fog over a very large book indeed, 
 in wliich he pretended to be too deeply interested to 
 finish a slab of gingerbread that lay half munched at 
 his side. 
 
 Seeing his little nephew thus engaged. Uncle 
 Juvinell smiled a quiet smile all to himself, and, after 
 watching him a few moments, said, "Dannie, my 
 boy, what book is that you are reading with so 
 much Interest that you have forgotten your ginger- 
 bread?" 
 
INTRODUCTION. 27 
 
 " Irylng's Life of Washington, sir," replied Daniel 
 with an air. 
 
 " A good book, a very good indeed ; but too hard 
 for you, I fear," said Uncle Juvinell, shaking his 
 head. "Tell me, though, how far you have read." 
 
 " To Braddock's defeat, sir," replied Daniel." 
 
 "You have been getting over the ground rather 
 fast, I am thinking ; but tell me how you like it," 
 said Uncle Juvinell, by way of drawing his little 
 nephew out. 
 
 "Here and there, I come to a chapter that I like 
 very much," replied Daniel: "but there are parts 
 that I don't understand very well ; and I was just 
 thinking that I would point them out to you some 
 time, and get you to explain them to me ; as you 
 will, I am certain ; for you know every thing, and are 
 so oblio'ino^ to us little folks ! " 
 
 At this. Uncle Juvinell's face lighted up as with a 
 brilliant thought ; but, without seeming to notice his 
 little nephew's request just then, he reseated himself, 
 and again began looking hard at the fire. The fire 
 opened its great bright eye more widely than before, 
 and looked as if it were putting the question, "Well, 
 sir, and what is it now ? Out with it, and I will 
 throw what light I can on the matter." After a few 
 moments, there appeared to be a perfect understanding 
 between them ; for the fire with a sly wink seemed to 
 say, "A happy thought. Uncle Juvinell, — a very 
 happy thought indeed : I was just on the point of 
 
28 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 proposing the very same thing myself. Come, let 
 us go about it at once, and make these holidays 
 the brightest and happiest these little folks have 
 ever known, or ever could or would or should know, 
 in all their lives." And the fire fell to winking 
 and blinking at such an extravagant rate, that the 
 shadows of those who were seated round it began 
 bobbing up and down the wall, looking like mis- 
 shapen goblins amusing themselves by jumping imagi- 
 nary ropes, the gigantic one of Uncle Ju^dnell leaping 
 so high as to butt the ceiling. 
 
 After several minutes of deep thought, the old 
 gentleman rose, and stood on his short fat legs with 
 the air of a man who had made up his mind, and 
 with a smile on his fiice, as if sure he was just on the 
 point of giving them all a pleasant surprise. " Lau- 
 ra, my dear," said he, "take down that picture from 
 the wall you see hanging- to the right of the book- 
 case ; and you, Ella, my darling, take that bunch of 
 feathers, and brush off the dust from it. Now hand 
 it to me. This, my cherubs," he went on, "is the 
 portrait of the good and great George Washington, 
 who is called the Father of our country. It is to him, 
 more than to any other man, that w^e owe the bless- 
 ings of freedom, peace, and prosperity, we now enjoy 
 in larger measure than any other people of the wide 
 earth ; and it was for these same blessings that he 
 fought and struggled through all the weary years of 
 our Revolutionary War, amidst difficulties, dangers, 
 
mTRODUCTION. 29 
 
 and discouragements such as never before tried the 
 strength of man. And when, in the happy end, he, 
 by his courage, skill, and fortitude, and abiding trust 
 in the protection of an all-wise Providence, had come 
 out victorious over all, and driven our cruel enemies 
 from the land, so that our homes were once more 
 gladdened with the smiles of peace and plenty, — then 
 it was that a grateful people with one voice hailed 
 him chosen of the Lord for the salvation of our be- 
 loved country. Blessed be the name of George Wash- 
 ington, — blessed for evermore ! " And a big tear of 
 love and thankfulness started from each of Uncle Ju- 
 vinell's mild blue eyes, trickled slowly over his ruddy 
 cheek, and, dropping thence, went hopping and spar- 
 kling down his large blue waistcoat. 
 
 At this the little folks looked very grave, and 
 thought to themselves, "What a good man Wash- 
 ington must have been, and how much he must have 
 done and suffered for the welfare of his fellow-beino's, 
 thus to have brouQ-ht the tears to our dear old uncle's 
 eyes ! " After looking at the picture for some mo- 
 ments in silence, they began talking about it, each in 
 his or her own fashion ; while Uncle Juvinell listened 
 with much interest, curious to see what different 
 impressions it would produce on their minds. 
 
 " That scroll he holds in his left hand must be his 
 farewell address to his army," said Daniel, the young 
 historian, looking very wise. 
 
 "What a fine long sword he carries at liis side ! " 
 
30 THE FARMER BOY. ' 
 
 said Biyce, a war-like youngster who liacl just 
 climbed to the summit of his ninth year, and had, as 
 you must know, a wooden sword of his own, with 
 wlilch he went about dealing death and destruction 
 to whole regiments of cornstalks and squadrons of 
 horse-weeds, calling them British and Tories. 
 
 " How tall and grand and handsome he looks ! " 
 said Laura, a prim and demure little miss of thirteen : 
 "In his presence, I am sure I could never speak 
 above a whisper." 
 
 " That, yonder, among the trees and evergreens 
 on the hill, must be the house where he lived," said 
 Ella, a modest, sweet-mannered little lady of twelve. 
 " What a beautiful place It Is ! and what a happy 
 home It must have been wlien he lived In It ! " 
 
 "And see how the hill r lopes down to the river, so 
 grassy and smooth ! and such a nice place for little 
 boys to roll over and over down to the bottom ! " 
 said Ned, a rough-and-tumble youngster of ten, who 
 spent one-half of the sunshine with lils back to the 
 ground and his heels in the air. 
 
 "And see the beautiful river so broad and so 
 smooth, and the great ships afar off going down to 
 the sea ! " said Johnnie, a little poet of eight, who 
 passed much of his time dreaming with his eyes open. 
 
 "And such a pretty play-house as I see there 
 among the bushes on the hillside ! " said Fannie, a 
 stout little matron of five, the mother of a large and 
 still increasing family of dolls. 
 
INTKODUCTIO:?^. 31 
 
 "That is not a play-house, Fannie, but the tomb 
 where Wasliington lies buried," said Dannie with an 
 air of superior wisdom. 
 
 " What a splendid wliite horse that black man is 
 holding for him ! How he bows his neck, and champs 
 liis bit, and paws the ground ! " said Willie, a harum- 
 scarum, neck-or-nothing young blade of fourteen, 
 who would have given liis best leg to have been the 
 owner of a galloping, high-headed, short-tailed pony. 
 
 "What is he doing so far away from home without 
 his hat, I wonder?" said Master Charlie, a knowing 
 young gentleman of eight, who was much in the 
 habit of doubting everybody's eyes and ears but his 
 own. 
 
 "How kind and good he looks out of his eyes, just 
 like father!" said Mary, an affectionate and timid 
 little creature of seven. 
 
 Just then, Addison, a plump little fellow of four, 
 in all the glory of his first new jacket and his first 
 new breeches, w^ho was standing on the top round of 
 Uncle Juvinell's chair, suddenly cried out in a very 
 strong voice for his age, "Oh ! he looks just like 
 Uncle Juvinell : now don't he. Cousin Mary?" 
 
 For a man of his appearance to be thus compared 
 with so stately and dignified a man as Washington 
 was a thing so ludicrous, that Uncle Juvinell was 
 surprised into the heartiest fit of laughter that he had 
 enjoyed that day. When it was over, he bade Laura 
 hang up the picture again in its accustomed place, 
 
32 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 and began where he had left off some time before : 
 " Now, my dear children, it came into my mind, 
 while I was talking with yom* Cousin Dannie a little 
 bit ago, that I could not tell you any thing more 
 entertaining and instructive than the story of Wash- 
 ington's life. It will, I am quite sure, interest you 
 much : for although he was such a great man, — the 
 greatest, no doubt, that ever lived, — and so awful 
 to look upon, yet, for all that, liis heart was full to 
 overflowing with the most tender and kindly affec- 
 tions, and, if you can believe it, quite as fond of 
 little children as your Uncle Juvinell ; often joining 
 in their innocent sports for a whole hour at a time. 
 Let me see. This is Wednesday ; and we have 
 seven, eight, long holidays bQfore us to be as happy 
 as skylarks in. Now, I am thinking, that, if we 
 would have next New Year's Day find us better and 
 wiser, we could not liit upon a more proper plan 
 for beginning so desirable an end than by spending 
 a part of each day in making om'selves acquainted 
 with the life and character of this good and great man, 
 and, at the close of each evening's lesson, talking 
 over what we have learned, to our more complete 
 understanding of the same. And now, my merry 
 ones, speak out, and tell me what you think of it." 
 
 " It will be just exactly the very tiling," said 
 wise Daniel. 
 
 " Glorious ! " said rollickins: Willie. 
 
 " Charming ! " said prim and demure Miss Laura. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 33 
 
 " 'Twill be delightful, I am sure," said modest 
 EUa. 
 
 " Nothing could please me better, if we have a 
 good big battle now and then," said warlike Bryce. 
 
 " I wonder if it will be as interesting as ' Kobinson 
 Crusoe ' ? " put in doubting Charlie. 
 
 " Or ^Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp ' ? " chimed 
 in dreaming Johnnie. 
 
 "And we'll all listen, and be so good ! " said timid, 
 loving littje Mary. 
 
 " Wait a moment for me, uncle, till I run down to 
 the cabin, just to see how Black Daddy's getting 
 along making my sled," said hair-brained Ned. 
 
 "And wait a little bit for me too, uncle, till I go 
 and put my dolly babe . to bed ; for she might take 
 the measles if I keep her up too long," said motherly 
 Fannie. 
 
 " And let me sit on your knee, uncle ; Cousin 
 Mary wants my chair," said Addison, the youngest 
 one of them all, at the same time climbing up, and 
 getting astride of Uncle Juvinell's left fat leg. 
 
 " Then settle yourselves at once, you noisy chatter- 
 boxes," said Uncle Juvinell with a shining face ; 
 " and mind you be as quiet and mute as mice at a 
 cat's wedding while I am telling my story, or I'll " — 
 His threat was drowned in the joyous shouts of the 
 children as they scrambled into their chairs. When 
 tliey had all put on a listening look, he poured out 
 a little yellow, squat, Dutch mug brimful of rich 
 
34. THE FARJVIER BOY. 
 
 brown elder from a big blue pitcher that Black 
 Daddy had just placed on a table close at hand, and, 
 having wet Im whistle therewith, began his story. 
 And now and then, as the story went on, the fire, 
 keeping its bright, watchful eye upon the old gentle- 
 man, would wink at him in a sly manner, that seemed 
 to say, "Well done. Uncle Juvinell, — very well done 
 Indeed. You see, sir, I was quite right in what I 
 told you. We have hit upon the very thing. The 
 httle folks are enchanted : they are drawing in wis- 
 dom with every breath. A merry Christmas to us 
 all ! " Pop, pop ! hurrah ! pop ! 
 
I. 
 
 GEORGE AT SCHOOL. 
 
 A HUNDRED years ago or more, there stood 
 on the green slopes of the Potomac, in the 
 county of Westmoreland, Va., an old red farm- 
 house, with a huge stone chimney at each end, and 
 high gray roof, the eaves of which projected in such 
 a manner as to cover a porch in front and two or 
 three small shed-rooms in the rear. Now, although 
 this house was built of wooden beams and painted 
 boards, and was far from being what could be 
 called, even for those times, a fine one, — looking 
 as it did more like a barn than a dwelling for man, 
 — yet, for all that, it had the honor of being the 
 birthplace of the good and great George Washington, 
 who is said, by many very wise persons who ought to 
 know, to have been the greatest man that ever came 
 into this pleasant and glorious world of ours. 
 
 His father, Augustine Wasliingi;on, was married 
 early in hfe to Jane Butler, who died after having 
 borne him two sons, Lawrence and Augustine. In 
 a year or two after this loss, feeling the want of 
 some one to gladden liis lonely heart and home, he 
 
 [35] 
 
36 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 married ^lary Ball, the belle of Horseneck, and said 
 to have been the most beautiful young lady in all 
 that part of the country. Bythis union he was blessed 
 with six children, of whom our George, the eldest, 
 was born on the twenty-second day of February, in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and thirty-two. 
 
 It has often appeared strange to me that notliing 
 should Ibe known of this great man's life up to the 
 completion of liis fifth year : and I am sorry for 
 your sakes, my little ones, that such is the case ; 
 for it would be such a nice beginning to our story, 
 could we say with certainty that he distinguished 
 himself by walldng alone at the age of five months ; 
 that he could pronounce " Mother " and " Good " with 
 perfect distinctness when but one year old ; that liis 
 mother taught him at the age of two to kneel by 
 her side, and Hsp, before going to his evening rest, 
 that beautiful prayer, beginning with, " Noav I lay 
 me down to sleep ;" that he rode like mad, at the age 
 of three, round and round the yard, on his father's 
 buckhorn-headed cane ; and that he rode on a real 
 horse at the age of four, and went galloping like a 
 young Tartar round and round the meadow in front 
 of the house, to the delight of his young mother, 
 who watched him from the window. Of all this, 
 and a gi^eat deal more of the same sort, vou would, 
 I doubt not, lilie much to hear, and I would like 
 much to tell you ; but we must keep witliin the 
 
GEORGE AT SCHOOL. 37 
 
 bounds of true history, and content ourselves with 
 the knowledge of that which really did happen. 
 With this safe rule for our guidance, we will there- 
 fore proceed at once to take up the thread of our 
 story at that period of George's boyhood, concerning 
 which some certain record has come down to our time. 
 
 At the age of five, when he was old enough to 
 walk all alone for a mile or two through the woods 
 and fields, liis parents started him to school one 
 bright spring morning, with his little basket on his 
 arm, containing his dinner and a bran-new spelling- 
 book, to take liis first tiny steps in the flowery path 
 of knowledge. 
 
 His first teacher was a Mr. Hobby, an old man, 
 who lived on a distant part of his father's planta- 
 tion, and is said to have been besides the sexton 
 or grave-digger of the neighborhood; and was, 
 I have my private reasons for thinking, a broken- 
 down old soldier, with a big cocked hat that shaded 
 a kindly and weather-beaten face, and a wooden 
 leg, — an ornament for which he was indebted to a 
 cannon-ball, and took more pride in than if it had 
 been a sound one of flesh and bone. . As it is rarely 
 ever the case that men with wooden legs are called 
 upon to fight the battles of their country, this worthy 
 old man, who well knew how to read and write, and 
 cipher too, must needs earn his livelihood by teaching 
 school, and sowing his knowledge broadcast among 
 the little children of the neighborhood. 
 
9 
 
 8 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Accordingly, It was to old Mr. Hobby, as every- 
 body called him, that George was indebted for his 
 first insight into the mysteries of book-learning ; 
 and althouoh he was in due time to become the 
 greatest man of this or any other age or country, 
 yet he began liis education by first learning his 
 ABC, just as did other boys of that day, just 
 as they are now doing, and just as they will continue 
 to do for all time to come. After he had taken his 
 ABC into his memory, and set them there in a 
 straight row each in its proper place, he was not 
 long, depend upon it, in reaching the middle of his 
 spelling-book ; and as soon as he could, without 
 anybody's help, climb over tall and difficult words of 
 five or six syllables, such as " immortality " or " re- 
 sponsibility," his master put liim in the English Read- 
 er, where he soon overtook and went clean ahead of 
 boys a great deal older than himself. From reading, 
 he In a short time rose to writing ; and It was said by 
 those who knew him best, that he learned to write 
 a neat round hand without ever once blotting his 
 copy-book ; and furthermore, that such a thing as a 
 dirty, thumb-worn, dog-eared book was never seen 
 In his hand. His next step in the path of knowledge 
 was arithmetic ; and, in less time than you can well 
 believe, he had got the multiplication-table so tho- 
 roughly by heart, that he could run over It as fast 
 backwards, from tw^elve times twelve to twice one, 
 as common boys straightforward, even with the 
 
GEORGE AT SCHOOL. 39 
 
 open book before their eyes. So well did be study, 
 that, in less than four years' time after his first start- 
 ing to school, the single rule of three was no more 
 to him than long division to most boys ; and he 
 could repeat the tables of weights and measures 
 as ghbly as you, Master Johnnie, can rattle off the 
 charming story of "Old Mother Hubbard and her 
 Wonderfid Dog." 
 
 Now, the rapid progress George made in his studies 
 was owing not so much to liis uncommon aptitude 
 at learning as to the diligence and industry with 
 which he applied himself to them. For example : 
 when other boys would be staring out at the window, 
 watcliing the birds and squirrels sporting among the 
 tree-tops ; or sitting idly with their hands in their 
 pockets, opening and shutting their jack-knives, or 
 counting their marbles, or munching apples and 
 corn-dodgers in a sneaking and unbecoming man- 
 ner beliind their books ; or, more naughty still, shoot- 
 ing paper bullets at old Hobby's wooden leg as he 
 sat dozing beliind his high desk of a drowsy summer 
 afternoon, — our George, with liis hands to his ears 
 to keep out the schoolroom buzz, would be studying 
 with all his might ; nor would he once raise his eyes 
 from his book till every word of his lesson was ready 
 to drop from his tongue's end of its own accord. 
 So well did he apply himself, and so attentive was he 
 to every thing taught liim, that, by the time he was 
 ten years old, he had learned all that the poor old 
 
40 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 grave-digger knew himself; and it was this worthy 
 man's boast in after-years, that he had laid the foun- 
 dation of Washinoton's future g-reatness. But what 
 old Wooden Leg — for so they always called him 
 when his back was turned — could not teach him at 
 school, little George learned at home of his father 
 and mother, who were well educated for those days ; 
 and many a long winter evening did these good 
 parents spend in telling their children interesting and 
 instructive stories of olden times, far-off countries, 
 and strange people, which George would write down 
 in his copy-book in his neatest, roundest hand, and 
 remember ever afterward. 
 
 A more prudent and careful father, and a more 
 discreet and affectionate mother, than Mr. Washing- 
 ton and his wife Mary, perhaps never lived. So 
 earnest and watchful were they to bring up their 
 children in the fear of the Lord, and in the practice 
 of every noble virtue, that their dutiful behavior and 
 sweet manners were the talk and praise of the good 
 people for miles and miles around. They taught 
 them to be neat and orderly in their dress, as well as 
 civil and polite in their manners ; to be respectful 
 to their elders ; to be kind to one another, and to 
 every thing God hath made, both great and small, 
 whether man or bird or beast : but chiefly were they 
 concerned to teach them the love of truth, and to tell 
 it at all times when it should be their duty to speak 
 out, let the consequences be what they might. To 
 
GEORGE AT SCHOOL. 41 
 
 show you that such wise and careful training was not 
 lost on the tender mind of George, I will tell you the 
 story of his little hatchet, as It may serve you good 
 stead In the day when you may be tempted to wander 
 astray from the path of truth and virtue. 
 
 One Christmas Eve, when the sharp, frosty air 
 made the blood brisk and lively In the veins, little 
 George, who was then about six years old, hung up 
 his stocking on the mantel of the huge chimney, say- 
 ing to himself as he did so, " Good Santa Glaus, 
 be kind to me while I am sleeping peacefully.". 
 Next morning, bright and early, just as a great 
 Christmas loo^ had bes^un to blaze and crackle on 
 the hearth, he jumped spryly from his bed, and, 
 without stopping to put on his clothes, ran to his 
 stockings to see what good old Santa Glaus had 
 brought him while he slept. I leave you to picture 
 to your minds lils delight upon finding therein a little 
 Indian tomahawk, with a brlo-ht keen edo;e and lona: 
 red handle. It would have done all your hearts good 
 to have seen how he skipped and danced around the 
 room, and flourished his hatchet high over his head ; 
 how he went showing it to every one about the house, 
 wlilte and black ; praising good old Santa Claus to 
 the very skies, and never once feeling the want of his 
 breeches. But, between you and me, I am rather 
 Inclined to suspect, that. If we had any means of 
 arriving at the facts of the case. It would be found 
 that Santa Claus had no more concern In this matter 
 
42 THE FARINIER BOY. 
 
 than your Uncle Juvlnell himself. To my mind, 
 there is more reason in the supposition, that liis father, 
 seeing the jolly old saint pass by at a late hour of 
 the night in an empty sleigh, and that the cliikken 
 were not likely to have their stockings filled for that 
 once, got up early in the morning, and put the hatchet 
 in there himself, rather than that liis Httle son should 
 be disappointed. 
 
 Be this as it may, it was all the same to George ; 
 and he was as happy as happy could be. At the 
 breakfast-table, he could hardly eat liis bread and 
 milk for lookino- at his sliiningf axe, wliich he had laid 
 beside him on the table ; and, before it was fairly broad 
 daylight, he was out at the wood-yard, ankle-deep in 
 snow, cutting and chopping away at the hard-sea- 
 soned beech and maple logs, as if it lay with liim, 
 for that day at least, to keep the whole family, white 
 and black, from freezing. By and by, however, he 
 found this more work than play, and began to cast 
 his earnest young eyjes about liim for something green 
 and soft whereon to try the edge and temper of his 
 hatchet. Presently, as ill-luck would have it, a fine 
 young English cherry-tree, just over the fence hard 
 by, caught his attention, which, without further ado, 
 he fell to hacking might and main ; and the way he 
 made the little chips fly was a thing surprising to 
 see. 
 
 Next morning, his father, passing by that way, saw 
 the miscliief that had been done, and was sorely dis- 
 
GEORGE AT SCHOOL. 43 
 
 pleased : for he had planted and reared this selfsame 
 tree with the tenderest care ; and, of all the trees in 
 his orchard, there was not one other he prized so 
 liighly. Being quite sure that it was the work 
 of some of the black children, he went straightway 
 down to the negro quarter, bent on finding out, and 
 bringing the unlucky culprit to a severe account. 
 
 " Dick," said he to the first one he met, " did you 
 cut that cherry-tree ? " 
 
 " No, mauster ; don't know notliin' 'bout it," said 
 Dick, showing the wliites of his eyes. 
 
 "Did you, Sam?" said Mr. Washington, putting 
 the same question to another little woolly-head. 
 
 "No, mauster; don't know nothin' 'bout it," said 
 Sam, likewise showing the whites of his eyes. 
 
 The same question was put to Harry, who gave 
 Dick and Sam's answer word for word, and, to add 
 force to his denial, showed the whites of his eyes in 
 like manner ; and so on, till more than a dozen had 
 been questioned w4th the same ro^ult ; when it came 
 to Jerry's turn to make denial, and show the wliites 
 of his eyes. 
 
 Now, you must know there was not a more auda- 
 cious, mischief-making, neck-or-nothing black brat 
 than tliis same Jerry to be found on the banks of the 
 Rappahannock, which is a very long river indeed. 
 As a fish hves in water, or a salamander in fire, so 
 did Jerry Hve and breathe, and have liis being, in mis- 
 cliief ; or, in other words, miscliief w^as the element 
 
44 * THE FAHMEK BOY. 
 
 in which Jerry found his chief dehght. If any mis- 
 hap befell, anybody or any thing, at any hour of the 
 day or night, on any part of the plantation, on foot 
 or on horseback, at rest or in niDtion, it was sure to 
 be brought and laid at Jerry's door. Being aware 
 of all this, Mr. Wasliington was now quite sure, that, 
 as none of the rest had cut the cherry-tree, Jerry 
 himself must be the offender ; and so he put the ques- 
 tion- to him ; to which .Jerry, showing the whites of 
 liis eyes, made answer, "No, mauster ; I didn't cut 
 the cherry-tree : indeed, indeed, and double deed, I 
 didn't cut the cherry-tree." 
 
 " Ah ! Jerry," said his master, " if you always told 
 the truth, I should know when to believe you ; but, 
 as you do not, you must take the consequences 
 of your evil ways, and blame nobody but your- 
 self." 
 
 Upon hearing tliis, Jerry began dancing and hop- 
 ping around the room in a very brisk and lively 
 manner, even before his master was within ten feet 
 of him, as if he already felt the switch about his 
 legs. 
 
 Just then, in the very nick of time, George came 
 walldng leisurely by, hatchet in hand ; who, upon see- 
 ing how matters stood, without a moment's hesitation, 
 ran up to his father, and, dropping liis hatchet, caught 
 him round the leg, just as the first stroke of the 
 switch was about to descend on the calves of the un- 
 lucky Jerry. 
 
GEORGE AT SCHOOL. 45 
 
 "O papa, papa!" cried he, "don't wliip poor 
 Jerry : if somebody must be whipped, let it be me ; 
 for it was I, and not Jerry, that cut the cherry-tree. 
 I didn't know how much harm I was doing ; I didn't 
 indeed." And the child began crying piteously. 
 
 With a look of glad surprise, his father, dropping 
 the switch, caught his brave little boy in his arms, 
 and folded liim tenderly, lovingly, to his bosom. 
 "Now, thanks be to God," cried he, "thanks be to 
 God, that I have a son whose love of truth is greater 
 than his fear of punishment ! Look on him, my 
 black children, look on him, and be as near like him 
 as you can, if you would have the love of yom' mas- 
 ter and the good- will of all around you." 
 
 Seeing the unlooked-for turn the affair had taken, 
 and not having the words to express the feelings of 
 joy and thankfidness that swelled almost to bursting 
 in his little black breast, Jerry darted through the 
 door, out into the yard, kicked up his heels, yelped 
 like a young dog, threw a somerset in the snow, 
 and went rolHng over and over down to the bottom 
 of the hill, and ever after loved his noble little master 
 to distraction. 
 
II. 
 
 THE FIRST SORROW. 
 
 WHEN George had learned all that poor old 
 Hobby could teach him, his father, to re- 
 ward liim for his diligence and good behavior at school, 
 indulged liim in two or three weeks' holidays, which 
 he went to spend at a .distance from home, among 
 some friends and relatives. Here, as usual, he was 
 made much of; for, being a great favorite with all who 
 knew him, he met with a cordial reception wherever 
 he went ; and what Avith hunting and fishing, riding 
 and visiting, the time spent here was the most de- 
 lightful he had ever known. But hardly had half the 
 happy days flown by, when word came that his father 
 was sick, even unto death ; and that, of all things, 
 he most desired to look upon his noble boy once more 
 before he died. With a sadness and heaviness of 
 heart he had never before experienced, George set out 
 on his return home, where he arrived just in time to 
 receive his dying father's blessing. Long and deeply 
 did he mourn his loss ; for his father was most ten- 
 derly beloved by his children, and greatly esteemed 
 
 [46] 
 
THE FIRST SORROW. 47 
 
 bj his friends and neighbors as a useful member of 
 society, and a man of many sterling traits of cha- 
 racter. 
 
 Mrs. Washington was thus left a young widow 
 with a large family of young children, whom it now 
 became her duty to provide for and educate in a man- 
 ner becomino^ a Christian mother ; and how well and 
 faithfully and lovingly she discharged this sacred trust, 
 is most beautifully set forth in the life and character 
 of her great son. She was a woman of uncommon 
 strength and clearness of understanding, and her 
 heart was the home of every pure and noble virtue. 
 She was mild, but firm ; generous, but just ; candid 
 whenever she deemed it her duty to speak her mind, 
 but never losing sight of the respect and considera- 
 tion due to the feelings and opinions of others. She 
 was gentle and loving with her children, yet exacting 
 from them in return the strictest obedience to her 
 will and wishes. But of all virtues most sacred in 
 her eyes was that of the love of truth, which she 
 ever sought to miplant in their minds ; assuring 
 them, that, without it, all other virtues were but as 
 unprofitahle weeds, barren of fruits and flowers. 
 She was simple and dignified in her manners, and 
 had a hearty dislike for every thing savoring of parade 
 and idle show. She always received her friends and 
 visitors with a cordial smile of welcome, spreading 
 before them with an unsparing hand the best her 
 house afforded : but, when they rose to depart, she 
 
48 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 would invite them once, and once only, to stay longer ; 
 and, if after this they still seemed bent on going, she 
 would do all in her power to speed them on their 
 journey. With so many traits betokening strength 
 of mind and character, she had but one weakness ; 
 and tliis was her excessive dread of thunder, caused 
 in early maidenhood by seeing a young lady struck 
 dead at her side by lightning. 
 
 And such was Mary, the mother of Washington ; 
 and seldom indeed has her like been seen. As her 
 husband, by industry and prudent management, had 
 gathered together enough of the riches of this world to 
 leave each of liis children a fine plantation, she was not 
 hindered by straitened circumstances, or anxiety as to 
 their means of future^ support, from giving her chief 
 attention to such bodily and mental training as should 
 have a lasting tendency to make them, in more mature 
 years, healthy, virtuous, and wise. 
 
 It has been often remarked, that those men who 
 have most distinguished themselves in the world's his- 
 tory for noble thoughts and heroic deeds, have, as a 
 general thing, inherited those qualities of mind and 
 heart which made them great, from then' mothers, 
 rather than from their fathers ; and also that their 
 efforts to Improve and elevate the condition of their 
 fellow-beino^s have been owino- in a laro;er measure 
 to the lessons of truth, piety, and industry, taught 
 them by their mothers in childliood and early youth. 
 If this be the case, then how much are we indebted 
 
THE FIRST SOEROW.. 49 
 
 for the freedom, prosperity, and happiness we now 
 enjoy above other nations of the earth, to Mary, the 
 mother of Washington ! Perhaps, to give you a 
 still more forcible Idea of the characters of both 
 mother and son, and of the wholesome effects on him 
 of her judicious training, I ought to relate in this 
 place the story of his attempt at taming the sorrel 
 horse. 
 
 A fine horse was an object that afforded ^irs. 
 Washington, as it did the other substantial Yirglnia 
 ladies of that day, quite as much, if not more, real 
 pleasure than their more delicate grand-daughters 
 of the present now find in their handsome carriages, 
 lap-dogs, and canary-birds. So great was her fond- 
 ness for tills noble animal, that she usually suffered 
 two or three of her finest to run in a meadow in front 
 of the house, where she might look at them from 
 time to time as she sat sewing at her dining-room 
 window. One of these was a young sorrel horse, of 
 great beauty of form, and fleetness of foot, but of so 
 wild and vicious a nature, that, for fear of accident, 
 she had forbidden any one to mount him, although 
 he had already reached his full height and size. 
 
 Now, you must know that a bolder and more skil- 
 ful rider than George was not to be found in all the 
 Old Dominion, as Vu'glnla is sometimes called ; and 
 it was this early practice that afterwards won for 
 him the name of being the finest horseman of his 
 day. Often, as we may very naturally suppose to 
 
 3 
 
50 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 have been the case, would he reason thus with hhn- 
 self, as, sitting on the topmost rail of a worm fence, 
 he watched the spirited young animal frisking and 
 boundino: about the field in all the freedom of his 
 untamed nature : "If I were but once upon his back, 
 with a strong bit in his mouth, believe me, I would 
 soon make him a thing of use as well as ornament ; 
 and it would, I am sure, be such a pleasant surprise 
 to mother to look fron* her window some fine morn- 
 ing, and see me mounted on his back, and managing 
 him with ease, and to know that it was I who had 
 subdued his proud spirit." 
 
 Accordingly, full of these thoughts, he arose 
 early one bright summer morning, and in^ated two 
 or three friends of his own age, then on a visit at his 
 mother's house, to go with him to the fields, to share 
 with him the sport, or lend their aid in carrying out 
 his design, should it be found too difficult and haz- 
 ardous for himself alone. They needed no second 
 bidding, these young madcaps, to whom nothing 
 could be more to their liking than such wild sport. 
 So at it they went ; and after a deal of chasing and 
 racing, heading and doubhng, falling down and pick- 
 ing themselves up again, and more shouting and 
 laughing than they had breath to spare for, they at 
 last succeeded in driving the panting and affi-ighted 
 young animal into a corner. Here, by some means 
 or other (it was difficult to tell precisely how) , they 
 managed to bridle liim, althouo^h at no small risk of 
 
THE FIRST SOEROW. 51 
 
 a broken head or two from his heels, that he seemed 
 to fling about him in a dozen different directions at 
 once. Having thus made liim their captive, they led 
 him out to the more open parts of the field, where 
 George requested his friends to hold him till he could 
 get on his back. But the wild and unruly spirit the 
 young beast had shown that morning had so dismayed 
 them, that they flatly refused to comply ; begging him 
 not to tliink of attempting it, as it would be at the 
 risk of life or limb. But George was not to be 
 daunted by such trifles ; and seeing that his blood 
 was up, and knowing that, when this was the case with 
 him, he was not to be turned aside from his purpose, 
 they at length yielded unwilling consent to his en- 
 treaties ; and, giving liim the required aid, he was soon 
 mounted. 
 
 This was an insult the proud-spirited animal could 
 not brook ; and he began plunging and rearing in a 
 manner so frightful to behold, that they who watched 
 the struggle for mastery expected every moment to 
 see the daring young rider hurled headlong to the 
 ground. But he kept his seat unmoved and firm as 
 an iron statue on an iron horse. At length, however, 
 the horse, clinching the bit between his teeth, became 
 for a time unmanageable, and sped away over the 
 field on the wings of the wind ; till, making a false 
 step, he staggered and plunged, rallied again, stag- 
 gered, and, with the red life-stream gushing from liis 
 nostrils, dropped down dead. 
 
52 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 George sprang from the ground unharmed : but, 
 when he saw the noble young animal stretched out 
 smoking and bloody and lifeless before him, tears of 
 pity filled liis eyes ; and still faster did they flow 
 when he thought of the grief it would occasion his 
 mother, w^hen she should hear how her beautiful favo- 
 rite had come to his end. His companions now 
 rejoining liim, they all, with sad misgiving in their 
 hearts, returned to the house, where Mrs. Washing- 
 ton met them with a cheerful good-morning, and, 
 when they had taken their seats at the breakfast-table, 
 began talking with them in her usual lively and 
 entertaining manner, until the dreaded question came : 
 "Well, young gentlemen," said she, "have you seen 
 any thing of my sorrel horse in your walks this morn- 
 ing?" 
 
 The boys looked at one another for some moments 
 in silence, scarce knowing what answer to make. At 
 last, George, to put an end to the painful suspense, 
 said in a subdued voice, " Mother, the sorrel horse is 
 dead." He then, in a few brief words, told her how 
 it had all happened, and ended by entreating her 
 forgiveness if he had oiFended ; at the same time 
 assuring her, that, in so doing, he had only thought 
 of giving her a pleasant surprise. 
 
 When he first began his account of the mishap, a 
 flush of anger rose to his mother's cheek ; of wliich, 
 however, there was not a trace to be seen by the 
 time he had finished ; and she answered, with some- 
 
THE FIRST SORROW. 53 
 
 thing like an approving smile, " My son, as you have 
 had the courage to come and tell me the truth at 
 once, I freely forgive you : had you skulked away, I 
 would have despised you, and been ashamed to own 
 you as my son." 
 
III. 
 
 PLAYmG SOLDIER. 
 
 s 
 
 AFTER the death of her husband, ]Mrs. Wash- 
 ington left the care and education of her son 
 George, in no small measure, to the judgment and 
 discretion of her step-son Lawrence, a young man 
 of twenty-five, and lately married to Miss Fairfax. 
 The love that had always existed between these two 
 brothers was something beautiful indeed to behold, — 
 the more so when we take into consideration the dif- 
 ference of fourteen years in their ages ; and, now 
 that their dear father was no more, this love grew 
 all the more tender and strong, and George soon 
 learned to look up to his eldest brother as to a second 
 father. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence Washington, besides being a fine 
 scholar and one of the most polished gentlemen of 
 his day, was also a brave and able soldier ; havino- 
 served during the late Spanish war as a lieutenant 
 under the great Admiral Vernon, in honor of whom 
 he had named his fine estate on the Potomac, IMount 
 Vernon. 
 
 [54] 
 
PLAYING SOLDrER. 55 
 
 ^^ At Mount Yernon, then, we find George spending 
 by far the greater portion of his holidays ; and here 
 he often fell in with young officers, fellow-soldiers 
 of his brother, to whom with eager ears he was wont 
 to listen as they recounted their adventures, and told 
 of hard-fought battles by land and sea wfth the 
 roving pirates, or sea-robbers, and proud and venge- 
 ful Spaniards. These stories so fired his ardent 
 young spirit, that he longed of all things to become 
 a great soldier, that he might go forth to fight the 
 enemies of liis country, wherever they were to be 
 found, and drive them from the face of the wide 
 earth. To give these feelings some relief, he would 
 muster his little school-fellows at play-time, and take 
 them through the lessons of a military drill ; showing 
 them how to fire and fall back, how to advance and 
 retreat, how to form in line of march, how to pitch 
 their tents for a night's encampment, how to lay an 
 Indian ambuscade, how to scale a wall, how to storm 
 a battery ; and, in short, forty other evolutions not 
 to be found in any work on military tactics ever 
 written, and at wliich old Wooden Leg, had he been 
 there, would have shaken his cocked hat with a 
 dubious look. Then dividing them into two opposing 
 armies, with himself at the head of one, and the tall- 
 est boy of the school leading on the other, he would 
 incite them to fight sham battles with wooden swords, 
 wooden guns, snow-balls, and such other munitions 
 of war as came most readily to hand ; in which 
 
56 THE FARRIER BOY. 
 
 George, no matter what might be the odds against 
 him, or what superior advantages the enemy might 
 have in weapons or ground, was always sure to come 
 oiF victorious. 
 
 He was a handsome boy, uncommonly tall, strong, 
 and active for his age ; could out-run, out-jump, 
 out-ride any boy three years older than himself; 
 and, in wrestling, there was not one in a hundred 
 who could bring his back to the ground. Many 
 stories are told of his wonderful strength ; and the 
 spot is still shown, where, when a boy, he stood on 
 the banks of the Rappahannock River, and, at its 
 widest part, threw a stone to the opposite side, — a 
 feat that no one has been found able to perform since 
 that day. It was said, that, a few years later, he 
 stood under the Natural Bridge, and threw a silver 
 dollar upon the top of it, — a height of two hundred 
 and twenty feet ; not less than that of Bunker-hill 
 Monument, and more than double that of the tallest 
 hickory that ever hailed down its ripened nuts- upon 
 your heads. Although there were none more stu- 
 dious than he in the schoolroom, yet he always took 
 the keenest delight in every kind of active and manly 
 sport, and was the acknowledged leader of the play- 
 ground. But he had qualities of mind and heart far 
 more desirable and meritorious than those of mere 
 bodily activity and strength. Such was his love of 
 truth, his strong sense of justice, and his clearness 
 of judgment, that, when any dispute arose between 
 
PLAYING SOLDIER. 57 
 
 his playmates, they always appealed to him to decide 
 the difference between them, as willing to abide by 
 his decision, and make it their law. Although he 
 had the courage of a young lion, and was even more 
 than a match in strength for many an older boy, he 
 was never known to have a fight at school, nor else- 
 where indeed, that I have ever heard ; for such was 
 the respect he ever showed to the feelings and wishes 
 of others, that he never gave an insult, and, depend 
 upon it, never received one. 
 
 The hiofh oTound of !Mount Yernon commands a 
 splendid view of the Potomac up and down for miles, 
 where it makes a noble bend, and winds its shining 
 course amidst verdant meadow-slopes and richly 
 wooded hills. Now and then, in the course of the 
 year, some noble ship, with all its sails outspread and 
 gay banners fluttering to the breeze, might be seen 
 moving down the majestic stream, hastening in its 
 pride and strength to stem the billows of the mighty 
 ocean. With the keenest of delight none but the 
 young and daring mind can ever know, George, as 
 he stood on the piazza in front of his brother's man- 
 sion, would watch them with wishful eyes, until a 
 bend of the river hid their lofty masts behind the 
 green tops of the yet more lofty hills between. Then 
 would there awaken in his heart an earnest longing 
 to become a sailor ; to go forth in some gallant ship 
 upon the face of the great deep ; to visit those far-off* 
 countries, where he might behold with his own eyes 
 
 3* 
 
58 THE FARRIER BOY. 
 
 those wonders he had read so much of in books. At 
 such times, it may be, there would arise in his mind 
 enchanting visions of some desert island, upon whose 
 lonely rocky shores he might some day have the rare 
 good fortune of being thrown by the angry billows, 
 there to dwell, like another Robinson Crusoe, many, 
 many years, with no other company than talking 
 birds, skipping goats, and dancing cats, and, if so 
 lucky, a good man Friday, to be rescued by his 
 daring from the bloody crutches of the terrible 
 cannibals. 
 
 Lawrence Washino;ton was not lono; in discoverino- 
 
 CD O O 
 
 the thoughts that were uppermost in the mind of the 
 adventurous boy ; and, like the generous brother that 
 he was, resolved that, should an opportunity offer, 
 a wish so natural should be gratified. In a short 
 time after, George being then about fourteen years 
 of age, a British man-of-war moved up the Potomac, 
 and cast anchor in full view of Mount Yernon. On 
 board of this vessel his brother Lawrence procured 
 him a midshipman's warrant, after having by much 
 persuasion gained the consent of his mother ; which, 
 however, she yielded with much reluctance, and 
 many misgivings with respect to the profession her 
 son was about to choose. Not knowing how much 
 pain all this was giving his mother, George was as 
 near wild with delight as could well be with a boy 
 of a nature so even and steady. Now, what had all 
 along been but a wakino^ dream was about to become 
 
PLAYING SOLDIER. 59 
 
 a wide-awake reality. His preparations were soon 
 made : already was his trunk packed, and carried on 
 board the ship that was to bear him so far away 
 from his native land ; and nothing now.remained but 
 to bid farewell to the loved ones at home. But when 
 he came and stood before his mother, dressed in his 
 gay midshipman's uniform, so tall and robust in 
 figure, so handsome in face, and so noble in look 
 and gesture, the thought took possession of her mind, 
 that, if she suffered him to leave her then, she might 
 never see him more ; and, losing her usual firmness 
 and self-control, she burst into tears. 
 
 "Deeply do I regret, my dear son," said she, "to 
 disappoint you in a wish you have so near at heart : 
 but I find I cannot bring myself to give you up yet ; 
 for, young as you are, your aid and counsel have 
 already become to me of the greatest service and 
 comfort ; and these little fatherless ones, now weep- 
 ing around you, have learned to look up to you as 
 their protector and guide. You know too little of 
 the ways of the world, and are too young and inex- 
 perienced, to go forth to endure its hardships, and 
 battle with its temptations, that lie in wait on every 
 side to entrap the imwary, and lead them down to 
 destruction. Without you, our home wovild be lonely 
 indeed : then, for your mother's sake, and for the 
 sake of these little ones, give up your darling scheme, 
 for the present at least, that we may all be happy 
 at home once more together." 
 
60 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Thus entreated, what could he do but yield con- 
 sent to the wishes of a loving and prudent mother, 
 and remain at home? where, in a few days, his noble 
 self-denial was rewarded with a sweet contentment 
 of mind that he could never have known had he left 
 the dear ones in sorrow behind him, and gone forth 
 to spend months and years upon the billows of 
 the lonely seas. Surely a kind Heaven so ordered 
 that the welfare and happiness of us Americans, and, 
 it may be, that of the whole world, should be made 
 to depend upon the promptings of a mother's love ; 
 for had the boy Washington realized this early 
 dream, and gone forth in that gallant ship, he might 
 have perished in the stormy deep, and we had never 
 known the name we now love so much to praise and 
 venerate. Or, by his distinguished abilities, he might 
 have risen to become in time the Lord Hio^h Admiral 
 of the British Navy ; and, instead of being set apart 
 to the salvation of his native land, might have been 
 made an instrument to its destruction, impossible 
 as such an event may now appear to us, with our 
 knowledge of the glorious work he did perform when 
 in the fulness of his strength and years, and accus- 
 tomed as we are to behold in him our model of all 
 that is great and virtuous in mankind. 
 
 \ 
 
IV. 
 
 "eiiLes of behavior." 
 
 FOR the five years following his father's death, 
 George made his home at the house of his half- 
 brother, Augustine Washmgton, at a considerable 
 distance from his mother's, where he might have the 
 benefit of a better school which that neighborhood 
 afforded. His new schoolmaster was a Mr. Wil- 
 liams, a very worthy man ; who, however, although 
 he knew a vast deal more than Mr. Hobby, the poor 
 old grave-digger, was far from being w^hat we might 
 call a first-rate scholar. But what his teacher lacked 
 in learning, George made up in diligence, and the 
 most judicious use of every means of self-improve- 
 ment within his reach. And here, my dear children J 
 let me remind you of a thing woxthy of your remem- 
 brance through life, that success in the pursuit of 
 knowledge depends far less upon the ability and skill 
 of the teacher, than upon the industry, perseverance, 
 and willing application of the learner. 
 
 Under the instruction of this, his second and last ] 
 teacher, George got a little insight into English ■ 
 grammar, read some history, became well acquainted 
 
 [61] 
 
62 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 with geography, completely mastered arithmetic, and 
 made handsome progress in geometry and trigonome- 
 try ; which, as you must know, are higher branches 
 of mathematics than arithmetic, and far more difficult 
 to comprehend. In connection with the two latter, 
 he studied surveying ; by which is taught, as you 
 must continue to bear in mind hereafter, the mea- 
 surement of land. 
 
 When he had advanced so far in this study as to 
 give him some idea of the proper use and handling 
 of the chain and compass, the two principal instru- 
 ments employed in this art, he began to put his 
 knowledge into practice by taking surveys of the 
 farms lying in the immediate neighborhood of his 
 schoolhouse, and also of the lands belonging to the 
 estate of Mount Vernon. 
 
 Assisted by his schoolmates, he would follow up, 
 and measure off with the help of his long steel chain, 
 the boundary lines between the farms, such as fences, 
 roads, and waterco,urses ; then those dividing the 
 different parts of the same farm ; determining at 
 the same time, with the help of his compass, their 
 various courses, their crooks and windings, and the 
 angles formed at their points of meeting or intersec- 
 tion. This would enable him to get at the shape 
 and size not only of each farm, but of every meadow, 
 field, and wood composing It. This done, he would 
 make a map or drawing on paper of the land sur- 
 veyed, whereon would be clearly traced the lines 
 
"kules of behavior." «i3 
 
 dividing the different parts, with the name and num- 
 ber of acres of each attached ; while, on the opposite 
 page, he would write down the long and difficult 
 tables of figures by wliich these results had been 
 reached. All tliis he would execute with as much 
 neatness and accuracy as if it had been left with him 
 to decide thereby some gravely disputed land-claim. 
 
 To quahfy himself for the management of business 
 affairs upon reacliing the age of manhood, he would 
 copy off into a blank-book every form or instrument 
 of writing he would meet with ; such as deeds, wills, 
 notes of hand, bills of exchange, receipts, bonds, 
 land-warrants, &c., &c. And, what was still more 
 remarkable in a boy of thirteen, he wrote down, 
 under the head of what he called " Rules of Behavior 
 in Company and Conversation," such wise maxuns, 
 and lines of wholesome advice, as he would pick up 
 from time to time in the course of liis readino* or 
 observation, to aid him in forming habits of industry, 
 politeness, and morality. Some of these rules, your 
 Uncle Juvinell, with an eye mainly to your well- 
 being, will repeat to you ; for, when but a boy, he 
 got them by heart, well knowing, that, without some 
 such aid, he would find it hard, if not impossible, to 
 so order his walks throuoh life as to win and deserve 
 the esteem and confidence of his fellow-men, as well 
 as the blessing and approbation of his Maker. And 
 now that he has reached the evening of his days, and 
 is well assured that the daily observance of these 
 
64 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 rules has made him a wiser, a better, and a happier 
 man, he would most earnestly advise all his friends, 
 great or small, but especially small, be they boys or 
 girls, to pursue the like course, if they would be 
 favored of Heaven in the like manner. Here they 
 are : — 
 
 " 1. Every action in company ought to be with some 
 sign of respect to those present. 
 
 " 2. In the presence of others, sing not to yourself with 
 a humming noise, nor drum with your lingers or feet. 
 
 " 3. Speak not when others speak, sit not when others 
 stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk 
 not when others stop. 
 
 " 4. Turn not your back to others, especially in speak- 
 ing ; jog not the table or desk on which another reads or 
 writes ; lean not on any one. 
 
 "5. Be not a flatterer ; neither play with any one that 
 delights not to be played with. 
 
 " 6. Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, 
 thougli he were your enemy. 
 
 " 7. It is good manners to prefer them to whom we 
 speak before ourselves, especially if they be above us ; with 
 whom in no sort ouoht we to beojin. 
 
 " 8. Strive not with your superiors in an argument, but 
 always submit your judgment to others wdth modesty. 
 
 " 9. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art him- 
 self professes ; for it is immodest and presumptuous. 
 
 " 1 0. When a man does all he can, though it succeeds 
 not well, blame not him that did it. 
 
 "11. Before you advise or find fault with any one, con- 
 sider whether it ought to be in public or in private, pre- 
 
"rules of behavior." 65 
 
 sently or at some other time, in what terms to do it ; and, 
 in reproving, show no signs of anger, but do it with sweet- 
 ness and mildness. 
 
 " 12. Take all advice thankfully, in what time or place 
 soever given ; but afterwards, not being blamable, take 
 a time or place convenient to let him know it that 
 gave it. 
 
 " 13. Mock not in jest at any thing of importance : if 
 you deliver any thing witty and pleasant, abstain from 
 laughing thereat yourself. 
 
 " 1 4. Wherein you reprove another, be unblamable 
 yourself; for example is better than precept. 
 
 " 15. Use no reproachful language against any one ; 
 neither cm'se nor revile. 
 
 " 16. Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the injury 
 of any. 
 
 " 17. In your apparel, be modest, and endeavor to 
 accommodate yourself to nature, rather than to procure 
 admiration ; keep to the fashion of your equals, such as 
 are civil and orderly, with respect to time and places. 
 
 " 18. Play not the peacock, looking everywhere about 
 you to see if you be well decked, if your shoes fit well, if 
 your pantaloons sit neatly, and clothes handsomely. 
 
 "19. Associate yourself with men of good quality, if 
 you esteem your reputation ; for it is better to be alone 
 than in bad company. 
 
 " 20. Let your conversation be without malice or envy, 
 for it is a sign of a kindly and commendable nature ; and, 
 in all causes of passion, admit reason to govern. 
 
 "21. Be not immodest in urging a friend to make 
 known a secret. 
 
 "22. Utter not base and frivolous things amongst grave 
 
QG THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 and learned men, nor very difficult questions or subjects 
 amono; the io-norant, nor thins^s hard to believe. 
 
 " 23. Speak not of doleful things in time of mirth, nor 
 at the table ; speak not of melancholy things, as death and 
 wounds ; and, if others mention them, change, if you can, 
 the discourse. Tell not your dreams but to your intimate 
 friend. 
 
 " 24. Break not a jest, when none take pleasure in 
 mirth ; laugh not loud, nor at all, without occasion ; de- 
 ride no man's misfortune, though there seem to be some 
 cause. 
 
 " 25. Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor 
 earnest'; scoff at none, although they give occasion. 
 
 " 26. Seek not to lessen the merits of others ; neither 
 give more th^^n due praise. 
 
 "27. Go not thither where you know not whether you 
 shall be welcome. Give not advice without being asked ; 
 and, when desired, do it briefly. 
 
 " 28. Reprove not the imperfections of others ; for that 
 belongs to parents, masters, and superiors. 
 
 " 29. Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of others, 
 and ask not how they came. What you may speak in 
 secret to your friend, deliver not before others. 
 
 " 30. Think before you speak ; pronounce not iraper-. 
 fectly^ nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly 
 and distinctly. 
 
 "31. When another speaks, be attentive yourself, and 
 disturb not the audience. If any hesitate in his words, 
 help him not nor prompt him without being desired ; 
 interrupt him not nor answer him until his speech be ended. 
 
 " 32. Treat with men at right times about business, and 
 whisper not in the company of others. 
 
"eules of behavioe." 67 
 
 " 33. Be not in haste to relate news, if you know not . 
 the truth thereof. 
 
 " 34. Be not curious to know the affairs of others ; 
 neither approach those that speak in private. 
 
 "35. Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be 
 careful to keep your promise. 
 
 " 36. When your masters or superiors talk to anybody, 
 hearken not, nor speak or laugh. 
 
 " 37. Speak not evil of the absent ; for it is unjust. 
 
 " 38. Make no show of taking delight in your victuals ; 
 feed not with greediness ; cut your food with a knife, and 
 lean not on the table ; neither find fault with what you 
 eat. 
 
 "39. Be not angry at the table, whatever happens ; 
 and, if you have reason to be so, show it not, but put on a 
 cheerful face, especially if there be strangers ; for good 
 himior makes of one dish a feast. 
 
 " 40. If you speak of God or his attributes, let it be 
 seriously, in reverence ; and honor and obey your parents. 
 
 " 41. Let your recreations be manful, not sinful. 
 
 " 42. Labor to keep in your breast that little spark of 
 celestial fii"e called conscience." 
 
 Now, does it not strike you, my dear children, as 
 being most truly wonderful that it should have ever 
 entered the mind of a boy of thirteen to lay down for 
 his own guidance and self-improvement such rules 
 and principles as these I have just repeated? It 
 certainly must. And yet when I tell you that he 
 strictly adhered to them through life, and squared 
 his conduct by them daily, you will, no doubt, think 
 
N 
 
 Q8 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 it quite unreasonable that he could have been other 
 than the good and great man he was. 
 
 These writings I have mentioned filled several 
 quires of paper ; and together with his business 
 jmpers, letters, journals, and account-books, written 
 later in Hfe, and with the same neatness and preci- 
 sion, are still preserved at Mount Vernon with pious 
 care ; and are even now to be seen by those who go 
 on pilgrimages to that sacred spot, although, since 
 many of them were penned, more than a hundred 
 years have come and gone. 
 
 And thus, my children, you have seen young 
 Washington, at an age when most boys are wasting 
 their precious hours In Idle sports, seeldng to acquire 
 those habits of industry, punctuality, and method, 
 which afterwards enabled him so to economize time 
 and labor as to do with ease and expedition what 
 others did with difficulty and tardiness. You have 
 seen him making the best use of the slender means 
 wltliin his reach for storing his mind with those trea- 
 sures of knowledge, and schooling his heart in the 
 daily practice of those exalted virtues, which, after a 
 life well spent and work well done, make good his 
 title to the name he bears, — the greatest and the 
 wisest of human kind. 
 
 At last, the day came when George was to leave 
 school for ever ; and a day of sorroAv it was to his 
 school-fellows, who parted from liim with many an 
 affectionate wisli, and, as we are told, even with 
 
"rules of behavior." 69 
 
 tears ; so greatly had he endeared himself to them by 
 his noble disposition, gentle manners, and earnest 
 desire to do as he would be done by, which appeared 
 in all his words and actions. In these regrets, Mr. 
 Wilhams, his worthy schoolmaster, also shared ; and 
 it gave him in after-life, when his little George had 
 become the great Washington, the most heartfelt 
 pleasure to say, that it had never been his privilege 
 to teach another pupil who could at all compare with 
 him for diligence in application, aptitude in learning, 
 docility of disposition, manly generosity, courage, 
 and truth. 
 
V. 
 
 IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 EXTENDING from the Eappaliannock to the 
 Potomac, and stretching away beyond the 
 Blue Ridge far into the Alleghany Mountains, there 
 lay at this time an immense tract of forest land, 
 broken only here and there by a little clearing, in 
 the midst of which stood the rude log-cabin of some 
 hardy backwoodsman. This large body of land — 
 the largest, indeed, ever owned by any one man in 
 Virginia — was the property of a great Enghsh 
 nobleman named Lord Fairfax, an old bachelor of 
 eccentric habits and strange opinions, but of a highly 
 cultivated understanding, and, Avhen it so pleased 
 him, of polite and elegant address. His stature was 
 lofty, — far above that of the common run of men. 
 He was a keen sportsman, had a fund of whimsical 
 humor, and, in his odd way, showed himself pos- 
 sessed of a kindly and generous heart; sometimes 
 making a tenant or poor friend the present of a large 
 farm, without requiring any thing in return but a 
 haunch of venison or a fat wild turkey for his next 
 Christmas dinner. 
 
 [70] 
 
IN THE WILDERNESS. 71 
 
 Havlns: heard that settlements were beino^ made in 
 the most fertile valleys of his wild domain, he had 
 lately come over from the mother-country to inquire 
 into the matter, and make suitable provision against 
 any future encroachments of the kind upon his rights. 
 He now beheld his forest possessions for the first 
 time ; and so charmed was he with the wild beauty 
 of the scenery, and so won over by enticing visions 
 of fisliing and hunting, conjured up by the sight of 
 the wavino; woods and runnino; streams, that he re- 
 solved to leave his native land for ever, and take up 
 his abiding-place for the rest of his days amid those 
 leafy solitudes. Accordingly, he betook himself, 
 with all his negro servants (numbering one hundred 
 and fifty) , and a few white dependants-, to the beau- 
 tiful Yalley of the Shenandoah, lying between the 
 Blue Ridge and the Alleghany Mountains ; where he 
 soon cleared a large plantation, and built thereon a 
 house, to which he gave the name of Greenway 
 Court. 
 
 From that time forward, this became his fixed 
 abode ; but, as he had more land than a thousand 
 men could put to any good use, he was quite will- 
 ing to dispose of all, except what lay for a few 
 miles immediately around Greenway Court, at rea- 
 sonable rates, to such honest persons as were willing 
 to buy it and make it their future home. But, in 
 order that no misunderstanding might arise hereafter 
 between the parties concerned with respect to the 
 
72- THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 * 
 
 boundary-line and number of acres bought and sold, 
 it was necessary, in the first place, to have the land 
 surveyed, and divided into lots of convenient sizes for 
 farms. 
 
 Now, you must know that old Lord Fairfax was a 
 distant relative of Mrs. Lawrence Washington, and 
 had, as a natural consequence, often met our George 
 at Mount Vernon ; and so struck was he with the 
 manly bearing, high character, good sense, and 
 mathematical skill, of the fah'-haired, blue-eyed youth, 
 that he offered him, young as he was, the place of 
 surveyor of all his vast lands. Being the son of a 
 widowed mother, and earnestly desirous of aiding her 
 all in liis power, and earning for himself an honest 
 independence, George was but too happy to accept 
 of the offer ; and the necessary arrangements were 
 soon made. Having provided himself with all tilings 
 needful for the new enterprise, — such as a horse, a 
 rifle, a blanket, and a steel chain and compass, — he 
 set out, at the head of a small party of hunters and 
 backwoodsmen, upon tliis his first considerable, field 
 of labor, early in the spring of 1748, just one month 
 from the completion of his sixteenth year. 
 
 They were soon in the depths of the wilderness, 
 miles beyond the most distant frontier settlements. 
 The snows of winter that still lingered on the moun- 
 tains, warmed by the softer airs of early spring, had 
 melted so rapidly of late as to swell the forest streams 
 to a degree that rendered their fording often difficult, 
 
IN THE WILDERNESS. 73 
 
 and even sometimes dangerous. Now and then, com- 
 ing to a stream which had overflowed Its banks, the 
 httle party would be obliged to construct a raft of 
 logs, roughly lashed together with grape-vines, upon 
 wlilch they could push to the opposite side, without 
 getting their baggage wet, and, at the same time, 
 compel their horses to swim along behind. Their 
 way was often obstructed by the trunks and branches 
 of fallen trees, thickets tangled and dense and thorny, 
 huge and rugged rocks, and treacherous swamps, 
 covered with long, green grass, into wlilch the horses, 
 stepping unawares, would suddenly plunge up to the 
 saddle-gu*ths in water and mire. 
 
 For some time, they lodged in wigwams or huts, 
 rudely framed of poles, and covered with the bark of 
 trees ; which served the purpose well enough when 
 the weather was dry and still, but were often beaten 
 down and overturned by the winds and rains when 
 their shelter was most needed. After two or three 
 of these rickety shanties had been tumbled about 
 their heads, to the no small risk of life or limb, they 
 wisely concluded to abandon them, and sleep in the 
 open air, with the twinkling stars above them, the 
 gray old trees around them, and the damp, cold 
 ground beneath them, with notliing between but 
 their good blankets, and the dead, dry leaves of 
 autumn heaped together ; and lucky was he who got 
 the place nearest the fire, or could put the mossy 
 trunk of a fallen tree between him and the biting 
 
74 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 blast, or, better still, could boast a bearskin for lils 
 bed. A little before sunset, they would halt for the 
 nio-ht in some sheltered spot, convenient to a running 
 stream ; where, turning their horses loose to graze 
 till morning, they would build a cheerful fire of the 
 dry brushwood close at hand, and prepare their even- 
 ing meal, which they would eat with a keenness of 
 appetite known only to the tired and hungry hunter. 
 Each man was his own cook ; then- food consisting 
 cliiefly of venison and wild turkey their rifles pro- 
 cured them, and fish drawn from the neighboring 
 brook, which they would broil on the glowing coals, 
 fastened to a forked stick Instead of a spit, and then 
 eat It from a maple cliip, instead of a dish. If the 
 season permitted them to add to this a hatful of ber- 
 ries that grew on the sunny side of the hill, or acorns 
 from the mountain-oak, or nuts from the. hickory- 
 tree, or, more delicious still, plums, persimmons, and 
 pawpaws, that grew In the more open parts of the 
 woods, they made of it a dainty feast indeed. 
 
 Now and then, in the course of this rambling life 
 in the wilderness, they met with roving bands of 
 skin-clad Indians, either as warriors out upon the 
 war-path against some distant tribe, or as hunters 
 roaming the forest in quest of game. One evening, 
 late, as our little party of surveyors were about to 
 encamp for the night, they spied through the trees 
 the gllnnnering light of a large fire on the top of a 
 far-olF hill. Cinlous to know who, besides them- 
 
IN THE WILDERNESS. 75 
 
 selves, could be in that lonely place, they determined 
 to go tliither before stopping ; and, guided by the 
 light, reached ere long the spot, where they found a 
 small squad of Indian hunters, resting themselves 
 after the fatigues of the day's chase. They seemed 
 to be in liigh good humor, as if the hunt had gone 
 well with them that day ; and, being in tliis mood, 
 extended a true Indian welcome to the new-comers ; 
 setting before them, with open-handed hospitality, 
 heaps of parched corn, and their choicest bits of 
 venison, wild turkey, bear's meat, and fish. Supper 
 ended, the pipe of peace and good-will passed from 
 mouth to mouth, as a pledge that all should go on 
 well between them ; after wliich the Indians, for the 
 further entertainment of their white guests, and as a 
 more marked manner of showing their respect, set 
 about preparing themselves for a war-dance. 
 
 In the first place, they cleared the ground around 
 the fire of chunks and brushwood, and other obstruc- 
 tions that might hinder the free play of their feet and 
 legs in the performance. Then the two musicians 
 began to put in order and tune their instruments : 
 that is to say, one of them filled a camp-kettle half 
 fiill of water, over which he tightly stretched a raw- 
 hide, and, tapping it twice or thrice with a stick, 
 drew forth a holloAV, smothered sound therefrom, by 
 way of giving to those not in the secret a liint that 
 this was to be their drum ; while the other made a 
 rattle by putting a few bullets or pebbles into a hard, 
 
76 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 dry gourd of monstrous size, to the handle of which 
 he fastened a horse's tail, not so much to improve its 
 tone perhaps, as to give it a more finished appear- 
 ance. 
 
 These simple preparations soon completed, a tall 
 warrior, grimly painted as if for battle, advanced 
 a few paces into the circle > and, squatting upon his 
 haunches, fixed his eyes for several moments with a 
 hard, stony look upon nothing whatever, till the first 
 tap of the drum and the first jerk of the rattle, when 
 he suddenly leaped up, with a deafening yell that 
 made the old woods ring again, and began capering 
 about in the most astonisliing manner, causing such 
 a commotion among the dry leaves and dead twigs as 
 made it appear that a little whirlwind had all at once 
 been let loose among them. Another soon followed, 
 and got up a similar sensation among the dry leaves 
 and dead twigs on his own private account ; while a 
 third, springing into the circle, did the same ; and so 
 on, until at last the whole party were hot in the 
 dance. Some brandished their scalj^ing-knives, some 
 flourished their tomahawks, some waved aloft the 
 scalps of their enemies taken in battle ; all yelling 
 the while, and all making horrible faces. And 
 warmer and warmer they waxed in the dance, and 
 round and round they went ; now up in the air, now 
 down on the ground ; jumping and kicking, yelping 
 and barking, spinning and whirling, yelling and 
 liowling, like a pack of hobgoblins and imps on a 
 
IN THE WILDERNESS. 77 
 
 spree. The hollow woods gave back the barbarous 
 din in a thousand obstreperous echoes ; and afar off, 
 from the depths of the lonely forest glens, might 
 have been heard, had not the attention of the spectar- 
 tors been otherwise engaged, the answering howl of 
 the hungry wolves. 
 
 After some time spent In this outlandish amuse- 
 ment, without any previous notice whatever, plump 
 down they sat, and, in a minute, were smoking their 
 pipes with as much gravity and composure as if they 
 had just come in from a gentle promenade with their 
 wives and cliildren along the banks of a smooth and 
 tranquil river. It was a sight, once seen, never to be 
 forgotten. At first, George and liis friends had 
 looked on with open-eyed amazement ; but, • before 
 the dance was ended, the whole scene appeared to 
 them so comical, that they had need of all their self- 
 control to keep a sober countenance, so as not to 
 give offence to their savage entertainers. 
 
VI. 
 
 THE YOUNG SUKVEYOR. 
 
 IT was a glorious region of stately woods, fertile 
 valleys, clear running streams, and lofty moun- 
 tains, where our young sm'veyor, with the exception 
 of the winter months, spent the next three years of 
 his Hfe. At first, not being accustomed to such 
 severe privations and exposure, it had gone rather 
 hard with him : but he soon became inured to them ; 
 and it was, no doubt, to tliis rough experience in the 
 wilderness, that he owed, in large measure, his un- 
 common vigor and activity of body, and that firm 
 reliance on the resoiu:ces of his own mind, which 
 enabled him to endure and overcome those hardsliips, 
 trials, and difficulties wliich beset liim throughout the 
 greater portion of his after-life. This severe training 
 was also of another advantage to liim, in making Inm 
 perfectly familiar with all that region, in whose dark 
 retreats and rugged wilds he learned, a few years 
 later, his first hard lessons in the art of war. 
 
 With all its privations, it was a life he loved to 
 lead ; for it afforded him the means of an independent 
 support : and a happy boy was he, when first he 
 
 [78] 
 
THE YOUXG SURVEYOR. 79 
 
 wrote his mother that he was earning from fifteen to 
 twenty dollars for every day he worked. Besides 
 this, the beauty and grandeur of Nature's works, 
 everywhere visible around him, awakened in him feel- 
 ings of the truest delight ; and he would sometimes 
 spend the better part of a summer's day in admiring 
 the tall and stately trees, whose spreading branches 
 were his only shelter from the dews of heaven, and 
 heat of noonday. At night, after supper, when his 
 companions would be talking over the adventures of 
 the day just past, or laugliin^ boisterously at some 
 broad joke repeated for the hundredth time, or would 
 be joining their voices in the chorus of some rude 
 woodland song, our young surveyor would be sitting 
 a little apart on the trunk of a fallen tree, pencil 
 and paper before him, calculating with a grave coun- 
 tenance, and by the ruddy light of a blazing pine- 
 knot, the results of the day's labor. With no other 
 companionsliip than that of the wild Indians he fell 
 in with fi'om time to time, and the rude, unlettered 
 hunters around him, he must needs turn for society 
 to the thoughts that stirred witliin his own mind. 
 Often would he withdraw himself ft'om the noisy 
 mirth of his companions, and, climbing to some lofty 
 mountain-top, spend hours and hours rapt in the 
 contemplation of the wild and varied region, smiling 
 in life and beauty far, far beneath liim. At such 
 times, we can imagine his countenance lit up with a 
 sacred joy, and liis soul rising in praise and thanks- 
 
80 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 giving to tlie great Father, who, in love and wisdom, 
 made this glorious world for the good and happiness 
 of all that dwell therein. 
 
 Now and then, for the sake of a refresliing change, 
 he would leave the wilderness behind liim, with all its 
 toils and dangers, and betake liim to Greenway Court, 
 the woodland home of old Lord Fairfax, with whom 
 he had become a great favorite, and was ever a wel- 
 come guest. Here he would spend a few weeks in 
 the most agreeable manner you can well imagine ; 
 for the old lord, being a man of some learning and 
 extensive reading, had collected, in the course of a 
 long life, a large library of the best and rarest books, 
 from wliich, during these three years, George de- 
 rived great pleasure and much valuable information. 
 Besides this, a keener fox-hunter than this odd old 
 bachelor was not to be found in all the Old Domi- 
 nion ; and, for the full enjoyment of this sport, he 
 always kept a pack of hounds of the purest EngHsh 
 blood. At the first peep of dawn, the cheerful notes 
 of the hunter's horn, and the deep-mouthed baying 
 of the fox-hounds, filling the neighboring woods with 
 their Mvely din, would call our young surveyor from 
 his slumbers to come and join in the sports of the 
 morning. Waiting for no second summons, he 
 would be up and out in a trice, and mounted by the 
 side of the merry old lord ; when, at a signal wound 
 on the bugle, the whole party would dash away, 
 pell-mell, helter-skelter, over the hills and throusrh 
 
THE YOUNG SURVEYOR. 81 
 
 the woods, up the hills and down them again, across 
 the brooks and along the winding river ; hunters and 
 horses hard on the heels of the hounds, hounds hard 
 on the heels of poor Renard, and poor Eenard cutting, 
 cutting away for dear hfe. 
 
 During the three years thus employed, George 
 riiade liis home at Mount Yernon, it being nearer and 
 more convenient to his field of labor ; but, as often 
 as his business would permit, he would go on a visit 
 to his mother at the old homestead on the Rappahan- 
 nock, whither, as I shoidd have told you before now, 
 his father had removed when he was but three or four 
 years old. These were precious opportunities, ever 
 improved by him, of extending to her that aid in the 
 management of her family affairs, wliich to receive 
 from him was her greatest pleasure, as well as his 
 truest delio'ht to o-iye. 
 
 About this time, he formed a habit of writing 
 down in a diary or day-book such facts and observa- 
 tions as seemed to him worthy of note, by wliich 
 means he would be enabled to fix firmly in his mmd 
 whatever might prove of use to him at a future day. 
 Tliis is a most excellent habit ; and I would earnestly 
 advise all young persons, desirous of increasing their 
 stock of knowledge, to form it as soon as they begin 
 the study of grammar and can write a good round 
 hand. The following is a specimen of this diary, 
 written by him at the age of sixteen, as you will see 
 
 by the date therein given : — 
 
 4* 
 
82 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 "Marcli 13th, 1748. — Rode to his lordship's (Lord 
 Fairfax's) quarter. About four miles higher up the She- 
 nandoah, we went through most beautiful groves of sugar- 
 trees, and spent the better part of the day in admiring the 
 trees and richness of the land. 
 
 " 14th. — We sent our baggage to Capt. Kite's, near 
 Fredericktown ; and went ourselves down the river about 
 sixteen miles (the land exceedingly rich all the way, pro- 
 ducing abundance of grain, hemp, and tobacco), in order to 
 lay oflf some land on Cole's Marsh and Long Marsh. 
 
 " loth. — Worked hard till night, and then returned. 
 After supper, we were lighted into a room ; and I, not 
 being so good a woodsman as the rest, stripped myself very 
 orderly, and went into the bed, as they called it ; w^hen, to 
 my surprise, I found it to be nothing but a little straw 
 matted together, without sheet or any thing else, but only 
 one threadbare blanket, with double its weight of vermin. 
 I was glad to get up and put on my clothes, and lie as my 
 companions did. Had we not been very tired, I am sure 
 we should not have slept much that night. I made a pro- 
 mise to sleep so no more ; choosing rather to sleep in the 
 open air, before a fire. 
 
 "18th. — We travelled to Thomas Berwick's on the 
 Potomac, where we found the river exceedingly high, by 
 reason of the great rains that had fallen among the Alle- 
 ghanies. They told us it would not be fordable for several 
 days ; it being now six feet higher than usual, and rising. 
 We agreed to stay till Monday. We this day called to see 
 the famed Warm Springs. We camped out in the field this 
 night. 
 
 " 20th. — Finding the river not much abated, we in the 
 evening swam our horses over to the Maryland side. 
 
THE YOimG SURVEYOR. 83 
 
 " 21st. — We went over in a canoe, and travelled up the 
 Maryland side all day, in a continued rain, to Col. Cresap's, 
 over against the mouth of the South Branch, about forty 
 miles from the place of starting in the morning, and over 
 the worst road, I believe, that ever was trod by man or 
 beast." 
 
 In tills diary, he also entered such items as these, 
 — the number of acres of each lot of land sm^veyed, 
 the quality of the soil, the growth of plants and trees, 
 the height of the hills, the extent of the valleys, 
 and the length, breadth, and course of the streams. 
 From the items thus collected, he would draw the 
 materials for the reports it was his duty to submit, 
 from time to time, for examination, to liis patron or 
 employer ; and such was the clearness, brevity, and 
 exactness displayed therein, and such the industry, 
 skill, and fidelity with which he performed his toil- 
 some and difficult task, that the generous old lord not 
 only rewarded him handsomely for his services, but 
 continued to cherish for him tln^ough life a truly 
 fatherly affection. 
 
 In after-years, Washington was wont to turn with 
 peculiar fondness to tliis period of his life, as perhaps 
 aiFording the only leisure he had ever known for sen- 
 timental musings, and the indulgence of what fancy 
 he may have had in those bright visions of future 
 happiness, fame, or enterprise, to which all men are 
 more or less given during the immature years of 
 youth.* Tliis, to my mind, is to be easily enough 
 
84 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 accounted for, if ^ye but ascribe It to a certain little 
 circumstance ; concerning which, as It exercised no 
 small Influence on his mind at the time, I will now 
 tell you all that Is known, and. It may be, more than 
 ever can be known with possible certainty. 
 
 From a letter written by him at the age of fifteen, 
 and also from some sad and plaintive verses of his 
 own composition found In his copy-book, we learn 
 that the boy, who should grow to become the great- 
 est man that ever made tliis glorious world of ours 
 more glorious with lils wise precepts and virtuous 
 example, was at tliis time a victim of the tender pas- 
 sion called love^ of which most of you little folks as 
 yet know nothing but the four letters that spell the 
 word. 
 
 The object of this early attachment was a dam- 
 sel, of whom nothing certain is known, as her 
 name, from the fact of its never being repeated above 
 a whisper, has not come down to our day, but w^ho 
 was called by him In his confidential correspondence 
 the Lowland Beauty. As he had none of that self- 
 assurance which lads of his age are apt to mistake for 
 pluck or spirit, he never ventured to make known the 
 secret of this passion to the object thereof; and it Is 
 probable, that we, even at the big end of a hundred 
 years, are wiser as to tliis tender passage of his life 
 than was ever the young lady herself. -Not having 
 the courage to declare the sentiments that warmed liIs 
 breast, he wisely resolved to banish them fr6m his 
 
THE YOUNG SURVEYOR. 85 
 
 mind altogether ; and this, I will venture to say, was 
 one reason why he so readily accepted of old Lord 
 Fairfax's offer, and was willing for so long a time to 
 make his abiding-place in the wilderness. But it was 
 months, and even years, before he could get the better 
 of his weakness, if such it could be justly called ; for 
 a wilderness, let me tell you (and I hope the hint 
 will not be lost on my little friends) , is the last place 
 in the world, that a man, or a boy either, should take 
 to, as the readiest means of ridding himself of such 
 troublesome feelings. No wonder, then, that our 
 young surveyor was grave and thouglitful beyond liis 
 years ; and that the lonely forest, with its ever-chan- 
 ging beauties and wild seclusion, viewed through the 
 bewitched eyes of love, should have had greater 
 charms for liim than the noisy, bustling haunts of 
 men. That you may have a more distinct idea of the 
 appearance of Washington at the time of which we 
 are speaking, your Uncle Juvinell will conjure up, 
 from the linjo^erino; lights and shadows of his dull old 
 fancy, a little picture, to be gilded anew by your 
 bright young fancies, and hung up in that loftiest 
 chamber of your memory w^hich you are wont to 
 adorn with your portraits of the good and great men 
 and women who have blessed the earth, and of whom 
 we love so much to read and hear. 
 
 It is a summer morning, and the eastern moun- 
 tains flino; their sliadows lonp; and hujje across the 
 lonesome valleys. Our little party of surveyors, 
 
86 THE FAllMER BOY. 
 
 ha\^ng spent the night on the summits of one of the 
 less lofty peaks of the Blue Kklge, are slowly de- 
 scending Its shrubby sides to the more densely wooded 
 parts of the wilderness below, of whose waste fer- 
 tility many a broad tract have they yet to explore, 
 and many a mile of boundary-line have chain and 
 compass yet to measure and determine. Still linger- 
 ing on the summit far above, as loath to quit the 
 contemplation of the splendid prospect seen from 
 thence, stands a tall youth of eighteen, with his right 
 arm thrown across his horse's neck, and Ills left hand 
 grasping his compass-stafF. He is clad m a buckskin 
 huntlmr- shirt, with leo'O'lns and moccasons of the same 
 material, — the simple garb of a backwoodsman, and 
 one that well becomes him now, as in perfect keeping 
 with the wildness of the surrounding scenery ; while 
 in Ills broad leathern belt are stuck his long hunting- 
 knife and Indian tomahawk. In stature he is much 
 above most youths of the same age : he is of a hand- 
 some and robust form, with high and strong but 
 smooth features, light-brown hair, large blue eyes, — 
 not brilliant, but beaming with a clear and steady 
 llii'ht, as if a soul looked tlu'ouo'h them that knew no 
 
 CD ' O 
 
 taint of vice or meanness, — and a countenance all 
 glorious with a truth and courage, modest gentleness, 
 and manly self-reliance ; and as he thus hngers on that 
 lonely mountain-height, glorified as it were with the 
 fresh pure light of the newly risen sun, with head 
 uncovered and looks reverent, he seems in holy com- 
 
THE YOUNG SURVEYOR. 87 
 
 munion with his Maker, to whom, in the tender, 
 guileless years of childliood, a pious mother taught 
 him to kneel, morning and evening, in prayer, thanks- 
 giving, and adoration. 
 
 Anon, his morning devotions ended, he turns to 
 take, ere following his companions down the moun- 
 tain, another view of the varied panorama spread out 
 far beneath him, the chief feature of which is a val- 
 ley, surpassing in beauty and fertility any that that 
 summer's sun will shine on ere reaching his golden 
 gateway in the west. Through this valley, glimmer- 
 ing, half sdfen, half hid among the waving woods, 
 runs a river, with many a graceful bend, so beautiful, 
 that, in the far-away years of the past, some long- 
 forgotten tribe of Indians called it Shenandoah, or 
 Shining Daughter of the Stars ; a name that still lin- 
 gers like a sweet echo among the mountains. And 
 as the eyes of the young surveyor slowly range the 
 wide prospect from point to point, and take in miles 
 and miles of beauty at a single stretch of view, there 
 is a look in them as if he would recall some pleasing 
 dream of the niffht, wliich he would now fain brino* 
 forth, though but a dream, to refine and elevate the 
 thoughts wherewith his mind must needs be occuj)ied 
 throughout the day. He is familiar with every fea- 
 ture of the landscape before him : he knows each 
 shady dell and sunny hill, and every grassy slope and 
 winding stream ; for there he has made his home this 
 many a day. He has seen it all a thousand times, and 
 
88 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 each time with renewed delight. But now it has 
 a glory not all its own, nor borrowed from the 
 morning sun, but from the first warm light of 
 youthful love that burns in liis heart for his Lowland 
 Beauty. 
 
VII. 
 
 FIRST MILITARY APPOINTMENT. 
 
 ABOUT this time, the Indians inhabiting that vast 
 reo'ion extendins^ from the Ohio River to the 
 great lakes of the north, secretly encouraged and 
 aided by the French, began to show signs of hostility, 
 and threatened the western borders of Virginia, Penn- 
 sylvania, and New York, with all the dismal horrors 
 of their bloody and wasting warfare. The alarm 
 spread rapidly from the frontier even to the Atlantic 
 coast, till the whole country was awakened to the 
 sense of the impending danger. 
 
 To put the Province of Virginia in a better posture 
 of defence, the governor thereof, Robert Dinwiddie, 
 besides other measures, divided it into four grand 
 military districts. Over each of these he placed what 
 is called an adjutant-general, whose duty it was to 
 organize and train the militia, instruct the officers in 
 matters touching the art and science of war, to re- 
 view the different companies when on parade, and to 
 inspect their arms and accoutrements, and see that 
 they were kept ready for use at a moment's warning. 
 
 [89] 
 
90 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 The energy, fidelity, and soundness of judgment, 
 that young Washington had lately shown while act- 
 ing as surveyor, had won for him a name in the 
 colony ; and, becoming known to Governor Dinwid- 
 dle, he was appointed by that gentleman adjutant- 
 general of the Northern district ; receiving along with 
 liis commission the rank of major, which entitled him 
 to the salary of seven hundred and fifty dollars a 
 year. You have already seen what great delight he 
 took in martial exercises when a school-boy ; and, 
 now that he was to become a soldier in the true sense 
 of the term, you will not be surprised to learn that 
 this appointment was altogether agreeable to his pre- 
 sent taste and inclinations. To show his deep sense 
 of the honor done him, and the trust and confidence 
 reposed in him, he determined to perform liis work 
 well and faithfully as far as in him lay. 
 
 The better to qualify himself for the duties of his 
 office, he placed liimself under the instruction of 
 his brother Lawrence, and other officers Hvins: in that 
 part of the province, who had served under Admiral 
 Vernon during the late Spanish war. These gentle- 
 men, besides giving him the benefit of their experience 
 and observation, placed in his hands the best w^orks 
 on military science then in use ; from which he learned 
 the various modes of training militia, the different 
 manoeuvres of an army" on the field of battle, and 
 their management wliile on the hue of march, together 
 with the most approved plans of building forts, tlu'ow- 
 
FIRST MILITARY APPOINTMENT. 91 
 
 ing up intrencliments and redoubts, and the construc- 
 tion of other works of defence, whether of wood or 
 earth or stone. At the same time, he also made him- 
 self acquainted with the handling and design of many 
 weapons and engines of war ; and under the instruc- 
 tion of Capt. Van Braam, a Dutch fencing-master, 
 he became very skilful In the use of the sword. Thus 
 Mount Vernon, from being the quiet mansion of a 
 country gentleman, was now, in a manner, converted 
 Into a military school ; and the youth, who but a few 
 years before, as he strolled among Its verdant retreats, 
 had, in honor of his Lowland Beauty, made his first 
 and only attempt of putting lils thoughts and feelings 
 in verse, was, at the early age of nineteen, called upon 
 to dlscharo'e those stern duties which men of au'e and 
 experience alone are generally thought able to per- 
 form. The district allotted to Major Washington 
 (for so we must now call him) consisted of several 
 large counties, each of which the duties of lils office 
 obliged lilm to visit from time to time ; and such was 
 the energy and spirit he carried into liis work, and 
 such ability did he display, and such was the manliness 
 and dignified courtesy with wlilch he deported him- 
 self on all occasions, that he soon completely won the 
 confidence and aiFectlons of both officers and men, 
 who were inspired by his example to still greater zeal 
 and patriotism in the service of their country. 
 
 But these labors, so agreeable to one of his age 
 and ardent spirit, were now Interrupted for several 
 
92 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 months. His brother Lawrence, who had always 
 been of a delicate constitution, was now thought to 
 be in the last stages of consumption, and was advised 
 by his physicians to betake himself to the West In- 
 dies, where he might yet, perhaps, find some relief in 
 the warmer suns and milder airs of those beautiful 
 islands. As he would have need of cheerful company 
 and gentle and careful nursing, he took with him his 
 favorite brother George ; and, embarking from Alex- 
 andria, was soon out upon the shining billows of the 
 deep-blue sea, in quest of that health he was never 
 again to find. Their place of destination was the 
 charming little Island of Barbadoes, where, after a 
 somewhat stormy voyage, they arrived in safety. 
 
 While here, Major Wasliington had an attack of 
 small-pox, which handled him rather severely ; and 
 for some time he was thouoht to be in a dano^erous 
 condition. But in a few weeks, by dint of careful 
 nursing, joined to the natural vigor of his constitu- 
 tion, he got the better of this frightful malady ; and, 
 when he was completely restored, not a disfiguring 
 trace of it remained. 
 
 During his sojourn here, he still continued his habit 
 of writing down in a journal whatever of importance 
 or interest came under his observation ; In whicli, 
 among other items, we find such as the following, — 
 the speed of the ship in which they sailed ; the direc- 
 tion of the winds ; some account of a storm that 
 overtook them on their voyage; the cities, sliips. 
 
FIR&T MILITARY APPOINTJVIENT. 93 
 
 forts, and military strength of the Island of Barba- 
 does ; its products ; manners and customs of the 
 people, and the laws and government under which 
 they lived. By this means, contributing as it did to 
 habits of close and accurate observation, he impressed 
 the more strongly upon his memory such facts as 
 might prove of use to him at a future day. 
 
 Our two Virginians, during the three or four 
 months of their stay on the island, were treated with 
 much courtesy and hospitality by the inhabitants. 
 But neither the genial cHmate of the region, nor the 
 kindly hospltahty of the people, was enough to re- 
 store that health and strength to the invalid for 
 which he had come so far and hoped so long. 
 
 Feeling that his end was drawing nigh, Lawrence 
 Washington resolved to hasten home, that he might 
 have the melancholy satisfaction of spending his last 
 moments in the midst of his family and friends. 
 He had scarcely returned to Mount Yernon, and bid 
 a fond farewell to the loved ones there, when the 
 angel of death summoned him to take another and a 
 longer voyage, in quest of immortality, to be found 
 in the islands of the blest, that smile in never-fading 
 beauty on the bosom of the eternal sea. 
 
 Thus, at the early age of thirty-four, died Law- 
 rence Washington, one of the most amiable and 
 accomplished gentlemen of liis day. He left behind 
 him an affectionate wife, a sweet Kttle daughter, a 
 devoted brother, and many a loving friend, to mourn 
 
94 THE FAEMEE BOY. ' 
 
 his loss. In his will, he bequeathed his fine estate of 
 Mount Vernon and all else that he possessed to his 
 brother George ; on condition, however, that his wife 
 should have the use of it during her lifetime, and 
 that his daughter should die without children to in- 
 herit it. The daughter did not reach the years of 
 maidenhood ; and, the mother surviving but a few 
 years, George was left in the undivided possession of 
 a large and handsome property ; and, in a worldly 
 point of view, liis fortune was really already made. 
 But, for all that, he long and deeply mourned the 
 death of this much loved and valued brother, who 
 had been to him father and friend ever since that 
 first great sorrow of his cliildhood, when he became 
 a widow's son and a widow's blessing. 
 
 And thus, my little children, I have told you the 
 story of tills great and good man's life from his years 
 of infancy up to those of early manhood. I have 
 dwelt at greater length upon this period of his life 
 than perhaps any other historian, and have told you 
 some things that you might look for elsewdiere in 
 vain. , In my treatment of this part of the subject, 
 it has been my chief aim and earnest desire to impress 
 upon your opening minds this one great truth, — that, 
 if you would be good and wise in your manhood, 
 you must begin, now in early youth, to put forth all 
 your powers, and use all the means within your reach, 
 to store your mind with useful knowledge, and direct 
 your thoughts and actions in the ways of truth and 
 
riEST MILITAKY APPOINTMENT. 95 
 
 virtue, industry and sobriety. The boy Washington 
 did all this ; and, ere we have done, you shall see the 
 glorious results of such a good beginning. Be like 
 liim in your youth, — patient and diligent, loving 
 and dutiful, truthful and prayerful ; that you may be 
 like liim in the fulness of years, — esteemed and 
 beloved, happy and good, useful and wise. 
 
VIII. 
 
 IMPORTANT EXPLANATIONS. 
 
 TIEN Uncle Juvlnell had finished this part of 
 liis story, he paused, and with a beam- 
 ing face looked round upon his little cu-cle of lis- 
 teners. Two or three of the youngest had long 
 since Mien asleep ; and Master Ned, having heard 
 the story of the little hatchet, had stolen quietly 
 away to the cabin, just to see how " black daddy " 
 was getting along with his sled. Having waited till 
 it was finished, he had, for his own private amuse- 
 ment, taken it to a nice hillside, and was now coast- 
 ing on it all alone by the light of a good-humored, 
 dish-faced moon. The other children had listened 
 with great interest and attention to the story, and 
 were still sitting with their eyes bent earnestly on the 
 fire, whose great bright eye had by this time grown 
 a little red, and was winking in a slow and sleepy 
 way, as if it were saying, " Well done. Uncle Juvi- 
 nell, — very well done indeed. I have been listening 
 very attentively, and quite approve of all you ha^ e 
 said, especially all that about the wooden-legged 
 schoolmaster, the little hatchet, the sorrel horse, the 
 
 [96] 
 
BIPORTANT EXPLAJS^ATIONS. 97 
 
 Indian war-dance, and the Lowland Beauty, not to 
 mention those wise maxims and wholesome moral pre- 
 cepts you brought in so aptly. All of it is very fine 
 and very good, and just to my liking. But I am 
 thinking it is high bed-time for these little folks." 
 
 Uncle Juvinell was much gratified to see how 
 deeply interested the children were in what he had 
 been telling them ; and in a Httle while he called upon 
 them to let him know how they all liked it. Laura 
 said that it was very nice ; Ella, that it was charm- 
 ing ; Daniel, that it was quite as interesting as 
 Plutarch's Lives ; Willie, that it was even more so 
 than "Kobinson Crusoe;" and Bryce, that it was 
 very good, but he would have liked it better had 
 Uncle Juvinell told them more about the Indians. 
 Just then. Master Charhe awoke from a comfortable 
 nap of an hour or two, having dropped asleep shortly 
 after the sorrel horse dropped dead ; and, to make 
 believe that he had been as wide awake as a weasel 
 from the very start, began asking such a string of 
 questions as seemed likely to have no end. After a 
 droll jumbling of Washington with Jack the Giant- 
 killer, old Lord Fairfax w^ith Bluebeard, poor old 
 Hobby, the wooden-legged schoolmaster, with the 
 Roving Bed Robber, he at last so far got the better 
 of his sleepy senses as to know what he would be 
 driving at; when he said, "Uncle Juvinell, did his 
 father let him keep his little hatchet after he had cut 
 
 the cherry-tree ? " 
 
 5 
 
98 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 "History, my little nephew," replied liis uncle 
 •with a sober countenance, "does not inform us 
 whether he did or not ; but you may be quite sure 
 that he did, well knowing that a little boy who would 
 choose rather to take a whipping than tell a lie, or 
 suffer another to be punished for an offence he had 
 himself committed, would never be guilty the second 
 time of doing that wherein he had once been for- 
 bidden." 
 
 " What became of black Jerry after he turned a 
 somerset in the snow, and went rolling over and 
 over down the liill?" Charlie went on. 
 
 "Jerry, I am happy to say," replied his uncle, 
 "was so won over by the kindness and noble sejf- 
 devotion of his brave little master, that he made up 
 his mind to mend his ways from that very moment ; 
 and in a short time, from having been the worst, 
 became the best behaved neo-rolino; to be found on 
 either side of the Rappahannock, for more than a 
 hundred miles up and down." 
 
 "What is a negroling?" inquired Master Charlie, 
 as if bent on sifting this matter to the very bottom. 
 
 " A negroling," replied Uncle Juvinell with a 
 smile, " is to a full-grown negro what a gosling is to 
 a full-grown goose. Now, can you tell me what 
 it is?" 
 
 " A gosling negro, I suppose," w^as Charlie's an- 
 SAA^er ; and then he asked, " Did old Hobby go on 
 teaching school after little George left liim?" 
 
IMrORTANT EXPLANATIONS. 99 
 
 " Of course he did," answered his uncle ; " but, you 
 may depend upon it, he never took another scholar 
 as far as the single rule of three." Then, winkino* 
 slyly at two or three of the older children, he con- 
 tinued : " This worthy schoolmaster lived to the good 
 old age of ninety-nine ; when, feeling that his earthly 
 pilgrimage was drawing to a close, he for the last 
 time hung up his big cocked hat on the accustomed 
 peg, and for the last time unscrewed his wooden 
 leg, and set it in its accustomed corner ; then, 
 hke a good Christian, laid him down to die in 
 peace, giving thanks to Heaven with liis last breath 
 that it had fallen to his lot to teach the ffreat Georsfe 
 Washington his A B C's and the multiplication- 
 table." 
 
 This made Master Charlie look very grave and 
 thoughtful, so that he asked no more questions for 
 the rest of the night. 
 
 Then Daniel, the young historian, who, having his 
 mind occupied with more weighty matters, had been 
 listening with some impatience wliile the above confab 
 was going on, begged that his uncle would tell him 
 what was meant by a midshipman's warrant. 
 
 "In the first place, Dannie," said Uncle Juvinell, 
 "for the benefit of the rest of the children, who are 
 not so well informed upon such matters as yourself, 
 we must see what a midshipman is. The lowest 
 officer in the navy, but still several degrees removed 
 from a common sailor, is a midshipman, who enters 
 
100 THE FAEIVIER BOY. 
 
 a man-of-war as a kind of pupil to study the art of 
 navigation, and to acquaint himself with other mat- 
 ters connected with the seafaring life. A man-of- 
 war, you must know, is the largest vessel, or ship 
 of war, belonging to a nation ; while all the ships 
 fitted out at the public expense, together with tlie 
 officers and seamen concerned in their keeping and 
 management, make up what is called a navy. By 
 navigation, we are to understand the art by which 
 sailors are taught to conduct ships from one point to 
 another. Now, a warrant is a writing that gives 
 some one the right to do a thing or to enjoy it. 
 Thus you see a midshipman's warrant would have 
 given young Washington the right to go on board a 
 man-of-war, where, as a kind of pupil, he would 
 have learned the ai't of navigation, the management 
 of ships, and many other things necessary to make a 
 good sailor. The knowledge thus acquired, and the 
 training to which he must needs have been subjected, 
 would have fitted him in time to become an officer of 
 the navy, such as a lieutenant or a captain, and, it 
 may be, even an admiral." 
 
 "And w^hat is an admiral? " Inquired Willie. 
 
 "An admiral," replied Uncle Juvinell, "is the 
 highest officer of the navy : he is to the armies of 
 the sea what a general is to the armies of the land, 
 and commands a squadron, or fleet, wliich, you must 
 know, is a large number of armed ships, moving 
 and acting in concert together." 
 
IMPORTANT EXPLANATIONS. 101 
 
 "Does he fight with a sword?" Inquired Bryce, 
 who, it must be borne in mind, was the mihtary young 
 p'entleman, who carried a wooden sword of his own. 
 
 " It is unusual," rephed his uncle, " for either an 
 admiral or a general to fight in person ; it being their 
 duty to put their armies in order of battle, and after- 
 wards, during the fight, to control the movements of 
 the different regiments or divisions by orders carried 
 by aides to the officers under their command." 
 
 " You told us, uncle," said Willie, " that Wasliing- 
 ton received, along with the commission of adjutant- 
 general, the rank of major. Now, what are we to 
 understand by this ? " 
 
 " A commission," replied his uncle, " is a writing, 
 giving some one the right or authority to perform the 
 duties of some office, and receive the pay and honors 
 arising from the same. The duties of an adjutant- 
 general you have already seen ; and the commission 
 received by young Washington to perform those 
 duties made him equal in rank, not to a general, but 
 to a major." 
 
 "I know you told us, uncle," said Ella, "what is 
 meant by surveying ; but I don't tliink that I clearly 
 understand it yet." 
 
 " I will refer you to your brother Dannie," said 
 Uncle Juvinell ; " for he is looking very wise, as if 
 somebody knew a thing or two, and could, were he 
 but called upon, greatly enlighten somebody else. 
 Out with it, Dannie, and let us have it." 
 
102 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 "Surveying teaches the measurement of land," 
 Dannie made haste to answer ; " and a surveyor is 
 one who measures land with the help of a long chain 
 and compass and other instruments. Now, George 
 Washington, for example" — 
 
 " That will do, Daniel," said his uncle, interrupt- 
 ing him : " you have made it as clear as daylight 
 already ; and I dare say your sister understands you 
 perfectly, w^ithout the help of any example." 
 
 " Oh, I like to have forgotten one thing ! " cried 
 WiUie. "Tell us what is meant by line of march, 
 manoeuvres on the battle-field, tlu'owing up intrencli- 
 ments, and the like." 
 
 To these points, Uncle Juvinell made answer : "An 
 army, my nephew, is said to be on the line of march 
 when it is moving from one place to another. A 
 manoeuvre is an evolution or a movement of an army, 
 designed to mislead or deceive an enemy, or in some 
 way to gain the advantage of him. An intrench- 
 merit is a breastwork or wall, with a trench or ditch 
 running along the outside. The breastwork, being 
 formed of the earth thrown up from the trench, serves 
 as a protection against the shots of an enemy. The 
 trench being quite as deep as tHe breastwork is high, 
 renders it very difficult and dangerous for the works 
 to be taken by storm ; for the enemy must first 
 descend into the ditch before he can reach and scale 
 the wall, — an attempt always attended with the great- 
 est peril to those who make it ; for they who defend 
 
IMPORTANT EXPLANATIONS. 103 
 
 the works, fighting on top of the walls, have greatly 
 the advantage of those beneath. Sometimes intrench- 
 ments run in straight or crooked hnes, and sometimes 
 enclose an irregular square or circle ; and any piece 
 of ground, or body of men, thus enclosed or fortified, 
 is said to be intrenched." 
 
 " What a pity it is we can never know the name of 
 the Lowland Beauty ! " remarked Miss Laura regret- 
 fully ; for she was getting to be quite old enough to 
 be somewhat interested in matters of this kind. 
 
 " The name the young surveyor gave her," said 
 Uncle Juvinell, " lends an interest to this part of his 
 life, which a knowledge of her true name might never 
 have awakened. Besides tliis, my dear niece, if you 
 but be attentive to what I shall relate hereafter, you 
 will learn many things touching the life and character 
 of his mother Mary and his wife Martha far more 
 worthy of your remembrance." 
 
 The clock struck ten ; the fire burned low, and a 
 heavy lid of ashes hid its great red eye. And sow 
 Uncle Juvinell bethought him that it must indeed be 
 high bed-time for the little folks ; and in conclusion 
 he said, " Now, my dear children, I want you to bear 
 well in mind what I have told you to-night, that you 
 may be the better prepared for what I shall tell you 
 to-morrow evening. And hereafter I woidd have 
 you write down on your slates, while I go on with 
 my story, whatever you may find difficult and shall 
 wish to have more fully explained at the end of each 
 
104 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 evenino:'s lesson. And now let us sins: our evenini; 
 hymn, and part for tlie night." 
 
 With that they joined their voices, as was then' 
 wont, in a sweet hymn of praise and thanks to the 
 great Father of us all, — tlie little folks carrymg 
 the treble, while Uncle Juvinell managed the bass. 
 This duly done, they came one by one, and kissed 
 their dear old uncle a lo^ing good-night ; then crept 
 to theu' happy l^eds to dream till morning of wooden- 
 legged schoolmasters, little hatchets, wild rides on 
 fiery untamed horses that were always sorrel, of 
 life in the lonely wilderness, rambles without end 
 up and down the mountains, and of skin-clad Indians 
 leaping and wliirling in the war-dance. 
 
IX, 
 
 IXDIAN" TROUBLES. 
 
 AyD now. -'did I'ljc]*"' Juvinell, I .^ee you are all 
 agog, .-lutf '.n>(] ]n-hc-':] in hand, ready to jot 
 d'•^^■Ii auv cjije-ti' mj tij.m j;,;r.- ':]j;i uce tO pop into your 
 bu-y young brains, to l^e asked and answered, for 
 our further enliirhtennient, at tlj' 'f our even- 
 
 ing le.s.son. So. ^vitliout more ado. we will begin. 
 
 Jjut. before trudfrinj^ on further in our dL-li^htful 
 journey, we must pau.-^e a rnument. and turning 
 square round, with our faee.s towards tjie lung-ago 
 years of the pa.-t, take a bird's-eye view of the early 
 history of our country, that we may know exactly 
 where we are when we eonie to find our.-eh'es in 
 the outskirts of that long and bb^ody strug2'le be- 
 tween the two great nations of England and France, 
 commonly called the Seven Years' AVar. and some- 
 times the Old French AVar. Xow, although this 
 would not be as entertaining to your li\ely fancies 
 as an Arabian tale or an Indian legend, yet you 
 will by and by see very plainly that we coidd not 
 have skipped it, without losing the sense of a great 
 deal that follows ; for it was dining this war that 
 
 6* (105] 
 
106 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 our Washington first experienced the trials and hard- 
 ships of a soldier's life, and displayed that courage, 
 prudence, and ability, which in the end proved the 
 salvation and glory of his native country. 
 
 In the first place, you must know, my dear chil- 
 dren, that this beautiful land of ours, where now dwell 
 the freest and happiest people the blessed sun ever 
 shone upon, was, only a few hundred years ago, all 
 a vast unbroken wilderness ; a place where no one 
 but savao^e Indians found a home, whose chief 
 amusement was to fight and kill and scalp each 
 other ; and whose chief occupation was to hunt wild 
 beasts and birds, upon whose flesh they fed, and 
 with whose hairy skins and horns and claws and 
 feathers they clothed and decked themselves. Where 
 in the leafy summer-time may now be heard the 
 merry plough-boy whistling " Yankee Doodle " over 
 the waving corn, the wild Indian once wrestled with the 
 surly bear, or met his ancient enemy in deadly fight. 
 Nibbling sheep and grazing cattle now range the 
 grassy hills and valleys where he was wont to give 
 chase to the timid deer, or lie in wait for the mon- 
 strous buffalo. Huge steamers ply up and down our 
 mighty rivers where he once paddled his little canoe. 
 Splendid cities have risen, as if at the rubbing of 
 Aladdin's enchanted lamp, where in the depths 
 of the forest he once kindled the great council-fire, 
 and met the neiohborino- tribes in the Bio- Talk. 
 The very schoolhouse, where you little folks are 
 
INDIAN TROUBLES. 107 
 
 now tripping so lightly along the flowery path of 
 knowledge, may perhaps stand on the selfsame 
 shady slope, where, of a long summer evening, he 
 would sit at the door of his bark-built wigwam, 
 smoking his long pipe, and watching his naked red 
 children with a more fatherly smile than you can 
 well imagine in one so fierce, as with many a hoop 
 and yelp they played at " hide-and-seek " among the 
 gray old trees and pawpaw thickets. On yonder 
 hill-top, where we at this moment can see the win- 
 dows of the house of God shining and glancing in 
 the moonlight, he may have stood, with his face to 
 the rising or setting sun, in mute worship before the 
 Great Spirit. 
 
 But the stronger and wiser white man came ; and, 
 at his terrible approach, the red man, with all his wild 
 remembrances, passed away, like an echo in the 
 woods, or the shadow of an April cloud over the hills 
 and valleys ; and the place that once knew him shall 
 know him no more for ever. 
 
 And yet it might have been far otherwise with him 
 and with us, had not a certain Christopher Columbus 
 chanced to light upon this Western World of ours, as 
 he came hap-hazard across the wide Atlantic, where 
 ship had never sailed before, in quest of a shorter 
 passage to Asia. 
 
 By this great discovery, it was proved to the entire 
 satisfaction of all who are in the least interested in 
 the matter, that this earth upon which we live, 
 
108 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 insteid of being long and flat, with sides and ends 
 and corners like a great rough slab, was round, and 
 hollow inside, like an India-rubber ball, and went 
 rolling through empty space, round and round the 
 sun, year after year, continually. 
 
 Of this bold and skilful sailor, the most renowned 
 that ever lived, I should like to tell you many tilings ; 
 but, as we set out to give our chief attention to the 
 story of Washington, we must deny ourselves this 
 pleasure until the holidays of some merry Christmas 
 yet to come, when your Uncle Juvinell, if he still 
 keeps his memory fresh and green, will relate to you 
 many wonderful things in the hfe of this great 
 voyager, Columbus. 
 
 Up to this time, all the nations of Christendom 
 had for ages upon ages been sunk in a lazy doze of 
 ignorance and superstition. But, when tidings of the 
 great discovery reached their drowsy ears, they were 
 roused in a marvellous manner ; and many of the 
 richest and most powerful forthwith determined to 
 secure, each to itself, a portion of the new-found 
 region, by planting colonies ; or, in other words, by 
 making settlements therein. 
 
 For this purpose, they sent out fleets of ships 
 across the Atlantic to these distant shores, laden 
 with multitudes of men, who brought with them all 
 manner of tools and implements wherewith to clear 
 away the forests, till the soil, and build forts and 
 cities, and arms to defend themselves against the 
 
INDIAN TROUBLES. 109 
 
 attacks of the warlike savages. Thus, for example, 
 Spain colonized Mexico ; France, Canada ; and Eng- 
 land, that strip of the North- American continent, 
 lying between the Alleghany Mountains and the At- 
 lantic Ocean, now known as the eastern coast of the 
 United States. « 
 
 At first, the new-comers were received and treated 
 with much kindness and hospitality by the natives : 
 but it was not long before they discovered that they 
 were likely to be robbed of their homes and hunting- 
 grounds ; when rage and jealousy took possession of 
 their hearts, and from that time forward they never 
 let slip an opportunity of doing all the mischief in 
 their power to the hated intruders. Then began that 
 long train of bloody wars between the two races, 
 which have never ceased except with defeat or ruin 
 of the weaker red man, and bringing him nearer 
 and nearer to the day when he must either forsake 
 his savage life, or cease to have an existence alto- 
 gether. 
 
 Now, this may appear very unjust and wrong to 
 my little friends ; and, to some extent, it really 
 was: but, in those days, might made right; or, in 
 other words, the strong ruled the weak. And yet 
 we are bound to believe that all this, in the long-run, 
 has worked, and is still working, to the greatest good 
 of the greatest number : for, had it been othen\'ise, 
 all this beautiful land, now the home of a Christian 
 and happy people, would have remained the dismal 
 
110 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 wilderness we have described it ; answering no good 
 end, as far as concerns the spread of truth and 
 knowledo'e, and the cukivation of those useful arts 
 which make a nation prosperous in peace, and strong 
 in war. 
 
 Notwithsttftiding their troubles with the Indians, 
 the hardships and privations to which the first settlers 
 of a wild country are always exposed, and the shame- 
 ful neglect with which they were treated by the 
 mother-countries, the French and English colonies 
 went on growing and thriving in a way that was 
 wonderful to behold. At the end of a hundred and 
 fifty years, or thereabouts, they had so grown in 
 strength and increased in numbers, and had so 
 widened their boundaries, that at last the continent, 
 vast as it is, seemed too narrow to hold them both ; 
 and they began throwing up their elbows for more 
 room, in a manner that would have been thought 
 quite uncivil in a private individual at a dinner 
 table or in a stage-coach. 
 
 Whereupon there arose a hot dispute between the 
 kings of France and England as to whom belonged 
 all that immense reo-ion stretchins^ from the Allci^rha- 
 nies to the Mississippi, in the one direction ; and, in 
 the other, from the Ohio to the Great Lakes of the 
 North. 
 
 The French claimed it by the right of discovery : 
 by which they meant, that a certain Father Mar- 
 quette had, nearly a hundi^ed years before, discovered 
 
india:n^ troubles. m 
 
 the Mississippi during his wanderings as a mission- 
 ary among the Indians of the Far West. They pre- 
 tended, that, as this pious man had paddled a little 
 canoe up and down this splendid river a few hundred 
 miles, his royal master, the King of France, was 
 thereby entitled to all the lands watered by It, and 
 the ten thousand streams that empty into it. 
 
 The English, on the other hand, claimed it by the 
 light of purchase ; having, as they said, bought It at 
 a fair price of the Six Nations, a powerful league or 
 union of several Indian tribes inhabiting the region 
 round about the great lakes Erie and Ontario. 
 What right the Six Nations had to It, is impossible 
 to say. They claimed It, however, by the doubtful 
 right of conquest; there being a tradition among 
 them, that their ancestors, many generations before, 
 had overrun the country, and subdued Its Inhabit- 
 ants. 
 
 Now, the poor Indians who occupied the land in 
 question were very Indignant indeed when they 
 heard that they and theirs had been sold to the white 
 strangers by their red enemies, the Six Nations, 
 whom they regarded as a flock of meddlesome crows, 
 that were always dipping their ravenous bills Into 
 matters that 'did not In the least concern them ; and 
 their simple heads were sorely perplexed and puzzled, 
 that two great kings, dwelling In far-distant coun- 
 tries, thousands of miles away beyond the mighty 
 ocean, should, in the midst of uncounted riches, fall 
 
112 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 to wrano-llnof with each other over a bit of wilderness 
 land that neither of them had ever set eyes or foot 
 on, and to which they had no more right than the 
 Grand Caliph of Bagdad, or that terrible Tartar, 
 Ivublah Khan. 
 
 " Of all this land," said they, " there is not the 
 black of a man's thumb-nail- that the Six Nations can 
 call their own. It is om^s. More than a thousand 
 moons before the pale-face came over the Big Water 
 in his white-winged canoes, the Great Spirit gave it 
 to our forefathers ; and they handed it down, to be 
 our inheritance as long as the old hills tell of their 
 green graves. In its streams have we fished, in its 
 woods have we hunted, in its sunny places have we 
 built our wigwams, and in its dark and secret places 
 have we fought and scalped and burnt our sworn 
 enemies, without let or hinderance, time out of mind. 
 Xow, if the English claim all on this side of the Ohio, 
 and the French claim all on this side of the Big 
 Lakes, then what they claim is one and the same coun- 
 try, — the country whereon we dwell. Surely our 
 white brothers must be dreaming. It is our hearts' 
 desire, that our brothers, the English, keep on their 
 side of the Ohio, and till the ground, and grow rich 
 in corn ; also that our brothers, the French, keep 
 on their side of the lakes, and hunt in the woods, 
 and grow rich in skins and furs. But you must both 
 quit pressing upon us, lest our ribs be squeezed in 
 and our breath be squeezed out, and we cease to 
 
INDIAJ^ TROUBLES. 113 
 
 have a place among men. We hold you both at 
 arm's-length ; and whoever pays good heed to the 
 words we have spoken, by him will we stand, and 
 with him make common cause against the other." 
 
 But to these just complaints of the poor Indian 
 the French and English gave no more heed than if 
 they who uttered them "were so many whip-poor- 
 wills crying in the woods. So they fell to wrang- 
 ling in a more unreasonable manner than ever. 
 Finally, to mend the matter (that is to say, make 
 things worse), the French, coming up the Mississippi 
 from the South, and down from the Great Lakes of 
 the North, began erecting a chain of forts upon the 
 disputed territory, to overawe the inhabitants thereof, 
 and force the English to keep witliin the AUeghanies 
 and the Atlantic. As a matter of course, the Eng- 
 lish regarded this as an insult to their dignity, and 
 resolved to chastise the French for their impudence. 
 And this it was that brought about that long and 
 bloody struggle, the Old French War. 
 
 Thus, my dear children, do great and wise nations, 
 professing to follow the humane teachings of the 
 man-loving. God-fearing Jesus, often show no more 
 truth and justice and honesty in their dea]jngs 
 with one another than if they were as ignorant 
 of the Ten Commandments as the most benisfhted 
 heathens, to whom even the name of Moses was 
 never spoken. Yet, from your looks, I see that you 
 are wondering witliin yourselves what all this rig- 
 
114 THE FARRIER BOY. 
 
 iiiarole about England, France, the Six Nations, and 
 disputed territories, can have to do with George 
 AVashington. Had you -held a tight rein on your 
 impatience a little while longer, you would have 
 found out all about it, without the inconvenience of 
 wondering; and hereafter, my little folks, rest as- 
 sured that your Uncle Juvinell never ventures upon 
 any thing without having all his eyes and wits about 
 him, and that what he may tell you shall always 
 prove instructive, although it may now and then — 
 with no fault of his, however — seem to you some- 
 what dry and tedious. 
 

 
X. 
 
 "big talk" with "white thunder." 
 
 BUT we are a little fast. In order to bring our- 
 selves square again with our story, we must 
 take one step backward, and begin afresh. 
 
 When tidings of these trespasses of the French 
 reached the ears of Robert Dinwiddie, then Gov- 
 ernor of Vhginia, all his Scotch blood boiled within 
 him, and he began forthwith casting in his mind what 
 might be done to check or chastise such audacious pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 Cooling down a little, however, he thought it 
 would be better, before throwing his stones, to try 
 what virtue might be found in grass. By which you 
 are to understand, that he determined to write a letter 
 to the French general, then stationed in a little fort 
 near Lake Erie, inquiring by what authority these 
 encroachments were made on the dominions of his 
 royal master, the Eang of England ; and demanding 
 that they, the French, should abandon then* forts, 
 and withdraw their troops from the disputed territory, 
 without delay, or else abide the consequences. He 
 was well aware, that, to insure any tiling like success 
 
 [115] 
 
116 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 in a mission so difficult and perilous, the person In- 
 trusted with it must needs be robust of body, stout of 
 heart, clear of head ; one inured to the hardships 
 of a backwoods Hfe, well acquainted with the habits 
 and customs of the Indians, and withal a man of 
 intelligence, polite address, and the strictest integrity 
 of character. But one such man was to be found 
 among ten thousand ; and this was George Wash- 
 ington, who answered to the description in every 
 particular, and was therefore chosen to perform tliis 
 perilous undertaking, although he had not yet coin- 
 pleted liis twenty-second year. 
 
 Accordingly, having received from Governor DInr 
 widdie written instructions how to act when come 
 into the enemy's country. Major Washington set 
 out the next morning from Williamsburg, then the 
 capital 9f Yirginia, and made his way at once to 
 Winchester, at that time a frontier settlement of the 
 pro\ance, lying on the very edge of the wilderness. 
 Here he spent several days in procuring supplies for 
 tlie expedition, and raising a small party of hunters 
 and pioneers to guard and bear him company. After 
 some delay, he succeeded In procuring the services of 
 seven men. Four of these were hardy backwoods- 
 men of experience, whose business it was to take care 
 of the baggage and keep the party supplied with 
 game. Mr. Davidson was to go along as Indian 
 interpreter, and Mr. Gist as guide. A bolder and 
 more enterprising pioneer than tliis Gist, by the by, 
 
"big T.ii.K" WITH "avhite thunder." 117 
 
 was not to be found in all the Western wilds ; and 
 he is supposed by some historians to have been the 
 first white man that ever brought down an elk or a 
 buffalo in that paradise of hunters, green Kentucky. 
 In addition to these, Washington took with him as 
 French interpreter his old Dutch fencing-master, 
 Capt. Van Braam. The worthy captain, however, 
 seems to have been a far more expert master of 
 sword-play than of the languages ; for the jargon 
 he. was pleased to call an interpretation was often 
 such a medley of half-learned English, half-remem- 
 bered French, and half-forgotten Dutch, that they 
 who listened would be nearly as much perplexed to 
 see what he would be driving at, as if he were sput- 
 tering Cherokee into their ears. 
 
 All things being at last in readiness, the gallant 
 little party, headed by our young Virginian, turned 
 their faces towards the great Xorth-west ; and, plun- 
 ging into the wilderness, were soon beyond all traces 
 of civilized man. The autumn was far advanced. 
 The travellino^ was rendered toilsome, and even dan- 
 gerous, by the heavy rains of this season, and early 
 snows that had already fallen on the mountains, 
 which had changed the little rills into rushing tor- 
 rents, and the low bottom-lands into deep and miry 
 swamps. Much delayed by these and the like hin- 
 derances, Wasliington, upon reaching the banks of 
 the Mononofahela, deemed it best to send two of the 
 backwoodsmen with the baggage in canoes down 
 
118 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 tills rn er to its mouth, where, uniting its waters with 
 those of the Alleghany, it helped to form the great 
 Oliio. Promising to meet them at this point, he and 
 the rest of the party pushed tliitherward by land on 
 horseback. Reacliing the Forks of the Ohio two 
 days before the canoe-men, he spent the time in 
 exploring the woods and hills and streams around, 
 and was much struck with the advantages the place 
 held out as a site for a military post. This, to- 
 gether with other items meriting attention that 
 happened to him or occurred to his mind during 
 the expedition, he carefully noted down in a journal 
 which he kept, to be laid, in the form of a report, 
 before Gov. Dinwiddie, upon his return. The fol- 
 lowing year, as a convincing proof to his countrymen 
 how entirely they might rely on his foresight and 
 judgment in such matters, French officers of skill 
 and experience chose this very spot to be the site 
 of Fort Duquesne, afterwards so famous in the bor- 
 der history of our country. Near the close of the 
 war, this post fell into the hands of the English, 
 who changed its name to that of Fort Pitt ; which in 
 time gave rise to the busy, thriving, noisy, dingy, 
 fine young town of Pittsburg, a smoky-looking pic- 
 ture of which you may see any time you choose to 
 consult your geography. 
 
 Instead of pushing on dh'ectly to the Lakes, Major 
 Washington turned a little aside from his course, 
 and went down the Oliio about twenty miles, to an 
 
BIG TALK AVITH WHITE THUNDER." 119 
 
 Indian village called Logstown. Here, as had been 
 previously arranged, he met a few sachems or chiefs 
 of some of the Western tribes, to kindle a council- 
 fire and have a Big Talk. He was received with 
 much hospitality and courtesy by a stately old chief, 
 whose Indian name you would not care to hear, as it 
 would give Master Charlie's nut-crackers the jaw- 
 ache to pronounce it. Among the English, however, 
 as he was the head of a league or union of several 
 tribes, he usually went by the name of the Half 
 King. After the pipe had passed with all due gravi- 
 ty from mouth to mouth, and every warrior, chief, 
 and white man present had taken a whifF or two, in 
 sign that all was good- will and peace between them, 
 Washington arose, and addressed the Half Ejing 
 in a short speech, somewhat after the following 
 manner : — 
 
 " Your brother, the Governor of Yirginia, has sent 
 me with a letter to the big French captain, near Lake 
 Erie. What is written therein deeply concerns you 
 and your people as well as us. It was his desire, 
 therefore, that you share with us the toils and dan- 
 gers of this expedition, by sending some of your 
 young men along with us, to guide us through the 
 wildernesss where there Is no path, and be our safe- 
 guard against the wiles of cunning and evil-minded 
 men we may chance to meet by the way. This he 
 will look upon as a still further proof of the love 
 and friendship you bear your brothers, the English. 
 
120 . THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 As a pledge of his faith in all this, and as a token of 
 liis love for his red brother, he sends this belt 
 of wampum." 
 
 Mr. Davidson having interpreted this speech, the 
 Half Kins: for some moments after sat smokino- in 
 profound silence, as if turning over in liis mind what 
 he had just heard, or as if waiting, according to 
 Indian notions of etiquette on such occasions, to as- 
 sure himself that the speaker had made an end of 
 his say. He then arose, and spoke to the following 
 eiFect : — 
 
 "I have heard the words of my young white 
 brother, and they are true. I have heard the request 
 of my brother the Governor of Virginia, and it is 
 reasonable. At present, however, my young men are 
 abroad in the forest, hunting game to provide against 
 the wants of the coming winter, that our wives and 
 children starve not when we are out upon the war- 
 path. At the third setting of the sun from this time, 
 they will be coming in ; when I will not only send 
 some of them with my young white brother, but 
 will myself bear him company. For he must know 
 that we have ceased to look upon the French as our 
 friends. They have trespassed upon our soil ; they 
 have spoken words of insult and mockery to our 
 oldest sachems. For this cause have my people 
 resolved to return them the speech-belt they gave us 
 at the Big Talk we had last winter at Montreal. 
 It is that I may defy the big French captain to 
 
"big talk" ayith "white thunder." 121 
 
 his teeth, and fling his speech-belt in his face, 
 that I now go with mj young brother, the Lono- 
 Knife." * 
 
 On the third day, as had been promised, the youno- 
 men came in from hunting ; from among whom the 
 Half King chose eight or ten to serve as an addi- 
 tional escort to Major Washington during the 
 expedition. Among these was a warrior of great 
 distinction, who went by the tremendous name of 
 White Thunder, and was keeper of the speech-belt. 
 ;N"ow, you must know, that in Indian politics, when 
 two tribes exchange speech-belts, it is understood 
 to be an expression of peace and good-will between 
 them ; while to return or throw them away is the 
 same as a declaration of war, or at least to be taken 
 as a hint that all friendly intercourse between them 
 is at an end. The " keeper of the speech-belt " was, 
 therefore, a kind of " secretary of state " among 
 these simple people. 
 
 Thus re-enforced by his red allies, Washington, 
 who had grown somewhat impatient under this 
 delay, gladly turned his face once more towards the 
 Great Lakes. All this time, the rain had continued 
 to fall with scarcely an hour's intermission. The 
 streams and low meadow-lands were so flooded in 
 consequence, that they were often obliged to wander 
 many a weary mile over rugged highlands and through 
 tangled forests, without finding themselves any nearer 
 their journey's end. Now and then, coming to some 
 
 6 
 
122 THE F.\EMER BOV. 
 
 muddy, swollen stream, in order to gain the opposite 
 side without getting their baggage wet, they must 
 needs cross over on rafts rudely constructed of logs 
 and grape-vines, and make their horses swim along 
 behind them. It was near the middle of December, 
 before the little party, jaded and travel-stained, 
 reached their destination. 
 
 Major Washington was received with true soldierly 
 courtesy by the French general, to whom he at once 
 delivered Gov. Dinwiddie's letter. A few days be- 
 ing requested for a due consideration of its contents, 
 as well as the answer to be returned, he spent the 
 time, as he had been instructed, in gaining all the in- 
 formation he could, without exciting suspicion, touch- 
 ing the designs of the French in the North-west, — 
 to what extent they had won over the several Indian 
 tribes to their interest ; the number of troops they 
 had brought into the territory ; and the number, 
 strength, and situation of the forts they had built. 
 The fort where the French general then had his head- 
 quarters stood on the banks of a little river called 
 French Creek, in which Washington observed lying, 
 and bade his men count, a large number of canoes, to 
 be used early in the following spring for transporting 
 men and military stores down the Ohio. All the 
 hints and items thus gathered he carefully noted 
 down in his journal, to be laid, as I have told 
 you already, in the form of a report, before Gov. 
 Dinwiddie, iqjon his return. 
 
'big TAI.K" WITH "white THUNDER." 123 
 
 Being wary and watchful, he was not long in dis- 
 covering that the French were tampering with his 
 Indian allies ; tempting them, by the gayest of pre- 
 sents, the fairest of promises, and the hottest of fire- 
 water, to break faith with the English, and join their 
 cause. These underhand dealings gave Washington 
 much uneasiness of mind ; and he complained to the 
 French general, yet in a firm and dignified manner, 
 of the unfair advantao:e thus taken of the besettins: 
 weakness of these poor people. 
 
 Of course, the wily old Frenchman denied all 
 knowledge of the matter ; although we are bound 
 to believe, that, as these tricks and intrigues were 
 going on under his very nose, he must certainly 
 have winked at, if he did not openly encourage them. 
 
 It is true that the Indians were by no means too 
 nice to eniich themselves with French presents, and 
 get drunk on French whiskey ; yet, for all that, they 
 tm-ned a deaf ear to French promises, and, keeping 
 their faith unbroken, remained as true as hickory to 
 their friends the Enghsh. Even the Half King, 
 stately and commanding as he was in council, yielded 
 to the pleasing temptation along with the rest ; and, 
 for the greater part of the time, lay beastly drunk 
 about the fort. ^^Tien at last he came to his sober 
 senses, he was not a little chopfallen upon being 
 somewhat sternly reminded by Major Washington of 
 the business that had brought him thither, the recol- 
 lection of wliich he had seemingly drowned in his 
 
124 THE FARMEK BOY. 
 
 enemy's whiskey. Whereupon, as if to show that 
 all his threats and promises had been made In good 
 faith, he went forthwith to the French general, and 
 delivered the grave oration he had composed for the 
 occasion ; at the same time returning the speech-belt 
 White Thunder had brought, as a sign that all 
 friendly relations between the French and his peo- 
 ple were at an end. 
 
 At last, having received the answer to Gov. Din- 
 widdie's letter, and looked into matters and things 
 about Mm as far as he could with prudence. Major 
 Washington was now anxious to be away from the 
 place where he had already been detained too long. 
 During his stay, however, he had been treated with the 
 greatest respect and courtesy by the accomplished 
 Frenchman, who presented him, upon his departure, 
 with a large canoe, laden with a liberal supply of 
 liquors and provisions, that lasted him and liis men 
 until they reached the Ohio. 
 
 To spare the horses as much as possible, Wash- 
 ington had sent them, w^ith two or three of the men, 
 by land to Venango, a fort about fifteen miles below ; 
 whither he now set out to follow them by water. 
 The navigation of this little river, owing to its shal- 
 lows and the masses of floating ice that here and 
 there blocked up its channel, was dilBScult and toil- 
 some in the extreme. Oftentimes, to prevent their 
 frail canoes from being dashed to pieces against the 
 rocks, would they be compelled to get out into the 
 
„ j> ,„^^^^ r? 
 
 "BIG TALK" WITH ' A\TIITE THimDER." 125 
 
 cold water for half an hour at a time, and guide 
 them ^ath their hands down the whnling and rapid 
 current, and now and then even to carry them and 
 their loads by land around some foaming cataract to 
 the smoother water below. After an u'ksome little 
 voyage, they reached Venango, fully satisfied that 
 to go further by water was quite out of the ques- 
 tion. 
 
XI. 
 
 CHRISTMAS IN THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 HERE, at Yenango, Major Washington, much 
 to his regret, was compelled to part company 
 with the Half King and his other red allies. White 
 Thunder, keeper of the speech-belt, had been so 
 seriously injured in their passage down, as to be, for 
 the present, quite unable to travel ; and the rest 
 would not think of leaving him, but needs must 
 tarry there until then' friend should be well enough 
 to be brought in a canoe down the Alleghany. 
 
 Remounting their horses, our little party once 
 more took their weary way through the wilderness. 
 It was now the 2 2d of December. The weather was 
 bitter cold ; the snow fell thick and fast, and froze 
 as it fell ; and the bleak winds moaned drearily 
 among the naked trees. The forest streams were 
 frozen from bank to bank, yet often too thin to 
 bear the weight of the horses ; which rendered their 
 crossing painful and hazardous indeed. To add to 
 the discomfort of our travellers, the horses, from 
 poor and scanty fare, had become too weak to be 
 
 [126] 
 
CHRISTMAS IN THE WILDERNESS. 127 
 
 able longer to caiTy their allotted burdens. Moved 
 with compassion at their pitiable plight, Washino-- 
 ton dismounted from his fine saddle-horse, and 
 loaded his with a part of the baggage; choosino- 
 rather to toil along on foot, than to take his ease at 
 the expense of pain even to these poor brutes. 
 His humane example was' promptly followed by the 
 rest of the party ; and only the two men kept the 
 saddle to whom was intrusted the care of the bao-- 
 gage. 
 
 You can well imagine, that a Christmas spent in 
 this wild waste of leafless woods and snowy hills 
 was any thing but a merry one to these poor fellows, 
 so far away from their homes, which, at that moment, 
 they knew to be so bright and cheerful with the 
 mirth and laughter of " old men and babes, and 
 loving friends, and youths, and maidens gay." And 
 yet I dare say, that, even there, they greeted each 
 other on that blessed morning with a brighter smile 
 than usual, and called to their remembrance, that 
 on that morn a babe was born, who, in the fulness 
 of years, has grown to be the light and love and 
 glory of the earth. 
 
 Seeing that the half-famished beasts were growino- 
 weaker and weaker day by day, and that he would 
 be too long in reaching his journey's end if he 
 governed his speed by theirs, Washington left Capt. 
 van Braam in command of the party, and pushed 
 forward with no other company than Mr. Gist. 
 
128 THE F^VRMER BOY. 
 
 Armed with their trusty rifles, and clad in the light 
 dress of the Indians, with no extra covering for the 
 night but their watch-coats, and with no other bag- 
 gage but a small portmanteau containing their food 
 and Major Washington's important papers, they 
 now made rapid headway, and soon left their friends 
 far behind. The next day, they came upon an 
 Indian village called ]\Iurdering Town ; a name of 
 evil omen, given it, perhaps, from its having been 
 the scene of some bloody Indian massacre. What 
 befell them here, I will tell you, as nearly as I can 
 remember, in ]Mr. Gist's own words : — 
 
 " We rose early in the morning, and set out at seven 
 o'clock, and got to Murdering Town, on the south-east 
 foi*k of Beaver Creek. Here we met with an Indian 
 whom I thought I had seen at Joncaire's, at Venango, 
 when on our journey up to the French fort. This fellow 
 called me by my Indian name, and pretended to be glad to 
 see me. He asked us several questions ; as, how we 
 came to travel on foot, when we left Venango, where 
 we parted with our horses, and when they would be there. 
 Major Washington insisted on travelling by the nearest 
 way to the forks of the Alleghany. We asked the Indian 
 if he could go with us, and show us the nearest way. The 
 Indian seemed very glad and ready to go with us ; upon 
 which we set out, and the Indian took the Major's pack. 
 We travelled very brisk for eight or ten miles ; when the 
 Major's feet grew sore, and he very weary, and the Indian 
 steered too much north-eastwardly. The Major desired to 
 encamp ; upon which the Indian asked to carry his gun, 
 
CHPJSTJIAS IN THE WILDERNESS. 129 
 
 but he refused ; and then the Indian grew churlish, and 
 pressed us to keep on, telling us there ^Yere Ottawa Lidians 
 in those woods, and they would scalp us if we lay out ; but 
 go to his cabin, and we would be safe. 
 
 " I thought very ill of the fellow, but did not care to let 
 the Major know I mistrusted him. But he soon mistrusted 
 him as much as I did. The Indian said he could hear a 
 gun from his cabin, and steered us northwardly. We 
 grew uneasy, and then he said two whoops might be heard 
 from his cabin. We went two miles further. Then the 
 Major said he would stay at the next water, and we 
 desired the Indian to stop at the next water ; but, before 
 we came to the water, we came to a clear meadow. It 
 was very light, and snow was on the ground. The Indian 
 made a stop, and turned about. The Major saw him point 
 his gun towards us, and he fired. Said the Major, — 
 
 " * Are you shot ? ' 
 
 " ' No,' said I. 
 
 " Upon which the Indian ran forward to a big standing 
 white oak, and began loading his gun ; but we were soon 
 with him. I would have killed him ; but the Major would 
 not suffer me. We let him charge his gun. We found 
 he put in a ball : then we took care of him. Either the 
 Major or I always stood by the guns. We made him 
 make a fire for us by a little run, as if we intended to 
 sleep there. I said to the Major, — 
 
 " ' As you will not have him killed, we must get him 
 away, and then we must travel all night.' 
 
 " Upon which I said to the Indian, — 
 
 " ' I suppose you were lost, and fired your gun ? ' 
 
 " He said he knew the way to his cabin : it was but a 
 little distance. 
 
130 THE FAEMEE BOY. 
 
 " ' Well,' said I, ' do you go home, and, as we are tired, 
 we will follow your track in the morning ; and here is a 
 cake of bread for you, and you must give us meat in the 
 morning. 
 
 " He was glad to get away. I followed him, and listened 
 until he was fairly out of the way; and then we w^ent 
 about half a mile, when we made a fire, set our compass, 
 fixed our course, and travelled all night. In the morn- 
 ing, we were on the head of Piny Creek." 
 
 Thus you see, my dear cliildren, from this adven- 
 ture, upon what slight accidents sometimes hang the 
 destinies, not only of individuals, but even of great 
 nations ; for had not this treacherous Indian missed 
 his aim, and that too, in all likelihood, for the first 
 time in a twelvemonth, it had never been our blessed 
 privilege to know and love and reverence such a 
 man as Washington ; and that, instead of being the 
 free-born, independent people that he made us, we 
 might have been at this very moment throw ing up 
 our hats and wasting our precious breath in shouts 
 of " Long life to Queen Victoria ! " 
 
 All that day they walked on, w^eary and foot-sore, 
 through the deep snow, without a trace of living man 
 to enliven their solitary w^ay. The cold gray of a 
 winter's evening was deepening the shadows of the 
 forest when they came to the banks of the Alleghany ; 
 and here a new^ disappointment awaited them. They 
 had all along cheered themselves wath the prospect 
 of crossing this river on the ice : but they found it 
 
-f 
 
 CHRIST3IAS IN THE WILDERNESS. 131 
 
 frozen for about fifty yards only from either bank ; 
 while the rest of the ice, broken into huge cakes, 
 went floating swiftly down the main channel, crush- 
 ing and grinding together, and filling the hollow 
 woods around with dolefid noises. 
 
 With heavy hearts they kindled their camp-fire, 
 and cooked and ate their frugal supper ; then, 
 making themselves as comfortable as the piercing- 
 winds would allow, they lay down on their snowy 
 beds to sleep, hopeful that the morrow would bring 
 them better luck. Morning dawned, and yet 
 brought with it no brighter prospect. Would you 
 know what they did in this grievous state ? Listen 
 while I read Major Washington's own account of it, 
 
 as we find it written in his journal : — 
 
 « 
 
 " There was no way for getting over but on a raft ; 
 which we set about, with but one poor hatchet, and finished 
 just after sun-setting. This was a whole day's work. We 
 next got it launched ; then went on board of it, and set off. 
 But, before we were half way over, we were jammed in the 
 ice, in such a manner that we expected every moment our 
 raft to sink, and ourselves to perish. I put out my settino-- 
 pole to try and stop the raft, that the ice might pass by ; 
 when the rapidity of the stream threw it with so much vio- 
 lence against the pole, that it jerked me out into ten feet 
 of water : but I fortunately saved myself by catching hold 
 of one of the raft-logs. Notwithstanding all our efforts, we 
 could not get to either shore, but were obhged, as we were 
 near an island, to quit our raft, and make to it. The cold 
 
132 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 was so extremely severe, that Mr. Gist had all his fingers, 
 and some of his toes, frozen ; and the water was shut up so 
 hard, that we found no difficulty in getting off the island, 
 on the ice, in the morning, and went to Mr. Frazier's." 
 
 Here, for a space, they stopped to rest and refresh 
 themselves after the fatigue and exposure they had 
 just undergone ; and here, among other items of 
 interest, they heard that Queen Aliquippa, an Indian 
 princess, had been deeply offended that the young 
 Long Knife had passed by her royal shanty, the 
 month before, without calling to pay his compliments. 
 Major Washington, well knowing that to humor their 
 peculiar whims and fancies was the best mode of 
 securing the good-w^ill and friendship of these people, 
 hastened at once to present liimself before her copper 
 majesty, and make w^hat amends he could for his 
 breach of etiquette. The present of a bottle of rum 
 (over w^hich, queen that she was, she smacked her 
 lips), and of his old watch-coat, that w^ould so hand- 
 somely set off her buckskin leggins, softened her ire 
 completely, and made her, from that time forward, 
 the stanch friend and ally of the English. 
 
 Travelling on a few miles further, they came to 
 Mr. Gist's house, on the banks of the Monongahela, 
 where Washins^ton bou2:ht a horse to bear him to 
 his journey's end, and parted w^ith his trusty guide. 
 He was now entirely alone ; and a wide stretch of 
 woods and mountains, swamps and frozen streams, 
 still lay between him and the cheerful homes to 
 
CHEISTIilAS m THE ^VILDERNESS. 133 
 
 whose comforts he had been so lono: a strano-er. 
 Now and then, the loneliness of the way would be for 
 a moment enlivened by the sight of some sturdy 
 backwoodsman, axe or rifle on shoulder, pushino- 
 westward, with his wife and children and doos and 
 household trumpery, to find a home in some still 
 more distant part of the wilderness. It was mid- 
 winter, when, after having been absent eleven weeks 
 on his perilous mission, our young Virginian, looking 
 more like a wild Indian than the civil and Christian 
 gentleman that he really was, rode into the town of 
 Williamsburg, nor halted until he had alighted and 
 hitched his horse in front of the o-overnor's house. 
 
XII. 
 Washington's first battle. 
 
 UPON Ills arrival, Major AYaslilngi:on hastened 
 at once to lay before Gov. Dinwiddie, and the 
 Virginia Legislature then in session, the French gene- 
 ral's letter, and the journal he had kept during the 
 expedition. 
 
 In his letter, the French general spoke in high and 
 flattering terms of the character and talents of young 
 Washino;ton ; but, in Ian2:ua2:e most decided and 
 unmistakable, refused to withdraw his troops from the 
 disputed territory, or cease building forts therein, as 
 had been demanded of him, unless so ordered by his 
 royal master, the King of France, to whose wishes 
 only he owed respect and obedience. From the 
 tenor of tliis letter, it was plainly enough to be seen 
 (what might, in fact, have been seen before) , that the 
 French were not in the least inclined to give up, at 
 the mere asking, all that they had been at so much 
 pains and expense at gaining. It therefore followed, 
 that as the title to this bit of forest land could not be 
 written with the pen, on fair paper, in letters of 
 Christian ink, it must needs be written with the 
 
 [134] 
 
Washington's first battle. 135 
 
 sword, on the fair earth, in letters of Christian blood. 
 By this, the little folks are to understand their Uncle 
 Juvinell to mean that war alone could settle the 
 question between them. And this unreasonable 
 behavior, on the part of two great nations, has 
 already, I doubt not, brought to your minds the 
 story of two huge giants, who, chancing to meet 
 one night, fell into a long and stormy dispute with 
 each other about the possession of a fair bit of 
 meadow-land they had happened to spy out at the 
 same moment, where it lay in the lower horn of the 
 moon ; and who finally, like the silly monsters that 
 they were, began belaboring each other with their 
 heavy malls, as if the last hope of beating a little 
 reason in were to beat a few brains out. 
 
 To drive and keep back the French and their In- 
 dian allies. Gov. Dinwiddie made a call on the Vir- 
 ginia militia, and wrote to the governors of some of 
 the neighboring provinces, urging them, for their 
 common defence, to do the same. To strengthen 
 their borders, and give security to their frontier set- 
 tlers, a small party of pioneers and carpenters were 
 sent to build a fort at the Forks of the Ohio, as 
 Washington had recommended in his journal. This 
 journal, by the way, throwing, as it did, so much 
 new light on the designs of the French in America, 
 was thought worthy of publication, not only through- 
 out the Colonies, but also in the mother-country. 
 The good sense, skill, address, and courage shown 
 
136 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 by the young Virginian throughout the late expedi- 
 tion, had drawn upon him the eyes of his country- 
 men ; and, from that time forward, he became the 
 hope and promise of his native land. As a proof of 
 this high regard, he was offered the command of the 
 regiment to be raised : which, however, he refused to 
 accept ; for his modesty told him that he was too 
 young and inexperienced to be intrusted with a matter 
 of such moment to his country. To Col. Fry, an 
 officer of some note in the province, the command 
 of the regiment was therefore given ; under whom he 
 was quite willing to accept the post of lieutenant- 
 colonel. 
 
 Notwithstanding the pressing danger that threat- 
 ened all alike, the people were shamefully slow in 
 answering the summons to arms. Washington had 
 felt confident, that, at the very first tap of the drum, 
 squads upon squads of active, sturdy, well-fed, well- 
 clothed young farmers, moved by the same spirit 
 with himself, would come flockins^ to his standard 
 with their trusty rifles, powder-horns, and hunting- 
 pouches, ready and eager to do their country service. 
 Instead of this, however, there gathered about him 
 a rabble of ragamuffins and worthless fellows, who 
 had spent their lives in tramping up and down the 
 country, without settled homes or occupations. 
 
 Some were without hats and shoes ; some had 
 coats, and no shirts ; some had shirts, and no coats ; 
 and all were without arms, or any keen desire to use 
 
WASHINGTON'S FIRST BATTLE. 137 
 
 them if they had them. All this disgusted and dis- 
 heartened our youthful colonel not a little ; for he 
 was young, and had yet to learn that it is of just 
 such stuff that the beginnings of armies are always 
 made. The slender pay of a soldier was not enough 
 to tempt the thriving yeomanry to leave their rich 
 acres and snug firesides to undergo the hardships and 
 dangers of a camp life ; as if, by failing to answer 
 their country's call, and fighting in its defence, they 
 were not running a still greater risk of losing all 
 they had. 
 
 To encourage the young men of the province to 
 come forward, Gov. Dinwiddle caused it to be pro- 
 claimed, that two hundred thousand acres of the very 
 best land on the head-waters of the Ohio should be 
 divided between those that should enlist and serve 
 during the war. This splendid offer had, in some 
 small measure, the effect desired ; so that, in a short 
 time, something like an army was cobbled together, 
 with which, poor and scantily provided as it was, 
 they at last resolved to take the field. 
 
 Col. Washington, in command of the main body, 
 was ordered to go on in advance, and cut a military 
 road through the wilderness, in the direction of the 
 new fort at the Forks of the Ohio, by way of the Mo- 
 nongahela; w^hile Col. Fry was to remain behind 
 with the rest of the troops, to bring up the cannon 
 and heavy stores when the road should be opened. 
 When tlie pioneers had cut their way about twenty 
 
138 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 miles beyoii(J the frontier toAvn of Winchester, there 
 came a rumor, that the men who had been sent to 
 build the fort at the Forks of the Ohio had all been 
 surprised and captured by the French. In a few 
 days, all doubts as to the truth of this report were 
 set at rest by the men themselves, who came walking 
 leisurely into camp, with their spades and axes on 
 their shoulders, to every appearance quite well and 
 comfortable. 
 
 For several days, they said, they had been work- 
 ing away on the fort quite merrily ; when, early one 
 morning, they were much surprised to see one thou- 
 sand Frenchmen, in sixty bateaux, or boats, and 
 three hundred canoes, with six pieces of cannon, 
 dropping quietly down the Alleghany. The leader 
 of this gallant little force summoned the fort to 
 surrender in the short space of an hour, or else they 
 would find their unfinished timber-work tumblinsT 
 about their heads in a way that would not be alto- 
 gether agreeable. K'o one with even half his wits 
 about him would have for a moment thou2:ht of 
 defending an unfinished fort with axes, spades, and 
 augers, against a force of twenty times their number, 
 backed by cannon and grape-shot. These men had 
 all their wits about them, and, to prove it, gave up 
 the fort without further parley ; when the French 
 captain marched in, and took formal possession of 
 the wooden pen in the name of his most Christian 
 majesty, the King of France; after which, with 
 
Washington's first battle. 139 
 
 that gayety and good-humor so often to be observed 
 among the French people, he invited the young 
 ensign — who, in the absence of the captain, had 
 been left in the command of the fort for that day — 
 to dine and drink a glass of wine with him. He 
 then suffered them all to depart in peace with his 
 good wishes, and with their spades, carpenter's tools, 
 and axes on their shoulders. 
 
 Col. Washington was deeply mortified at this 
 intelligence ; but, like the manly man that he was, 
 he put a bright face on the matter, and, to keep up 
 the spirits of his men, resolved to push on with the 
 road with more vigor than ever. And a tremendous 
 undertaking this was, I assure you. The tallest of 
 trees were to be felled, the hugest of rocks to be 
 split and removed, the deepest of swamps to be filled, 
 and the swiftest of mountain torrents bridged over. 
 With such hinderances, you will not wonder that 
 they made but four miles a day. Now and then, 
 the soldiers would be obliged to put their shoulders 
 to the wheel, and help the poor half-famished horses 
 with their heavy wagons up some rough and rocky 
 steep. Thus over the gloomy mountains, and down 
 the rugged defiles, and through a dark and lonely 
 valley since called the Shades of Death, they forced 
 their toilsome way. At last, after many weary days, 
 they reached the banks of the Youghiogeny, — a 
 romantic little river that went tumbling down the 
 green hills in many a foaming waterfall ; then, like 
 
140 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 a frolicsome schoolboy nearing school, put on a 
 demure and sober face, and quietly empted itself 
 into the more tranquil Monongahela. Here, to give 
 his worn-out men and horses some repose after their 
 severe and unceasing labors, Washington ordered a 
 halt. 
 
 Being told by some friendly Indians that the bag- 
 gage could be carried down this stream by water, he 
 set out early one morning in a canoe, with four or 
 ^ye white men, and an Indian for a guide, to see 
 for himself what truth there might be in this report. 
 When they had rowed about ten miles, their Indian 
 guide, after sulking for a little while, laid his oar 
 across the canoe, and refused to go further. At first, 
 this behavior appeared to them a little queer ; but 
 they were not long in discovering that it was only 
 a way the cunning red rascal had of higgling to get 
 more pay for his services. After some pretty sharp 
 bargaining. Col. Washington promised to give him 
 his old watch-coat and a ruffled shirt if he would 
 go on ; upon which, Avithout more ado, he picked up 
 his oar, and for the rest of the trip steered away 
 blithely enough. You can well imagine what an 
 uncommon swell this savage dandy, with his bare 
 red legs, must have cut, a few days after, in his 
 civilized finery, among the copper-cheeked belles 
 of the woods. By the time they had rowed twenty 
 miles further, Washington was satisfied, that, owing 
 to the rocks and rapids, a passage down this river 
 
WAsiiiN(i'i'()N\s I'iK'sr I'.yni.K. Ml 
 
 in (lie, hIijiIIow cjuioch of (Ik; IikIIjuih wjih mtxt to 
 iiiipos.sihlc. 
 
 Ivc-turiiin^ to cninp, Ik; hoom JiftorwJinls received 
 word from IiIh old fVIctnd and ally, the Half* Klii^, 
 tli.'it a ]).'ii-ty of r'lCMcli had l)e(;n H(;eii eoinlii;^ IVoiri 
 tli(! (liicclloii of r'ort DiKjiicHiK;, who wc^re in all 
 lik('lilioo<l, hy tiiMt lime, Hoiii(!wli(!r(; In IiIh cIoho 
 neln^hhorhood. Upon hearing;' thI.M, WaHhIn«;ton 
 deenicd It |)ni(I(;iit to full hack a few nillcH to iIk; 
 (iicnt MeadowH, a Ixjautlful lltth; plain, Hltjiat(*d In 
 the midst of woo(1h and IiIIIh, jukI <IIvI<l<;d hy a jIvii- 
 h't. l[(i(^ h(! lhi(!W iij) HtronjLjj intren(jhnientH, 
 (bleared ;i,vv;iy the inidcr^rowth, and prepared what 
 hv, cnllcd "a ch:irmlii^- fi(;Id for ;ui crw^oimter." 
 Shortly aftcir, Mr. (Jlst, wlioiri you well rcmcmher, 
 cjinie Into cjuiip, from his home; on the IVI()non<i^^:ih(!la, 
 with llic tuMnij^H, lh;it Ji, pMity of Fr(;ncli h;i(l heeri 
 :it his house; on the; d;iy hcforc;, whom, from their 
 jipp(!aran(;e, he hchcvcMl to Ixi HpI(\M. WaHhln^ton 
 sent out some of his men on wa;^on-horHCH to beat 
 the woods ; whocsime In about dusk, without havln<^, 
 how(!Vcr, dlscovcrcMl any traecs of ihc; enemy. About 
 nliKi o'clock that sjiirK; nl;;'ht, an Indian runner camci 
 from the Half Kln;^,' with word, thiit souk; of bin 
 hunt(»rH \iiu\ hitc llint cvcuilnfi,' Ham the tracks of I wo 
 l^'»(;nejunen not five mlhiK distant ; and that, If (/ol. 
 WaHhIngton would join him wilh sonit; oi' his men, 
 they woiihl S(;t out (larly In the mornln/i^' In rpuist ol' 
 tin; luikinii (o(;. 
 
142 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Taking with him about forty men, and leaving 
 the rest to guard the intrenchments , Washington 
 set out forthwith for the Indian camp. Their way 
 led them through tall and thick woods, that were 
 then in the full leaf of early summer. As if to 
 deepen their gloom, the sky was overcast with the 
 blackest of clouds, from which the rain poured down 
 in torrents ; and the night, of course, was as dark as 
 dark could be. No wonder, then, that they were 
 continually losing their path, which was but a deer- 
 track, and none of the plainest, even in broad day- 
 light. When any one discovered that he had lost 
 liimself, he would shout, and set himself right again 
 by the answering shouts of his comrades who might 
 be so lucky as to be in the path at that moment. 
 After blundering about all night through marshy 
 thickets, slipping upon slimy rocks, and scrambling 
 over the oozy trunks of fallen trees, they reached 
 the Indian camp at daybreak in a somewhat moist 
 and bedabbled plight, as you may well imagine. 
 The Half King seemed overjoyed at seeing his young 
 white brother once more ; and, with true Indian hos- 
 pitality, set before him and his men the best his 
 camp afforded. After breakfasting heartily on bear's 
 meat, venison, -and parched corn, they all set out 
 together, much refreshed, to seek what game might 
 be in the wind. The Half King led the way to the 
 spot where the two tracks had been seen the evening 
 before ; and, having found them, told two of his 
 
Washington's first battle. 143 
 
 sharp-eyed hunters to follow the trail until they 
 could bring some tidings of the feet that had made 
 them. Like hounds on the scent of a fox, they 
 started off at a long trot ; only pausing now and 
 then to look more closely at the leaves, to make sure 
 they were right, and not on a cold scent. In a 
 short time, they came back with word that they 
 had spied twenty-five or thirty French and Cana- 
 dians encamped in a low, narrow bottom, between 
 high and steep hills, who looked as if they were 
 desirous of concealment. Whereupon Washington 
 proposed that the two parties should divide, and, 
 stealing upon the enemy from opposite directions, 
 surprise and capture him, if possible, without the 
 shedding of blood. To this the Half King agreed ; 
 and, parting, they moved off in profound silence, 
 each on their separate way. 
 
 A sudden turn of the hollow, down which they 
 had been making their way for several minutes, 
 brought Washington and his party, ere they were 
 well aware, in full view of the enemy. Some were 
 cooking their morning's meal, some were preparing 
 their arms for the day's excursion, some were loun- 
 ging, and all were merry. But, seeing as soon as 
 seen, they ran with all speed to their guns, that were 
 leaned against the trees hard by, and, without more 
 ado, began firing In so brisk and earnest a manner, 
 that left the Virginians no choice but to return it, 
 which they did with spirit. About the same time. 
 
144 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 the Half Kino; and his warriors came down to the 
 bottom of the hill on the opposite side of the hollow, 
 and, screening themselves behind a bit of rising 
 ground, joined the music of their rifles with the rest. 
 For about fifteen minutes, tlie skirmish was kept up 
 with great spirit on both sides ; when the French, 
 having lost ten of their number (among whom was 
 their leader, Capt. de Jumonville), surrendered, and 
 yielded up their arms. Washington had one man 
 shot dead at his side, and three men wounded ; but 
 his Indian allies, protected as they were by the rising 
 ground, came off without the loss of a single feather 
 or porcupine-quill. Unluckily, in the heat of tlie 
 encounter, a swift-footed Canadian, better, no doubt, 
 at dodging than shooting, managed to make liis es- 
 cape, and carried the news to Fort Duquesne. 
 
 The Half King and his warriors, I am sorry to 
 tell you, would have butchered the prisoners in cold 
 blood, had not Washington sternly forbidden them. 
 They therefore consoled themselves as best they might 
 for this disappointment by scalping the dead ; which, 
 however, yielded them but sorry comfort, as there 
 were but ten scalps to be divided among forty war- 
 riors. 
 
 The Half King was much offended by this humane 
 interference, on the part of his young white brother, 
 in behalf of the prisoners ; for he seemed to tliink, 
 that as they were spies, and French spies at that, 
 they richly deserved to be scalped alive. Such 
 
Washington's first battle. 145 
 
 milk-and-water, half-way measures might do for 
 pale-faces, but were not the sort of entertainment 
 to be relished by a genuine Indian brave of the first 
 water, or, to speak more to the point, of the first 
 blood. 
 
 Without, however, in the least heeding these 
 muttered grumblings of the worthy old chief, who 
 had his failings along with the rest of mankind. 
 Col. Washington took the prisoners to his camp, 
 where he treated them with even more kindness and 
 courtesy than they as spies deserved. From thence 
 he sent them under a strong guard to Williamsburg, 
 and wrote to Gov. Dinwiddle, begging him to treat 
 them with all the humanity due to prisoners of war, 
 but to keep a strict watch over them, as there were 
 among them two or three very cunning and dan- 
 gerous men. 
 
 This encounter, commonly called the Jumonville 
 affair, caused a great sensation, not only throughout 
 the Colonies, but also in France and England ; for It 
 was there, as you must know, in that remote and 
 obscure little valley, that flowed the first blood of this 
 long and eventful war. It was Washington's first 
 battle ; and, being a successful one, much inspirited 
 him. In a letter written at this time to his brother 
 Augustine, after touching upon the particulars of 
 this skirmish, he says, "I heard the bullets whistle; 
 and, believe me, there is something charming In the 
 sound." 
 
 7 
 
XIII. 
 
 FORT NECESSITY. 
 
 ABOUT this time, Col. Fry died at AVills's 
 Creek, where he had lain ill of a fever for 
 several weeks ; and Wasliington, as the next in rank, 
 was obliged to take command of the regiment. 
 Although this change brought with it an increase of 
 pay and honors, yet it caused him the sincerest 
 regret ; for even then, young as he was, he had the 
 good of his country more earnestly at heart than his 
 own private advantage. He said, and with unfeigned 
 modesty, that he feared he was scarcely equal to the 
 discharge of such high and responsible duties, with- 
 out the aid and counsel of some older and more 
 experienced officer. 
 
 Capt. de Yilliers was now commander of the 
 French at Fort Duquesne. When tidings of the late 
 encounter reached this officer through the swift- 
 footed Canadian, he swore a deep oath that he would 
 chastise the audacious young Virginian for what he 
 chose to call this barbarous outrage, and avenge 
 the death of De Jumonville, whose brother-in-law, 
 as ill luck would have it, he chanced to be. Fore- 
 
 [146] 
 
FORT NECESSITY. 147 
 
 seeing his danger, and to defend himself against the 
 superior force he knew would be brought against 
 him, Col. Washington set about forthwith to 
 strengthen his works. He dug the ditches deeper, 
 raised the breastworks higher, and surrounded the 
 whole with a row of palisades, firmly planted in 
 the ground, and set so close together as scarcely to 
 allow of a g-un-barrel passing between them. 
 
 OAving to the shameful neglect of those whose 
 duty it was to send up supplies, he and his men suf- 
 fered much from the want of food, — many days at 
 a stretch sometimes passing by without their tasting 
 bread. To aggravate tliis new distress, the Half 
 King and many of his warriors, with their wives and 
 children, now sought refuge in the fort from the ven- 
 geance of the French and their savage alhes ; which 
 added nothing to their strength, and only increased the 
 number of hungry mouths to be fed. To this place, 
 then, where gaunt famine pinched them from within 
 and watchful enemies beset them from without, 
 Washington gave the fitting name of Fort Necessity. 
 Luckily for them, while in this pitiable plight, days 
 and days passed by, and still no avenging De Yilliers 
 showed himself, though alarms were frequent. 
 
 Col. Washington now ordered Major Muse to 
 bring up the rest of the troops that had been waiting 
 all this while at Wills's Creek, with the heavy stores 
 and cannon. To reward the friendly Indians for 
 their services and fidelity. Major Muse brought with 
 
148 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 liiin presents of hntehets and knives, guns, powder 
 and lead, tin eups, needles and jilns, beads, and dry- 
 goods of every gaudy hue, and it may be, altliough 
 we ean only guess it, a ruiHed shirt or two. In 
 addition to these, there eanie a number of silver 
 medals for the eliief saehenis, sent by Gov. Din- 
 widdie at the suiru'estion of Col. Washino'ton, who 
 well knew how nuieh these sinii>le peopW prize little 
 compliments of tliis kind. ]\Iajor ]Muse handed 
 out the presents, while Washington hung tlie medals 
 about the neeks of the sachems, which yielded them 
 far more delight, you will be soriy to hear, than 
 their good old missionary's catechism. This was 
 done with all that show and parade so dear to an 
 Indian's heart ; and, to oive a still finer ed^'c to the 
 present occasion, they christened each other all over 
 again : that is to say, the red men gave the white 
 men Indian names, and the Avhite men gave the red 
 men English names. Thus, for example, AVashing- 
 ton gave the Half King the name of Dinwiddle, 
 which pleased him greatly; while he, in his turn, 
 bestowed on his young white brother a long, high- 
 sounding Indian name, that you coidd pronomice as 
 readily spelt backwards as forwards, i Fairfax was 
 the name given a young sachem, the sui of Queen 
 Alicpiippa, whose eternal friendship to the English, 
 it must be borne in mind, had been secured by 
 Washington, the previous winter, by the present of 
 an old coat and a bottle of rum. 
 
FORT NECE8HITY. 11 
 
 l\y llic, jh1vI<'(; of IiIh old juul irm(',li-(!Ht,oomo(l frlond, 
 Col. WIlllMin F;urf';ix, VV;i.sliIii;^l,on li;ul (livin(; vvor- 
 fililj) ill (Ik; fori, (JJiily, In wlilcli Ik; led; niid, tliardss 
 to the (;!i,rly toac'hin^H of his pious inotlicr, Ik; could 
 do lliis, ;uid sin not,. Soh^rrin indeed, my d(;ar 
 eliildren, and hcantifnl to heliold, must li;i,v(; hccn 
 that pi(5tijr(!, — that llttlo fort, ho i'nv Jivvay In the 
 heart of the lonely wIld(;rn(;HH, with ItH motley thron;^ 
 of f);ilnted IndluTis and leatli(;r-elad haekvvoodsm(;n 
 gath(M*ed round their yonn<^ eommander, an, inornln;^ 
 and cvcninf^, he kneeled in prayer before the Giver 
 of all good, bcHeeehing aid and protection, and giving 
 thank.s. 
 
 Ah if to put IiIh manhood and patience to a fltill 
 severer test, there came to the; fort about thin time 
 an independ(;nt eom|)any of one liiindred North 
 CarolinlanH, headed f)y one Capt. Mae.kay, wlio 
 refused to serve under him as his sujxjrior officer. 
 As his reason for this conduct, Mackay argued that 
 he held a royal commission (that is to say, had Ixjen 
 made a captain by the King of England) , whieli mjidc; 
 him equal in rank, if not superior, to Washington, 
 who held only a provincial commission, or had been 
 made a coL nel by the Governor of Virginia. This, 
 in part, was but too true ; and It had been a source 
 of dissatisfaction to Washington, that the rank and 
 services of colonial officers should be held at a 
 cheaper rate than th(i Hnrne were valued at in tin; 
 royal army. It wounded his honest, manly pride, 
 
150 TIIE FARMER BOY. 
 
 and offended his high sense of justice ; and he had 
 ah'eady resolved in his own mind to quit such 
 inglorious service, as soon as he could do so without 
 injury to the present campaign, or loss of honor to 
 himself. To most men, the lofty airs and pretensions 
 of Capt. Mackay and his Independents would have 
 been unbearable : but he kept his temper unruffled, 
 and, w^ith a prudence beyond his years, forbore to do 
 or say any tiling that would lead to an angry outbreak 
 between them ; and as they chose to encamp outside 
 the fort, and have separate guards, he deemed it 
 wisest not to trouble himself about them, only so far 
 as might concern their common safety. 
 
 Days, and even weeks, had now passed away, and 
 still no enemy had come to offer him battle. His 
 men were becoming restless from inaction ; and the 
 example of the troublesome Independents had already 
 begun to stir up discontent among them, which 
 threatened, if not checked in season, to end in down- 
 right insubordination. As the surest remedy for 
 these evils, Washington resolved to push forward 
 with the road in the direction of Fort Duquesne, and 
 carry the war into the enemy's own country. Re- 
 questing Capt. Mackay to guard the fort during his 
 absence, he set out with his entire force of three hun- 
 dred men, and again began the toilsome work of 
 cutting a road through the wilderness. The difficul- 
 ties they had now to overcome were even greater than 
 those which beset them at the outset of their pioneer- 
 
FORT NECESSITY. 151 
 
 ing. The mountains were higher, the swamps 
 deeper, the rocks more massive, the trees taller and 
 more numerous, the torrents more rapid, the days 
 more hot and sultry, and the men and horses more 
 enfeebled by poor and scanty food. You will not 
 w^onder, then, that they were nearly two weeks in 
 reaching Mr. Gist's plantation on the Monongahela, 
 a distance of but fifteen miles. 
 
 But hardly had they pitched their tents, and thrown 
 themselves on the grass to snatch a little rest, when 
 there came the disheartening intelligence, brought in 
 by their Indian spies, that Capt. de Yilliers had been 
 seen to sally from Fort Duquesne but a few hours 
 before, at the head of a force of five hundred French 
 and four hundred Indians, and must by that time 
 be within a few miles of the Virginia camp. For 
 three hundred weary and hungry men to wait and 
 give battle to a force three times their number, fresh 
 and well fed, was a thing too absurd to be thought 
 of for a single moment. Washington, therefore, as 
 their only chance of safety, ordered a hasty retreat, 
 hoping that they might be able to reach the settle- 
 ments on Wills's Creek before the enemy could over- 
 take him. The retreat, however, was any thing but 
 a hasty one ; for the poor half-famished horses were 
 at last no longer able to drag the heavy cannon and 
 carry the heavy baggage. Moved with pity for the 
 lean and tottering beasts, Washington dismounted 
 from his fine charger, and gave him for a pack-horse ; 
 
152 THE FARMEK BOY. 
 
 which humane example was promptly followed by 
 his officers. Yet even this was not enough : so, while 
 some of the jaded men loaded their backs with the 
 baggage, the rest, as jaded, dragged the artillery 
 along the stony roads with ropes, rather than that it 
 should be left behind to fall into the hands of the 
 enemy. For this good service, rendered so willingly 
 in that hour of sore distress, they went not unre- 
 warded by their generous young commander. 
 
 Capt. Mackay and his company of Independents 
 had, at Washington's request, come up a little while 
 before, and now joined in the retreat. But they 
 joined in nothing else ; for, pluming themselves 
 upon their greater respectability as soldiers of his 
 Britannic majesty, they lent not a helping hand in 
 this hour of pressing need, although the danger that 
 lurked behind threatened all alike. They marched 
 along, these coxcombs, daintily picking their way 
 over the smoothest roads, and too genteel to be bur- 
 dened with any thing but their clean muskets and 
 tidy knapsacks. This ill-timed and insolent behavior 
 served only to aggravate the trials of the other poor 
 fellows all the more ; and when, at last, they had 
 managed to drag the cannon and the wagons and 
 themselves to Fort Necessity, they were so overcome 
 with fatigue and hunger, and so moved with indigna- 
 tion at the conduct of the Independents, that they 
 threw down their ropes and packs, and flatly refused 
 to be marched fm-ther. Seeing their pitiful plight, 
 
FORT NECESSITY. 153 
 
 and that it would be impossible to reach the settle- 
 ments, Col. Washington, as their last chance of 
 safety, turned aside, and once more took shelter in 
 his little fort. 
 
 As Capt. Mackay and his company of gentlemen 
 fiofhters had done nothinoj towards streno^thenino^ the 
 works during his absence, Washington ordered a few 
 trees to be felled in the woods hard by, as a still fur- 
 ther barrier to the approach of the enemy. Just as 
 the last tree went crashing down, the French and 
 their Indian allies, nine hundred strong, came In 
 sight, and opened a scattering fire upon the fort, but 
 from so great a distance as made It httle more than 
 an idle waste of powder and lead. Suspecting this 
 to be but a feint of the crafty foe to decoy them into 
 an ambuscade, Wasliington ordered lils men to keep 
 within the shelter of the fort, there to lie close, and 
 only to shoot when they could plainly see where their 
 bullets were to be sent. 
 
 A light skirmishing was kept up all day, and until 
 a late hour In the night ; the Indians keeping the 
 while within the shelter of the woods, which at no 
 point came witliln sixty yards of the palisades. 
 Whenever an Indian scalp-lock or a French cap 
 showed Itself from among the trees or bushes. It that 
 instant became the mark of a dozen sharpshooters 
 watching at the rifle-holes of the fort. All that day, 
 and all the night too, the rain poured down from one 
 black cloud, as only a summer rain can pour, till 
 
 7* 
 
154 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 the ditclies were filled with water, and the breast- 
 works nothing but a bank of miry clay ; till the men 
 were drenched to the skin, and the guns of many so 
 dampened as to be unfit for use. 
 
 About nine o'clock that night, the firing ceased ; 
 and shortly after a voice was heard, a little distance 
 beyond the pahsades, calling upon the garrison, in 
 the name of Capt. de Villiers, to surrender. Sus- 
 pecting this to be but a pretext for getting a spy 
 into the fort. Col. Washington refused to admit the 
 bearer of the summons. Capt. de Villiers then re- 
 quested that an officer be sent to his quarters to par- 
 ley ; giving his word of honor that no mischief should 
 befall him , or unfixir advantage be taken of it. Where- 
 upon, Capt. van Braam, the old Dutch fencing-mas- 
 ter, being the only French interpreter conveniently 
 at hand, was employed to go and bring in the terms 
 of surrender. He soon came back ; but the terms 
 were too dishonorable for any true soldier to think 
 of accepting. He was sent again, but with no better 
 result. The third time, Capt. de Villiers sent written 
 articles of capitulation ; which, being in his own lan- 
 suaofe, must needs be first translated before an 
 answer could be returned. By the flickering light 
 of one poor candle, which could hardly be kept 
 burning for the pouring rain, the Dutch captain read 
 the terms he had brought, while the rest stood round 
 him, gathering what sense they could from the con- 
 fused jumbling of bad French, and worse Enghsh 
 
FORT NECESSITY. 1 J5 
 
 he was pleased to call a translation. After this, 
 there followed a little more parleying between the 
 hostile leaders ; when It was at last settled that the 
 prisoners taken in the Jumonvllle affair should be set 
 at liberty ; that the English should build no forts 
 upon the disputed territories within a twelvemonth 
 to come ; and that the garrison, after destroying the 
 artillery and military stores, should be allowed to 
 march out with all the honors of war, and pursue 
 their way to the settlements, unmolested either by 
 the French or their Indian allies. When we take 
 into account the more than double strength of the 
 enemy, the starving condition of the garrison (still 
 further weakened as it was by the loss of twelve men 
 killed and forty-three wounded) , and the slender hope 
 of speedy succor from the settlements, these terms 
 must be regarded as highly honorable to Col. Wash- 
 ington ; and still more so when we add to this the 
 fact, that the Half King and his other Indian allies 
 had deserted him at the first approach of danger, un- 
 der the pretext of finding some safer retreat for their 
 wives and children. Whether they failed from choice, 
 or hinderance to return, and take part In the action, 
 can never now be known with certainty. 
 ' Thus the dreary night wore away ; and, when the 
 dreary morning dawned, they destroyed the artillery 
 and the military stores, preparatory to their setting 
 forth on their retreat. As all the horses had been 
 killed or lost the day before, they had no means of 
 
156 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 removing their heavy baggage : they therefore se- 
 cured it as best they might, hoping to be able to send 
 back for it from the settlements. Still in possession 
 of their small-arms, they then marched out of the 
 fort with all the honors of war, — fifes playing, drums 
 beating, and colors flying. They had gone but a 
 few yards from the fort, when a large body of Indians 
 pounced with plundering hands upon the baggage. 
 Seeing that the French could not or would not keep 
 them back, Washington, to disappoint them of their 
 booty, ordered his men to set fire to it, and destroy 
 all they could not bring away upon their backs. 
 
 This done, they once more took up then* line of 
 march ; and a melancholy march it was. Between 
 them and the nearest settlements, there lay seventy 
 miles of steep and rugged mountain-roads, over which 
 they must drag their weary and aching limbs before 
 they could hope to find a little rest. Washington 
 did all that a kind and thoughtful commander could 
 to keep up the flagging spirits of his men ; sharing 
 with them their every toil and privation, and all the 
 while maintaining a firm and cheerftd demeanor. 
 Reaching Wills's Creek, he there left them to enjoy 
 the full abundance which they found awaiting them 
 at that place ; and, in company with Capt. Mackay, 
 repaired at once to Williamsbm'g to report the result 
 of the campaign to Gov. Dinwiddie. 
 
 A short time after, the terms of surrender were 
 laid before the Virginia House of Burgesses, and 
 
FORT NECESSITY. 157 
 
 received the entire approval of that wise body ; who, 
 although the expedition had ended in defeat and 
 failure, most cheerfully gave Col. Washington and 
 his men a vote of thanks, in testimony of their having 
 done their whole duty as good and brave and faith- 
 ful soldiers. 
 
XIV. 
 
 GEKERAL BRADDOCK. 
 
 HAVING brought the campaign to an honora- 
 ble if not successful end, Col. Washington 
 threw up his commission, and left the service. Tliis 
 had been his determination for some time past ; and 
 he felt that he could do so now without laying his 
 conduct open to censure or suspicion, having within 
 liis own breast the happy assurance, that, in the dis- 
 charge of his late trust, he had acted the part of a 
 faithful soldier and true patriot, seeking only his 
 country's good. The reasons that led him to take 
 this step need not be repeated, as you will readily 
 understand them, if you still bear in mind what I told 
 you a short time since touching those questions of 
 rank which caused the difficulty between him and 
 Capt. Mackay. 
 
 A visit to liis much-beloved mother was the first 
 use he made of his leisure. The profound love and 
 reverence that never failed to mark his conduct 
 towards his mother were amonc: the most beautiful 
 traits of his character. The management of the family 
 estate, and the education of the younger childi-en, 
 
 [158] 
 
GENERAL BRADDOCK. 159 
 
 were concerns in wliich he ever took the liveliest 
 interest ; and to make these labors light and easy to 
 her by his aid or counsel was a pleasure to him 
 indeed. Tliis grateM duty duly done, he once more 
 sought the shelter of Mount Vernon, to whose com- 
 forts he had been for so many months a stranger. 
 The toils of a soldier's hfe were now exchanged for 
 the peaceful labors of a husbandman. Nor did tliis 
 change, to his well-ordered mind, bring with it any 
 idle regrets ; for the quiet p\irsuits of a farmer's life 
 yielded him, young, ardent, and adventiu-ous as he 
 was, scarcely less delight than the profession of arms, 
 and even more as he grew in years. 
 
 The aiFair of the Great Meadows roused the mo- 
 ther-country at last to a fidl sense of the danger that 
 threatened her possessions in America. Accordingly, 
 to regain what had been lost, money, and munitions 
 of war, and a gallant little army fitted out in the 
 completest style of that day, were sent over with all 
 possible expedition, under the command of Major- 
 Gen. Braddock. 
 
 From the shrubby heights of Mount Yernon, 
 Washington could look down, and behold the British 
 ships-of-war as they moved slowly up the majestic 
 Potomac, their decks thronged with officers and sol- 
 diers dressed in showy uniform, their polished arms 
 and accoutrements flashing back the cold, clear hght 
 of the- February sun. From their encampment at 
 Alexandria, a few miles distant, he could hear the 
 
IGO THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 booming of tlieir morning and evening guns, as it 
 came rolling over the hills and tlu-oiigh the woods, 
 and shook his quiet home like a sullen summons to 
 arms. Often, no longer able to keep down Ills youth- 
 ful ardor, he would mount his horse, and, galloping 
 up to the town, spend hours there in watcliing the 
 different companies, as with the precision of clock- 
 w^ork they went through their varied and difficult 
 evolutions. At these sights and sounds, all the mar- 
 tial spirit within him took fire again. 
 
 To Gen. Braddock, who commanded all the forces 
 in America, provincial as well as royal. Gov. Din- 
 widdle and other Virginia notables spoke in the 
 highest terms of the character of young Washington ; 
 giving liim at the same time still fiirther particulars 
 of the brave and soldierly conduct he had so sig- 
 nally shown during the campaign of the previous 
 year. They took pleasure, they said, in recommend- 
 ing him as one whose skill and experience in Indian 
 warfare, and thorough acquaintance with the wild 
 country beyond the borders, were such as could be 
 turned to the greatest advantage in the course of the 
 following campaign. 
 
 Desirous of securing services of such peculiar value, 
 Braddock sent om* young Virginian a courteous invi- 
 tation to join his staff; offering him the post of 
 volunteer aide-de-camp, with the rank of colonel. 
 Here was an opportunity of gratifying his taste for 
 arms under one of the first generals of the day. 
 
GENERAL BRADDOCK. 161 
 
 Could he do it without the sacrifice of honor or self- 
 respect? Although he had left the service for the 
 best of reasons, as you must bear in mind, yet there 
 was nothing in these reasons to hinder him from serv- 
 ing his country, not for pay, but as a generous 
 volunteer, bearing his ovm expenses. Besides, such 
 a post as this would place him altogether above the 
 authority of any equal or inferior officer who mi^ht 
 chance to hold a king's commission. Debating thus 
 with himself, and urged on by his friends, he ac- 
 cepted Braddock's invitation, and joined his staff as 
 volunteer aide-de-camp. 
 
 Now, would you know what an aide-de-camp is ? 
 Wait, and you will find out for yourselves when we 
 come to the battle of the Monongahela, where Brad- 
 dock suffered his gallant Httle army to be cut to pieces 
 by the French and Indians. 
 
 When IVIrs. Washington heard that her son was 
 on the eve of joining the new army, ftdl of a mother's 
 fears, she hastened to entreat him not again to expose 
 liimself to the dangers and trials of a soldier's life. 
 Although the army was the only opening to distinction 
 at that time in the Colonies, yet, to have him ever 
 near her, she would rather have seen him quietly set- 
 tled at liis beautiful homestead, as an unpretendino- 
 farmer, than on the high road to every worldly honor 
 at the risk of Hfe or virtue. Ever mindful of her 
 slightest wishes, her son listened respectfully to all 
 her objections, and said all he could to quiet her 
 
162 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 motherly fears : but, feeling that he owed his highest 
 duty to his country, he was not to be turned from 
 his steadfast purpose ; and, taking an affectionate leave 
 of her, he set out to join his general at Fort Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 Fort Cumberland was situated on Wills's Creek, 
 and had just been built by Braddock as a gathering 
 point for the border ; and thither he had removed his 
 whole army, with all his stores, and munitions of war. 
 Upon further acquaintance, Wasliington found this 
 old veteran a man of courteous though somewhat 
 haughty manners, of a hasty and uneven temper, 
 strict and rigid in the discipline of liis soldiers, much 
 given to martial pomp and parade, and self-conceited 
 and wilfiil to a degree that was sometimes scarcely 
 bearable. He was, however, of a sociable and hospi- 
 table tm*n ; often inviting his officers to dine with him, 
 and entertaining them like princes. So keen a rehsh 
 had he for the good things of the table, that he never 
 travelled without his two cooks, who were said to 
 have been so uncommonly skilful in their line of 
 business, that they could take a pair of boots, and boil 
 them down into a very respectable dish of soup, give 
 them only the seasoning to finish it off with. The 
 little folks, however, must be very cautious how they 
 receive this story, as then- Uncle Juvinell will not 
 undertake to vouch for the truth of it. 
 
 The contractors — that is to say, the men who had 
 been engaged to furnish the army with a certain 
 
GENEKAL BKADDOCK. 163 
 
 number of horses, pack-saddles, and wagons, by a 
 certain time, and for a certain consideration — had 
 failed to be as good as their word, and had thereby 
 seriously hindered the progTCSS of the campaign. As 
 might have been expected, this was enough to throw 
 such a man as Braddock into a towering passion ; 
 and, to mend his humor, the governors of the different 
 provinces were rR)t as ready and brisk to answer his 
 call for men and supplies as he thought he had a 
 right to expect. 
 
 So he poured forth his vials of wrath upon whom- 
 soever or whatsoever chanced to come uppermost. 
 He, stormed at the contractors ; he railed at the gov- 
 ernors, and sneered at the troops they sent him ; he 
 abused the country in general, and scolded about the 
 bad roads in particular. 
 
 Washington, with his usual clearness of insight into 
 character, soon saw, to his deep disappointment, that 
 this was hardly the man to conduct a wilderness 
 campaign to any thing like a successful end, how- 
 ever brave the testy old veteran might be, and expert 
 in the management of well-drilled regulars in the 
 open and cultivated regions of the Old World. Of 
 the same opinion was Dr. Frankhn, who, being at 
 that time Postmaster-General of all the Colonies, 
 came to Braddock's quarters at Fort Cumberland to 
 make some arrangements for transporting the mail 
 to and from the army during the progress of the expe- 
 dition. I will read you his own lively account of 
 
164 THE FAEMEK EOF. 
 
 this interview, as it will enable you to see more 
 clearly those faults of Braddock's character that so 
 soon after brought ruin on his own head, and disgrace 
 i^pon English arms in America. 
 
 " In conversation with him one day, he was giving me 
 some account of his intended progress. ' After taking Fort 
 Duquesne/ said he, ' I am to proceed to Niagara ; and, hav- 
 ing taken that, to Frontenac, if the season will allow ; and 
 I suppose it will, for Duquesne can hardly detain me above 
 three or four days : and then I can see nothing that can 
 obstruct my march to Niagara.' 
 
 " Having before revolved in my mind the long line his 
 army must make in their march by a very narrow road 
 to be cut for them through the woods and bushes, and also 
 what I had heard of a former defeat of fifteen hundred 
 French who invaded the Illinois country, I had conceived 
 some doubts and some fears for the event of the campaign ; 
 but I ventured only to say, ' To be sure, sir, if you arrive 
 well before Duquesne with these fine troops, so well pro- 
 vided with artillery, the fort, though completely fortified 
 and assisted with a very stroiig garrison, can probably make 
 but a short resistance. The only danger I apprehend of 
 obstruction to your march is from the ambuscades of the 
 Indians, who, by constant practice, are dexterous in laying 
 and executing them ; and the slender line, nearly four miles 
 long, which your army must make, may expose it to be 
 attacked by surprise on its flanks, and to be cut like thread 
 into several pieces, which, from their distance, cannot come 
 up in time to support one another.' He smiled at my 
 ignorance, and replied, — 
 
GENERAJi BRADDOCK. 1G5 
 
 " ' These savages may, indeed, be a formidable enemy to 
 raw American militia ; but upon the king's regulai- and dis- 
 ciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they should make an 
 impression.' 
 
 '* I was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing with 
 a military man in matters of. his profession, and said no 
 more." 
 
 In the course of this intemew, Franklin chanced 
 to express a regret that the army had not been landed 
 in Penjisylvania, where, as every farmer kept liis own 
 wacron and horses, better means would have been 
 more readily found for transportmg the troops, with 
 their hea\y guns and munitions of war, across the 
 country and over the mountains. Quick to take a 
 hint, Braddock made haste to request him, as a man 
 of standing in liis colony, to furnish him. In the king's 
 name, one himdi'ed and fifty wagons, and four horses 
 to each wagon, besides a large number of pack-horses 
 and pack-saddles. This, Franklin readily undertook 
 to do ; and went about it with such diligence, that by 
 the latter part of spring, even before the time set, he 
 had fulfilled his promise to the last letter ; and Brad- 
 dock had now the satisfaction of seeing liis army, 
 after all these vexatious delays, in a condition to move 
 forward. 
 
 Meanwhile, AYashington was all attention to affairs 
 in camp, and was daily gaining fresh Insight into the 
 art of war, as understood and practised In the most 
 civilized countries of the Old World. Every day the 
 
1G6 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 men were drilled, and passexl under review ; their arms 
 and accontrenients carefiilly inspected by their offi- 
 cers, to make sure that they were in perfect order, 
 and ready for use at a moment's notice. Sentinels and 
 gusirds were stationed in and about the camp, day and 
 niiiht. 
 
 So strict was the watch kept by tliis lynx-eyed old 
 genei'al over the morals of liis men, that drunken- 
 ness was punished with severe confinement ; and any 
 one found guilty of theft was drummed out of his 
 regiment, after receiving five hundred stripes on his 
 bare back. Every Sunday, the soldiers were called 
 together, under the colors of their separate regi- 
 ments, to hear divine service performed by their 
 chaplains. 
 
 To lend variety to the scene, the Indians of the 
 neighboring wilderness came flocking in to join their 
 fortunes with the Enu'lish, or briuix information of the 
 movements or designs of the French. Among these 
 came his old friend and ally, White Thunder, keeper 
 of the speech-belt ; and Silver Heels, a renowned 
 warrior, so called, no doubt, from his being uncom- 
 monly nimble of foot. Also, as we shall meet him 
 again hereafter, should be mentioned another sachem, 
 whose Indian name the little folks must excuse their 
 Uncle Juvinell from giving them in fidl. By your 
 leave, then, for the sake of brevity and convenience^ 
 we will call him by the last two syllables of his 
 name, Yaddi. From them Washington learned, much 
 
OENEIIAL BRADDOCK. 107 
 
 to IjIh regret, that Km red brother, the Half King, 
 hjid (lied a few month.s Ijcjfore ; having, as the con- 
 jurorH or inedieine-men of lii.s tribe pretended, been 
 bewitched by the Freneli for t}ie terribhi blow h(j 
 had dealt them at the battle of Jumonville, whieli had 
 filled them with Huch terror, that they dared not 
 hope for Hafety in the wide earth till certain that he 
 walked and ate and filept no more among living 
 men. 
 
 Although Braddock held these savage allies in high 
 contempt, yet when Washington pointed out to him 
 how much was to be gained by their friendship, and 
 how much to be lost by their enmity, he was p(;r- 
 Huaded, for that one time at least, to treat them with 
 marked respect and distinction. 
 
 To give them an overwhelming idea of the power 
 and splendor of English arms, he received them with 
 all the honors of war, — fifes playing, drums beating, 
 and the regidars lowering their muskets as they passed 
 on to the general's tent. Here Braddock received them 
 in the midst of his officers, and made them a speech of 
 welcome, in the course of which he told them of th(; 
 deep sorrow felt by their great father, the King of 
 England, for the death of his red brother, the Half 
 King; and that, to console his red children in Ame- 
 rica for so grievous a loss, as well as to reward them 
 for their friendship and services to the English, he 
 had sent them many rich and handsome presents, 
 wliich they should receive before leaving the fort. 
 
168 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 This speecli was answered by a dozen warriors in as 
 many orations, which being very long and very flowery, 
 and very httle to the point, bored their EngHsh Hsten- 
 ers dreadfully. The peace-pipe smoked and the Big 
 Talk ended, Braddock, by way of putting a cap on 
 the grand occasion, ordered all the fifes to play, and 
 drums to beat, and, in the midst of the music, all the 
 guns in the fort to be fired at once. He then caused 
 a bullock to be killed, and roasted whole, for the 
 refreshment of his Indian guests. 
 
 The Indians, in their turn, to show how sensible 
 they were of the honor done them by this distin- 
 guished reception, entertained the English by dancing 
 their war-dances and singing their war-songs : by 
 which you are to understand that they jumped and 
 whu'led and capered about in a thousand outlandish 
 antics till they grew limber and weak in the knees, 
 and yelped and bellowed and howled till their bodies 
 were almost empty of breath ; when, from very ex- 
 haustion, they hushed their barbarous din, and night 
 and slumber fell on the camp. In the daytime, these 
 lords of the forest, tricked out in all their savage 
 finery, their faces streaked with war-paint and their 
 scalp-locks brave with gay bunches of feathers, would 
 stalk about the fort, big with wonder over every 
 thing they saw. Now and then, they would follow 
 with admiring eyes the rapid and skilful movement 
 of the red-coated regulars, as one or other of the 
 regiments, like some huge machine, went through 
 
GENERAL BRADDOCK. 1G9 
 
 their martial exercises ; or, standing on the ram- 
 parts, they would watch with still keener zest and 
 interest the young officers as they amused themselves 
 by racing their horses outside the fort. 
 
 As ill luck would have it, these warriors had 
 brought with them their wives and children, among 
 whom were many very pretty Indian girls, with 
 plump, round forms, little hands and feet, and beady, 
 roguish eyes'. As female society was not by any 
 means one of the charms of life at Fort Cumberland, 
 the coming of these wild beauties was hailed with 
 the liveliest delight by the young English officers, 
 who, the moment they laid eyes on them, fell to lov- 
 ing them to desperation. First among these forest 
 belles was one who went by the expressive name of 
 Bright Lightning ; so called, no doubt, from being 
 the favorite daughter of White Thunder. It being 
 noised abroad that she was a savage princess of the 
 very first blood, she, of course, at once became 
 the centre of fashionable attraction, and the leading 
 toast of all the young blades in camp. No sooner, 
 however, did the warriors get wind of these gallant- 
 ries, than they were quite beside themselves \^dth rage 
 and jealousy, and straightway put an end to them ; 
 making the erring fair ones pack off home, bag and 
 baggage, sorely to their disappointment, as well as 
 to that of the young British lions, who were quite 
 inconsolable for their loss. 
 
 This scandalous behavior on the part of the 
 
 8 
 
170 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 English — of wliich, however, your Uncle Juvinell 
 may have spoken more lightly than he ought — was, 
 as you may well believe, very disgusting to Washing- 
 ton, who was a young man of the purest thoughts 
 and habits. As may be naturally supposed, it gave 
 deep and lasting offence to the sachems ; and when 
 to this is coupled the fact, that their wishes and 
 opinions toucliing war-matters were never heeded 
 or consulted, we cannot wonder that they one by one 
 forsook the English, with all their warriors, and came 
 no more. 
 
 Foreseeing this, and well knoAving w^hat valuable 
 service these people could render as scouts and spies, 
 Washington had gone to Braddock, time and again, 
 warnins: him to treat them with more regard to their 
 peculiar whims and customs, if he did not wish to 
 lose the advantages to be expected from their friend- 
 sliip, or bring upon him the terrible consequences of 
 their enmity. As this wise and timely advice came 
 from a young provincial colonel, the wrong-headed 
 old general treated it, of course, with high disdain, 
 and to the last remained obstinate in the belief that 
 he could march to the very heart of the continent 
 without meeting an enemy who could withstand his 
 well-drilled regulars and fine artillery. 
 
 And thus, my dear children, did tliis rash and 
 wilful man cast lightly away the golden opportunity, 
 wherein, by a few kind words, or tokens of respect, 
 he could have gained the lasting friendsliip of this 
 
GEXERAI. BRADDOCK. 171 
 
 much-despised race, and thereby made them, in all 
 human likelihood, the humble means of savin o- 
 from early destruction the finest army, which, up to 
 that time, had carried its banners to the Western 
 World. 
 
XV. 
 
 ROUGH WORK. 
 
 AT last, all things were got in readiness ; and the 
 gallant little army began its toilsome march 
 through the forest, and over the mountains, and up 
 and down the valleys. Beside the regulars, fourteen 
 hundred strong, it consisted of two companies of 
 hatchet-men, or carpenters, whose business it was to 
 go on before, and open the road ; a small company 
 of seamen, who had the care and management of the 
 artillery ; six companies of rangers, some of whom 
 were Pennsylvanians ; and two companies of light 
 horse, which, being composed of young men taken 
 from the very first families of Virginia, Braddock 
 had chosen to be his body-guard : the whole number- 
 ing two thousand, or thereabouts. 
 
 Owing to the difficulty of dragging the loaded 
 wagons and heavy guns over the steep and rocky 
 roads, the march was slow and tedious in the extreme ; 
 and what made it still more trying to Washing- 
 ton's patience was to see so many wagons and pack- 
 horses loaded down with the private baggage of 
 
 [172] 
 
ROUGH WORK. 173 
 
 the English officers, — such as fine clothing, table 
 dainties, and a hundred little troublesome conve- 
 niences, which they must needs lug about with them 
 wherever they went. Weeks before they left Fort 
 Cumberland, Washington had pointed out to Brad- 
 dock the folly of attempting to cross that monstrous 
 mountain barrier with a cumbrous train of wheel- 
 carriages ; and expressed the opinion, that, for the 
 present, they had better leave the bulk of their 
 baggage and their heaviest artillery, and, trusting 
 entirely to pack-horses for transporting what should 
 be needed most, make their way at once to Fort Du- 
 quesne while the garrison was yet too weak to offer 
 any resistance. This prudent counsel, however, as 
 usual, had failed to produce the least effect on the 
 narrow and stubborn mind of Braddock ; but by 
 the time he had dragged his unwieldy length over 
 two or three mountains, and had made but a few 
 miles in many days, it began to dawn on his mind by 
 slow degrees , that a campaign in an American wilder- 
 ness was a very different thing from what it was in 
 the cultivated regions of Europe, where nearly every 
 meadow, field, or wood, could tell of a Christian and 
 civilized battle there fought, and where the fine roads 
 and bridges made the march of an army a mere holi- 
 day jaunt as compared to this rough service. The 
 difficulties that beset him seeming to thicken around 
 him at every step, he was at last so sorely put to 
 it and perplexed as to be obliged to turn to the 
 
174 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 voiing proTinoial colonel for that advice wlilcli lie, in 
 liis blind selt-contidence, had but a short while betbre 
 disdained. 
 
 Too well bred to seem surprised at this unbending 
 of the haughty old general, although he really Avas 
 not a little, AVashington readily, yet with all becom- 
 ing modesty, did as he was desired, in a clear, brief, 
 and soldierly manner. He gave it as his opinion, 
 that their best plan would be to diA'ide the army into 
 two parts, — the smaller division, under command 
 of Col. Dunbar, to form the rear, and bring up the 
 heavy guns and baoo'ao-e-wao'ons : the laro-er divi- 
 slon, under the command of Braddock, to form the 
 advance, and taking with it but two pieces of light 
 artillery, and no more baggage than could be con- 
 veniently carried on pack-horses,* push rapidly on to 
 Fort Duquesne, and surprise the garrison before they 
 could receive timely warning of their danger, or be 
 re-enforced by the troops from Canada, which would 
 have arrived ere then, had not the summer drouuht 
 prevented. To some extent, this prudent advice was 
 followed ; and, to give it the force of example, Wash- 
 ino'ton reduced his bao^sras^e to a few little necessaries 
 that he could easily carry in a small portmanteau 
 strapped to liis back, and gave his fine charger to be 
 used as a pack-horse. His brother provincial officers, 
 accustomed as thev were to deahnsr with the diffi- 
 culties and inconveniences of a backwoods life, in a 
 ready, off-hand fashion, followed his example with 
 
bot;gii work. 175 
 
 the greatfesrt willingneiis and gfxA-humfyr, yrAwixh^ 
 istandmf^ thi«, hfjwever, there were stOl two hnndred 
 pack-hor.^es ]fj2Ae(l with the private baggage of the 
 EDgliih officers, who were unwiDing, eTeii in that 
 hour of pressing need, to make this little sacn&ee oi 
 their present comfort to the common good. So 
 tender did they seem of their bodily ease, and 
 go given np to the pleaeures of appetite, that Wash- 
 ington began to have serious donbts of their fitness 
 to endure the hardships of a roncfh campaign, and of 
 their courage and firmness to face the dangers of the 
 battle-field. 
 
 One evening late, about this time, as the army 
 lay encamped at the Little Meadows, there suddenly 
 appeared among them, from the neighboring woods, 
 a large party of hunters, all Pennsylvanians, dressed 
 in the wild garb of Indians, and armed with hatchets, 
 knives, and rifles. TTieir leader was a certain Capt. 
 Jack, one of the greatest hunters of his day, and 
 nearly as famous in the border tales of Pennsylva- 
 nia as Daniel Boone in those of green Kentucky. 
 When your Uncle Juvinell was quite a lad, he read 
 the story of this strange man, in an old book, which 
 pleased and interested him so much at the time, 
 that he has never since forgotten it, and will now 
 repeat it to you in the very words of the old chro- 
 nicler : — 
 
 "The 'Black Hunter,' the 'Black Rifle,' the 'Wild 
 Hunter of Juniata,' Ls a white man. His history is this : 
 
176 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 He entered the woods with a few enterprising companions, 
 buih his cabin, cleared a little land, and amused himself 
 with the pleasure of fishing and hunting. He felt happy ; 
 for then he had not a care. But on an evening, when he 
 returned from a day of sport, he found his cabin burnt, his 
 wife and children murdered. From that moment he for- 
 sakes civilized man, hunts out caves m which he lives, 
 protects the frontier inhabitants from the Indians, and 
 seizes every opportunity of revenge that offers. He lives 
 the terror of the Indians, and the consolation of the whites. 
 On one occasion, near Juniata, in the middle of a dark 
 hight, a family were suddenly awaked from sleep by the 
 report of a gun. They jumped from their huts ; and, by the 
 glimmering light from, the chimney, saw an Indian fall to 
 rise no more. The open door exposed to view the Wild 
 Hunter. ' I have saved your lives ! ' he cried ; then turned, 
 and was buried in the gloom of night." 
 
 Bidding his leather-stockings to wait where they 
 were till he came back, the Black Hunter strode on 
 to the general's tent, and, without more ado than to 
 enter, made known the object of his coming there, in 
 a speech that smacked somewhat of the Indian style 
 of oratory ; which I will give you, as nearly as I can, 
 in his own words : — 
 
 " Englishmen, the foe is on the watch. He lurks in the 
 strongholds of the mountains. He hides in the shadows of 
 the forest. He hovers over you like a hungry vulture 
 ready to pounce upon its prey. He has made a boast that 
 he will keep his eye upon you, from his look-outs on the 
 hills, day and night, till you have walked into his snare, 
 
ROUGH WORK. 177 
 
 when he will shoot down your gay red-birds like pigeons. 
 Englishmen, dangers thicken round you at every step ; but 
 in the pride of your strength you have blinded your eyes, 
 so that you see them not. I have brought my hunters, 
 who are brave and trusty men, to serve you as scouts and 
 spies. In your front and in your rear, and on either hand, 
 we will scour the woods, and beat the bushes, to stir up the 
 lurking foe, that your gallant men fall not into his murder- 
 ous ambuscade. To us the secret places of the wilderness 
 are as an open book ; in its depths we have made our 
 homes this many a year : there we can find both food and 
 shelter. We ask no pay, and our rifles are all our own." 
 
 To this noble and disinterested offer, Braddock 
 returned a cold and haughty answer. 
 
 "There is time enough," said he, "for making 
 such arrangements ; and I have experienced troops 
 on whom I can rely." 
 
 Stung to the quick by tliis uncivil and ungenerous 
 treatment, the Black Hunter, without another word, 
 turned, and, with a kindling eye and proud step, left 
 the tent. When he told his follow^ers of the scornful 
 manner in which the English general had treated 
 their leader, and rejected their offer of service, they 
 staid not, but, with angry and indignant mien, filed 
 out of the camp, and, plunging once more into the 
 wilderness, left the devoted little army to march on 
 to that destruction to which its ill-starred commander 
 seemed so fatally bent on leading it. " The contemp- 
 tuous indifference which always marked the demeanor 
 
 8* 
 
178 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 of Braddock towards these rude but brave and trusty- 
 warriors of the woods was very oifensive to Wash- 
 ington ; the more, as he knew, that, when it came 
 to be put to the test, these men, unskilled though 
 they were in the modes of ci\alized warfare, would 
 be found far better fitted to cope with the cunning 
 and stealthy enemy they had then to deal with, than 
 those well-dressed, well-armed, well-di*illed, but un- 
 wieldy regulars. 
 
 After having rested a few days at the Little Mea- 
 dows, the advanced division of the army once more 
 took up the line of inarch ; but, to Washington's 
 disappointment, made scarcely better speed than 
 before, although lightened of nearly all of the heavy- 
 baggage. " I found," wrote he a short time after, 
 "that, instead of pushing on with \agor, we were 
 halting to level every mole-hill, and erect bridges 
 over every brook ; by which means we were some- 
 times four days in getting twelve miles." Slowly 
 the long and straggling lines held on their weary- 
 way, now scrambling over some rugged steep, now 
 winchng along some narrow defile, till at length the 
 silence of that gloomy vale — the Shades of Death — 
 was again broken by the shouts and uproar of a 
 marching army. 
 
 For several days, Washington had been suffering 
 much from fever, attended with a racking headache, 
 which had obliged him to travel in a covered wagon. 
 By the time they reached the great crossings of the 
 
ROUGH WORK. 179 
 
 Youglilogeny, his illness had so increased, that Dr. 
 Craik, liis good friend and physician, declared it 
 would be almost certain death for him. to travel fur- 
 ther ; at the same time advising him to stay where 
 he was until his fever should somewhat abate its 
 violence, when he could come up with Dunbar's rear 
 division. His brother officers also, and even his old 
 general, kindly urged him to give up all thought of 
 going on for the present ; while, to render his disap- 
 pointment more bearable, some of them promised to 
 keep him informed, by writing, of every thing note- 
 worthy wliich should happen in the course of their 
 march. Seeing there was no help for it, he suffered 
 himself to be left behind : but it was with a sad and 
 heavy heart that he saw them pass on without him ; 
 and when they had vanished, one by one, in the 
 shadows of the neiorhborino' wilds, and the o-leamins" 
 of their arms could no lono;er be seen throuo;h the 
 openings of the trees and bushes, he turned with a 
 sigh, and said to the men whom Braddock had left 
 to nurse and guard him, "I would not for five hun- 
 dred pounds miss being at the taking of Fort Du- 
 quesne." Here he lay for ten days ; his fever, no 
 doubt, much aggravated by his impatience to rejoin 
 his comrades, and the fear lest he should not be well 
 in time to share with them the dano;ers and honors 
 of the comino; contest. 
 
 Meanwhile, Braddock pursued his slow and tedious 
 march, and in a few days had passed the Great 
 
180 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Meadows, where young Washington, the year before, 
 as you must well remember, had learned his first 
 lessons in the rude art of war. A few miles beyond 
 this, he came to a deserted Indian camp, on the top 
 of a rocky hill, wdiere, to judge from the number of 
 wigwams, at least one hundred and seventy warriors 
 must have lodo-ed. The fires w^ere still burnino: ; 
 which showed but too plainly that the stealthy foe 
 was on the watch, and not far distant. Some of 
 the trees hard by had been stripped of their bark ; 
 and on their white, sappy trunks were to be seen, 
 in the rude picture-w^riting of the Indians, savage 
 taunts and threats of veno^eance meant for the Enof- 
 lish ; while intermixed with these were bullying 
 boasts and blackguard slang, written in the French 
 language, as if to force on the notice of those who 
 were to read them the fact, that there were white as 
 well as red men lurking near. 
 
 It had almost slipped my mind to tell you, that 
 Braddock, moved perhaps by the ad^dce of Wash- 
 ington, had, before setting out from Fort Cumber- 
 land, employed a small party of Indians, with their 
 sachem Yadi at their head, to serve as guides and 
 spies during the campaign. A few days after passing 
 the deserted camp on the rock, four or five soldiers, 
 straggling too far in the rear, were suddenly waylaid 
 by the prowling foe, and all murdered and scalped 
 on the spot. 
 
 To avenge the death of their comrades, a squad of 
 
ROUGH WORK. 181 
 
 regulars went out in quest of the enemy, and soon 
 came in sight of a small party of Indians, who held 
 up the boughs of trees before them, and stood their 
 riiies on the ground, as a sign that they Avere friends. 
 Xot understanding this, however, and the distance 
 l)eing too great for them to make out who they were, 
 the blundering regulars fired, and one of the party 
 fell dead on the spot, — a youthful warrior, who 
 proved to be the son of the sachem Yadi. When 
 Braddock heard of this melancholy accident, he was 
 deeply grieved. He forthwith sent for the bereaved 
 father, and, ^ his praise be it ev'er recorded, endea- 
 vored, by kind words and liberal presents, to console 
 him, and make some little amends for his heavy loss ; 
 and, as a still further token of his regard, he ordered 
 the hapless youth to be buried with all the honors of 
 war. The body, borne on a bier, was followed by the 
 officers, two and two ; while the soldiers, drawn up 
 in two lines, with the grave between them, stood 
 facing each other, with the points of their muskets 
 turned downward, and their chins resting in the hol- 
 low of the breeches. When the body was lowered, 
 they fired three volleys over the grave, and left the 
 young warrior to his long sleep on the hillside, with 
 his bright hatchet and trusty rifle beside him. All 
 this was very soothing to the sorrow and gratifying 
 to the fatherly pride of the old sachem, and made 
 him ever after a loving friend and faithful ally of the 
 English. I have told you this little story to show 
 
182 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 you, that this testy and obstinate old general, with 
 all his faults, was far from being the hard, unfeel- 
 ino- man that he sometimes seemed ; and also as ff 
 tribute that every historian should pay to the memory 
 of one whose misfortune it has been to be blamed so 
 much, and pitied so little. 
 
 By this time, Washington had so far regained his 
 strength as to admit of his being borne along in a 
 covered wagon ; and, setting out accordingly, in five 
 days came up with the advance division, where It lay 
 encamped In a beautiful spot about two miles from 
 the Monongahela, and fifteen miles fi«om Fort Du- 
 quesne. Here he was joyfully welcomed by both 
 officers and men, with whom his generosity, and frank, 
 manly bearing, had made him a great favorite. Shortly 
 after his arrival, Mr Gist and two Indian scouts, who 
 had been sent out to reconnoitre or spy out the 
 enemy, came back with the cheering tidings, that the 
 re-enforcements had not yet come down from Canada, 
 and that the garrison in the fort was at present too 
 weak to stand a single hour's siege. But what gave 
 him a little uneasiness was a lofty column of smoke, 
 rising from a deep and densely wooded hollow, where 
 they were quite sure the watchful enemy was lurking, 
 and hatchino; some mischief for the Eno;lIsh. 
 
 Now, the fort and the camp lay on the same side 
 of the river ; and the most direct route between them 
 was by a narrow mountain pass, rising abruptly from 
 the water's edge on the left, and, on the right, shut 
 
ROUGH WORK. 183 
 
 lu by a steep and lofty hill, whose stony sides were 
 overgrown with laurel and stunted cedars and pines. 
 As it was altogether out of the question to drag their 
 wagons and artillery along this pass, it was resolved 
 to cross the river, first at a point just over against 
 the camp, and then, moving down along the opposite 
 bank, recross it at another point five miles below ; 
 at both of which places the fords were shallow, and 
 the banks not high. 
 
 At last, the 9th of July, 1755, — a day ever to be 
 remembered in American annals, — began to dawn. 
 Long before its first red light had streaked the east, 
 a hum in the camp told that the little army was, 
 even at that hour, all astir, and big with the bustle 
 of preparation. Officers and men were in the high- 
 est hopes, and looked forward with confidence to the 
 coming evening, when they were to plant their vic- 
 torious banners on the ramparts of Fort Duquesne. 
 Although they had marched thus far without serious 
 molestation, yet Col. Washington's fears of an am- 
 buscade were not a whit diminished ; for he felt quite 
 certain that they should never reach the French fort 
 without an attempt being made to surprise, or drive 
 them back. Full of these apprehensions, he went 
 to Gen. Braddock, and, pointing out to lilm the 
 danger hanging over them, urged him by all means 
 to send out the Virginia rangers to scour the woods 
 and thickets, front and flank, and beat up the enemy, 
 should any chance to be lurking near with the design 
 
184 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 of drawing them Into an ambuscade. No advice, as 
 it afterwards turned out, could have been more timely : 
 but, coming from a raw provincial colonel, Braddock' 
 cast it aside with angry impatience ; and when the 
 line of march was formed, as if to show in what 
 light esteem he held it, he ordered the rangers to the 
 rear, to guard the baggage. Before daybreak, a large 
 party of pioneers, or road-cutters, with a small guard 
 of regulars, numbering in all about three hundred, 
 had gone on before to open a passage for the army 
 through the woods, and make the fords more passable 
 by levelling the banks. 
 
 The midsummer sun was shooting its first beams, 
 level and red, among the Alleghany hills, when the 
 little army, having crossed the Monongahela at the 
 upper ford, stood on its southern bank, forming in 
 line of march. By order of their general, officers 
 and men had scoured and polished their arms and 
 accoutrements the night before ; and now appeared in 
 full uniform, as if some grand military parade were 
 to be the programme of the day. The whole line 
 was soon moving slowly forward, with fifes playing, 
 drums beating, and colors flying ; the regulars keep- 
 ing step the while to the " Grenadier's March." In 
 the clear and tranquil depths of the river, as they 
 moved along Its shady banks, could be seen, as in a 
 mirror, the long array of leather-shirted rangers and 
 red-coated regulars, with their sun-lit arms and 
 prancing steeds, and bright banners that floated in the 
 
ROUGH WORK. 185 
 
 moriiing breeze. This brilliant spectacle, so well set 
 oiF by the smiling river in front and the frowning 
 woods beyoncT, formed a picture that ever lived in the 
 memory of Washington ; and in after-years he used 
 often to say, that, as it then appeared to liim, he 
 thought he had never seen any tiling so beautiful. In 
 the enthusiasm of the moment, he forgot his late 
 illness, the still enfeebled condition of liis body, — 
 all, save the glory of serving his countiy ; and, 
 mounting his horse, he joined his brother-aides in 
 their attendance on their general, else far more fatal 
 must have been the end of that bloody day. 
 
XVI. 
 
 braddock's defeat. 
 
 IN my account of tliis battle, as well as all the 
 others that will come thundering In upon us 
 from time to time In the course of our story, I have 
 thought It would suit our purpose best to touch 
 upon those facts only that are Hkehest to leave the 
 most lasting pictures of such events on your minds ; 
 using the while no more words than may actually 
 be needed to give clearness and completeness to the 
 same. And now, Daniel, my young Herodotus, and 
 Ned, my young Hannibal, bring In another Christ- 
 mas log, that we may have a more cheerful blaze ; 
 for our story will be doleful enough for the next 
 half-hour, without these goblin shadows dodging and 
 flittino: about the room to make It more so. 
 
 At mid-day, Braddock's army came to the lower 
 ford, where a halt was called to allow of a few 
 minutes' rest. Far In front, across the river, the 
 ringing of a hundred axes, followed at short Inter- 
 vals by the crash of falling trees, could be distinctly 
 heard ; telling that the pioneers were there, working 
 might and main to clear a passage for those behind. 
 
 [186] 
 
br.\ddock's defeat. 187 
 
 The road just opened, after leaving the ford, ran 
 across a hea\ily wooded bottom that skirted the river ; 
 and thence, for a few hundi'ed yards, up a rocky 
 slope to the foot of a high range of liills, about a 
 mile distant, where it entered a narrow, bushy defile, 
 and went no further. The country, for miles and 
 miles around, as far as the eye could reach, was 
 thickly wooded, save the rocky slope just mentioned, 
 and the neighboring ravines, which were overgrown 
 with long, coarse grass and whortleberry-bushes, 
 so high as to sweep the horses' bellies ; with here 
 and there a few scattering trees of some size. It 
 was the very place, of all others, that the wily 
 Indian would be most likely to choose for his ambus- 
 cade. 
 
 By two o'clock, the whole army had regained the 
 northern bank of the river. They were now within 
 ten miles of Fort Duquesne, and a lucky end to 
 then- present campaign seemed near at hand. In a 
 few minutes, artillery and baggage, foot and horse, 
 regulars and rangers, formed into separate and dis- 
 tinct columns, stood ready to move as soon as the 
 word should be given. Just at the moment, how- 
 ever, when they were listening to hear the order, 
 "Forward, march!" drop from their general's lips, 
 they were startled by a sudden and heavy firing 
 among the hills, which put a sudden stop to the 
 hundred axes, and told but too plainly that the road- 
 cutters and their guard of regulars had been drawn 
 
188 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 into an ambuscade. Washington knew at once, and 
 too well, that the evil he dreaded from the beo^in- 
 ing, had, on the very eve of success, come upon 
 them ; and with it also came the painful reflection, 
 that it would never have so befallen them, had the 
 rangers been suiFered to scour the woods, and beat up 
 the enemy, as had been recommended by him but a 
 few hours before. Braddock forthwith ordered two 
 companies to hurry on to the relief of the pio- 
 neers ; and, at his bidding, one of his aides spurred 
 forward to learn further of the matter, and bring liim 
 word. The firing grew heavier and heavier, and 
 seemed to be coming nearer and nearer. The lonely 
 hills and woods around rang with the whoops and 
 yells of the unseen savages. Not able to restrain 
 his impatience till liis aide came back, Braddock 
 ordered his main division to come up at double-quick ; 
 and, taking with him his two remaining aides and a 
 small guard of light-horse, galloped up to the scene 
 of action. Here what was his rage and mortifica- 
 tion to find his doughty regulars, of whom he had 
 boasted so much, changed, as it were in the whistling 
 of a bullet, into a mere disorderly rabble of red- 
 coats, — confused, bewildered, to a degree that he 
 could never have dreamed possible ! Crowded and 
 huddled together in the narrow road, he saw them 
 dropping down under the Indian bullets, helpless as 
 a herd of frightened deer beset by a band of unseen 
 hunters. 
 
braddock's defeat. 189 
 
 By this time, the Indians, still hid from view by 
 the grass and bushes, had stretched their lines along 
 either side of the road, from the hollows among 
 the hills to some distance down the rocky slope, and 
 were pouring in a murderous fire upon the affright- 
 ed English ; yelling and whooping the while hke a 
 leo-ion of devils at some infernal frolic. Two bayo- 
 net charges had been made to drive them from their 
 hiding-places, but in vain. The regulars, notwith- 
 standing their officers' orders to the contrary, kept up 
 a hurried but random firing, which had little or no 
 effect upon the enemy, as nothing could be seen of 
 liim but the puffs of rifle-smoke that rose and hovered 
 in little blue clouds over his place of ambush. The 
 Enghsh, it is said, were less appalled by the whis- 
 tling bullets of the unseen savages than by their 
 unearthly yells, — a sound that none of them had 
 ever heard before, and many a poor fellow of them 
 never heard again. The Indian war-whoop has been 
 described as a sound so wild and terrible, that, when 
 once heard in battle, it rings in the listener's ears for 
 weeks thereafter, and is never forgotten even to his 
 dying day. 
 
 But the Enghsh officers, on the contrary, behaved 
 themselves with a gallantry that filled Washington 
 with astonishment and admiration. Heretofore he 
 had seen them only in camp or on the line of march, 
 where their habits of ease and self-indulgence had led 
 him to doubt their having the courage and firmHCSs 
 
190 TIIE FARRIER BOY. 
 
 to face, \^dthout shrinlvlng, danger in such appalling 
 forms. Unmindful of the bullets that whistled con- 
 tinually about their heads, they galloped up and 
 down the broken and bleeding lines, in the vain en- 
 deavor to rally their men, and bring them again to 
 somethins: like order. Mounted on fine horses, and 
 di'essed in rich uniforms, they offered a tempting 
 mark to the unseen rifles that were levelled at them 
 from beliind every tree and bush, and tuft of grass ; 
 and, ere the work of death was finished, many a gal- 
 lant steed, with dangling reins and bloody saddle, 
 dashed riderless about the field. And, as if this were 
 not enough, many of them must needs fall victims to 
 the unsoldierly conduct of their own men, who, for- 
 getfid of all discipline, and quite beside themselves 
 with terror and bewilderment, loaded their pieces 
 hurriedly, and fired them off at random, killing friends 
 as well as foes. Nor did this most shameful part of 
 the bloody scene end here : many of the Virginia 
 rangers, who had already taken to the trees and 
 bushes, and were doing good service by fighting the 
 Indians in their own fashion, were shot down by 
 the blunderino^ re<2rulars, who fired into the woods 
 wherever they saw a puff of smoke, unable to dis- 
 tinguish whether it rose from a red or a white man's 
 rifle. Upon these brave rangers the brunt of the 
 battle fell ; and indeed, had it not been for their 
 firmness and presence of mind, their skill and address 
 in the arts and strategems of Indian warfare, which 
 
beaddock's defeat. 191 
 
 enabled them for a time to hold the enemy in check, 
 hardly a remnant of Braddock's fine army would 
 have survived to behold the going-down of that sum- 
 mer's sun. 
 
 At the very commencement of the battle, a small 
 party of warriors, cheered on by a French officer in 
 a fancifully trimmed hunting-shirt, had leaped out 
 from their covert into the road, with the view, it 
 seemed, of cutting off those in front from the assist- 
 ance of their comrades in the rear ; but the regulars, 
 who guarded the road-cutters, having discharged a 
 well-aimed volley of musketry into their very faces, 
 they had turned, and fled with even more haste than 
 they had come, leaving behind them several of their 
 number dead on the spot, and among these their dash- 
 ing French leader. After that, they had taken care 
 to keep close under cover of the grass and bushes. 
 Now and then, however, a tall brave, grim and hide- 
 ous with war-paint, with a yell of defiance would 
 leap from his ambush, and, darting into the road, 
 tomahawk and scalp a wounded officer just fallen ; 
 then vanish again as suddenly as if the earth had 
 opened to swallow him up. 
 
 All this while. Col. Washington had borne himself 
 with a firmness, courage, and presence of mind, that 
 would have done honor to a forty-years' veteran. 
 His two brother aides-de-camp having been wounded 
 early in the engagement, the whole duty of carrying 
 the general's orders had fallen on him ; and nobly 
 
192 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 did he that day discharge it. Although brave men 
 were falling thick and fast on every side, yet he 
 shrank from no exposure, however perilous, did his 
 duty but lead liim there. Mounted on horseback, 
 liis tall and stately form was to be seen in every part 
 of the field, the mark of a hundred rifles, whose 
 deadly muzzles were pointed at him wliithersoever he 
 went. Two horses were shot dead under him, and 
 his coat was pierced with bullets ; but he seemed to 
 bear about him a charmed life, and went unharmed. 
 His danger was so great, that his friend Dr. Craik, 
 who watched his movements with anxious interest, 
 looked every moment to see him fall headlong to the 
 ground ; and that he came oflf alive seemed to him a 
 miracle. Washington himself, with that piety which 
 ever marked his character, laid his deliverance from 
 the perils of that fatal day to the overruling care of 
 a kind and watchful Providence. 
 
 Although brought thus suddenly face to face with 
 new and untried dangers, Braddock bore himself 
 throughout the day like the valiant man that he 
 really was. The bullets and yells of the invisible foe 
 he scarcely noticed, as he galloped hither and thither 
 about the field, giving his orders through a speaking- 
 trumpet, whose brazen voice rose loud and hoarse 
 above the din of battle. Under the mistaken notion 
 that a savage enemy, hid in a thicket, was to be 
 dealt with as a civilized one in an open plain, he 
 sought to recover his lost ground by forming his men 
 
BRADDOCKS DEFEAT. 193 
 
 into companies and battalions ; which, however, he 
 had no sooner done, than they were mowed down by 
 the murderous fire from the ambush, that had never 
 ceased. "My soldiers," said he, "would fight, could 
 they but see their enemy ; but it is vain to shoot at 
 trees and bushes." Whereupon Washington urgently 
 besouffht him to let his resrulars fight the Indians in 
 their own fashion, which would the better enable 
 them to pick off the lurking foe with less danger to 
 their own safety. But Braddock's only answer to this 
 was a sneer ; and some of his regulars, who were 
 already acting upon the suggestion, he angrily ordered 
 back into the ranks, calling them cowards, and even 
 striking them with the flat of his sword. He then 
 caused the colors of the two regiments to be advanced 
 in different parts of the field, that the soldiers might 
 rally around their separate standards. It was all in 
 vain. In his excitement, he cheered, he entreated, 
 he swore, he stormed : it was only a waste of breath ; 
 for the poor fellows were too disheartened and broken, 
 too overcome by mortal fear, to rally again. 
 
 Col. Washington, seeing that the day was on the 
 point of being lost, galloped down to the rear to see 
 if nothing could be done with the artillery ; but he 
 found the gimners in a most disorderly plight, 
 benumbed with terror, and utterly unable to manage 
 their guns. What Washington did on this occasion, 
 I had better teU you in the words of an old Penn- 
 sylvania soldier, who was there at the time, and 
 
194 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 survived the battle for half a hundred years or 
 more ; and used often, for the entertainment of your 
 Uncle Juvinell and other little boys, to fight his 
 battles over again as he sat smoking in liis chimney 
 comer. 
 
 " I saw Col. Washington," he would say, " spring from . 
 his panting horse, and seize a brass field-piece as if it had 
 been a stick. His look was terrible. He put his right 
 hand on the muzzle, his left hand on the breech ; he pulled 
 with this, he pushed with that, and wheeled it round, as if 
 it had been a plaything : it furrowed the ground like a 
 ploughshare. He tore the sheet-lead from the touch-hole ; 
 then the powder-monkey rushed up with the fire, when 
 the cannon went off, making the bark fly from the trees, 
 and many an Indian send up his last yell and bite the 
 dust." 
 
 This, however, gave the savages but a momentary 
 check, as he could not follow it up ; there being no 
 one by ready and willing to lend him a helping hand. 
 The Virginia rangers and other provincial troops, 
 who had done the only good fighting of the day, 
 were thinned out to one-fourth their number ; and the 
 few that remained were too weary and faint to hold 
 out loncjer ao^ainst such fearful odds. Between the 
 well-aimed firing of the enemy and the random 
 shooting of the regulars, the slaughter of the English 
 officers had been frightful : out of the eighty-six who 
 went into the battle, only twenty-four came oflf 
 
beaddock's defeat. 195 
 
 unhurt. Gen. Braddock had five horses killed under 
 him. By this time, he had given up all hope of 
 regaining the day ; and, galling as it must have been 
 to his proud spirit, was at last forced to think of 
 retreating as their only chance of safety. Just as he 
 was on the point, however, of giving orders to this 
 eiFect, a bullet — said by some to have been a 
 random shot from one of his own soldiers — passed 
 through his arm, and, lodging itself in his lungs, 
 brought liim to the ground, mortally wounded. His 
 officers placed him in a tumbrel, or pioneer's cart, 
 and bore him from the field, where, in his despair, he 
 prayed them to leave him to die. 
 
 Seeing their leader fall, a fresh panic seized the 
 army. And now followed a wild and disorderly rout, 
 the like of wliich was never known before, and has 
 never since been known, in our border-wars. The 
 soldiers in front fell back on those in the centre ; 
 those in the centre fell back on those in the rear : 
 till foot and horse, artillery and baggage, were 
 jammed and jumbled together, making a scene of 
 dismay and confusion it would be vain for me to 
 attempt to describe. To add wings to their speed, 
 the Indians, with a long, loud yell of fiendish 
 triumph, now rushed from their ambush, and, bran- 
 dishing aloft their murderous tomahawks, began to 
 press hard on the heels of the terrified fugitives. 
 The better to elude their savage pursuers, the regu- 
 lars threw away their arms, the gunners abandoned 
 
196 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 their guns, and the teamsters cut their horses from 
 the traces, and, mounting them, fled, never halting 
 until they reached Col. Dunbar's camp, — a gallop of 
 forty miles. A few fell under the tomahawk before 
 the farther bank of the river could be gained. Here, 
 luckily for the survivors, the Indians gave over the 
 pursuit, in their eagerness to plunder the slain, and 
 gather what else of booty might be found on the 
 field. 
 
 Thus ended this bloody battle, or rather slaughter ; 
 for in truth it could be called nothing else. Of the 
 sixteen hundred valiant men who had that morninG:, 
 in all the bright array of gleaming arms and waving 
 banners, marched along the banks of that beautifid 
 river, nearly one-half, ere the sun went down, had 
 fallen on Braddock's Hill. What made this disaster 
 more shameful still was the weakness of the enemy's 
 force, which did not exceed eight hundred, of whom 
 only a fourth were French ; and, of all this number, 
 scarcely forty fell in the fight. 
 
 Col. Washington was now ordered to ride back 
 with all speed to Dunbar's camp, to fetch horses, 
 wagons, and hospital-stores for the relief of the 
 wounded. Although still quite weak from his ten 
 days' fever, which indeed had left him with no more 
 strength than should have sufficed for the fatigues of - 
 that trying day, yet he set out on the instant, and, 
 taking with him a guard of grenadiers, travelled the 
 livelong night. What with those terrible sights and 
 
^'^' BR ADDOCK'S DEFEAT. 197 
 
 sounds still ringing in his ears, and flasliing before his 
 eyes ; what with the thought of the many dead and 
 dying that lay on the lonely hillside far behind, with 
 their ghastly upturned faces, more ghastly still in the 
 light of the moon ; and what with the bitter, bitter 
 reflection, that all this would never have been but for 
 the pride and folly of a single man, — that ride 
 through the dark and silent woods must have been a 
 melancholy one indeed. He pushed on, without 
 leaving the saddle, till late in the afternoon of the 
 following day, when he reached Dunbar's camp ; and 
 gathering together, without loss of time, the neces- 
 saries for which he had been sent, started on his 
 return that same night, scarcely allowing himself and 
 men an hour for food and rest. Early next morn- 
 ing, he met the main division at Mr. Gist's plantation, 
 whither they had dragged their shattered lines the 
 evening before. From thence they all went on 
 together to the Great Meadows, where they arrived 
 that same day, and halted. 
 
 For the four and twenty hours following the,battle, 
 Braddock had remained sad and silent ; never speaking 
 except to say, " Who would have thought it ? " The 
 second day, he seemed more cheerful ; for he said, 
 " We shall better know how to deal with them another 
 time." He spoke in high praise of the skill and 
 courage shown by the Virginia rangers and other pro- 
 vincial troops during the whole engagement. He now 
 saw, but too late, and to his deep regret, that he had 
 
198 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 not given these rough and hardy men half the credit 
 due them as good soldiers ; and also that he had 
 made a fatal mistake in underratino: the strenirth, 
 skill, and address of the enemy he had been sent 
 there to subdue. To Wasliing-ton he made a frank 
 and manly apology for the contempt and impatience 
 with which he had so often treated his pmdent and 
 well-timed counsel. As if wishinc: to make still 
 further amends for tliis, he bequeathed to him liis 
 faithful negro servant, Bishop, and liis fine white 
 charger, both of whom had helped to carry their 
 wounded master from the field. On the fourth day 
 after the battle, he died; having been kindly and 
 tenderly cared for by Wasliington and his other 
 surviving officers. 
 
 They dug him a grave by the roadside, not a 
 stone's-throw from Fort Necessity, in the depths of 
 that lonely wilderness ; and there, before the summer 
 morn had dawned, they buried him. In the absence 
 of the chaplain, the funeral service was read by 
 Washington, in a low and solemn voice, by the dim 
 and flickering light of a torch. Fearing lest the 
 enemy might be lurking near, and, spjang out the 
 spot, commit some outrage on his remains, they 
 fired not a farewell shot over the grave of their 
 unfortunate general, — that last tribute of respect to 
 a departed soldier, and one he had himself paid, but a 
 short time before, to a nameless Indian warrior. 
 So there they laid him ; and, to this day, the great 
 
BR.VDDOCKS DEFEAT. 199 
 
 highway leading from Cumberland to Pittsburg goes 
 by the name of Braddock's Road. 
 
 I would, my dear children, have you dwell on 
 these glimpses of a more manly and generous nature 
 that brightened the closing hours of Braddock's life ; 
 because it is but Christian and just that we should be 
 willing to honor virtue in whomsoever it may 
 be found. With all his self-conceit and obstinacy, 
 he had a kindly heart, and was a brave man ; and 
 had it been his lot to deal with a civilized enemy, 
 instead of a savage one, he would, no doubt, have 
 proved himself a skilful general. And we should 
 not deal too harshly with the memory of a man, 
 whose faults, however great they may have been, were 
 more than atoned, for by the inglorious death he died, 
 and by " a name ever coupled with defeat." 
 
XVII. 
 
 EXPLANATIONS. 
 
 HERE, again, Uncle Juvinell paused in his story, 
 and looked beamingly around on his little audi- 
 tors. They were all sitting with their eyes bent 
 earnestly on the burning logs, thinldng deeply, no 
 doubt, and looking as sober as tombstones in the light 
 of a spring morning. 
 
 All on a sudden, Willie leaped from his chair, and 
 gave a shrill Indian war-whoop, that threw the whole 
 bevy into a terrible panic ; making some of the 
 smaller fry scream outright, and even Uncle Juvi-^ 
 nell to blink a little. " There," said the youngster, 
 *^ is sometliing to ring in your ears for weeks hereaf- 
 ter, and never to be forgotten even to your dying day. 
 I heard it the other night at the Indian circus, and 
 have been practising it myself ever since. I fancy it 
 must be a pretty fair sample of the genuine tiling, or 
 it wouldn't have scared you all up as it did." Where- 
 upon Uncle Juvinell, frowning over his spectacles 
 with his brows, and laughing behind them with his 
 eyes, bade the young blood to pack himself into his 
 chair again, and be civil ; at the same time threaten- 
 
 [200] 
 
EXPLANATIONS. 201 
 
 ing to put him on a water-gruel diet, to bring his 
 surpkis spirits within reasonable bounds. Then all 
 the Httle folks laughed, not so much at what their 
 uncle had said, as to make believe they had not been 
 frightened in the least ; in which Willie, the cunning 
 rogue, joined, that, under cover of the general merri- 
 ment, he might snicker a little to himself at his own 
 smartness. 
 
 "And now, my dear children," continued the good 
 man, " hand me the notes you have written down, 
 that I may see what it is you would have me explain." 
 
 " In five minutes' time after you began," said rattle- 
 brained Willie, " I became so much interested in the 
 story, that I quite forgot all about the notes, till it 
 was too late to begin ; but I was thinking all along, 
 that I should like to understand more clearly the dif- 
 ference between a province and a colony, and" — 
 
 "Indeed, uncle," broke in Dannie, "you made 
 every thing so clear and plain as you went along, 
 that I, for one, didn't feel the need of writing down a 
 single note." 
 
 "Then, Dannie," said his uncle, "that being the 
 case, you can perhaps enlighten your cousin Willie 
 as to the difference between a colony and a province." 
 
 Had his uncle called upon him to give the differ- 
 ence between Goo; and Mao-os;, Daniel would have 
 made the venture. So he promptly answered, — 
 
 "A province is a country, and a colony is the 
 people of it." 
 
202 THE FARIVIER BOY. 
 
 Uncle Juvinell would have laughed outright at this 
 answer ; but he knew it would mortify the young 
 historian: so he only smiled, and said, — 
 
 "That will do pretty well, Dannie, as far as it 
 goes ; but it does not cover more than an acre of the 
 ground. Now, a colony, you must know, Willie, 
 is a settlement made by a country — called, in such 
 cases, the mother-country — in some foreign region at 
 a distance from it, but belonging to it; as, for ex- 
 ample, the Enghsh colonies in America, which are 
 separated from the mother-country, England, by the 
 great Atlantic Ocean. A pro^dnce, on the other 
 hand, is a similar extent of foreign territory, belong- 
 ing to a nation or a kingdom, either by conquest or 
 purchase or settlement ; and it may also be a divi- 
 sion or district of the kingdom or nation itself. Thus, 
 you see, a foreign region, settled and owned by the 
 mother-country, may, with nearly equal propriety, 
 be called either a colony or a province ; wliile one 
 that belongs to a nation or a kingdom by conquest 
 or purchase is a province, and nothing else. Thus, 
 for example, Canada is a province of Great Britain, 
 won from the French by conquest, as you will learn 
 to-morrow evening. From this you may see, that 
 although a province may, yet a colony can no more 
 exist within the boundaries of a mother-country, than 
 can a man live at home and abroad at one and the 
 same time." 
 
 The other children were then called on to produce 
 
EXPLANATIONS. 203 
 
 their notes. Laura said, that, after she had written 
 two or three, she found she was losing more than she 
 was gaining ; for, when she stopped to take down 
 any item she wished to remember, she did not 
 hear what came right after. Ellen chimed in with 
 the same ; and Ned said he was not yet out of his 
 pot-hooks, and couldn't write ; but that he was 
 thinking all the time of getting Willie or Dannie to 
 tell him all about it after they went to bed. So, 
 what with this excuse, and that, and the other, 
 not a single note was forthcoming, except a few 
 that Master Charlie, the knowing young gentleman, 
 had written on a very large slate, in letters quite of 
 his own inventing, which he now laid before his 
 uncle. To set oiF his penmanship to the best advan- 
 tage, and couple the ornamental with the useful, he 
 had drawn just above it a picture of Gen. Braddock, 
 mounted on his dashing wliite charger, and waving 
 aloft a sword of monstrous length. One unac- 
 quainted with the subject, however, would sooner 
 have taken it for a big baboon, geared up in a cocked 
 hat and high military boots, with a mowing-scythe 
 In his hand, and astraddle of a rearing donkey 
 heavily coated with feathers instead of hair. The 
 old gentleman's spectacles seemed to twinkle as he 
 ran his eye over the slate ; and after making out 
 two or three rather savage-looking s's, as many long- 
 legged p's, a squat h or two, a big bottle-bellied h, 
 three or four gigantic Z's, a broken-backed k or two, 
 
204 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 a high-sliouldered ?i', a hea\y-bottomed d, and a 
 long slim-tailed y, it struck him, at length, that 
 speech-belt, Long Knife, knapsack, Silver Heels, 
 wigwam, and powder-monkey, were the 'items con- 
 cerninor which Master Charhe desired further enliojht- 
 enment. 
 
 "For information touching these matters, my dear 
 Charles," then said Uncle Juvinell, " I will pass you 
 over to Willie and Dannie, who, I dare say, are 
 quite as well posted up in matters of this kind as 
 your old uncle ; for, if I mistake not, they have just 
 been reading Catlin's book on the Indians, and Gul- 
 liver's Travels in Brobdionajr." 
 
 "How is it," inquired Ellen, "that Washington, 
 being the good man that he was, could have taken 
 part in that wicked war between the French and 
 English about a country that didn't belong to either 
 of them, but to the poor Indians?" 
 
 Now, although Uncle Juvinell was satisfied in his 
 own mind that Washington's conduct in this matter 
 was just what it should have been, yet, for all that, 
 he was a little puzzled how to answer this question 
 in a way that the little folks would rightly under- 
 stand. 
 
 " This very thing, my dear niece," replied he 
 after a moment's pause, " grieved and troubled his 
 mind a great deal, as you may well believe : but he 
 knew, that, if the English did not get possession of 
 this land, the French would ; and tliis, by increasing 
 
EXPLANATIONS. 205 
 
 the strength of the enemy, would by and by endan- 
 ger the safety of his own native land, and even the 
 lives and liberties of his countrymen. And he also 
 knew that it would be far better for the spread of 
 useful knowledge and the true religion, that all this 
 rich country should be in the hands of some Christian 
 people, who would make it a place fit to live in, and 
 to be peaceful and prosperous and happy in, than 
 that it should be left entirely to those barbarous sav- 
 ages, who only made of it a place to hunt and to fish 
 in, to fight and scalp, and to burn and torture each 
 other like devils in. Besides this, it is the duty of 
 every true patriot (and no one knew this better than 
 he) to serve and defend the country, under the pro- 
 tection of whose laws he has lived in peace and 
 plenty, against all her enemies, whether at home 
 or abroad, even should she now and then be a 
 little in the wrong ; for, by so doing, he defends his 
 own home and family, rights and liberty, — objects 
 that should be as dear to him as life itself." 
 
 " O uncle ! " exclaimed Ned with a start, as if he 
 had just caught a passing recollection by the tail as 
 it was about skedaddling round the corner, " tell me, 
 will you? what kind of a life a charmed life is." 
 
 "Really, Ned," cried Uncle Juvinell, "I am very 
 glad that you mentioned it ; for it puts me in mind of 
 sometliing I should have told you before, and which 
 I might else have forgotten. This, however, is as 
 good a time as any ; and, when you hear what I am 
 
206 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 now going to tell you, you will readily understand, 
 without further explanation, what is meant when it is 
 said of a man that he bears a charmed life about him. 
 To do this, I must anticipate a little, or, to speak 
 more clearly, take time by the forelock, and, going 
 forward a little in our story, tell you of a circum- 
 stance which your Uncle Juvinell, when a boy, often 
 heard related by Dr. Craik, who was then an aged 
 and venerable man. 
 
 " Fifteen years after poor Braddock had been laid in 
 his unhonored grave. Col. Wasliington, taking with 
 him his friend Dr. Craik, went on an exploring expe- 
 dition to the Oliio, in behalf of the brave soldiers 
 who had served under liim at the Great Meadows, 
 and to whom, it must be remembered, Gov. Din- 
 widdie had promised two hundred thousand acres of 
 the best land to be found on this great river or its 
 branches. There was peace then along the border, 
 and little or no danger was to be apprehended from 
 the Indians. They travelled in a large canoe, rowed 
 by two or three hunters ; and what with fishing in 
 the streams (for they took with them their fishing 
 tackle), what with hunting in the woods (for they 
 took with them their hunting rifles) , what with camp- 
 ing on the green shore at night (for they took with 
 them their camp utensils) , and what with the com- 
 fortable thought that there was not an Indian warrior 
 within a hundred miles whose finsfcrs were itchino; for 
 then scalps (for they took with them this and many 
 
EXPLANATIONS. 207 
 
 other pleasant thoughts besides), they had, you may 
 depend upon it, a glorious tune. 
 
 " One day, there came to their camp, at the mouth 
 of the Great Kanawha, a party of Indians, headed 
 by an old chief of grave and venerable aspect, who 
 approached Washington with deep reverence, as if 
 entering the presence of some superior being. After 
 several pipes of tobacco had been smoked, and several 
 haunches of venison had been eaten, — the first to 
 show that they had come friendly, the last to show 
 that they came hungry, — the old chief addressed 
 Washington in a speech, which your Uncle Juvinell 
 cannot repeat to you word for word as he heard it 
 from the lips of the worthy old doctor ; but he well 
 remembers the substance thereof, and will give it you 
 as nearly as he can in the Indian style of oratory. 
 
 " ' They came and told me,' began the old chief, ' that 
 the great Long Knife was in our country ; and I was very 
 glad. I said to them, though I be old and feeble, though 
 the way be long, and the hills many and high, and the rivers 
 many and wide, yet must I go and see him once more 
 before I die ; for it is the young warrior, whom, years ago, 
 I saw shielded from our bullets by the hand of the Great 
 Spirit. Let the pale-faces hear my words. Fifteen sum- 
 mers ago, when the woods and thickets were dense and 
 green, the French and Indians went out to lay in ambus- 
 cade for the big Enghsh general, among the Monongahela 
 hills. I took my warriors, and Avent along, and we lay in 
 wait together. The English were many and strong ; we 
 were few and weak : thus we had no thought of victory in 
 
208 THE FAE^IER BOY. 
 
 our minds, but only to give our enemies a little trouble, and 
 keep them back a while till the big French army came 
 down from the Great Lakes. We saw the English army 
 cross the river and come up the hill ; yet they suspected not. 
 We saw them walk into our snare, up to the very muzzles- 
 of our guns ; nor did they dream of danger, till our war- 
 whoop went up, and our bullets began to fly as fast as 
 winter hail. I saw the red-coats fall, and strew the ground 
 like the red leaves of the woods nipped by an untimely 
 frost, and smitten by the unseen hands of a mighty wind. 
 The snows of eighty winters have fallenr upon my head. I 
 have been in many a bloody battle ; yet never saw I the 
 red life-stream run as it that day ran down Braddock's 
 Hill from English hearts. Listen! I saw that day, 
 among the English, a young warrior who was not an Eng- 
 lishman. I singled him out as a mark for my rifle ; for he 
 was tall and strong, and rode grandly, and his presence 
 there was a danger to us. Seventeen times did I take slow 
 and steady aim, and fire ; but my bullets went astray, and 
 found him not. Then I pointed him out to my young men, 
 whose eyes were sharper and whose hands were steadier 
 than mine, and bade them bring him down. It was all in 
 vain : their bullets glanced f^om him as if he had been a 
 rock. I saw two horses fall under him, shot dead ; yet he 
 rose unhurt. Then did I lay my hand on my mouth in 
 w^onder, and bade my young men turn their rifles another 
 M^ay ; for the Great Spirit, I knew, held that young warrior 
 in his keeping, and that his anger would be kindled against 
 us if we desisted not. Tbat young warrior, the favorite of 
 Heaven, the man who is destined never to fall in battle, 
 now stands before me. Once more mine eyes have seen 
 him, and I shall now go away content.' 
 
EXPLANATIONS. 209 
 
 "And now, Ned, my boy," said Uncle Juvinell, 
 after he had ended this oration, " can you tell me 
 what a charmed life is?" 
 
 " One that is bullet-proof, I suppose," replied Ned. 
 
 " You don't mean to say that Washington was bul- 
 let-proof, do you. Uncle Juve?" put in doubting 
 Charlie. 
 
 " No, not exactly that, my little nephew," replied 
 his Uncle Juvinell ; " and yet a great deal more : for, 
 beyond all doubt, an all- wise Providence raised up 
 George Washington to do the good and great work 
 that he did, and to this end 'shielded him when 
 encompassed by the perils of battle, strengthened 
 him when beset by the wiles of temptation, and 
 cheered him when visited by the trials of adversity. 
 Dr. Davis, a famous preacher of that day, seemed to 
 have looked upon him, as did the old Indian, as one 
 favored of Heaven ; for, in a sermon preached by 
 him a few weeks after Braddock's defeat, he spoke 
 of Col. Washington as 'that heroic youth, whom, 
 he could not but hope. Providence had preserved 
 in so signal a manner for some important service to 
 .his country.' And now, my little folks, the clock 
 strikes nine, and our Christmas logs burn low : so 
 join your old uncle in an evening hymn ; then 
 haste you to your happy beds to sleep and dream the 
 peaceful night away." 
 
xvm. 
 
 WORK IN EARNEST. 
 
 HARDLY had the last clod been thrown on poor 
 Braddock's grave, when his army was seized 
 with a second and most unaccountable panic ; for no 
 one could tell from whence or how it came. With 
 those horrid yells still sounding in their ears, and those 
 ghastly sights of blood and carnage still fresh in their 
 memories, they fancied they heard, in every passing 
 gust that stirred the dead leaves, warning wliispers of 
 the stealthy approach of the dreaded enemy, and that 
 in every waving thicket he might be lurking for 
 them in ambush. 
 
 Col. Dunbar, as next in rank, had, for the time 
 being, taken command of the troops ; but, cowardly 
 as the old general was rash, he shared in the general 
 panic, and could do nothing to re-assure his men or 
 give them a Httle confidence. So, without waiting to 
 Ivnow by whose orders, or if by any at all, they fell 
 to, and destroyed all the heavy baggage, baggage- 
 wagons, and artillery ; every thing, in fact, that 
 could hinder them in their retreat. Thus disencum- 
 
 [210] 
 
WORK IN EARNEST. 211 
 
 bered, they set out in hot haste ; and after a hurried 
 and disorderly march, or rather flight, they reached 
 Fort Cumberland. 
 
 Here Col. Washington, who had taken no part 
 whatever in the unsoldierly proceedings just men- 
 tioned, stopped a few days to recruit a little after the 
 severe fatigues he had, for a week past, been called 
 upon to undergo, while still too much enfeebled from 
 his ten-days' fever. The first use he made of this 
 breathing spell was to write an aflectionate letter to 
 his much-honored mother to ease her mind of the 
 anxiety he knew she would be feeling on his account, 
 when rumors of the late disaster should reach her 
 ears. He told her of his almost miraculous deliver- 
 ance from a cruel and bloody death, in language full 
 of gratitude to the God of battles, who had shielded 
 him in so signal a manner, when his brave comrades 
 were falling by hundreds around him. Writing to his 
 brother Augustine at the same time, he wittily says, 
 " Since my arrival at this place, I have heard a cir- 
 cumstantial account of my death and dying speech ; 
 and I take this early opportunity of contradicting the 
 former, and assuring you that I have not yet com- 
 posed the latter." 
 
 When he had so far regained his strength as to 
 enable him to travel, he betook himself once more to 
 the peaceful shades of Mount Vernon. He re-entered 
 at once upon his duties as Adjutant-General of the 
 Northern District, — a post he still continued to hold, 
 
212 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 although his connection with the regular army had 
 ceased with the death of Braddock. 
 
 But we must return for a few moments to Fort 
 Cumberland, where we left the valorous Col. Dunbar 
 quite out of breath from the uncommonly brisk 
 speed, which seems to have been liis habit now and 
 then, of getting over very rough and hilly roads. 
 Any soldier, with a spark of manly spirit under his 
 sword-belt, would have made a resolute stand at a place 
 of so much importance, and held it to the death, 
 rather than left the defenceless inhabitants exposed to 
 the horrors of a border war. Col. Dunbar was not, 
 by any means, the true soldier just liinted at ; and 
 consequently did no such thing. Seeing that the sick 
 and wounded were but so many clogs to rapid and 
 easy motion, he resolved to leave them behind under 
 the care of the slender garrison he had placed in the 
 fort, who were expected to defend it against an enemy 
 that he, with a force of fifteen hundred strong, had 
 not the courage to face. Thus rid of liis hinderahces 
 to the last degree of lightsomeness, he pushed on by 
 forced marches, as if a legion of painted savages were 
 yelling at his heels ; and never slackened speed until 
 he found himself safe within the friendly walls of 
 Philadelphia, where he went into comfortable win- 
 ter-quarters wliile yet the dog-days were at their 
 hottest. 
 
 Thus basely deserted by these doughty regidars, 
 who had been sent over so many thousand miles of 
 
WOEK m EARNEST. 213 
 
 salt water for their protection, the colonists saw with 
 dismay the whole line of their vast frontier, from 
 Lake Ontario to the Carolinas, open to the inroads of 
 ■the French and their Indian alHes. In the lonof-run, 
 however (as you shall see hereafter), two luckier 
 mishaps than Braddock's defeat and Dunbar's retreat, 
 that seemed at the time so fraught with evil, could not 
 have befallen them. They were thereby taught two 
 wholesome lessons, which they might othenvise have 
 been a long time in learning, and without which they 
 never could have gained their independence and made 
 themselves a nation. The first, by proving that Brit- 
 ish regulars were not, by any means, the never-to- 
 be-daunted, the never-to-be-beaten, and the never- 
 to-be-made-to-skedaddle warriors that they boasted 
 themselves to be, and that one-half of the Americans 
 were foolish enough to believe them to be. Thus, 
 when the War of Independence broke out, our Revolu- 
 tionary fathers remembered this, and were not afraid 
 to meet the English even on such unequal terms. 
 The second, by opening their eyes to the fact, that, as 
 they (the colonists) could no longer look to the 
 mother-country for protection, they must hencefor- 
 ward rely upon their own strength and resources for 
 their defence and safety. 
 
 The people of Virginia, seeing the forlorn condition 
 of things, were at last aAvakened to a full sense of the 
 danger that threatened, not only their back settle- 
 ments, but even the heart of the Old Dominion itself. 
 
214 THE FAKVIER BOY. 
 
 They therefore began to bestir themselves in right 
 good earnest to put the province in a better pos- 
 ture of defence ; and, to this end, resolved to send 
 more troops into the field, raise more money, procure 
 new arms and fresh supplies of military stores, and 
 erect a chain of twenty block-houses, or small forts, 
 stretching along the whole line of their frontier, from 
 Pennsylvania to North Carolina, — a distarjce of three 
 hundred and sixty miles. Washington's career as a* 
 soldier had not, up to this time, been marked by any 
 of those daring and brilliant exploits that charm and 
 dazzle vulgar minds ; but had, on the contrary, been 
 one unbroken train of misfortunes and disasters. Not- 
 withstanding this, however, the confidence his coun- 
 trymen had placed in his prudence, coin-age, ability, 
 and patriotism, so far from having been diminished 
 thereby, had gone on steadily gaining strength from 
 the very beginning. They well knew, that, had the 
 headstrong and unlucky Braddock given heed to his 
 prudent and timely counsel, the late campaign could 
 never have ended in the disgraceful and disastrous 
 manner that it had. As the most flattering proof of 
 then esteem and confidence, they now turned to him 
 in their hour of peril, and, although he was not yet 
 twenty-four years of age, called upon him, as wtth 
 one voice, to take the chief command of all the forces 
 of the province. After some deliberation, being per- 
 suaded that it was really their earnest desire, he 
 modestly accepted the appointment, on condition that 
 
WORK m EARNEST. 215 
 
 certain changes should be made in the mihtary, and 
 that he should be allowed to choose liis field-officers. 
 This was readily agreed to by the 'Virginia House of 
 Burgesses ; who, in addition, voted him fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars by way of compensating him for the 
 many losses he had suffered, in horses, baggage, and 
 money, since the beginning of the war. 
 
 Accordingly, early in the autumn, he took up his 
 headquarters at the frontier town of Winchester, 
 beyond the Blue Ridge, in the beautifid Valley of the 
 Shenandoah. As four great highways met here from 
 .. as many different quarters of the country, it was 
 a post of much importance ; and he resolved, by 
 strongly fortifying it, to make it the rallj^ing-point of 
 all the border. His men were all raw recruits, just 
 taken from the plough or forge or carpenter's bench, 
 as the case might be ; and, to render them fit for the 
 peculiar service in which they were to be employed, 
 it became his duty, besides training them in the regu- 
 lar military exercises, to instruct them in the arts and 
 stratagems of Indian warfare, or bush-fighting, as it 
 is more aptly called. Long, however, before he was 
 ready to take the field, the French and Indians, made 
 daring and audacious by their great victory on the 
 Monongahela, had crossed the mountains at several 
 different points in great numbers, and had already 
 begun their bloody work. The terrified and defence- 
 less inhabitants dwelling in the distant parts of the 
 wilderness now came flocking to the Shenandoah 
 
216 - THE FARIVIER BOY. 
 
 Valley for protection from the merciless enemy, some 
 of them never stopping till they had passed on over 
 to the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge. 
 
 One morning, a rumor found Its way to Winches- 
 ter, that a large party of Indians were within twelve 
 miles of that place, pillaging, burning, and murder- 
 ing at a frightful rate. Straightway a great fear fell 
 upon the inhabitants. Little children ran, and hid 
 their faces in their mothers' aprons, crying piteously ; 
 women ran hither and thither, screaming, and wring- 
 ing their hands ; and broad-shouldered, double-fisted 
 men stood stock-still, and shook in their moccasins. 
 Washington tried to prevail upon some of his soldiers 
 to sally out with him, and drive the enemy back from 
 the valley ; but, being strangers to military obe- 
 dience, not a leather-shirt of all the rabble could he 
 get to venture beyond the ditches. When he put 
 them in mind of what was expected of them as men 
 and soldiers, they only answered, that, if they must 
 die, they would rather stay there, and die with their 
 wives and families. Having a lurking suspicion, that, 
 after all, there might be more smoke than fire in 
 these flying rumors, he sent out a scout to bring him 
 some more certain tidings of the matter. In a won- 
 derfully short time, the scout came back, pale and 
 affrighted, with the dismal intelligence that he had, 
 with his own ears, heard the guns and yells of the 
 Indians not four miles distant, and that Winchester 
 would be beset by the savages in less than an hour. 
 
WOllK IN EAENEST. 217 
 
 Whereupon Washington made another appeal to the 
 courage and manhood of his men ; which proved so 
 far successful, that a forlorn hope of forty finally 
 screwed up pluck enough to follow him to the scene 
 of danger. Moving with great caution and circum- 
 spection, and keeping all their ears and eyes about 
 them, the party came at length to the spot mentioned 
 by the scout ; where, sure enough, they heard a some- 
 w^hat scattering discharge of fire-arms, and divers 
 outlandish noises, that bore, however, but a very 
 slight resemblance to the terrific yells and whoops of 
 Indian warriors. Advancing a few paces farther, a 
 sudden turn of the road brought them in sight of two 
 drunken soldiers, who were cursing and swearing and 
 hallooing in a manner quite outrageous and immoral ; 
 and now and then, by way of adding a little spice to 
 this part of their entertainment, firing ofi" their pistols 
 into the tree-tops. And this it was that had given 
 rise to those wild rumors that had thrown the whole 
 country into such a terrible panic. To this impru- 
 dent waste of breath and ammunition, the latter of 
 which they had but little enough to spare, Washing- 
 ton put a rather sudden stop by ordering the lively 
 young blades to be seized, and carried as prisoners to 
 Winchester, where he kept them in severe confine- 
 ment for more than a week after they had regained 
 their sober senses. All this was ludicrous enough ; 
 and you may be sure that Washington, although 
 grave and dignified beyond his years, had a hearty 
 
 10 
 
218 THE FARRIER BOY. 
 
 laugh over it the first time he found himself alone with 
 one or two of his brother-officers. 
 
 In addition to his other cares, the duties of his 
 office required him to visit, from time to time, the 
 several forts along the frontier, to see that those al- 
 ready finished were kept in fighting order, and give 
 directions for the proper construction of those still 
 under way. Now, the little garrison of forty men, 
 that Col. Dunbar had left to hold and defend Fort 
 Cumberland against the combined armies of the 
 French and Indians, was commanded by a certain 
 Dagworthy, who, pluming himself upon the king's 
 commission as captain, refused to own the authority 
 and render obedience to the orders of Washington, 
 who held only a governor's commission as colonel. 
 It will be remembered, that Washington had a 
 similar misunderstanding with Capt. Mackay, eigh- 
 teen months before, at the Great Meadows, touching 
 this same question of rank between royal and provin- 
 cial officers, which had caused him great trouble and 
 annoyance. Matters had now come to such a pass, 
 that a little upstart captain of forty men could set at 
 naught the authority of the commander-in-chief of the 
 forces of a whole province, merely because he could 
 boast a bit of paper embellished with the king's name. 
 This was a degradation too grievous to be longer 
 borne by a manly, independent spirit. Though sorely 
 vexed and annoyed, Washington had too much self- 
 respect and prudence to make a noise about the mat- 
 
WORK IN EARNEST. 219 
 
 ter ; but he inwardly resolved, that, as soon as the 
 coming-on of winter would oblige the Indians to re- 
 cross the mountains to the shelter of their homes 
 beyond, he would take advantage of the breathing 
 spell thus allowed him to make a journey to Boston, 
 there to submit the question for final settlement to 
 Gen. Shirley, who had succeeded Braddock to the 
 chief command of all the British forces in America. 
 
 Accordingly, when the departure of the Indians 
 brought the distressed inhabitants of the border the 
 prospect of a few months' peace and quiet, he de- 
 parted for Boston, in company with two of his 
 brother-officers, Capts. Stewart and Mercer. 
 
 Now, in those days, a journey from the Old 
 l)ominion to the Bay City, a distance of but five 
 hundred miles, in the depth of winter, when the roads 
 were either deep and stiff with mire, or rough and 
 knobby with frost, was really a greater undertaking 
 than a voyage in a steamship from Boston to Con- 
 stantinople would now be considered. Our young 
 men travelled on horseback, as was the fashion of the 
 day ; and took with them their negro servants, who, 
 riding behind with their masters' saddle-bags and 
 portmanteaus, and dressed in fine livery, with gold 
 lace on their fur hats, and blue cloaks, gave quite 
 an air of style and consequence to the Httle caval- 
 cade. 
 
 Washington's fame had long since gone before him, 
 as was proved by the marked distinction and respect 
 
220 THE FARMEE BOY. 
 
 with which he was treated at Philadelphia, New York, 
 and other places along the route. All were eager 
 to behold with their own eyes the youthful hero, 
 whose gallant conduct and wonderful escape at the 
 defeat of Braddock had been so noised throufrhout 
 
 o 
 
 the Colonies ; and when we add to this his tall and 
 commanding form, the manly beauty of his face, his 
 dignified bearing, his rich and handsome dress, and 
 the unequalled skill with which he managed his large 
 and noble horse, we cannot wonder at the interest 
 and admiration liis appearance awakened in the minds 
 of all who saw him. 
 
 r When he got to Boston, where he likewise met with 
 a flattering reception, he lost no time in making 
 known to Gen. Sliirley the business that had taken 
 him thither. The justness and reasonableness of his 
 complaints were promptly acknowledged by this offi- 
 cer, who, to place the vexed question beyond dispute, 
 declared, that henceforward Capt. Dagworthy and 
 all inferior officers, holding king's commissions, 
 should own the authority and render obedience to 
 the orders of all provincial officers of superior rank. 
 This, the main object of his journey, thus happily 
 disposed of. Col. Washington set out on his return 
 to Virginia : but, knowing that the Indian war- 
 whoop was not likely soon to be heard in the Shenan- 
 doah Valley, he indulged himself so far as to tarry 
 two whole weeks at New- York City ; and for the 
 best of reasons, as I will tell you. 
 
WORK IN EARNEST. 221 
 
 On his way to Boston, he had met here with the 
 beautiful and accomplished Miss Phillipps, with 
 whom he was vastly pleased ; and it .was for the 
 nearer study of this young lady's charms, and further 
 cultivation of her acquaintance, that our young Vir- 
 ginia colonel was now tempted for once in his life 
 thus to linger on his way. Nothing came of it, 
 however, that anybody now can tell ; although the 
 lady, you may stake your heads upon it, must 
 and ought to have been highly flattered at being 
 thus singled out by the young hero whose name 
 and praise were in everybody's mouth. Perhaps his 
 admiration never ripened into love ; and, if it did, 
 his modesty, as in the case of the Lowland Beauty, 
 must have hindered him from making known his par- 
 tiality. Whatever it may have been, it is, at this 
 late day, of little consequence ; for long before that 
 year had passed away, with all its anxious cares, its 
 perils and privations, and with all its train of ghastly 
 Indian horrors, these tender sentiments had become 
 to him nothing more than pleasant memories. 
 
XIX. 
 
 DARK DAYS. 
 
 IT were long to tell you, my dear clilldren, all 
 that happened to Washington, and all that he 
 did for the next two or three years of his life. I 
 shall, therefore, in as brief and clear u manner as 
 may be, present to your minds a picture simply of 
 those scenes in which he figured as the chief actor ; 
 although there were, it must be remembered, others 
 who played a far more important part in this old 
 Trench War than our young Virginia colonel. 
 
 The French and Indians, early in the spring of 
 these years, were wont to cross the mountains at 
 different points, and for months together follow their 
 usual programme of fire, plunder, and massacre, till 
 the approach of winter, when, loaded with booty 
 and scalps, they would go as they had come, only 
 to return on the opening of the following spring. 
 With these cruel savages, and their scarcely less 
 cruel white allies , neither age nor sex found mercy ; 
 old men, tender women, and helpless children, alike 
 falling victims to their murderous tomahawks and 
 scalping-knives. Farms were laid waste, crops de- 
 
 [222] 
 
DAEK DAYS. 223 
 
 stroyed, cattle butchered ; and often, for days and 
 nights together, the smoke could be seen in many 
 directions at once, as it rose from burning barns and 
 dwellings, and hung like a pall over the ill-fated 
 land. At last, so great became the audacity of these 
 pestilent savages, that they carried their depredations 
 within cannon range of the very walls of Winchester ; 
 and, under their destroying hand, the rich and beau- 
 tiful Valley of the Shenandoah seemed likely soon 
 again to become a waste and desert place. It was 
 a boast of theirs, that they could take any fort that 
 could be fired ; and round these places of refuge 
 they would skulk and lurk with the greatest patience 
 for a week at a time, quite content could they but 
 get a single shot at such of the garrison as dared to 
 show themselves beyond shelter of the walls. Some- 
 times, suddenly darting from their hiding-place, they 
 would pounce upon little children playing in the 
 w^oods, and, in fidl view of the fort, bear them away 
 captives, never more to be seen by their bereaved 
 parents, who could only listen in helpless anguish to 
 the piteous cries of their little innocents, that grew 
 fainter and fainter as their savage raptors hurried 
 them farther and farther into the gloomy depths of 
 the wilderness. 
 
 Often, in their excursions along the frontier, 
 "Washington and his men would come upon the still 
 smoking ruins of a happy home, or the hacked and 
 mangled body of an unfortunate traveller who had 
 
224 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 been waylaid and murdered by the Indians in some 
 lonely mountain glen. In after-life, the recollection 
 of these harrowino; scenes was to Washino^ton so 
 painful, that he could but seldom be brought to 
 speak of them. Now and then, however, he would 
 relate to a few friends some of these dark expe- 
 riences ; among which is the following, given in his 
 own words, as a fair example of all the rest : — 
 
 " One day," said he, " as we were traversing a part of 
 the frontier, we came upon a small log-house, standing 
 in the centre of a little clearing, surrounded by woods on all 
 sides. As we approached, we heard the report of a gun, — ■ 
 the usual signal of coming horror. Our party crept 
 cautiously through the underwood, until we had approached 
 near enough to see what we had already foreboded. A 
 smoke was slowly making its way through the roof of the 
 house ; when, at the same time, a party of Indians came 
 forth, laden with plunder, — consisting of clothes, house- 
 hold furniture, domestic utensils, and dripping scalps. We 
 fired, and killed all but one, who tried to get away, but was 
 soon overtaken and shot down. Upon entering the hut, 
 there met us a sight, which, though we were familiar with 
 scenes of blood and massacre, struck us — at least myself — 
 with feehngs more mournful than I had ever experienced 
 before. On a bed, in one corner of the room, lay the body 
 of a young woman, swimming in blood, with a gash in the 
 forehead that almost separated the head into two parts. 
 On her breast lay two little babes, less than a twelvemonth 
 old, also with their heads cut open ; their innocent blood, 
 that had once flowed in one common vein, now minjrlino: in 
 
 ^ DO 
 
DARK DAYS. 225 
 
 the same current again. I was inured to scenes of blood- 
 shed and misery ; but tliis cut me to the heart ; and never 
 in my after-life did I raise my arm against a savage, with- 
 out calling to mind the mother and her little twins with 
 their heads cleft asunder. On examining the tracks of the 
 Indians to see what other murders they might have com- 
 mitted, we found a little boy, and, a few steps forward, his 
 father, both scalped, and both stone-dead. From the 
 prints of the boy's feet, it seemed that he had been follow- 
 ing the plough with his father, whom he had probably seen 
 shot down ; and, in attempting to escape, had been pursued, 
 overtaken, and murdered. The ruin was complete : not 
 one of the family had been spared. Such was the character 
 of this miserable warfare. The wretched people of the 
 frontier never went to rest without bidding each other fare- 
 well ; for the chances were they might never wake again, or 
 wake only to find their last sleep. When leaving one spot 
 for the purpose of giving protection to another point of 
 exposure, the scene was often such as I shall never forget. 
 The women and children would cling around our knees, 
 and mothers would hold up their little babes before our eyes, 
 begging us to stay and protect them, and, for God's sake, 
 not leave them to be butchered by the savages. A hundred 
 times, I declare to Heaven, I would have laid down my life 
 with pleasure under the tomahawk and scalping-knife, 
 could I, by the sacrifice, have insured the safety of these 
 suffering people." 
 
 The little folks can vrell imagine how scenes like 
 these must have pained and wrung a heart like Wash- 
 ino^ton's. But what could he do? His whole force 
 
 10* 
 
226 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 did not exceed one thousand fighting men ; with 
 which he had to man more than twenty forts, and 
 guard a frontier of nearly four hundred miles' extent. 
 In addition to this, his men had been so scattered all 
 the while at these different points, as to have placed 
 it altogether beyond liis power to give that attention 
 to their military training which he had had so near at 
 heart when he first entered upon his command. It 
 naturally followed, then, that there was among the 
 greater number an almost total want of order and 
 discipline. They came and went when and where it 
 suited their humor best ; were impatient of control ; 
 wasted their ammunition, of which there was a great 
 scarcity, in target-shooting ; were far more ready to 
 trouble their officers with good advice than aid them 
 by prompt obedience to orders ; and, if their sagacious 
 counsels went unheeded, they would, without more 
 ado, shoulder their rifles in high dudgeon, and tramp 
 home. And, withal, so tender were they of what 
 they were pleased to call their hmior, that they would 
 take it as quite an insult to be put on soldiers' rations ; 
 and were too proud or lazy — which with them was 
 the same thing — to carry their own provisions while 
 on the march ; choosing, rather, to risk what chance 
 might bring them, in the shape of bullocks, sheep, or 
 pigs, which they would knock down, without a "By 
 your leave " to the owner, and, after eating as much 
 as satisfied their present hunger, would throw the 
 rest away. Thus, between their wasteful defenders 
 
DAEK DAYS. . 227 
 
 and their wasting invaders, the poor distressed in- 
 habitants were brought to the verge of starvation. 
 
 The forts were too far apart to prevent the Indians 
 from passing between ; and the garrisons were too 
 weak to lend each other aid when any of them 
 chanced to be in hard, besetting need. This plan of 
 giving defence to the border had been strongly- 
 opposed by Washington, who foresaw the disad- 
 vantages just hinted at, and had urged the exact 
 contrary. This was, instead of having so many small 
 forts, with but a handful of men in each, to fortify 
 Winchester in the completest manner possible, with 
 a view of making it the only stronghold and rallylng- 
 point of all the border, and to be manned by the 
 main body of the troops, who were to give support 
 to the smaller parties in their excursions against the 
 enemy. Long before the war was ended, it was 
 clearly to be seen, that, had this plan been adopted, 
 much useless expenditure of money and shedding of 
 blood would have been avoided. As it was, the 
 cunning and watchful foe, whose motions were swift 
 as the birds, and secret as death, could pass between 
 these forts, not only unopposed, but even unobserved, 
 and, without let or hinderance, lay waste the country 
 for the protection of which they had been built. 
 Under this most melancholy state of things, all the 
 region west of the Blue Ridge was fast becoming the 
 dreary and silent wilderness it had been In days gone 
 by. Scarcely a shadow of its former population was 
 
228 . THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 left : some had fled to the forts for reftige ; some had 
 resettled in the eastern parts of the province ; some 
 had been carried away into cruel captivity ; and 
 many, very many, had met with a horrible death at 
 the hands of the merciless invaders. 
 
 As if all this we have just related were not 
 enough to try the patience and fortitude of young 
 Washington, evil reports, injurious to his character, 
 and charging him with being the author of all these 
 failures and calamities, were set agoing by secret 
 enemies at home. Foremost among these, you will 
 be surprised and sorry to learn, was Gov. Dinwiddie, 
 who had for some time past regarded with a jealous 
 and envious eye this rising hope of the land, and 
 was now seeking, by a variety of imderhand means, 
 to have him disgraced from the service, that Col. 
 Innez, a particular chum of his, might be advanced 
 to the chief command of the Virginia troops instead. 
 The lower offices of the army he was zealous to 
 bestow upon a knot of needy adventurers, who, being 
 Scotchmen like himself, were in high favor with him, 
 and scrupled not to make liis likes and dislikes their 
 own, if, by so doing, they coidd further their own 
 private advantage. Perhaps Gov. Dinwiddie him- 
 self may not have been the direct author of these 
 reports ; but it is quite certain that his hungry 
 hangers-on would never have dared whisper them 
 had they not been fully aware of the ill-will he bore 
 the person by whose injury they hoped to profit, and 
 
DAEK DAYS. 229 
 
 that they had but to do the thing, when their patron 
 would not only wink at it, but even give it his secret 
 approval. 
 
 When these malicious whisperings came to the 
 ears of Washington, he was stung to the quick by 
 such unfair and unmerited treatment. Feeling 
 assured in his own conscience that he had done liis 
 whole duty as far as in him lay, all his strong and 
 manly nature was roused to indignant anger, that his 
 fair name should thus become the target of these 
 arrows flying in the dark, without an opportunity 
 being allowed him of a fair and open hearing in his 
 own defence. He would have left the service at 
 once, — the very end his enemies had been plotting 
 so hard to bring about, — had not the frontier settle- 
 ments, just at that moment, been thi'eatened with 
 more than usual peril ; and to have deserted his post 
 at such a time would have given his accusers real 
 grounds for the charges, which heretofore had been 
 but a mere pretence. Before the immediate danger 
 was past that kept him at his post, many of his 
 warmest and most influential friends, residing in dif- 
 ferent parts of the province, had written to him, 
 \ earnestly entreating him not to think of resigning his 
 command ; assuring him, at the same time, that the 
 base slanders of those evil-minded men had found no 
 place whatever in the minds of his feUow-countrymen. 
 On the contrary, beholding the courage, patience, 
 and humanity with which he was discharging the 
 
230 , THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 high and sacred duties tliey had intrusted to him, 
 they felt their love for him, and confidence in him, 
 increasing every day. With this gratifying assurance 
 that his conduct and motives were rightly understood 
 by those whose approbation he was most desirous of 
 winninof, Washino^ton now held on his course with 
 renewed hope and spirit. 
 
 Thenceforward, Gov. Dinwiddie, as if to revenge 
 himself for this failure of his base and selfish design, 
 never let an opportunity slip of thwarting or annoy- 
 ing the man whose high public character his petty 
 malice could not reach, and whose private worth his 
 mean envy could not tarnish. His letters to Wash- 
 ington, the tone of which heretofore had been uncivil 
 enough, now became harsh and insolent, full of fault- 
 finding, and bristling all over with biting reproofs 
 and unmanly insinuations. Although wretchedly 
 ignorant of military matters, and at a distance from 
 the seat of active operations , yet he must needs take 
 upon himself the full control of all the troops of the 
 province, without seeming to trouble his mind as to 
 what might be the wishes and opinions of him who 
 was in fact their true leader. Whether from a spite- 
 ful desire to perplex the object of his dislike, or 
 natural fickleness of character, every letter from him 
 brought with it some new plan. To-day, he ordered 
 this ; to-morrow, he ordered that ; and, the next day, 
 upset the other two by something quite diiferent 
 from either : so that Wasliington was often left com- 
 
DARK DAYS. 231 
 
 pletely In the dark as to what the uncertain meddler's 
 wishes or plans really were. 
 
 At last, from being thus harassed in mind by these 
 petty annoyances, and worn In body by the hardships 
 of such rough service, his health failed him ; and he 
 was advised to repair to Mount Vernon, and there 
 remain until his disease should take a more favorable 
 turn. Here he lay for four long, weary months, 
 before he could rejoin his regiment ; during much of 
 which time, his friends, who nursed and watched him, 
 really regarded his recovery as doubtful. This Is 
 another instance of what so often seems to us a 
 matter of wonder, — thepower of a narrow-minded, 
 mean-spirited, Ill-tempered, false-hearted man to 
 inflict pain on a noble and lofty nature. 
 
 A short time before the close of the war. It 
 becoming quite certain that he had been putting 
 public money. Intrusted to his keeping, to private or 
 dishonorable uses. Gov. Dinwiddle was recalled, and 
 another sent over to fill his place. Being the man 
 here described, and a petty tyrant withal, nobody 
 was sorry to see him go, except the needy toadies 
 who had hung about him, and who, seeing that 
 nothing was likely to turn up for them in the New 
 World, packed off to Scotland with their patron, as 
 hungry and empty-handed as they came. 
 
 By the by, I must not forget to tell you of the 
 heroic conduct of old Lord Fairfax. Greenway 
 Court, as you no doubt remember, was In the She- 
 
232 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 nandoali Yalley, not many miles from Winchester ; 
 and, situated on the very edge of a vast forest, was 
 quite open to the inroads of the Indians, any one 
 of whom would have risked limb or life to get his 
 bloody clutches on the gray scalp of so renowned a 
 Long Knife. To meet this danger, as well as do 
 his part towards the general defence, he mustered his 
 hunters and negro servants, to the number of a 
 hundred or thereabouts, and formed them at his own 
 expense into a company of horse, with which the 
 keen old fox-hunter, now as daring a trooper, scoured 
 the country from time to time, and did good service.' 
 
XX. 
 
 A NEW ENTERPRISE. 
 
 AM) thus these melancholy years came and went, 
 with all their dark and painful experiences. 
 A firm and self-reliant spirit like Washington's, how- 
 ever, could not be long cast down by even severer 
 trials than those by which we have just seen his 
 strength and manliood tested : so, from that time 
 forward, come what might, he resolved to hold right 
 on, nor bate a jot of heart or hope or zeal or pa- 
 tience, till the coming-on of better days, when, God 
 willing, he might render a good and faithful account 
 of this, his country's trust. 
 
 But the little folks must not suppose that Col. 
 Washington and Gov. Dinwiddie were by any 
 means the only persons of consequence who figured 
 in this Old French War. On the contrary, there 
 were others of far more importance at the time than 
 they, not so much from any pecidiar merit of their 
 own, as from the part they played in those events ; 
 and upon whom, as such, I must needs bestow some 
 passing notice, were it but to give to our story 
 
 [233] 
 
^'M Tin: r.vKMKK lun'. 
 
 i^rontor (,'lonrnoss :uul complotonoss. A\ li:it coiu'crns 
 viMi to know ot" tluMU nt |irosont 1 will briiMlv sum up 
 in a tow wonls, nuil uiako it as plain to vou as :i 
 taMo ot" siniplo adilitiou. 
 
 As (\)uuuauilor-in-i'hiot' oi' all tho Urilisli tbrocs in 
 AnuM'ica, Hrai](K>ok, as I havo told you olsowhoiv, 
 >vas suihhhhUhI In (Jon. 8hirlov ; who, pn>\ in*:,- liini- 
 solt* unilt tor the ]>1:uh\ was soon iwalKnl, anil Lt>nl 
 lj(nuli>un sont i>vor tVoni Knglaud instoail : who, 
 JMHH ini;" hinisolt' 0([uallv untit, was iloalt with in tho 
 sanio niannor, and (ion. Ahoronnnhio sent over in- 
 stead : who alsi>, j>rovinii" hintsolt' inoonipotont, was 
 also iwallod, and (Jen. Amherst sent over; who, 
 jiroviui:; a wiser ehoiee, there tolloweil happier re- 
 8idts ; and it tell to him, and to the hrave yoimg 
 ovueral, AN'olte, his next in rank, to bring this loui; 
 and Irksome war, in due eourse ot" tiuu\ to a glo- 
 rii>us end. Aitei' the tailure ot' Hraddoek's desii:;ns 
 aii'ainst Fort Ihupuv^ne, the eiunpu\><t o( C^uiada 
 was made the ehiet' ohjeet ot" the British (lovern- 
 luent ; and the rei^ious of the North theneetorth 
 beeanu' the seat o\' war. ^^ hile our youuLi' \ iri^inia 
 colonel, makiuii" the best use ot" the slender nutans 
 allowed him, was struii'iiliuii' to kee[> baek the pesti- 
 lent savjiges and their pestilent white allies troni his 
 long line ot'troutier in the South and West, some of 
 these leaders with their red allies, and some ot' the 
 Freneh leailers with their red allies, were, with vari- 
 ous tort lines and uiistbrtunes on either side, earrvini;* 
 
A NEW F.NTKIilMIISR. 2.'^5 
 
 on the war along tlic })or(lers of the great Lake Onta- 
 rio, the little Laken Chani[)]aln and George, and up 
 and down the mighty St. Lawrence. 
 
 Of these English leaders, I will mention Lord 
 Londoun merely, as being the only one with whom 
 AVnsliington had any special dealings. Had this 
 nohknnan come up to the hopes and expectations 
 which many of tlie colonists were at first wild enough 
 to,<intertain respecting him, he would have regained 
 what Braddock liad lost, overrun and conquered 
 C/anada, and made a clean finish of the whole French 
 empire in America, in less than six months' time. 
 They soon discovered, however, that he was one of 
 tliose mducky persons, who, knowing much, seldom 
 know wliat use to make of their knowledge ; who, 
 having no will that they can call their own, can 
 never turn the will of others to any good or seasona- 
 ble purj)()se ; and wlio, making a great show of 
 doing, have never any thing to show in the end what 
 they have done. In this last particular, Dr. Frank- 
 lin, witli that peculiar humor all his own, likened liim 
 to the picture of St. George on the sign, that was 
 always on horseback, but never riding on. 
 
 Now, the recapture of Fort Duquesne, ever since 
 the disgraceful failure of that first attempt, had been 
 the one object nearest to Washington's heart. Fore- 
 seeing that there could never be peace or safety for 
 the l)ack settlements of the middle provinces so long 
 as this stronghold of the enemy sent out its savage 
 
236 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 swarms to scourge and waste the border, he had re- 
 peatedly called Lord Loudoun's attention to the fact, 
 and most earnestly urged Its seizure as the only reme- 
 dy. It was not, however, until early in the autumn 
 of 1758, that an expedition, having for its object his 
 long-cherished scheme, was set on foot. It was 
 undertaken with a force of three thousand Pennsyl- 
 vanlans, twelve hundred North Carolinians, Wash- 
 ington's detachment of nineteen hundred Virginians, 
 seven hundred Indians, and a few hundred regu- 
 lars, — numbering in all seven thousand men, or 
 thereabouts, — with Gen. Forbes for then' chief 
 commander. 
 
 As an easy and rapid communication between the 
 back settlements of Virginia and Pennsylvania would 
 greatly lessen the difficulties of the coming campaign, 
 this officer caused a road to be opened between Fort 
 Cumberland and Raystown, a frontier post of the 
 last-named province, where he had fixed his head- 
 quarters. Before the expedition could be put in 
 motion, it was necessary that Col. Washington should 
 go to Williamsburg to make known to the Virginia 
 Legislature the needy condition of his soldiers, and 
 make a call upon them for fresh supplies of tents, 
 blankets, clothing, wagons, arms, &c. 
 
 Accordingly, attended by his trusty negro servant 
 Bishop, and mounted on his splendid white charger, — 
 both of which had been bequeathed to him by poor 
 Braddock, — he set out on his joiu'ney, which proved 
 
A NEW ENTERPRISE. 237 
 
 an eventful one indeed to him, as you shall directly 
 see. At the ferry of the Pamunkey, a branch of 
 York River, he fell in with Mr. Chamberlin, an ac- 
 quaintance of his, who, according to the hospitable 
 customs of those good old times, invited him to call 
 at his house, not far distant, and be his honored 
 guest till morning. The young colonel wojild be only 
 too happy to do so : but the nature of his business 
 was such as would not admit of an hour's delay ; 
 indeed, it was quite out of the question, and he must 
 hasten on. But, his friend repeating the invitation in 
 a manner too earnest to be mistaken, he felt it would 
 be uncourteous to refuse ; and consented to stop and 
 dine with him ; on condition, however, that he should 
 be allowed to proceed on his journey that same even- 
 ing. At his friend's hospitable mansion he met 
 with a gay and brilliant throng of ladies and gentle- 
 men, who, though strangers to him, knew him well 
 by reputation, and were but too proud to be thus 
 unexpectedly tlnrown in his company. Among them 
 was Mrs. Martha Custis, a young and beautiful 
 widow of good family and large fortune. Her 
 husband had died three years before ; leaving her 
 with two small children, a girl and a boy. She is 
 said to have been a lady of most winning and en- 
 gaging manners, and of an excellent and cultivated 
 understanding. In statm^e she was a little below 
 middle size, and of a round and extremely well-pro- 
 portioned form ; which, on this occasion, was set off 
 
238 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 to the best advantage by a dress of rich bhie silk. 
 Her hair was dark ; her features were pleasing and 
 regTilar ; and there was a look of earnest, womanly 
 softness in her hazel eyes, that found its way at once 
 to the heart and confidence of all on whom it 
 chanced to rest. 
 
 The little folks will not, I hope, suffer their admi- 
 ration and respect for our young hero to be lessened 
 in the least, if I tell them, that, like the rest of 
 mankind who came within the magic circle of those 
 bewitcliing charms, he was first surprised into admi- 
 ration, and then led, whether or no, at a single step, 
 into the enchanted realms of love. You have seen, 
 how that, in his boyhood, he wrote broken-hearted 
 verses to his Lowland Beauty ; and how that, two or 
 three years before, he had nearly yielded himself 
 captive to the beautiful Miss Phillipps : which ought 
 to prove to the satisfaction of all reasonable minds, 
 that AYasliington, like other men, had a heart of real 
 human flesh, that now and then gave him not a little 
 trouble, despite that grave and dignified reserve 
 which hung about him like a spell, and, even at that 
 early age, was something to. many quite overawing. 
 The dinner, that had at first, in his hurry, seemed so 
 long in coming on, seemed now quite as fast in going 
 oif. Not that I would have you suppose by this, that 
 he thought the guests were showing any indecent 
 haste to make way with the dishes that were set 
 before them without number, and heaped up without 
 
A NEW ENTERPRISE. 239 
 
 measure, on Mr. Cliamberlln's ample board. On 
 the contrary, they partook of the good things of the 
 table with a well-bred slowness, that would have been 
 beyond his endurance to bear, had Mars been thun- 
 dering with his iron fist at the gates of his fortress. 
 But as it was Cupid, only tapping with his rosy 
 knuckles at the casement of his heart, that dinner 
 seemed no longer to him than, no, not half so long 
 indeed as, the shortest snack he had ever eaten 
 on horseback in the hiu'ry of a forced march. 
 The dinner over, Washington seemed in no haste to 
 depart. 
 
 The trusty Bishop, knowing well what a punc- 
 tual man his master always was, had appeared, 
 according to orders, with the horses ; and was plainly 
 enough to be seen from the parlor window, had any 
 one cared to look that way, patiently waiting with 
 them in the pleasant shade of an apple-tree. The 
 fiery white charger soon began to paw the ground, 
 impatient at his master's unwonted tardiness ; but no 
 rider came. Bishop Braddock shifted his place once, 
 twice, thrice, to keep himself and horses in the shade 
 of the apple-tree ; but still his master lingered : and 
 the ivory grin that settled by degrees on his ebony 
 mug showed that he had a sly suspicion of what was 
 going on in the house. The afternoon sped away as 
 if old Time, all of a sudden forgetting his rheumatism, 
 had reached sunset at a single stride. Of course, 
 they would not suffer him to depart at this late hour : 
 
240 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 SO Bishop was ordered to restable the horses, and 
 make himself easy and snug for the night with the 
 colored folks down at their quarters. The next 
 morning, the sun was hours on his journey to the 
 west, before our love-smitten hero was on his way to 
 Williamsbm'g. 
 
 Once in the saddle, however, all his yesterday's 
 impatience returned upon him with redoubled force ; 
 and, giving his fiery white charger the spur, he 
 dashed away at a break-neck speed on the road to 
 the Virginia capital. It is said, so fast did he travel 
 on that day, that, to keep up with him. Bishop Brad- 
 dock ran serious risk of having his woolly nob shaken 
 from his shoulders by the high, hard trotter he rode ; 
 and so sore was he made by the jolting he got, 
 that, for a week thereafter, it was quite as much as 
 he could do to bring his legs together. This last, 
 by the way, is merely traditional, and must be re- 
 ceived by the little folks with some caution. 
 
 Luckily, the White House, the residence of Mrs. 
 Custis, was situated within a very few miles of Wil- 
 liamsburg ; which gave young Washington many 
 opportunities, during his two-weeks' stay at that 
 place, of seeing her, and still further cultivating her 
 acquaintance. Experience, that sage teacher who 
 never spoke to him in vain, had taught him, that al- 
 though there are many blessings of this world wliich 
 seem to come of their own accord, yet there are a 
 few that never come except at the asking for ; and 
 
A NEW ENTERPRISE. 241 
 
 the chiefest of these is woman's love. So, resolving 
 to profit by this knowledge, he did precisely what 
 any wise and reasonable man would have done in his 
 place, — overcame his troublesome bashfulness, and 
 made the lady an offer of marriage ; which she, pre- 
 cisely as any wise and reasonable woman would have 
 done in her place, modestly accepted. The business 
 that had called him to Williamsburg being at last 
 disposed of, Washington took leave of his intended, 
 after it had been agreed between them to keep up an 
 interchange of letters until the close of the present 
 campaign, when they were to be united in the holy 
 bonds of wedlock. 
 
 Upon his return to Winchester, he was dismayed 
 to find that the English generals had taken it into 
 their inexperienced heads to cut a new road from 
 Raystown to Fort Duquesne by the way of Laurel 
 HUl, instead of marching there at once by the old 
 Braddock Road, as he naturally supposed had been 
 their intention from the beginning. Foreseeing the 
 consequences, he, in an earnest and forcible manner, 
 hastened to represent to them the difficulties and 
 disadvantages of such an undertaking. Cold weather 
 would be setting in, he urged, long before they could 
 cut their way through so many miles of that moun- 
 tain wilderness to the point in question ; and they 
 would be obliged either to winter at Laurel Hill, or 
 fall back upon the settlements until spring. This 
 would give the enemy time to get full intelligence of 
 
 11 
 
242 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 tlieir threatened danger, and send to Canada for 
 re-enforcements. Their Indian allies too, as was 
 their wont, would grow impatient at the long 
 delay that must needs attend this plan if carried 
 out ; and, returning to their homes in disgust, would 
 fail to render to the expedition their valuable services 
 as scouts and spies, as had been expected of them. 
 On the other hand, by taking the old road, they could 
 march directly to the fort ; which, being at that time 
 but feebly garrisoned, must fall almost without a 
 blow, and this, too, in less than half the time, and 
 with less than half the trouble and expense. This 
 prudent counsel, coming from one, who, from his 
 knowledge of the country, had so good a right to 
 give it, was nevertheless overruled. The English 
 generals had gathered a most appalling idea of the 
 difficulties and dangers of this route from the account 
 Braddock had given of it In his letters. He had 
 therein described It as lying through a region where 
 the mountains were of the highest and steepest, the 
 forests of the thickest and tallest, the rocks of the 
 most huge and rugged, the swamps of the deepest, 
 and the torrents of the swiftest. The route for the 
 new road, on the contrary, according to the Penn- 
 sylvanlans, who saw In it a great advantage to them- 
 selves, lay through a region where the mountains 
 were not by far so lofty, the woods so thick, the 
 rocks so huge, the swamps so deep, nor the streams 
 so swift, or half so given to running rampant over 
 
A NEW ENTERPRISE. 243 
 
 their banks. All these advantages this route had, 
 besides being fifty miles shorter. So, under the 
 mistaken notion that more was to be gained by fol- 
 lowino; a short road that would take them a lono- 
 time in getting over, than by following a long one 
 that would take them but a short time in o-ettino: 
 over, they resolved to cut the new road. 
 
 This was a sore disappointment to Col. Washing- 
 ton ; for he saw in it a likelihood of Braddock's folly 
 being played all over again, and that, too, on a still 
 larger scale. The tidings of glorious victories won 
 by British arms in the North had filled the whole 
 country with triumph and rejoicing, that rendered 
 him all the more impatient at the tardiness with 
 which their own expedition was moving forward. 
 " He wished to rival the successes of the North by 
 some brilliant blow in the South. Perhaps a desire 
 for personal distinction in the eyes of the lady of his 
 choice may have been at the bottom of his impa- 
 tience." This last, it is but fair to say, is an asser- 
 tion of our great countryman, Washington Irving ; 
 who, being a wise and learned historian, would not 
 have made it, you may be sure, had not his deep 
 insight into the workings of the human heart given 
 him a perfect right so to do. If this be not enough 
 to convince you that such was really the case, know 
 that your Uncle Juvinell is entirely of the same 
 opinion . 
 
XXI. 
 
 MOKE BLUNDERING. 
 
 AT last, about the middle of September, the 
 expedition was set in motion. Gen. Forbes 
 sent Col. Boquet m advance, with nearly two thou- 
 sand men, to open and level the road. In order to 
 get more certain information touching the condition 
 of the enemy, — his number, strength, and probable 
 designs, — it was thought advisable by some of the 
 officers to send out a large party of observation in 
 the direction of Fort Duquesne. It was to be made 
 up of British regulars, Scotch Highlanders, and 
 Pennsylvania and Virginia rangers, — eight hundred 
 picked men in all. Washington strongly disap- 
 proved the plan, on the ground that the regulars, 
 being wholly unacquainted with the Indian mode of 
 fighting, and unable to operate at so great a distance 
 without taking]: with them a cumbrous train of bao- 
 gage, would prove a hinderance, instead of a further- 
 ance, to an enterprise which must needs owe its 
 success to the caution, silence, secrecy, and swiftness 
 on the part of those engaged. He therefore advised 
 
 [244] 
 
MORE BLUNDERING. 245 
 
 the sending-out of small companies of rangers and 
 Indian hunters, who, knowing the country well, 
 could spy out the enemy with less risk of detection 
 to themselves, and, moving without baggage, could 
 make far better speed with the tidings they may have 
 gathered. The like advice, you may remember, he 
 gave to Braddock. It met with a like reception, and 
 the like disaster was the consequence. 
 
 The party set out from Laurel Hill, and began Its 
 tedious tramp across the fifty miles of wilderness that 
 lay between that point and Fort Duquesne. It was 
 headed by Major Grant, a noisy, blustering braggart, 
 who, hankering after notoriety rather than seeking 
 praise for duty well and faithfully done, went beyond 
 the limits of his instructions ; wliich were simply to 
 find out all he could about the enemy, without suffer- 
 ing the enemy to find out more than he could help 
 about himself, and, by all possible means, to avoid a 
 battle. But, instead of conducting the expedition 
 with silence and circumspection, he marched along in 
 so open and boisterous a manner, as made it appear 
 he meant to give the enemy timely notice of his com- 
 ing, and bully him into an attack even while yet on 
 the way. The French, keeping themselves well in- 
 formed, by their spies, of his every movement, suffered 
 him to approach almost to their very gates without 
 molestation. When he o:ot in the neio;hborhood of the 
 fort, he posted himself on a hill overlooking it, and 
 began throwing up Intrenchments in full view of the 
 
246 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 garrison. As if all this were not imprudence enough, 
 and as if bent on provoking the enemy to come out and 
 give him battle on the instant, whether or no, he sent 
 down a party of observation to spy out yet more nar- 
 rowly the inside plan and defences of the fort ; who 
 were suifered not only to do this, but even to burn a 
 house just outside the walls, and then retm^n to their 
 intrenchments, without a hostile sign betokening the 
 unseen foe so silent yet watchful within. 
 
 Early the next morning, as if to give the enemy 
 warning of the threatened danger, the drums of the 
 regulars beat the reveille, and the bagpipes of the 
 Hiirhlanders woke the forest-echoes for and wide with 
 their wild and shrilly din. All this time, not a gun 
 had been fired from the fort. The deathly silence 
 that reigned within was mistaken for fear, and made 
 the fool-hardy Grant so audacious as to fancy that he 
 had but to raise his finger, and the fort must fall. 
 As Braddock's day had begun with martial parade 
 and music, so likewise did this. As on that day the 
 regulars were sent in advance, while the Virginians 
 were left in the rear to guard the baggage, so was 
 likewise done on tliis. On this day, as on that, not 
 an enemy was to be seen, till, all of a sudden, a quick 
 and heavy firing was opened upon them by Indians 
 lurking in ambush on either side ; while, at the same 
 moment, the French flung open their gates, and, 
 rushing out, mingled their loud shouts with the hor- 
 rid yells of their savage allies. On this day, as had 
 
MORE BLUNDERING. 247 
 
 been done on that, the regulars, surprised, bewil- 
 dered, panic-stricken, were thrown at once into dis- 
 order, and began firing their pieces at random, killing 
 friend as well as foe. Unlike them, however, the 
 Highlanders stood their ground lil^e men, and, fight- 
 ing bravely, cheered each other with their slogan, or 
 wild battle-cry. On this day, as on that, the Vir- 
 ginians came up in the very nick of time to rescue the 
 helpless regulars from utter destruction. On this, as 
 on Braddock's day, the Indians, seeing the hopeless 
 confusion into which the English had fallen, rushed 
 out from their ambush with yells of triumph, and fell 
 upon them, tomahawk and scalping-knife in hand. 
 Major Lewis, the brave leader of the Virginians, 
 fought hand to hand with a tall warrior, whom he 
 laid dead at his feet ; but, soon overpowered by num- 
 bers, he was forced to surrender himself to a French 
 oflScer, who received his sword. The blustering 
 Grant, more lucky than the headstrong Braddock, 
 saved his life by yielding himself up in like man- 
 ner. 
 
 And now the rout became general, and the slaugh- 
 ter dreadful. Seeing the unlooked-for turn affairs 
 had taken, Capt. Bullitt, whom Major Lewis had 
 left to guard the baggage, gathered a few of his 
 brave Virginians about him, and prepared to make a 
 desperate stand. Sending back the strongest horses 
 with the baggage, he blocked up the road with the 
 wagons, and, behind the barricade thus formed, posted 
 
248 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 his men, to whom he gave a few brief orders how to 
 act. These scanty preparations were hardly made, 
 when the Indians, having finished the work of plun- 
 der, had sprung Into swift pursuit, and were now 
 close upon them, the wild woods ringing with their 
 terrible whoops and yells. Wlien they had come 
 within short rifle-range, Capt. Bullitt and his men 
 met them with a well-aimed volley of musketry from 
 behind the shelter of their wagons ; which, however, 
 checked the savages but for a moment. Eallying on 
 the instant, they were pressing forward in still greater 
 numbers ; when Capt. BuUitt held out a signal of 
 surrender, and came out ft'om behind the barricade at 
 the head of his men, as if to lay down their arms : 
 but no sooner were they within eight yards of the 
 enemy, and near enough to see the fierce light that 
 shone in their eyes, than they suddenly levelled their 
 pieces, and poured a murderous fire into the tliickest 
 of them ; then, charging bayonets, scattered them In 
 every direction, and sent them yelling with astonish- 
 ment and dismay. Before they could rally again, and 
 renew the pursuit, Capt. Bullitt, having picked up 
 many more of the fugitives, began a rapid but orderly 
 retreat. 
 
 For several days thereafter, the fugitives, singly or 
 in squads, came straggling into camp at Loyal Han- 
 non. Of the eight hundred picked men who had been 
 sent out with such good promise of success, twenty 
 officers and two hundred and seventy-three privates 
 
MOKE BLUNDERING. 249 
 
 had been left behind, either killed or taken prisoners. 
 The whole force of the enemy, French and Indians, 
 did not exceed that of the English ; their loss in the 
 battle is not known ; but, as the Higlilanders fought 
 well and the Virginians fought well, it must have 
 been heavy. The disaster foreboded by Washing- 
 ton had thus in reality fallen upon them. He was 
 at Raystown when the dismal tidings came ; and, 
 although complimented by Gen. Forbes upon the 
 bravery his rangers had displayed, was deeply grieved 
 and mortified. In secret, many a man would have 
 been gratified at beholding a prophecy he had uttered 
 thus fulfilled ; but Wasliington, incapable of such self- 
 ish and unnatural vanity, could but sorrow thereat, 
 although it must needs increase his reputation for 
 foresight and sagacity. ' As the only good thing that 
 came fi-om this defeat, I must tell you (and you will 
 be glad to hear it) that Capt. Bulhtt was rewarded 
 with a major's commission for the gallant and sol- 
 dierly conduct he had shown on that disastrous day 
 in the midst of such fearful perils. 
 
 It was not until the middle of November that the 
 whole army came up to Loyal Hannon, a little dis- 
 tance beyond Laurel Hill. Winter was coming on 
 apace. What with rain and snow and frost, the roads 
 would soon be rendered impassable, not only to 
 wheeled carriages, but to pack-horses also. Fifty 
 miles of unbroken wilderness lay between them and 
 Fort Duquesne, — so long the goal of their hopes and 
 
 11* 
 
250 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 toils, that seemed to recede as they advanced, Hke some 
 enchanted castle we have read of before now in books 
 of fauy tales, that poor benighted travellers never 
 reach, although, in fancy, every step they take brings 
 them nearer. The leaders began to talk seriously of 
 going into winter-quarters at that place until the re- 
 turn of spring ; and it seemed as if another of Wash- 
 ington's prophecies were hkely to be fulfilled. But, 
 about tliis time, two prisoners fi'om Fort Duquesne 
 were brought into camp ; from whom they di*ew such 
 an account of the weakness of the French, and the 
 discontent and daily desertions of their Indian alHes, 
 as determined them to push forward without further 
 delay, in spite of the wintry weather, and, at one fell 
 blow, make a finish of the campaign. So, leaving 
 beliind them their tents and baggage, and taking with 
 them but a few pieces of hght artillery, they once 
 more resumed their toilsome march. Col. Wash- 
 ington was ordered to go on in advance with a part 
 of his detachment, to throw out scouts and scouting 
 parties, who were to scour the woods in every direc- 
 tion, and thereby prevent the possibihty of an ambus- 
 cade. This new arrangement, which showed that 
 Gen. Forbes had the wisdom to profit by the folly of 
 those who had gone before him, was a signal proof 
 of the high esteem in which provincial troops were at 
 last beginning to be held ; and to which, by their 
 courage, skill, and hardihood, they had, even years 
 before, won so just a title. 
 
MORE BLUNDERING. 251 
 
 'WTien within a few miles of the French fort, the 
 road began to show signs of the late disaster. Here 
 and there were to be seen the blackened and mansfled 
 bodies of men, who, wliile fleeing for their lives, had 
 been overtaken, and cut down by the murderous toma- 
 hawk ; or, exhausted from the loss of blood, had 
 there, by the lonely wayside, laid them down to die 
 of their wounds. As they advanced, these ghastly 
 tokens of defeat and massacre were to be met with at 
 shorter and shorter intervals, till at length they lay 
 thickly scattered about the ground. 
 
 Being now in close neighborhood with the enemy, 
 the English moved with even greater caution and 
 wariness than before ; for they had every reason to 
 suspect, that, as he had suffered them to come thus far 
 without molestation, he meant to meet them here, under 
 shelter of his stronghold, with a resistance all the more 
 determined. When come in sight, however, what 
 was their surprise, instead of beholding the high ram- 
 parts and strong walls, grim and frowning with can- 
 non, which they had pictured to their minds, to find 
 a heap of blackened and smoking ruins ! 
 
 Deserted by his Indian allies, thi-eatened with fa- 
 mine, cut off from all hope of aid from the North 
 (^here the English were everywhere gaining ground) , 
 and with a force of but five hundred men wherewith 
 to defend the post against ten times that number, 
 the French general had seen that the attempt to hold 
 it would be but folly ; and, like a prudent officer, had 
 
252 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 resolved to abandon it as his only chance of safety. 
 Waiting, therefore, until the English were within a 
 day's march of the place, he blew up the magazine, 
 set fire to the works, and, embarking in his bateaux 
 by the light of the flames, retreated down the 
 Ohio. 
 
 Col. Washington, still leading the advance, was 
 the first to enter ; and, with his own hand plant- 
 ing the British banner on the still smoiddering heaps, 
 took formal possession thereof in the name of his 
 Britannic majesty. King George the Second. And 
 thus this stronghold of French power in the Ohio 
 Valley, so long the pest and terror of the border, 
 fell without a blow. Under the name of Fort Pitt, 
 it was soon rebuilt, and garrisoned with two hundred 
 of Washington's men ; and, from that time to the 
 war of the Bevolution, it was held by the English, 
 chiefly as a trading-post ; and hence the dingy, 
 smoky, noisy, thriving, fast young city of Pittsburg. 
 
 They now had leisure to pay the last sad duty to 
 the dead who had fallen in the two defeats of Brad- 
 dock and Grant. For three long years, the bodies of 
 Braddock's slauohtered men had lain without Chris- 
 tian burial, bleaching in the sun of as many summers, 
 and shrouded in the snows of as many winters. 
 Mingled with the bones of oxen and horses, or half 
 hidden in heaps of autumn leaves, they lay scattered 
 about the stony hillsides, — a spectacle ghastly in- 
 deed, and most melancholy to behold. With many 
 
MORE BLUNDEIilXG. 253 
 
 a sigh of pity for the hapless dead, and many a shud- 
 der of dark remembrance on the part of those who 
 had been present at the scenes of rout and massacre, 
 they gathered together the blackened corpses of 
 Grant's men and the whitened bones of Braddock's 
 men, and, digging a huge pit, buried them in one 
 common grave. In this pious duty all took part 
 alike, from the general down to the common soldier. 
 
 With the fall of Fort Duquesne, ended, as Wash- 
 ington had years ago foreseen, the troubles of the 
 Western and Southern frontiers, and with it the power 
 so long held by the French in the Ohio Valley. The 
 Indians, with that fickleness of mind peculiar to 
 savage races, now hastened to offer terms of amity 
 and peace to the party whom the fortunes of war 
 had left uppermost. 
 
 Having done his part, and so large a part, towards 
 the restoration of quiet and security to his native 
 province, the cherished object of his heart, for which 
 he had so faithfully and manfully struggled, Wash- 
 mgton resolved to bring his career as a soldier to a 
 close. In his very soul, he was sick and weary of 
 strife, and longed for peace. The scenes of violence 
 and bloodshed had become loathing and painful to 
 him beyond the power of words to tell ; and, now 
 that his country had no longer need of his services, 
 he felt that he could, without reproach, retire to the 
 tranquil shades of private life he loved so much, and 
 had looked forward to with such earnest longings. 
 
254 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 He therefore, at the end of the year, gave up his 
 commission, and left the service, followed by the 
 admiration and affection of his soldiers, and the ap-. 
 plause and gratitude of his fellow-countrymen. 
 
 With the fall of Quebec in the course of the fol- 
 lowing year (1759) , this long and eventful Old Frencj^ 
 War was brought to a close, and French empire in 
 America was at an end. 
 
XXII. 
 
 WASHINGTON AT HOME. 
 
 HAVING done aU that a brave and prudent man 
 could for his country's welfare, Col. Washing- 
 ton now lost no time, you may depend upon it, in 
 doing what every wise and prudent man should for 
 his own : by. which you are to understand, that on 
 the sixth day of January, 1759, when he wanted but 
 a few weeks of completing his twenty-seventh year, 
 he was joined in the holy bonds of marriage -wdth 
 Mrs. Martha Custis, the blooming and lovely young 
 widow, and mother of the two interesting little chil- 
 dren, — to all of whom you had a shght introduction 
 a short time ago. 
 
 The nuptials were celebrated at the White House, 
 the home of the bride, in the presence of a goodly 
 company of stately dames and fine old gentlemen, fair 
 maidens and handsome youth, — the kith and kin and 
 loving friends of the wedded pair. Had some belated 
 traveller been overtaken by the Httle hours of that 
 night, as he chanced to pass that way, he might have 
 guessed, from the soft, warm light that shone from all 
 of the many windows, and sounds of sweet music that 
 
 [255] 
 
256 THE FARMEE BOY. 
 
 came through the open doors, mingled with peals of 
 joyous laughter, and the light tripping of numerous 
 feet in the merry dance, that it must be a much- 
 beloved and fortunate couple indeed that could di-aw 
 together so happy and brilliant a tlu'ong under that 
 hospitable roof. Had this same belated traveller 
 wanted further proof of this, he had but to tm'n a 
 little aside, and take a peep into the negro quarters, 
 where he would have seen the colored folks in a jubilee 
 over the grand occasion, and, to all appearances, quite 
 as jolly as if the wedding had been an affair of their 
 ovm. getting-up, and in which each son and daughter 
 of ebony had a personal interest. He would have 
 seen them feasting on the abundant leavings that came 
 down from the great house, till their faces shone 
 again ; and dancing to the music of Bishop Braddock's 
 fiddle in a fashion all their own, and nobody's else. 
 
 First and foremost among these, with his wool 
 combed the highest, liis breeches the reddest, and man- 
 ners the genteelest, might have been spied Black Jerry 
 (who, when a negroling, had been saved fi-om a 
 thrashing by little George, as you well remember), 
 showing off his heels to the envy of all male and the 
 admiration of all female beholders. This last, it is 
 but fan' to say, is merely a fancy sketch of your Uncle 
 Juvinell's, conjured up by recollections of certain long 
 talks he often had, when a boy, with Black Jerry 
 himself, at that time a very old negTo of most excel- 
 lent morals, who never failed, when liis honored 
 
WASHINGTON AT HOME. 257 
 
 master's name was mentioned, to show his yellow 
 ivory, and, for very respect, uncover his head, the 
 wool of which was then as white as a Merino ram's. 
 
 This joyous event having passed thus happily off, 
 Col. Washington, a short time after, repaired to 
 Williamsburg to take his seat in the Virginia Legis- 
 lature, or House of Burgesses as it was then called, 
 to wliich he had bfeen elected while absent on the last 
 campaign ; without, however, any particular desire or 
 effort on his part, but by that of his numerous friends. 
 Hardly had his name been enrolled as a member of 
 that honorable body, when Mr. Robinson, Speaker 
 of the House, by previous agreement arose and ad- 
 dressed him In a short but eloquent speech ; thank- 
 ing him, in the name of the rest, for the many and 
 valuable services he had rendered his country during 
 the past five years, and setting forth the gratitude 
 and esteem with which he was regarded by his fellow- 
 countrymen. Surprised out of his usual composure 
 and self-possession by the honor thus unexpectedly 
 done him, Washington, upon rising to thank the House, 
 could only blush, stammer, and stand trembling, 
 without the power to utter a single word. Seeing 
 his painful embarrassment, Mr. Robinson hastened 
 to his relief by saying with a courteous smile, " Sit 
 down, Mr. Washington : your modesty equals your 
 valor ; and that surpasses the power of any language 
 I possess." From that time till near the breaking- 
 cut of the Revolution, — a period of fifteen years, — 
 
258 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 he remained an active and influential member of this 
 body ; being returned from year to year by the united 
 voice of the good people whose district he represented. 
 Always thorough in whatever he undertook, he rested 
 not until he had made liimself master of eveiy point 
 and question touching the duties of his new office ; 
 and, for method, promptness, prudence, and sagacity, 
 soon proved himself quite as good a civilian as he had 
 been a soldier. 
 
 Early in the following spring, his first session 
 ended, he betook himself to the sweet retirement of 
 Mount Yernon ; w^iere, cheered by the company of his 
 beautiful young wife and her interesting httle children, 
 he once more resumed those peaceful pursuits and 
 innocent amusements to w^hich he had looked forward 
 with such bright anticipations amidst the perils and 
 hardships of a soldier's life. War, as war, had 
 already, young and ardent as he was, lost for him its 
 charms ; and he had learned to look upon it as a hard 
 and terrible necessity, ever to be avoided, except in 
 cases where the safety of his country should demand 
 it as a last desperate remedy. Unlike most men of 
 a bold and adventurous disposition, he all his life long 
 took the greatest pleasure in the pursuits of a hus- 
 bandman ; and, to his manner of thinking, there was 
 no lot or calling in life so happy, and none more hon- 
 orable. Having now ample time for the indulgence 
 of his tastes, he set about improving and beautifying 
 his plantations, of which he had several, in the most 
 
WASHINGTON AT HOME. 259 
 
 approved style of that day. He planted orchards of 
 various fi'uits ; set his hillsides in grass ; drained his 
 marshes, and turned them into rich meadow-lands ; 
 built mills and blacksmith-shops ; enlarged his family 
 mansion to a size better befitting his elegant and hos- 
 pitable style of living ; adorned the grounds about it 
 with shrubbery, trees, and gardens ; and converted the 
 wild woods hard by into open and verdant parks. To 
 his negro slaves he was the kindest of masters ; ever 
 mindful of their comfort, and extremely careful of 
 them in sickness. Beins: of industrious habits him- 
 self, he would not make the least grain of allowance 
 for sloth or idleness in them, or indeed in any one 
 about him, but was strict in exacting of them the 
 speedy and full performance of their allotted tasks ; 
 which, however, he always took care should come 
 under rather than up to the measure of their strength. 
 In his business habits, he was methodical to a nicety ; 
 kept his own books, and was his own overseer : for, 
 having a strong aversion to being waited on, he never 
 suffered others to do for him what he could do for 
 himself. He kept a close and clear account, in writ- 
 ing, of the profits arising from the grain, tobacco, and 
 other produce of his lands ; and also the amount of 
 his personal, household, and plantation expenses : by 
 which means he could tell at a glance whether he 
 were on the making or losing order, and readily detect 
 whether any of whom he had deahngs were given to 
 careless or dishonest practices. So superior was the 
 
260 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 quality of every thing produced on his estate, and so 
 widely known did he become for his honesty and 
 uprightness in all business transactions, that, in time, 
 a box of tobacco or a barrel of flour marked " George 
 Washington, Mount Vernon, Va.," would be received 
 into many foreign ports without the custom-house 
 authorities opening or inspecting it. 
 
 He was an early riser. In winter, getting up be- 
 fore day, and lighting his own fire, he wrote or read 
 two or three hours by candle-light. After a frugal 
 breakfast of two small cups of tea and four small 
 cakes of Indian meal, he mounted liis horse, and rode 
 about his plantations ; seeing to -every tiling with his 
 own eye, and often lending a helping hand. This 
 duty done, he returned to the house at noon, and 
 dined heartily, as well beseemed the active, robust 
 man that he was, yet never exceeding the bounds of 
 temperance and moderation both as to eating and 
 drinking. His afternoons he usually devoted to the 
 entertainment of his numerous guests, who thronged 
 his hospitable mansion almost daily, and, if from a 
 distance, abiding there for weeks together. After 
 a supper frugal as his breakfast, if there was no 
 company in the house, he would read aloud to his 
 family from some instructive and entertaining book, 
 or from the newspapers of the day ; and then, at 
 an early hour, retire to his room for the night. 
 
 Fish and game abounded in the woods and streams 
 of his domain, as well as in those of the adjoining 
 
WASHINGTON AT HOME. 261 
 
 plantations ; and he was thus enabled to indulge his 
 fondness for angling and hunting to the utmost, 
 whenever he felt so inclined. Two or three times a 
 week, the shrill ^vinding of the hunter's horn and the 
 deep-mouthed baying of the fox-hounds would ring 
 out on the clear morning air ; when he might be seen 
 at the head of a brilliant company of mounted hunters, 
 dashing over the fields, across the streams, and through 
 the woods, hot on the heels of some unlucky Reynard. 
 I should not say unlucky, however ; for although 
 Washington was as bold and skilful a rider as could 
 be found in thirteen provinces, and kept the finest of 
 horses and finest of dogs, yet, for all that, he could 
 seldom boast of any great success as a fox-hunter. 
 But having the happy knack of making the best and 
 most of every thing, be it toward or untoward, he 
 always consoled himself with the reflection, that, if 
 they had failed to catch their fox, they at least had 
 their sport and a deal of healthful exercise ; which, 
 after all, should be the only object of fox-hunting. 
 On such occasions, he was either joined by the neigh- 
 boring gentry, or by such guests as chanced at the 
 time to be enjoying the hospitalities of Mount Ver- 
 non. Among the'se, it was not unusual to find old 
 Lord Fairfax, the friend and companion of his strip- 
 ling days, who would come down from Greenway 
 Court several times a year, with a long train of hunt- 
 ers and hounds, and by his presence double the mirth 
 and cheer of all the country-side for miles and miles 
 
262 THE rAR]VIER BOY. 
 
 around. The fate of poor Reynard being duly settled, 
 they would repair either to Mount Vernon, or to the 
 residence of any one else of the party that chanced to 
 be nearest, and wind up the sports of the day by a 
 hunting-dinner, at which they were usually favored 
 with the company of the ladies. At such times, 
 Washington is said to have entered so keenly into 
 the general hilarity, as to quite lay aside his accus- 
 tomed gravity and reserve, and show liimself almost 
 as jovial as the merry old lord himself. Speaking of 
 these amusements, brings to mind an anecdote of him, 
 which I must tell you, as it will give you a still more 
 lively idea of the promptness and decision with which 
 he was wont to act whenever occasion demanded. 
 
 In those old-fashioned times, among many other 
 laws that would seem odd enough to us at the present 
 day, there were many very strict and severe ones for 
 the protection of game, which made poaching (that 
 is to say, hunting on private grounds without leave 
 or license from the owner) no less a crime than theft, 
 and punished the poacher as a tliief accordingly. 
 Now, there was a certain idle, worthless fellow, 
 notorious for his desperate character, as being the 
 most daring poacher in seven counties, who was 
 known to be much in the habit of trespassing on the 
 grounds belonging to Mount Yemon. This had been 
 forbidden him by Washington, who had warned him 
 of the consequences if he did not cease his depreda- 
 tions, and keep at a safe distance ; but to this the 
 
WASHINGTON AT HOME. 203 
 
 sturdy vagrant gave little heed. He would cross over 
 the river in a canoe, wliich he would hide, in some 
 secret nook best known to himself, among the reeds 
 and rushes that fringed the banks, and with his fowl- 
 ing-piece make ruinous havoc among the canvas-back 
 ducks that flocked in great multitudes to the low 
 marsh-lands of that region. 
 
 One day, as Washington was going his accustomed 
 rounds about the plantations, he heard the report of 
 a gTin in the neighborhood of the river ; and, guessing 
 what was in the wind, he forthwith spm-red his horse 
 in that direction, and, dashing through the bushes, 
 came upon the culprit, just as he, paddle in hand, 
 was pushing from the shore. The fellow, seeing his 
 danger, cocked his gun, and, with a threatening look, 
 levelled it directly at Washington, who, without 
 heeding this in the least, rode into the water, and, 
 seizing the canoe by the painter, dragged it ashore. 
 Leaping then from his horse, he wrenched the fowl- 
 ing-piece from the astonished poacher, and fell to 
 belaboring him in so clean and handsome a manner, 
 as to make the unlucky wight heartily wish he had 
 the wide Potomac between him and the terrible man 
 whose iron grasp was then on his collar. My word 
 for it, he never trespassed again on those forbidden 
 grounds ; and I dare be sworn, he never saw or ate 
 or smelt a canvas-back thereafter, without feehnof a 
 lively smarting up and down under his jacket, and, 
 it may be, his buckskin breeches too. It was not 
 
264 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 that a few dozen or even a hundred ducks had been 
 shot on his premises, that Washington was thus 
 moved to chastise this fellow ; but that, in spite of 
 wholesome warnings, he should go on breaking the 
 laws of the land with such impunity ; and also, that, 
 instead of seeking to earn an honest livelihood by the 
 labor of his hands, he should prefer rather to Hve in 
 idleness, and gain a bare subsistence by such paltry 
 and unlawftd means. 
 
 Although verging on to middle age, Washington 
 was still very fond of active and manly sports, such 
 as tossing the bar and throwing the sledge, wrestling, 
 running, and jumping ; in all of which he had but 
 few equals, and no superiors. Among other stories 
 of his strength and agility, there is one which you 
 may come across some day in the course of your 
 reading, relating how that, at a leaping-match, he 
 cleared twenty-two feet seven inches of dead level 
 turf at a single bound. 
 
 Notwithstanding his modesty and reserve, he took 
 much pleasure in society, and ever sought to keep up 
 a free and social interchange of visits between his 
 family and those of his neighbors. Besides their fine 
 horses and elegant carriages, he, and others of the old 
 Virginia gentry of that day whose plantations lay 
 along the Potomac, kept their own barges or pleasure- 
 boats, wliich were finished and fitted up in a sump- 
 tuous style, and were sometimes rowed by as many 
 as six negro men, all in neat uniforms. In these. 
 
WASHINGTON AT HOME. 265 
 
 they, with their wives and children, would visit each 
 other up and down the river ; and often, after length- 
 ening out their calls far into the night, would row 
 home by the light of the moon, which, lending charms 
 that the sun had not to the tranquil flow of the wind- 
 ing stream, and to the waving woods that crowned 
 the banks on either hand, caused them often to linger, 
 as loath to quit the enchanting scene. A few weeks 
 of the winter months were usually spent by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Washington either at Williamsburg or at An- 
 napohs, then, as now, the capital of Maryland, where 
 was to be found the best society of the provinces, and 
 of which they were the pride and ornament. Here 
 they entered into the gayeties of the season, such as 
 dinners and balls, with much real rehsh ; and, if the 
 theatre added its attractions to the rest, Washington 
 always made it a point to attend, as the entertainments 
 there offered were of the sort that afforded him much 
 dehght. Nor was he loath to join in the dance ; and 
 your Uncle Juvinell, when a boy, had the rare for- 
 tune of meeting, now and then, with stately old 
 dames, who had been belles in their days, and could 
 boast of having had him for a partner ; but, at the 
 same time, they were wont to confess, that they were 
 generally too much overawed by the gravity and dig- 
 nity of his demeanor to feel entirely at their ease in 
 his company, however flattered they may have been 
 at the honor, which he, in his modesty, so httle 
 dreamed he was doing them. 
 
 12 
 
266 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 Washington's marriage was never blessed with chil- 
 dren ; but he was all that a father could be to those 
 of Mrs. Washington, whom he loved and cherished as 
 tenderly as if they had been his own. As their guar- 
 dian, he had the care of their education, and also the 
 entire control of the immense fortune, amounting, in 
 negroes, land, and money, to nearly two hundred thou- 
 sand dollars, left them by their father, Mr. George 
 Custis ; and lovingly and faithfully did he discharge 
 this sacred and delicate trust. Of these two children, 
 the daughter (who was the younger of the two) died, 
 in early maidenhood, of consumption. She had been 
 of a slender constitution from her childhood ; but, for 
 all that, her death was an unexpected stroke, and was 
 long and deeply mourned by Mrs. Washington and her 
 husband. He is said to have been absent during her 
 illness ; but, returning a short time before she breathed 
 her last, was so overcome with pity and tenderness 
 upon seeing the sad change wrought in so brief a 
 space by this dreadful disease in her fair young face 
 and dehcate form, that he threw himself upon his knees 
 by her bedside, and, in a passionate burst of grief, 
 poured out a fervent prayer for her recovery. The 
 son now became the sole object of parental love and 
 sohcitude ; and being, like his sister, of frail and 
 uncertain health, was a source of much affectionate 
 anxiety to his step-father as well as to his mother. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Washington were members of 
 the Episcopal Church, and persons of the truest Chris- 
 
WASHINGTON AT HOME. 267 
 
 tian piety. Every sabbath, when the roads and wea- 
 ther permitted, they attended divine worship either at 
 Alexandria or at a church in their own neighborhood, 
 and always took part in the religious exercises of the 
 day with earnest and solemn devotion. In addition 
 to the many charms of mind and person already men- 
 tioned, Mrs. Washington was a woman of great 
 benevolence, and spent much of her time in acts of 
 kindness and charity, which won her the love and 
 gratitude of every poor family in the country 
 around. 
 
 Thus passed away fifteen tranquil years, — the 
 white days of Washington's life. When we behold 
 him as he was then, in the full strength and beauty 
 of his ripened manhood, possessed of one of the hand- 
 somest fortunes in America, living in the bountiful 
 and elegant style of those hospitable times, the pride 
 and honor of his native province, the object of applause 
 and gratitude to his fellow-countrymen, and of es- 
 teem and love to all whose privilege it was to call him 
 friend ; and, above all, blessed, in the partner of his 
 choice, with a woman gifted with every grace and 
 virtue that can adorn her sex, — when we behold him 
 thus, well may we exclaim, " Yerily, here was a man 
 favored of Heaven in a special manner, and blessed 
 beyond the lot of common mortals here below." But 
 the clouds were gathering, and had long been gather- 
 ing, that were soon to burst in storm and tempest 
 over that happy and rising young land, and force him 
 
26S THE FAHMER BOY. 
 
 for many, many weary years from those, his loved 
 retreats and peaceful pursuits, upon a wider, nobler 
 field of action, wherein he was -to play a part that 
 should, in fine, win for him the name so dear to every 
 American heart, — Father of his Country. 
 
xxm. 
 
 A FA3IILY QUARREL. 
 
 " A ND now, Dannie, mend the fire with another 
 jLjl. Christmas log. You, Willie, open the windows 
 at top and bottom, to let out the smoke the young 
 historian will be sure to raise. Laura, my dear, trim 
 the lamp ; and you, Ella, — will you have the kindness 
 to put a little sugar in yoiu* uncle's cider ? — there's a 
 darling ! Ned, my boy, just tumble sleepy-headed 
 CharHe there out of his comfortable nap, and touse 
 him into his waking senses again. All right? Now 
 I would have every one of you put your thinking-caps 
 square and tight upon your heads, and keep all 
 your ears about you ; for, depend upon it, what I am 
 now going to tell you is so full of hard points and 
 tough knots, that, should you but lose the crossing of 
 a ^ t,' or even the dotting of an * i,' thereof, all the 
 rest will be to you as so much hifalutin transcendental- 
 ism." (Here Uncle Juvinell took a gigantic swallow 
 of cider, and pronounced the sugar a decided improve- 
 ment ; while the little folks wrote something on their 
 slates, very long, and which no two of them spelt 
 
 [269] 
 
270 , THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 alike. Uncle Juvlnell smacked his lips, and then 
 resumed.) 
 
 Now, you must know, my dear cliildren, that Great 
 Britain, at the time of which we are speaking, was, 
 and for many years had been, and, in fact, still is, 
 and, in all human likehhood, will ever continue to be, 
 burdened with a mountain-load of debt, which has 
 already given her a frightful stoop in the shoulders, 
 and may, in time, grow to such an enormous bulk as 
 to break her sturdy old back outright. She had, 
 as you have seen, added all French America to her 
 dominions ; but with this increase of power and glory, 
 that made her king and nobles smile and sing with 
 joy, came' also an increase of debt and trouble, that 
 made her common people scowl and growl with want 
 and discontent. The expenses of the late war with 
 France had added the weight of another ^tna or 
 Sinai to the already staggering load that chafed her 
 back ; and, sorely grieved thereat, she began casting in 
 her mind what might be done to lighten it a little. 
 
 "My young Colonies," said our mother to herself, 
 "which were planted by my love so many years ago, 
 have grown to a goodly size, and prospered in a won- 
 derful manner, under my fostering care, for which 
 they owe me many thanks ; and, being quite old and 
 strong enough, must now repay it by taking their due 
 share of my heavy burden." 
 
 Now, in all this, our mother did but deceive her- 
 self: for these Colonies had been planted by her 
 
A FAMILY QUARREL. 271 
 
 oppression, not by her love ; they had grown by 
 her neglect, not by her fostering care. Therefore, 
 they did not, as she pretended, owe her either love or 
 thanks, although they gave her both ; and she had no 
 right to make them carry her burden without their 
 consent. Strange as it may appear, these infant Colo- 
 nies loved their mother to distraction, in spite of her 
 unmotherly treatment of them ; and would have gone 
 any length to serve her, — even to the extent of bear- 
 ing double the burden she would have laid on them, 
 — had she been wise enough to consult their wishes 
 about the matter, and suffer them to lay it on their 
 own shoulders, in their own fashion, and of their own 
 free will. To this the perverse old mother would not 
 listen for a moment ; and, without pausing to reflect 
 what might be the consequences, took an ^tna or a 
 Sinai from the load on her owti shoulders, and clapped 
 it on those of her children, who sat down under it 
 plump, and stm^dily refused to budge until they should 
 be allowed to put it there themselves. Whereupon, 
 this stiff'- necked, wrong-headed old Britannia (for 
 such was her Christian name) was exceeding wroth, 
 made an outlandish noise among the nations, and even 
 went so far (you will be shocked to hear) as to swear 
 a little. Seeing there was no help for it but to re- 
 move this -^tna, she did so with as good a grace as 
 could be expected in a family-quarrel ; but was so 
 indiscreet and short-sighted as 'still to leave a very 
 small bm'den, — a mere hillock indeed, — just by 
 
272 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 way, as she said, of showing that she had the right to 
 load and unload them when and how it suited her 
 sovereign pleasure best. 
 
 Now, be it known, it was not the burden they had 
 to carry of which these generous and high-spirited 
 Colonies complained so bitterly ; but that they should 
 be denied the right of freely judging when and how 
 and wherefore they were to be taxed, — a right that 
 had been the pride and boast of Enghshmen time out 
 of mind. As for the matter of the burden, had that 
 been all, they could have danced, ay, and blithely 
 too, under ^tna and Sinai both, had the load but 
 been of their own choosing, of their own putting-on, 
 and of their own adjusting. 
 
 To add to their distress and humiliation, this 
 hardest and unnaturalest of mothers now set over 
 them judges, who were strangers to them, and loved 
 them not ; who were to hold their places, not, as 
 theretofore, during good behavior, but at her will and 
 pleasure. Another right, as dear to Enghshmen as 
 life itself, was taken from them, — to wit, the right 
 of trial by jury ; which gave every person, great or 
 small, suspected or known to be guilty of any crime 
 against the laws of the land, the privilege of a speedy 
 trial, in open court, in the place where the crime may 
 have been committed, and by a jury of honest and 
 impartial men. Instead of this, the person accused 
 was to be taken aboard some ship-of-war, Hkely as 
 not a thousand miles from Christian land, and there 
 
A FAMILY QUARREL. 273 
 
 tried by some authorities of the navy, who would know 
 but little, and must needs care still less, concerning 
 the person under trial, or his offence. 
 
 Under these and many other oppressions and inju- 
 ries, the young Colonies groaned grievously. But, 
 for all that, they were not to be subdued or broken. 
 Time and again, they sent petitions to this unkindest 
 and wllfulest of mothers, beseeching her, in humble 
 and loving and dutiful terms, to remove- this degrading 
 burden from their shoulders, and once more receive 
 them as children into her maternal bosom ; warning 
 her, at the same time, of what must be the melancholy 
 consequences, if she hearkened not to their prayers. 
 Then was the time, if ever, when, by a few kind 
 words betokening a desire for reconciliation, she 
 might have secured and made fast the love of these de- 
 voted and affectionate children for ever ; and, had she 
 l)een as wise as she was powerful, even so would 
 she have done. But, like the Egypt of olden times, 
 she did but harden her heart against them all the 
 more, even to the hardness of the nether mill-stone ; 
 and only sought how she could the more easily grind 
 them into obedience and submission. She had grown 
 to be mighty among the nations, this Britannia. 
 Her armed legions told of her power by land ; her 
 ships of war and her ships of commerce whitened a 
 hundred seas. The great sun, that set on every king- 
 dom of the known earth, she boasted never went 
 down on her dominion. Wherefore was she swollen 
 
 12* 
 
274 THE FAEAIER BOY. 
 
 and big with pride, and from a high place looked 
 haughtily down upon the little nations at her feet. 
 What height of presumption was it, then, in these 
 insignificant young Colonies, strugghng for bare exist- 
 ence off there on the uttermost edges of the civihzed 
 earth, thus to hft themselves against her sovereign 
 will, and dare dispute her high decrees ! It was not 
 to be borne : she would humble them for this pre- 
 sumption, chastise them for their disobedience, and 
 show them what a terrible thing it was to provoke her 
 wrath. Her heart thus steeled to mercy, she stayed 
 not her hand, but sent her hosts of armed men in her 
 fleets of armed ships, to lay her heavy yoke, and fit 
 it firm and fast on the necks of her rebellious chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Beholding this, and that it were vain to hope for 
 reconcihation, the Colonies, with one voice, with one 
 indignant voice, exclaimed, " Now, since our mother 
 seems bent on treating us as slaves and strangers, 
 and not as children, then are we compelled, in our 
 own defence, to treat her, not as our mother, but as 
 a stranger and our enemy. And bear us witness, O 
 ye nations ! how long and humbly and earnestly we 
 have prayed that there should be love and peace 
 between us and this our mother ; and bear us wit- 
 ness also, that, although we now lift our rebelhous 
 hand against her, there is no hatred in our hearts, 
 even now, but rather sorrow unspeakable, that she 
 should at last have dri\en us to tliis saddest, this 
 
A FAMILY QUARREL. 275 
 
 dlrefulest of alternatives." Then, moved with one 
 spirit (that of the love of freedom) , and bent on one 
 pm-pose (that of the defence of their sacred rights), 
 they rose in their young strength, and, commending 
 their just cause to the God of hosts, made that last 
 appeal, — which, to a brave and virtuous people, has 
 ever been the last, — the appeal to arms. And so 
 they did, while the nations looked on In wonder and 
 applause. 
 
XXIV. 
 
 THE CAUSE OF THE QUARREL. 
 
 BUT, my childi'en, I must tell you, in other and 
 perhaps plainer words, what these measures 
 were that led to such momentous results, why 
 resorted to, how carried out, and by whom. 
 
 From what you have just been told, you can have 
 no difficulty in guessing that Great Britain was des- 
 perately in debt, and in the very mood to resort to 
 desperate measures of delivering herself therefrom. 
 Her being in this particular mood at that particular 
 time (for it is only now and then that she has shown 
 herself so unamiable) was owing chiefly to the fact, 
 that she was just then under the rule, or rather 
 misrule, of that narrow-minded, short-sighted, hard- 
 fisted, wrong-headed man, who commonly goes in 
 history by the name of King George the Third. 
 Had he been the superintendent of a town work- 
 house, he might perhaps have acquitted himself 
 respectably enough ; or, if I may be so bold, he 
 might have served a life-term as Governor of London 
 Tower, and gone to his grave without any great dis- 
 credit or reproach : but, in all human reason and 
 
 [276] 
 
THE CAUSE OF THE QUARREL. 277 
 
 justice, he certainly had no more business on the 
 throne of England than your Uncle Juvinell himself. 
 His ministers, who were of his own choosing, were 
 vultures, of the same harsh, unsightly plumage, and, 
 at his beck or nod, stood ready to do whatever 
 knave's work he might have on hand, — even to the 
 grinding of his people's bones to make his bread, 
 should his royal appetite turn that way. 
 
 With such men at the helm of State, it is no won- 
 der, then, that unwise and oppressive measures should 
 be resorted to for raising money, or, as it is more 
 properly called in such cases, a revenue, for paying 
 the debts and keeping up the expenses of the gov- 
 ernment. The first pounce they made was on their 
 young Colonies in America, whom they sought to 
 burden with heavy taxes laid on exports, or articles 
 of commerce sent out of the country, and on imports, 
 or articles of commerce brought into the country. 
 The principal articles thus taxed were paper, painters' 
 colors, glass, sugar and molasses, and tea. The tax- 
 money or revenue scraped together from the sale of 
 these articles — and which made them dearer to him 
 who bought and him who sold, according to the 
 amount of duty laid on — was to be gathered into the 
 public treasury for the purposes aforesaid. Another 
 plan for raising revenue, hit upon by these ingenious 
 kites, was that famous one called the " Stamp Act,'* 
 the design of which was to compel the people of the 
 Colonies, in order to make their business transactions 
 
278 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 good and valid, to use a certain kind of paper, hav- 
 ing on it a certain stamp. Each kind of paper had 
 its own particular stamp, and could only be applied 
 to a certain purpose specified thereon. Thus there 
 was a deed stamp-paper, the will stamp-paper, the 
 note-of-hand and bill-of-exchange stamp-paper, the 
 marriage stamp-paper ; and, in short, stamp-paper 
 for every concern in life requmng an instrument of 
 writing. The paper itself was altogether a commo- 
 dity of the government, by whom it was manufac- 
 tured, and sold at prices varying from a few pence 
 up to many pounds sterling of good, hard English 
 money, just according to the magnitude or nature 
 of the business in hand. Had it gone into effect, 
 it must needs have borne on the dead as well as on 
 the living : for, if the last will and testament of a 
 deceased and lamented relative were not written 
 on paper with the proper stamp, it could not have 
 been good and valid in the king's eyes ; and this would 
 have led to grievous misunderstandings between the 
 bereaved and affectionate heirs, and perhaps the de- 
 ceased himself, in consequence, would have slept 
 uneasily in his grave. 
 
 Another oppressive measure — the design whereof, 
 however, was for saving money, rather than for 
 raising revenue — was that of quartering troops upon 
 the country in time of peace ; by which means they 
 must needs be supported to a great extent by the 
 people so sponged upon. 
 
THE CAUSE OF THE QUARREL. 279 
 
 But the most brilliant stroke of all was an act for- 
 bidding the Colonies from trading with any foreign 
 ports, and from manufacturing certain articles, lest 
 the value and sale of the same articles manufactured 
 in England, and to be sold in America, might be 
 lowered or hindered thereby. 
 
 I have already mentioned, how that the right of 
 choosing their judges and other civil officers, and the 
 right of trial by jury, had been taken from them, — 
 measures that had a meanness and odium quite their 
 own, as serving no end of profit, but merely as 
 safety-valves, through which the royal bile might find 
 vent now and then. 
 
 Now, the good people of the Colonies, as I have 
 hinted elsewhere, would not have raised the hue and 
 outcry that they did against these measures, had It 
 not been for one thing, which to them, as EngHsh- 
 men, was all in all ; to wit, the right of taxing them- 
 selves, and legislating or making laws for themselves 
 through persons of their own choosing, called repre- 
 sentatives. And this is, my Httle folks, what is meant 
 by taxation, and legislation by representation. In a 
 nation. You will do well to bear this in mind con- 
 tinually ; for it is the very keystone to the arch of all 
 true government. 
 
 This right of representation, however, was denied 
 them ; for what earthly reason, no one, not in the 
 secret, could imagine. As the king himself was never 
 able to render a reason for any thing he did, his min- 
 
280 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 isters would not for any thing they did, and the 
 parliament dared not for any thing they did. 
 
 What could they do, then, but send petitions to the 
 king, and remonstrances to the parliament, complain- 
 ing of, and crying out against, their many grievances, 
 and deploring and demanding that they be removed and 
 redressed. Although they did this vv^ith more dignity 
 and respectfulness, vrith more clearness and ability, 
 than the like thing had ever been done before, or has 
 been since, by any people, yet their petitions vrere 
 spurned by the king, because they were just and 
 manly, and he was not ; and their remonstrances went 
 unheeded by the parliament, because they were wise 
 and reasonable, and it was not. 
 
 Failing to get redress for their grievances, the 
 colonists resolved that the source of these same griev- 
 ances should not be a source of profit to those who 
 imposed them. To bring about tliis result, they, as 
 one man, entered into what was called the " non- 
 importation agreement," — or, in other words, an 
 agreement by which they solemnly pledged themselves 
 to abstain from the use of all articles burdened with a 
 tax, until such tax should be removed ; and, further- 
 more, that they would not buy or use any thing that 
 they were forbidden to manufacture themselves ; and, 
 still furthermore, that not a ship of theirs should 
 trade with British ports, until the act forbidding them 
 to trade with foreign ports should be repealed. Some 
 of them, I dare say, would have gone so far, had 
 
THE CAUSE OF THE QUAKREL. 281 
 
 that been possible, as to pledge themselves not to die, 
 until the Stamp Act, compelling them to write their 
 wills on stamp-paper, was also repealed. This 
 agreement was so rigidly observed, that the men took 
 to wearing jeans, and the women linsey-woolseys, 
 which they wove in their own looms ; the old ladies 
 drank sassafras-tea, sweetened with maple-sugar ; and 
 old gentlemen wi'ote no wills, but declared them on 
 their death-bed to their weeping families by word. of 
 mouth. Whether the people stopped marrying or not, 
 it is not known with certainty ; but from my know- 
 ledge of human natm^e, wliich is extensive, I do not 
 think I should greatly hazard my reputation as a 
 historian, were I to state flatly, roundly, and emphati- 
 cally, that it had not the least effect in that way. 
 
 The days on which these measures were to go into 
 effect were observed by the colonists as days of fast- 
 ing, prayer, and humiliation. All business was laid 
 aside, the shops were closed, the churches opened, 
 and the church-bells tolled as on some funeral occa- 
 sion ; and between praying at church, and fasting at 
 home, and brooding over their grievances, the good 
 people were very miserable indeed. Although they 
 suffered great inconvenience from their observance 
 of the non-importation agreement, yet they bore it 
 patiently and cheerfully, like men who felt that their 
 cause was just and right. But the sudden stoppage 
 of the immense trade that flowed from the colonial 
 ports into those of the mother-country told dreadfully 
 
282 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 on the commerce of Great Britain ; and British mer- 
 chants and British manufacturers, and British people 
 in general, soon began to suffer even more than the 
 colonists themselves. Whereupon, a counter stream 
 of petitions and remonstrances set in upon the king 
 and parhament from the people at home, v^^ho declared 
 that the country would be ruined, if these odious 
 measures, crippling American commerce, were not 
 speedily withdrawn. Said they, "If we cannot sell 
 the Americans our broadcloths, our flannels, and our 
 silks, the obstinate men of that country will stick to 
 their jeans, and the perverse women to their linsey- 
 woolseys, till we are undone for ever. In that one 
 pestilent little town of Boston, our trade In silks 
 alone is not so good by fifty thousand dollars a year 
 as it has been heretofore : and we humbly entreat that 
 our American brothers be allowed to trade with us 
 and foreign nations as In days gone by ; for you must 
 see by tliis time with your own eyes, that we, as a 
 nation, are growing poorer every day under this state 
 of tilings, Instead of richer every year as had been 
 expected." 
 
 The commissioners — that Is to say, the persons 
 who had been appointed by the British Government to 
 bring or receive the stamp-paper, and give It circu- 
 lation throughout the Colojiies — were mobbed and 
 pelted by the indignant people, whenever and wher- 
 ever they made the least attempt to do their odious 
 work. In consequence of this determined opposition, 
 
THE CAUSE or THE QUARREL. 283 
 
 the paper never went into circulation : so it was 
 stocked away in outhouses, and there left to mould 
 and to be eaten by rats and mice, if their sto- 
 machs were not too dainty for such vile provender. 
 Thus this famous piece of ingenuity, the Stamp Act, 
 had no other effect than that of giving the civilized 
 world a hearty laugh, and increasing the British debt 
 just so much as the paper cost, instead of lessening 
 it, as its inventors, in their blind confidence, had 
 •hoped. 
 
 Beholding how utterly had failed all their pet 
 schemes for raising revenue, the narrow-minded king, 
 and the king-minded ministry, and the many-minded 
 parliament, were, so to speak, tin-own on their 
 haunches, and forced to eat their own folly ; wliich, 
 I dare say, they found less palatable than their roast 
 beef and plum-pudding. In other words, they re- 
 pealed the Stamp Act ; with one stroke of the royal 
 pen, struck off the taxes laid on the above-mentioned 
 articles ; and once more gave the Colonies full liberty 
 to manufacture whatsoever, and re-open commercial 
 intercourse with whomsoever, they chose. And thus 
 tills non-importation agreement worked like a charm : 
 it brought about in a trice what petitions and remon- 
 strances had failed to accomplish in years. 
 
 When tidings came of what had been done at home, 
 there was gi-eat rejoicing throughout the provinces : 
 the church-bells were tolled to another tune than that 
 •with which they had been tolled a short time before ; 
 
284 THE FAKMER BOY. 
 
 the good people met at churcli, but this time to give 
 thanks ; and went home, not to fast, but to feast ; 
 and were now quite as comfortable as thej had before 
 been miserable. But I have gone a little too far, 
 however. There was one circumstance that greatly 
 dampened the general feeling of joy, and made a 
 mere thankso-ivinof of what mio^ht else have been 
 a high-sounding jubilee. This was the tax on tea, 
 which had not been struck off along with the rest, 
 but had been suffered to remain ; not that any great 
 revenue was expected to arise therefrom, but simply 
 to show that they — the king and parhament — had 
 not disclaimed or yielded up the right to tax and 
 burden the Colonies when and how they thought fit 
 and proper. This vexed the American people sorely ; 
 for though the bulk of the nuisance had been taken 
 away, yet all the odor still remained : or, speaking 
 more plainly, the right of laying such burdens on 
 themselves, of their own free will, was still denied 
 them ; and this, in fact, was the very thing that made 
 it so intolerable for them to bear. " Is it," said 
 Washington in a letter to a friend, " the duty of three- 
 pence per pound upon tea that we object to as bur- 
 densome ? No ; but it is the right to lay this duty 
 upon ourselves for which we contend." 
 
 Therefore, as far as the commodity tea was con- 
 cerned, the people of the Colonies still observed the 
 non-importation agreement. From some of the ports, 
 the sliips that had come over from England laden. 
 
THE CAUSE OF THE QUARREL. 285 
 
 with this delightful plant were sent back, without 
 being suffered to discharge their cargoes ; in others, 
 where it had been landed, it was not allowed to be 
 sold, but was stowed away in cellars and the like 
 out-of-the-way places, where it moulded, or became 
 the food of rats and mice, whose bowels, if we may 
 trust the testimony of some of our great-grand- 
 mothers, were so bound up thereby, that a terrible 
 mortality set in among them, that swept them away 
 by cart-loads. 
 
 Now, the East-India Company, to whom had been 
 granted the sole privilege of trading in tea for the 
 space of a hundred years, if I remember rightly, 
 were greatly alarmed at the consequences of the tea- 
 tax. Enormous quantities of the article had begun 
 to accumulate in their London warehouses, now that 
 there was no market for it in America, which hitherto 
 had fed the purse in their left-hand pocket, as did that 
 in Great Britain the larger one in their right-hand 
 pocket. " Something must be done," said they to 
 themselves (they certainly said it to nobody else) , — 
 *^ something must be done, or these high-spirited 
 women of America will drink their wishy-washy sas- 
 safras till their blood be no thicker than whey, and 
 the purse in our left-hand pocket become as light 
 and lean and lank as when we sent our first ship-load 
 thither years ago." This "something to be done" was 
 a loud petition to parliament, praying for speedy 
 rehef from the ruin, which has an uncomfortable 
 
286 THE FARMEK" BOY. 
 
 fashion of staring at great mercantile companies, and 
 was now staring them full In the face. 
 
 So, putting their heads together, the king and par- 
 liament hit upon an Ingenious plan, by which they, 
 the East-India Company, could sell their tea, and the 
 government collect the duty thereon. It was this : 
 The price of the article should be so far reduced, that 
 it would be lower, even with the duty on it, than, at 
 the usual rate of sale, without any duty at all. This 
 was a brilliant scheme indeed, and would have suc- 
 ceeded to admiration, had the good people of America 
 been a nation of bats and geese ; but, as they were 
 not, the scheme failed disgracefully, as you shall pre- 
 sently see. 
 
 By way of giving this plan a trial, a few ships 
 loaded with tea were sent over to Boston, where they 
 lay for some time in the harbor, without being per- 
 mitted by the people to land their cargoes. One day, 
 as If to show the king and ministers and parlia- 
 ment, the East-India Company, and the whole British 
 nation, that they, the Americans, were, and had been 
 from the very beginning, desperately In earnest in all 
 that they had said and done for years past, a party, 
 composed of about fifty of the most sober and respect- 
 able citizens of Boston and the country around, dis- 
 guised themselves as Indians, and went aboard these 
 ships. Not a word was to be heard among them ; 
 but, keeping a grim and ominous silence, they ranged 
 the vessels from stem to stern, ransacked their car- 
 
THE CAUSE- OF THE QUARREL. 287 
 
 goes, broke open the tea-chests, and, pouring their 
 contents into the sea, made the i&shes a dish of tea, 
 which is said to have had the same effect on them as 
 on the rats and mice. This done with perfect cool- 
 ness and sobriety, the party returned to their homes 
 as orderly and silent as they had come ; not the first 
 movement towards a mob or tumult having been 
 made by the people during the whole proceeding. 
 
 This affair, commonly known in history as the 
 Boston Tea-party, and which took place in 1774, 
 overwhelmed his majesty with stupid astonishment, 
 threw his ministers Into fits of foaming rage, fell like 
 a thunder-clap upon the House of Parliament, and 
 effectually demoHshed the last forlorn hope of the 
 East-India Company. The spirit of resistance on the 
 part of the Colonies had now been carried to such a 
 length, that the home-government determined to send 
 over the military to awe them by the terror of its pre- 
 sence iAto obedience to their unreasonable and oppres- 
 sive demands ; and, should not this be found sufficient, 
 to compel them Into submission by the force of its 
 arms. 
 
 Oh, woful, woful, that ever a tyrant should live 
 to keep his dragon-watch on the birth of the free- 
 bom thought, the independent wish, and ere the full, 
 clear light of heaven descend upon it, warming it 
 into strength and beauty, to seize and crush it into 
 slavish fear, and love and justice without power to 
 stay his impious hand ! 
 
XXV. 
 
 RESISTiJNCE TO TYRANNY. 
 
 WITH what deep and earnest interest Washing- 
 ton watched the course of these momentous 
 events may be readily imagined, if we reflect how 
 much of his life had been already spent in the 
 service of the public, and how near he had ever 
 kept the good and welfare of his native land at 
 heart. 
 
 He was not a mere looker-on, but one of those who 
 had in the very beginning shown themselves ready to 
 enter, heart and hand and fortune, into all just and 
 lawful measures of resistance to oppression in every 
 shape and form ; but, with his usual modesty, forbear- 
 ing to push himself forward, which served, no doubt, 
 to add to his example still greater weight and influ- 
 ence, and make it all the more illustrious. He 
 rigidly observed the non-importation agreement, and 
 was, in fact, one of the first to propose its adoption ; 
 and none of the articles therein named were to be 
 seen in his house imtil the odious burdens laid thereon 
 had been removed. 
 
 |_288] 
 
KESISTANCE TO TYRANNY, 289 
 
 Little or no lasting good, however, could be ex- 
 pected from these, or indeed any measures, unless 
 the Colonies should come to a clearer and fuller under- 
 standing, one with another, touching the troubles that 
 concerned all equally and alike. To bring this much- 
 to-be- wished-for end about, it was resolved that a 
 general assembly of all the Colonies should be called, 
 wherein each province, through its representatives 
 chosen by the people thereof, should have a voice. 
 As the first step towards this object, conventions 
 were summoned in the various provinces, the mem- 
 bers whereof had the authority to choose from among 
 their number those who were to be their representa- 
 tives or mouth-pieces in this great Colonial Assembly, 
 since knowm in history as the Old Continental Con- 
 gress. 
 
 Patrick Henry (the great American orator) , Mr. 
 Pendleton, and Washington were those appointed to 
 represent Virginia. Accordingly, about the middle 
 of September, 1774, these three Congress-men set 
 out together on horseback for Philadelpliia, the place 
 of meeting. Arrived here, Washington found as- 
 sembled the first talent, wisdom, and virtue of the 
 land. It was to him a sublime spectacle indeed, — 
 that of the people of many widely separated provinces 
 thus met together to give voice and expression to 
 w^hat they felt to be their sacred rights as freemen and 
 free Englishmen. To add still greater solemnity to 
 their proceedings, and give their cause the stamp of 
 
 13 
 
290 TIIE FARiNIER BOY. 
 
 the just and righteous cause they felt it to be, It was 
 resolved to open the business of each day with prayer. 
 Next morning, there came a report that Boston had 
 been cannonaded by the king's troops, who had been 
 stationed there for many weeks past. Although this 
 afterwards turned out to be false, yet, at the time. It 
 had a most beneficial effect, in drawing still nearer 
 together those who but the day before had met as 
 strangers, by impressing their minds w^ith a still 
 deeper sense of the sacredness of the trust imposed 
 on them by their country, and by bringing more 
 directly home to them their common danger, and 
 dependence one upon another. The minister, before 
 offering up his prayer, took up the Bible to read a 
 passage therefrom, and, as If providentially, opened at 
 the thirty-fifth Psalm, which seemed to have been 
 written expressly for this great occasion, and began 
 thus : " Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that 
 strive with me ; fio;ht aoainst them that fio;ht ao;aInst 
 me." What wonder, then, that, under circumstances 
 like these, they should feel their hearts joined together 
 in stronger, holier bonds of union, as they knelt side 
 by side on that memorable morning, commending 
 their just cause to the Ruler of nations ? For several 
 minutes after they had resumed their seats, a pro- 
 found and solemn silence reigned throus^hout the 
 house ; each looking the other in the face, as if uncer- 
 tain how to set about the great work that had brought 
 them together, and no one willing to open the As- 
 
RESISTANCE TO TYEAXNY. 291 
 
 sembly. The silence was becoming painful and 
 embarrassing ; when Patrick Henry at length arose, 
 and began addressing the House,. at first in a falter- 
 ing voice and hesitating manner, which soon, however, 
 as he warmed with his subject, gave place to a bolder, 
 higher strain, till, long before he had ended, the hearts 
 of his hearers were thrilled with a flow of eloquence, 
 the like of which none present had ever heard before ; 
 and, when it ceased, each felt that he had just been 
 listening to the greatest orator, not of Virginia only, 
 but of all America. The burden of his declamation 
 was the oppressive and unlawful system of taxation 
 devised by Great Britain against her American Colo- 
 nies ; the severe restriction laid on their commerce ; 
 the abolition of the right of trial by jury, and of 
 choosing their own judges ; the danger that must 
 ever threaten their liberties, if they suffered troops of 
 war to be quartered upon them in times of peace ; 
 and, above all, that they should be denied the right 
 of taxing themselves, of making their own laws, and 
 of regulating their internal concerns, as seemed to 
 their judgment wise and proper, through representa- 
 tives of their own choosing. To get redress for these 
 and similar grievances, was the chief, and, I may say, 
 the only object for which this first Congress had been 
 called ; for at that time, and for a long time after, 
 no one harbored such a thought as that of breaking 
 with the mother-country, with a view of achieving 
 their independence. To this end, they now applied 
 
292 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 themselves with deep and sober earnestness, and 
 brought to their work all the resources that their 
 wisdom and experience could command. 
 
 The first session of the Old Continental Congress 
 lasted fifty-one days. Such was the decorum with 
 w^hich they conducted their proceedings, such the elo- 
 quence, force, and precision with which they set forth 
 their grievances, such the temperate and dignified 
 tone that marked their petitions to the king, and such 
 the manhness, firmness, and unwavering constancy 
 with which they persisted in battling for their right 
 as freemen to be represented in the councils of the 
 nation, that thousands of their brothers across 
 the Atlantic were filled with wonder and admiration. 
 
 * And here, for once and for all, be it known to you, 
 my dear children, and, in justice to the British nation 
 as a people, never fail hereafter to bear it in mind, 
 
 V that there were many, very many, perhaps a large 
 majority, of our English uncles, who deeply sympa- 
 tliized with our fathers in their troubles, and heartily 
 condemned the oppressive burdens heaped upon 
 them by the king and his ministers. Even in the 
 House of Parliament itself were there many of the 
 greatest spirits of that age, who had all along 
 opposed these harsh and unjust measures of the 
 government towards the Colonies, and were now so 
 impressed with all that marked the proceedings of this 
 first Colonial Congress, that they exerted themselves 
 in behalf of their oppressed brothers in America with 
 
RESISTANCE TO TYKANNY. 293 
 
 more zeal than ever before, and pleaded their cause 
 in strains of eloquence that shall ring in our ears, and 
 dwell in our hearts, till history shall tell us we have 
 ceased to be a nation. 
 
 And well indeed they might admire and praise ; 
 for what with the eloquence of such men as Henry 
 and E-utledore, the learnino* of such men as Hancock 
 and Adams, the wisdom of such men as Washing- 
 ton, and the pure and exalted character of them all, it 
 was a body of men, the like of which had never 
 before assembled together in any age or country. 
 
 Patrick Henry, upon being asked who was the 
 greatest man in the Congress, repHed, " If you speak 
 of eloquence, Mr. Rutledge, of South Carolina, is by 
 far the greatest orator ; but, if you speak of solid 
 information and sound judgment. Col. Washington 
 is, beyond all question, the greatest man on that 
 floor." Had Mr. Rutledge been asked the same 
 question, he would as readily have pronounced 
 Patrick Henry the greatest orator, as indeed he 
 was. 
 
 Bent on one common object, encompassed by dan- 
 gers that threatened all alike, and glowing with the 
 same ardent and heroic spirit, they seemed for the 
 time to have quite forgotten that they were the natives 
 and representatives of many different and widely 
 separated provinces, and to think that they were, as 
 Patrick Henry happily expressed it, not Carolinians, 
 not Pennsylvanians, not Virginians, so much as that 
 
294 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 they were Americans ; and had been sent there, not 
 so much to represent the will and wishes of the people 
 of their respective provinces, as of those of the whole 
 Aniejdcan people. Thus Union became the watch- 
 word throughout the Colonies. And by union alone 
 were they able to make a stand against tyranny ; by 
 it alone came off victorious in the end ; by it alone 
 won for themselves a place among the nations ; and 
 by it alone can their posterity hope to hold that place 
 as a powerful, free, and happy people. 
 
 Having done all that could be done for the pre- 
 sent, the Congress was adjourned, and the members 
 returned to their homes to await the result of the 
 petitions and remonstrances they had sent on to the 
 king and parliament. Although these were couched 
 in moderate and respectful terms, expressing their 
 unaltered attachment to the king and his family, 
 deploring that there should be aught but peace and 
 good-will between them, and entreating him not to 
 drive his children to the dreadful alternative of tak- 
 ing up arms in their defence, yet, like those that had 
 gone before them, they were received with contempt 
 or indifference, and failed to awaken in the king's 
 mind any sentiment of mercy, or desire on the part 
 of the parliament for reconciliation with their younger 
 brothers in America. Here was the last, the golden 
 opportunity, wherein, by an act of simple justice, by 
 an expression of Christian kindness, they might have 
 won back to obedience and love this much-injured 
 
RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY. 295 
 
 people ; but under the mistaken and fatal belief that 
 they were all-powerful, and that, if they yielded up 
 these pretended rights, the colonists would never rest 
 until they had thrown off and trampled under foot 
 all authority, they suffered it to pass unheeded, lost 
 for ever. 
 
 A short time after the adjournment of Congress, 
 at a second Virginia Convention, held at Richmond, 
 Patrick Henry, in closing one of the grandest efforts 
 he ever made, thus boldly declared his mind ; " The 
 time of reconciliation is past ; the time for action is 
 at hand. It is useless to send further petitions to the 
 government, or to await the result of those already 
 addressed to the throne. We must fight, Mr. 
 Speaker : I repeat it, sir, we must fight ! An appeal 
 to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left 
 us ! " The great orator did but give voice to the 
 feelings and sentiments of thousands of pure patriots, 
 among whom was Washington, who represented his 
 district in this convention also. No one regretted 
 more sincerely than he that they were thus compelled 
 to take up the sword as the only remedy of their 
 wrongs and grievances. In his own mind, he had 
 fully resolved, if needful, to devote his life and for- 
 tune to the cause ; and was willing, he told his 
 brother, to arm and equip a thousand men at his own 
 expense, and' lead them to the succor of Boston, at 
 that time blockaded by the British fleet. Grave and 
 thoughtful, and pondering deeply all these things, he 
 
296 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 went to his home ; and, In this frame of mind, the win- 
 ter months passed slowly by. 
 
 It was now apparent to all, that open hostilities 
 between the Colonies and the mother-country were no 
 longer avoidable ; and on the nineteenth of April, 
 1775, the battle of Lexington announced to the 
 world that the first blood of a desperate struggle had 
 been shed, and that civil war, with all its train of 
 horrors, had begun. 
 
 When the tidings reached Mount Yernon, the im- 
 pressions made on Washing^ton's mind were solemn 
 and profound, if we may judge from a letter written 
 at the time, in wliich he says, "Unhappy it is to 
 reflect, that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a 
 brother's breast, and that the once-peaceful plains of 
 America are to be drenched with blood, or inhabited 
 by slaves. Sad alternative ! But can a virtuous 
 man hesitate in his choice ? " Early in May, as he 
 was just on the eve of setting out for Philadelphia to 
 take his seat in the second session of the Congress, 
 news reached him of the capture of Ticonderoga by 
 Col. Ethan Allen. It was a brilliant little exploit 
 enough, and the very kind to raise undue expectations 
 in the many, who looked no further into the future 
 than to-night, when it is yet evening ; but it could 
 have no other effect than to deepen the thoughtfulness 
 of a mind hke Washington's, that could look through 
 the glare of these accidental hits of war, and behold 
 the untried perils still further beyond. 
 
Resistance to tykanny. 297 
 
 As the war had now begun in earnest, so dreaded 
 and deeply deplored by all the good men, as the 
 only remedy left to their distress, the deliberations of 
 the second Congress turned chiefly on the devising 
 of means for their defence and safety. Towards this 
 object, nothing effectual could be done till some per- 
 son was fixed upon to be the leader of the army, 
 wliich they had yet, in large measure, to raise, arm, 
 and equip. 
 
 There were not a few, who, for age, talent, experi- 
 ence, fortune, and social position, as well as for the 
 sacrifices they had already made to the cause, were, 
 in the opinion of their friends, and perhaps in that 
 of their own, justly entitled to tliis high distinction. 
 After some time spent in viewing the matter in all its 
 bearings, and carefully weighing the claims of each, 
 without being able to fix upon a choice, John Adams 
 decided the question by addressing the House to the 
 following effect : That the person intrusted with a 
 place of such importance to Americans must be a 
 native-born American ; a man of large fortune, in 
 order to give him a strong personal interest in the 
 issue of the contest, and the means of carrjang it on ; 
 he should be a man of military experience, and accus- 
 tomed to the government of large bodies of men ; he 
 should be of tried integrity and patriotism, of great 
 courage and bodily endurance, and known ability ; 
 and a resident of some central province, that in him 
 might be blended the extreme interests of North and 
 
 13* 
 
298 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 South, which would tend to lessen the jealousies of 
 the two sections, and harmonize them, as it were, into 
 one. Such a province was Virginia, and such a 
 man was Col. Washington ; whom, therefore, he 
 commended to the favor and consideration of the 
 Honorable House. 
 
 Before this address was ended, Washington, per- 
 ceiving that he was the person on the point of being 
 singled out, rose from his seat, much agitated and 
 embarrassed, and hastily quitted the House. 
 
 Next morning, Mr. Adams's recommendation was 
 acted upon ; and the House, without a single dissent- 
 ing voice, chose George Washington to be Com- 
 mander-in-chief oi all the army of the United Colonies, 
 with the salary of six thousand dollars a year. In 
 his reply, Wasliington expressed his grateful sense 
 of so signal a proof of the confidence reposed in him 
 by his countr}Tnen, and added, — 
 
 " But lest some unfortunate event should happen, unfa- 
 vorable to my reputation, I beg that it may be remembered 
 by every gentleman in this room, that I this day declare, 
 with the utmost sincerity, that I do not think myself equal 
 to the command I am honored with. As to pay, I beg 
 leave to assure the Congress, that, as no pecuniary con- 
 sideration could have tempted me to accept of this employ- 
 ment at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, 
 I do not wish to make any profit of it. I will keep 
 an exact account of my expenses : these, I doubt not, 
 they will discharge; and that is all I desire." 
 
RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY. 299 
 
 In a letter to Mrs. Washington, informing her o£ 
 the great change thus made in his destiny, he deplores 
 the hard necessity that makes it his duty to give 
 up the sweet pleasures of home and her society ; and 
 exhorts her, in affectionate language, to bear up 
 under their separation with cheerfulness and fortitude ; 
 at the same time giving her the gratifying assurance, 
 that with her he could have more happiness at Mount 
 Vernon in one month, than he could hope to find 
 without her, were he to remain abroad seven times 
 seven years. From the tone of this letter, she must 
 readily have guessed that the place was not one of 
 his own seeking. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 21st of June, General Wash- 
 ington, — for so we must now call him, — having 
 received his commission, set out to take command of 
 the American army, then lying before Boston, which, 
 being occupied by the king's troops, was in a state of 
 siege. A company of Pennsylvania light-horse es- 
 corted him from Philadelpliia to New York, where he 
 was received with all the honor due, not only to the 
 high station he had been called to fill, but also to his 
 exalted character and distinguished abilities. Here 
 he heard further particulars of the battle of Bunker's 
 Hill, fought near Boston a few days before. From 
 New York, the general-in-chief proceeded to Boston, 
 and was greeted everywhere on the way with the 
 greatest "enthusiasm by the people, who came stream- 
 ing in from all quarters to behold the man into 
 
300 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 whose keeping had been intrusted the destinies of 
 America. 
 
 Thus, my dear children, I have brought you, step 
 by step, up to that great event in Washington's hfe 
 when his character and actions were to be subjected 
 to the gaze and scrutiny, not only of his own age and 
 country, but of all ages to come, and of all the nations 
 of Christendom. 
 
XXVI. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 HERE Uncle Juvinell paused, and, with a coun- 
 tenance of undisturbed sobriety, emptied his 
 ninth mug. In justice, however, to the good man, 
 this pattern of old-fashioned gentility, it must be 
 borne in mind, that the mug was a Dutch mug, and 
 consequently a small one (as indeed are all things 
 Dutch, from clocks to cheeses) ; and also that, small 
 as it was, he never more than half filled it, except 
 once or twice in the course of an evening, when he 
 would gird up his loins, as it were, with a brimmer 
 to help him over some passage in his story of unusual 
 knottiness and difficulty. 
 
 Willie (whose surname should have been fox or 
 weasel or lynx) , having heretofore divided his atten- 
 tion between what his uncle imparted and what he 
 imbibed, had, by careful counting, discovered that the 
 ninth mug invariably closed their evening lessons : so, 
 without waiting for any further signal that such was 
 now the case, he alertly bounced from his chair, and, 
 snatching up a basket of big red apples that black 
 daddy had just brought in and set on the hearth, 
 
 [301] 
 
302 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 bejran handino^ them round to the rest of the com- 
 pany with a great show of playing the polite and 
 obliging, but taking care, when unobserved, to pick 
 out the largest and mellowest one of them all for him- 
 self, and smuggle it under liis coat-tail. When all 
 were helped, he reset the basket on the hearth, and 
 with a grand flourish, unmasking his royal red, 
 opened wide his mouth, as if he would have bolted it 
 whole : but, seeming to think better of it, he care- 
 fully laid it in Uncle Juvinell's mug, which it exactly 
 filled, saying as he did so, "It goes to my heart to 
 part with you ; but only the king of historians is 
 worthy to enjoy the queen of apples." Then, plunging 
 his hand into the basket, he snatched up another, 
 hap-hazard, and began eating it with savage voracity, 
 as if made reckless by this act of self-denial. Re- 
 seating himself as he had chosen his apple, hap-haz- 
 ard, he missed his chair, and keeled over, bringing his 
 heels in the air where his head should have been, and . 
 his head on the rug where the dog and cat were, 
 and the half-munched plug in his mouth, plump 
 into his windpipe, so as to almost strangle him out of 
 his breeches, and cause his buttons to fly like grains 
 from a corn-cob when thro^vn into a corn-sheller. 
 Of course, all the little folks fairly screamed with 
 laughter, in which even Uncle Juvinell could not help 
 joining right heartily : nor would he venture upon 
 the broad wedge which he had cut out of his apple, 
 till his chuckle was well ended ; when he remarked, 
 
CONCLUSION. 303 
 
 that "Willie was one of the boys we read about." 
 To which Willie, picking himself up again, replied, 
 that "he rather thought he was not, just then, but 
 perhaps would be as soon as he could get back some 
 of the breath he had lost, and gather up the buttons 
 he had shed." Then, drawing doAvn his waistcoat from 
 under his arm-pits to hide a breadth of white muslin 
 not usually intended for the eyes of a mixed com- 
 pany, he reseated liimself with such care and circum- 
 spection, that the middle seam of his breeches tallied 
 exactly with the middle round of the chair-back, and 
 began mincing and nibbling his apple delicately like a 
 sheep, as if to show that he meant to profit by the 
 lesson his fit of strangling had taught him. 
 
 After a little while, when he saw that the children 
 had had their fill of laughter and red apples. Uncle 
 Juvinell wiped the blade of his knife with his ban- 
 danna, and said, "And now, my darlings, don't you 
 think we are getting along swimmingly ? " 
 
 " Swimmingly ! " they all chimed in with one voice. 
 
 " Gloriously ? " again inquired Uncle Juvinell. 
 
 " Gloriously ! " cried all the children at once, as 
 pat to their uncle's words as an echo to the sound. 
 Whereupon the old gentleman's spectacles shone 
 with a lustre that was charming to see. In a moment 
 aftcT, however, Bryce, the pugnacious urchin of ten, 
 expressed himself a little disappointed that they had 
 had so much building of forts, and digging and cut- 
 ting of roads, and so much scouting and marching. 
 
304 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 and so much getting ready to fight, and yet withal so 
 little downright fighting. 
 
 "You quite forget, Bryce, that affair of Grant's 
 defeat there at Fort Duquesne," said Willie. "In 
 my opinion, that was a very decent, respectable piece 
 of bloodshed ; and quite as good as Braddock's dis- 
 aster, as far as it goes." 
 
 "How heartless you must be, Willie, to speak so 
 lightly of such horrible things ! " exclaimed Miss 
 Laura with a look of refined disgust. " To my mind, 
 Washington's courtship and wedding, and the pleas- 
 ant life he led at Mount Vernon, are more entertain- 
 ing than all your dismal battles." 
 
 "And those charming barge-rides by moonlight," 
 chimed in Ella, " that the old Virginia planters used 
 to take when they visited each other up and down the 
 Potomac." 
 
 "You are welcome to your courtships and your 
 weddings and your boat-rides by moonlight," cried 
 Willie, turning up his nose ; " but I would not have 
 given a good fox-hunt with old Lord Fairfax for any 
 of them : and what a glorious fellow Washington 
 must have been, with his fine horses and his fine dogs, 
 and his jumping twenty-one feet seven inches at a 
 bound ! " 
 
 " Oh, Willie ! how can you be so wanting in respect 
 as to call such a man as Washington ^fellow ' ? " ex- 
 claimed Laura, with a look of pious horror. " I am 
 astonished at you ! " 
 
CONCLUSION. 305 
 
 " But I said lie was glorious ; didn't I now, Miss 
 Over-nice?" retorted Willie. 
 
 " Your Cousin Laura, William, is quite right in 
 what she says," observed Uncle Juvinell, with some- 
 thing like severity in his look and tone. " We should 
 never speak of the good and great in other terms 
 than those of esteem and reverence ; for the effect of 
 such a habit is to cultivate in ourselves those very 
 qualities of mind and heart wliich make them worthy 
 of our love and admiration." 
 
 Willie was somewhat abashed by this mild rebuke, 
 and apologized in a dumb way by coughing a time or 
 two behind his slate. 
 
 "Uncle," inquired Ella, "is transcendentalism an 
 art or a science ? " 
 
 " I think I can tell you what that is, Ella," Daniel 
 made haste to put in ; for he never let an opportunity 
 shp of showing off what he knew to the best advan- 
 tage. 
 
 "I did not call upon you for information, Mr. 
 Wiseacre," said Ella, a little nettled at her brother's 
 air of superior wisdom. 
 
 " Nevertheless," cried Uncle Juvinell, "let us listen, 
 and be wise. Come, give us the benefit of your 
 knowledge, Daniel, toucliing this important matter." 
 
 "I overheard father say to you the other day," 
 replied Daniel, without hesitation, "that your tran- 
 scendentalism, uncle, was an equal nuxture of opium, 
 moonshine, fog, and sick-man's dreams." 
 
 ^ 
 
306 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 " Good ! you have hit it exactly ! " cried Uncle 
 Juvinell ; " and, to reward you for your diligence in 
 picking up and storing away such precious bits of 
 knowledge, I promise you for your next Christmas 
 present a gilt-edged copy of Bunyan's ' Pilgrim's Pro- 
 gress.' " 
 
 " I thank you very much, dear uncle," replied Dan- 
 nie ; " but, if it makes no difference with you, I would 
 prefer ' Josephus ' to ^ Bunyan.' " 
 
 " Certainly, certainly, my dear nephew ; it shall be 
 as you wish," replied Uncle Juvinell, a little provoked 
 with himself for havInG: been so thouuhtless as to 
 overlook the fact, that Daniel, being a curly-headed, 
 peevish boy, was not likely to be much Interested in 
 the ups and downs of good old Christian's doleful pil- 
 grimage. 
 
 "Tell me, uncle," cried John, who had an ear for 
 rhyme, " what is meant by taxation, and legislation by 
 representation, in a nation. Is it sense, or only 
 poetry ? " 
 
 "Bad poetry, but mighty good sense, my little 
 boy," replied Uncle Juvinell ; " and, if you will be 
 right attentive, I will endeavor to make clear to you 
 what is meant thereby. In a popular form of govern- 
 ment, — such as the one we live under, — the people 
 tax themselves, and make laws for themselves, through 
 persons chosen by themselves, and from among them- 
 selves, to serve for a certain term of months or years 
 in our State Leglslatiu-es or in our National Congress, 
 
CONCLUSION. 307 
 
 as the case may be. The persons whom the people 
 thus authorize to tax them and make laws, or, as it 
 is otherwise termed, to legislate for them, represent- 
 ing, as they do, the will, desires, and wants of the 
 communities by whom they are chosen, are called 
 representatives ; and hence the phrase, taxation, and 
 representation by legislation.' " 
 
 "In a nation," added Johnnie, by way of giving it 
 a finish, and to show that it was all as clear as day to 
 him. 
 
 "Yes, in a nation and a state too," rejoined Uncle 
 Juvinell, with a merry twinkle in his eye. 
 
 "Will you have the kindness, uncle," said Dannie, 
 " to tejl us the difference between a legislature and a 
 congress and a parliament ? " 
 
 " In our own country," replied Uncle Juvinell, " a 
 legislature is the law-making assembly of a State, 
 and Congress is the law-making assembly of the whole 
 nation ; while Parliament is the great law-making or 
 legislative assembly of Great Britain and Ireland. 
 The rules and regulations in all these bodies are quite 
 similar ; and, besides being vested with the power of 
 laying taxes and making laws, they perform other 
 services necessary to the safety and welfare of the 
 state or nation. Thus the old Continental Congress 
 was composed of representatives from all the thirteen 
 States, which entitled each, through its representation, 
 to one vote, and to equal weight and influence with 
 the rest, in the acts and deliberations of this assem- 
 
308 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 bly, no matter what may have been its size and 
 population, whether large or small ; nor what the 
 number of its representatives, whether one or seve- 
 ral." 
 
 "And will you also tell me, uncle, wherein a con- 
 vention differs from all these legislative assemblies ? " 
 said Daniel, grappling manfully with the tall words, 
 but stao^orerino' under them nevertheless. 
 
 "Simply not being legislative at all, as the term is 
 now generally used in our country," replied Uncle 
 Juvinell. " A convention is a body of men assem- 
 bled together as representatives of a party or state 
 or nation, for some special purpose, such as the for- 
 mation of a new State Constitution, or for making 
 changes in an old one, or to give expression to the 
 views and designs of a party, and to nominate candi- 
 dates to the various offices of the government ; wliich 
 purpose being effected, they are dissolved, and cease 
 to exist or to have any legal force." 
 
 "And why, uncle, was the name * Continental ' 
 given to our first Congress ? " inquired Willie. 
 
 " To distinguish it from the Congress of the several 
 States, and as the one in wliich the common interest 
 and welfare of all the States of the continent were 
 represented," was Uncle Juvinelfs reply ; and then 
 he added, " And hence the same term was applied to 
 whatever belonged to the States conjointly, and grew 
 out of their union or confederation. Thus, for exam- 
 ple, besides the Continental Congress, there was a 
 
CONCLUSION. 309 
 
 Continental Army, raised, equipped, and supported 
 at the joint expense of all the States, and subject in 
 a great measure to the control of the Continental 
 Congress. And there was the Continental uniform, 
 which was the uniform worn by an officer or a soldier 
 of the Continental Army. And there was the Con- 
 tinental currency, which was the paper-money issued 
 and put into circidation by the Continental Congress, 
 all the States unitedly holding themselves accountable 
 for its redemption in specie ; or, in other words, bind- 
 ing themselves, after having gained their independ- 
 ence as a nation, to take it back at the value specified 
 thereon, and giving to those who held it gold and 
 silver in exchange. But more of this in another 
 place." 
 
 "And what is a minister, uncle? " inquired Laura. 
 " And what is a commissioner, uncle ? " chimed in 
 Ella. " And what is a revenue, uncle ? " put in Char- 
 lie. " And what is a remonstrance, uncle ? " inquired 
 Bryce, following up the attack. 
 
 " Hold, you rogues ! and one at a time ! " cried 
 Uncle Juvinell. " A minister, Laura, in the sense in 
 which we have been using the term, is a high officer 
 of State, intrusted with the control and management 
 of some office or department of the national govern- 
 ment, such as that of the navy or war or treasury or 
 commerce or foreign affairs. All the ministers, taken 
 collectively, make up what is called the ministry ; 
 who, besides discharging the duties of their respective 
 
310 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 offices, are also expected to serve as counsellors to 
 the king, and aid liim in carrying out the measures 
 of the government. A commissioner, Ella, is an 
 agent appointed and authorized by another, or a num- 
 ber of others, or a State, to transact some business of 
 a private or public character, as the case may be. A 
 revenue, Charlie, is the income or yearly sum of 
 money of a State, raised from taxes on the people or 
 their property, from duties on foreign merchandise 
 imported into the country, and from the sale of pub- 
 lic lands and other sources, to meet the expenses of 
 the government. A remonstrance, Bryce, is a setting- 
 forth in strong terms, either by writing or by word 
 of mouth, the facts and reasons against something 
 complained of or opposed, as unjust, unwise, or un- 
 advisable." 
 
 " I can't imagine," said Daniel, with the air of one 
 who had weighed well in his own mind a matter of 
 importance, "what advantage to themselves or to 
 the nation George the Third and his ministers could 
 have expected, when they laid those heavy taxes on 
 their American Colonies, then took from them the 
 power to pay them by crippling their commerce and 
 putting a stop to their manufactures ; and it seems 
 strano;e to me that Englishmen could ever have 
 denied to Englishmen the rights and liberties of Eng- 
 lishmen, without having something more to gain." 
 Here Daniel broke down, and scratched his head ; and 
 Uncle Juvinell, with an approving, good-humored 
 
CONCLUSION. 311 
 
 smile, replied, " Those very questions, Daniel, have 
 puzzled many an older head than yours, and many a 
 wiser head than mine ; and, indeed, some of the 
 most learned historians, who have written about these 
 matters, have expressed themselves perplexed at this 
 strange conduct of the king and his ministers, and 
 have -been able to account for it only on the supposi- 
 tion, that they were all, for the time being, bereft of 
 their wits, and therefore rendered Incapable of fore- 
 seeing the tremendous consequences of their unjust 
 and Ill-judged measures." 
 
 Much gi'atified at the Interest the little folks had 
 taken In such dry matters, and seeing that they had no 
 more questions to put to him, and that some of the 
 smaller ones were already nodding In their chairs. 
 Uncle Juvinell, by way of winding up the evening's 
 entertainment, concluded thus : — 
 
 " Some of you, my dear children, have read how 
 good Christian, in his pilgrimage to the Celestial 
 City, went on sometimes sighingly, sometimes com- 
 fortably, until he came to the foot of a hill called 
 Difficulty, where he found three roads to choose be- 
 tween. The one to the right went around the bottom 
 of the hill, and led into a wilderness of dark woods, 
 out of which no one ever found his way again after 
 venturing therein. The one to the left went hkewise 
 around the bottom of the hill, and led Into a wilder- 
 ness of dark mountains, which was even more difficult 
 to escape from than the one to the right. But the 
 
312 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 middle road, which was narrow and straight, went 
 right up the steep and flinty sides of the hill, and was 
 the route that led direct to Mount Zion. Not beinaf 
 the man to flinch from any difficulty, however great, 
 good Christian hesitated not a moment to choose the 
 middle road ; and accordingly he fell from running to 
 walking, and from walking to going, and from going 
 to clambering upon his hands and knees, till he had 
 made his way to the top. Here, as you must well 
 remember, there met his view a stately palace called 
 Beautiful, kept by a company of prim, precise, pro- 
 per, prudent, and pious maiden ladies, Avho gave our 
 weary pilgrim a cordial but well-considered reception, 
 and, besides admitting him to the hospitalities of 
 the house gratis, entertained him with a variety 
 of pleasing and edifying discourse. And you have 
 not forgotten, either, how, when they had a clear 
 morning, these discreet and well-ordered damsels, to 
 reward him for the zeal and diligence with which he 
 had heretofore pursued his journey, as well as to 
 encourage him to still further effort, led him up to the 
 top of their house, whence he might have a dehght- 
 ful view of the Delectable Mountains, far, far away. 
 And you also still bear in mind, how poor Christian 
 must needs pass through the dismal Vale of Humilia- 
 tion, and there meet in deadly fight the terrible 
 monster Apollyon ; then through the Valley and 
 Shadow of Death, with all its dolefid sights and 
 sounds ; then through the wicked city of Vanity Fair ; 
 
CONCLUSION. 313 
 
 then through the gloomy domains of Doubting Cas- 
 tle and Giant Despair, — all before he could hope to 
 set foot on these Delectable Mountains of Emanuel's 
 land. 
 
 " Now, do you not see, my dear children, that not 
 altogether unlike good Christian's case, at this stage 
 of his journey, is that of our own at this point of our 
 story ? But. a little while ago we were trudging along, 
 sometimes heavily, sometimes swimmingly, till by 
 and by we reached the bottom of our Hill Difficulty ; 
 by which, of course, you understand me to mean the 
 causes that brought about our Revolutionary War. 
 And here, had we gone to the right or the left, we 
 should most assuredly have wandered Into a wilder- 
 ness of romance and Brobdignagian wonders, among 
 whose mazes we would have become entangled beyond 
 all reasonable hope of escape. But our eyes were 
 opened to our danger ; and like good Christian, by 
 whose example we might profit oftener than we do, 
 we knew In what direction lay our best interest, and 
 were not to be enticed astray by the prospect of ease 
 or novelty, nor turned back by flinty facts aiad rough 
 realities. So straightway up the difficult hill we 
 marched, lofty and steep as it was ; and hardly left a 
 stone unturned till we had scrambled to the top. 
 This gained, we have felt It our privilege to halt and 
 rest a while, and refresh ourselves with a little pleasing 
 and edifying discourse, one with another, touching what 
 we have seen or heard in the course of our journey. 
 
 14 
 
314 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 " We have thus surmounted the most tedious and 
 difficult part of our story. But still there lies before 
 us many a hard-fought battle, many an irksome siege, 
 many a forlorn retreat, many a gloomy winter-camp, 
 and many a season of doubt and discouragement, 
 privation and dire calamity, through which we must 
 pass before we can hope to set our weary feet on the 
 Delectable Mountains of Freemen's Land, smiling 
 invitingly beyond. But to reward you for the dili- 
 gent attention with which you have followed me thus 
 far, as well as to entice you to trudge on to the end, 
 I will, from this elevated point, unfold to your view 
 a glimpse of this glorious region, ere Hhe war-clouds 
 rolling dun' fi'om the plains of Lexington and the 
 heights of Bunker's Hill have too much obscured our 
 morning sky. 
 
 '* See yon land of shining' moimtains, 
 
 Stately forests, verdant dells, 
 Sun-bright rivers, sparkling fountains, 
 
 Healthful breezes, balmy smells, 
 Golden grain-fields, pleasant meadows, 
 
 Fruitful orchards, gardens fair, 
 Lasting sunshine, fleeting shadows ! 
 
 Freedom dwells for ever there ! 
 
 Hark ! what song is that high swelling, 
 
 Like an anthem dropped from heaven, 
 Of some jo\Tful tidings telling. 
 
 Some rich boon to mankind given ? 
 *Tis a happy people, singing 
 
 Thanks for Freedom's victory Avon ; 
 Valley, forest, mountain, ringing 
 
 With one name, — great Washington. 
 
CONCLUSION. 315 
 
 Through distress, through tribulation, 
 
 Through the lowering clouds of war. 
 They have risen to be a nation : 
 
 Freedom shines, their morning-star. 
 Would we reach those realms of glory, 
 
 Would we join that righteous band. 
 We must speed us in our story : 
 
 Come, let's on to Freemen's Land ! " 
 
 The next evening, the little folks, upon repairing 
 to the library, found their Uncle Juvlnell seated, as 
 was his wont, cross-legged in his gTeat arm-chair, 
 looking with a fixed and absent gaze Into ' the glow- 
 ing embers of the fire,' as if his thoughts were far 
 away. 
 
 In his hand he held an open letter which he had 
 just brought from the post-office, in the contents 
 whereof, it was evident, he had found somewhat of a 
 painful character ; for a shght shadow had dimmed the 
 brightness of his otherwise placid countenance. So 
 rare a thing as that of a cloud on their good old 
 uncle's sunny face caught then' notice at once ; and 
 Instead of gathering round him in their usual coaxing, 
 teasing, bantering, frolicsome way, they seated them- 
 selves quietly on either hand, and awaited in respect- 
 ful silence until he should rise to the surface of the 
 deep brown-study into which he seemed to be plunged. 
 But the longer he sat, the harder he looked at the 
 fire, and the deeper he sank into liis re very, till the 
 little folks began to fear that it would be a full hour 
 before he would reach the bottom and come up again. 
 
316 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Daniel, the young historian, sat watching his uncle's 
 countenance with his sharp black eyes, expecting 
 each moment to hear liim break the silence with, 
 " After the battle of Bunker's Hill ; " or, " Washing- 
 ton, upon liis arrival at Boston ; " or something to that 
 effect. But, lost in his own thoughts. Uncle Juvi- 
 nell still sat cross-legged in his arm-chan, and spoke 
 not a word. At last, just by way of reminding him 
 that a select and highly enlightened audience were in 
 waiting to hear liim, Willie softly arose from his 
 chair, and, filling the little Dutch mug to the brim 
 with rich brown cider, offered it to his uncle, with a 
 forward duck of the head and a backward jerk of the 
 heel, which he, no doubt, intended for a genteel bow. 
 Uncle Juvinell took it ; but set it again, with an absent 
 air, untasted on the table. Then, drawing his spec- 
 tacles doAvn from liis forehead, he again perused the 
 letter he held in his hand, with earnest attention, 
 the shadow on his brow deepening as he read. 
 
 When he had finished, he laid it on the table, and 
 finally broke the long silence ; his first words falling 
 like ice-water on the ears of the little folks. 
 
 " Sad news for you, my dear children ; sad news for 
 us all ! I have just received a letter from my old 
 friend and kinsman, Peter Parley, of whom you have 
 all heard so much, and to whom, for the many 
 delightfrd books he has written, the younger genera- 
 tions of America are more indebted than perhaps 
 to any man now living. In his letter he tells me, 
 
CONCLUSION. 317 
 
 that, owing to his declining health and Increasing 
 years, he has ceased his literary labors altogether, and 
 betaken himself to New Orleans, in whose milder 
 climate he hopes he may, in some measure, recruit 
 his faihng powers. What he says in addition to this 
 I will give you in his own words : — 
 
 "The effects of that unlucky fall on the ice, while 
 crossing Boston Common, so many years ago, I have felt 
 m my right hip, to a greater or less degree, ever since ; 
 and within the past year my lameness has so much in- 
 creased as to have become a matter of much anxiety to 
 my friends, and some uneasiness to myself. Taking this in 
 connection with the growing infirmities of age, I some- 
 times have a foreboding that I shall never return to Boston 
 alive. 
 
 " Under this impression, I now write you, my Cousin 
 Juvinell, entreating you, as my nearest loving kinsman and 
 much-beloved friend, to come and see me at this place, 
 and sojourn here with me, until, in the wisdom of a kind 
 Providence, it be determined whether my span of life is to 
 be shortened or lengthened yet a little more. It will be a 
 comfort to me to have you by my side at the closing scene ; 
 and it may be that your cheerful presence and sunny hu- 
 mor will do more to revive me than I can hope for even 
 from this mild, pleasant Louisiana air. 
 
 " I know that your comphance with my request will 
 for a season prove a serious interruption to the enjoyment 
 of the little folks in your vicinity, whom you have taken 
 under your wing, and to whose entertainment and instruc- 
 tion so much of your useful life is devoted. But they wiU, 
 
 14* 
 
318 THE FAEMER BOY. 
 
 I am sure, without hesitation, make this sacrifice in behalf 
 of one who has for many long years labored so hard and 
 faithfully for then- happiness and improvement. Com- 
 mend me kindly to them. Hoping to see you at an 
 early day, I remain, as ever, your affectionate friend and 
 kinsman, 
 
 " Peter Parley." 
 
 Uncle Juvinell went on : "I am gratified, my dear 
 children, to see in your grateful and sympathetic 
 looks, saddened and disappointed though I know you 
 really to be, that you are ready and willing to sac- 
 rifice what pleasure and entertainment my company 
 and conversation may afibrd you, to the comfort and 
 wishes of this venerated and excellent man. My 
 going-away at this moment will, it is true, cause a 
 sad interruption to our story of the life of Wash- 
 ington ; but next Christmas, if we all be spared, and 
 your Uucle Juvinell keep his memory fresh and 
 green, we will gather together again in this very 
 room, and take it up where we now drop it, and fol- 
 low it through all its eventful changes to the glorious 
 and 'happy end. Meanwhile, ponder well in your 
 minds what I have already told you of the childhood, 
 youth, and early prime of this illustrious man. And 
 after all, now that I give the matter a second thought, 
 we could not have been interrupted at a more suitable 
 place ; for the account I have given up to this point 
 needs scarcely a single important particular to make 
 
CONCLUSION. 319 
 
 it a complete and separate story. We have followed 
 him step by step, and seen how he rose, first from the 
 boy-farmer to the youthful surveyor, from that to 
 the young colonel, from that to the legislator of more 
 mature years, and lastly from that to commander- 
 in-chief of the armies of a young and rising nation. 
 
 "The history of his career after this period is, in 
 fact, so closely connected with that of his country, as 
 to be altogether inseparable from it. 
 
 "And again I repeat, ponder well in your minds 
 what I have already told you, as being, after all, the 
 part most necessary for you at present to know. 
 Ever strive to keep his example before your eyes, 
 ever to cherish his virtues in your hearts. Like him, 
 be industrious in your habits, diligent in your studies, 
 polite in your manners, orderly in your dress, peace- 
 able in your disposition, upright in your dealings, 
 faithftil in your friendsliips, patient under trials, per- 
 severing under difficulties, strangers to covetousness, 
 content with little, moderate with much, generous, 
 self-denying, courageous in well-doing, pure in heart, 
 devout in spirit, modest before men, reverent to your 
 parents, respectful to your superiors, humble befor^ 
 God ; and, hke him, let the clear light of truth shine 
 forth in all your words, in all your actions, in all 
 your looks and gestures, in all your secret thoughts, 
 and in your very souls. Be all this, that men may 
 reverence you, that angels may honor you, that God 
 may bless and reward you." 
 
320 THE FARMER BOY. 
 
 Here Uncle Jiivinell paused ; and, as he looked 
 round on the saddened faces of his little auditors, a 
 moisture crept out softly upon his eyelashes, and 
 dimmed the brightness of his spectacles. " It grieves 
 me much, my dearest cliildren," said he, after a 
 moment or two, — and there was a tremor of deep 
 fatherly feeling in his voice, — " it grieves me much, 
 that our happy little circle must be -broken up. It 
 will be but for a season, however ; and, when we meet 
 again, we shall be happier than had we not parted at 
 all. On Monday, I take the stage-coach for Louis- 
 ville ; and there I take the steamer ' Eclipse ' for New 
 Orleans. As it is a long journey I have before me, 
 I must needs write many letters, and do a deal of 
 packing, before setting out : so we will sing our even- 
 ning hymn now, and separate for the night." 
 
 Then, joining their voices together, they sang that 
 beautiful hymn, " Though far away from friends and 
 home." At the second line, however, — "A lonely 
 wanderer I may roam," — the little folks fairly broke 
 down ; their hearts rising into their throats from very 
 grief, and choking their voices : but, with all the 
 ease of a professed singing-master, Uncle Juvinell, 
 though his heart was full too, glided at once from 
 the lowest bass to the highest treble, which he car- 
 ried alone, until some of the children, getting the 
 better of their feelings, chimed in with him, when 
 he softly dropped to the very bottom of his bass 
 
 agam. 
 
CONCLUSION. 321 
 
 The hymn ended, the little folks came one by one, 
 and, without speaking a word, embraced and kissed 
 their dear old uncle, this best of men; he laying 
 his gentle hand upon their bowed heads, and blessing 
 them with more than his usual fervor. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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