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to ask a reconciliation, which the fiery youth did not grant; and showed the sincerity of his regard by meeting, with ready warmth, the first relenting of that impulsive nature. Towards General Knox and his family, Washington's feelings and behavior were the kindly ones of an affectionate relative. To his wife he was always most attentive and indulgent, and from his marriage day he wore about his neck the miniature which was found on his cold bosom by those who performed the last offices for those august remains. The mere statesman or soldier would, long before that time, have cast aside the little memorial of domestic love and duty Washington, who was truth itself, no doubt wore it always, as he first put it on, as a token and talisman of the tender and exclusive regard which he felt and cherished for the chosen partner of his life. As he had felt all a young man's love for the beautiful bride, so he retained an old man's affection and respect for the dignified matron and faithful helpmate of so many years. He adopted her children and grandchildren as his own, and left in their hearts and memories an uneffaceable impression of benignity and patient kindness, which none but a thoroughly good-hearted man could have produced. Abundant proof of this is extant, though too much diffused to be readily cited. The spirit of a man's life and character must be discovered by the contemplation of it as a whole. Detached instances, however numerous, always leave much untold.

CHAPTER VI.

A new school and new master-No Latin-A good head can make more out of one language than a poor one out of half a dozen-Washington head boy, of course— Military sports and national predilections-Washington a man of peace, after allEarly handwriting-Neatness of his school papers-Practice in mercantile forms -Robust physical exercises one grand element in his training-Pitching a stoneLove of horses and riding.

THE school at Bridge's Creek, to which Washington was sent after his father's death, was kept by a Mr. Williams, a personage far superior to "Old Hobby," and who seems to have done what he undertook to do in a very creditable manner. Mr. Weems says of his school, that it was very thorough in common studies, and particularly in grammar and mathematics, which Williams considered his forte; but that the master "knew as little of Latin as Balaam's ass!" and of course could not teach it to his pupils, though some have supposed, from Washington's writings, that he could hardly have been ignorant of it. But, as many learn languages without thinking or caring what relation they bear to ideas; he, having well provided himself with ideas, managed always to find good sound language in which

to clothe them; not in every case strictly correct, perhaps, for he was not a "strict constructionist" in that respect; but clear, manly, direct, and free from verbiage, though sometimes losing a little in strength of statement from lack of culture. The study of his style is an antidote to pedantry, for we are all the time sensible of the greater importance of the idea than of the expression, as well as of the dignity which good sense and honesty give to the plainest language. Eminently practical throughout, Washington tried hard for such expression as he wanted, but left the further pursuit of fine writing to those who had more leisure.

"In all positions," says Guizot, "whether his language rise to the superior to whom he renders an account, or descend to the level of the subordinates who are under his orders, it is ever equally clear, practical and decided; equally stamped with that authority which truth and necessity confer upon the man who speaks in their name."

It is recorded of his school days that he was always head boy; and whether this report be authentic or not, we can easily imagine the case to have been so, not exclusively by means of scholarship, perhaps, but by the aid of certain other qualities, very powerful in school as elsewhere, and which he so amply exhibited in after life. His probity, courage, ability, and high sense of justice were probably evident, even then, for there is every reason to believe their foundations were laid very early. The boys would, therefore, respect him, and

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MILITARY PLAYS-PEACEMAKING.

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choose him for an umpire in their little quarrels, as they are said to have done. "Ask George Washington," graphic Mr. Weems tells the story, "and whatever he says is right, we'll agree to." Most schools are happy enough to have at least one scholar thus respected for justice and honor.

But another source of George's popularity, was his military turn.* By some strange prophetic instinctthough indeed prophecy often works its own fulfilment --it was his pride to form his schoolmates into military companies, with cornstalks for muskets and calabashes for drums, and to drill and exercise them, to command them and lead them to sham-battle. He is said to have been famous for hindering quarrels, however, and perhaps his early taste for military manœuvres was only an accidental form of that love of mathematical combina

* Mr. Irving, speaking of the military career and success of Lawrence Washington, says, page 22, Vol. I. "We have here the secret of that martial spirit so often cited of George in his boyish days. He had seen his brother fitted out for the wars. He had heard, by letters and otherwise, of the warlike scenes in which he was mingling. All his amusements took a military turn."

Also, on page 29. "Some of Lawrence's comrades of the Provincial Regiment, who had served with him in the West Indies, were occasional visitors at Mount Vernon; or a ship of war, possibly one of Vernon's old fleet, would anchor in the Potomac, and its officers would be welcome guests at the table of Lawrence and his father-in-law.

Thus military

scenes, on sea and shore, would become the topics of conversation. The capture of Porto Bello; the bombardment of Carthagena; old stories of cruisings in the East and West Indies, and campaigns against the pirates. We can picture to ourselves George, a grave and earnest boy, with an expanding intellect, and a deep-seated passion for enterprise, listening to such conversation with a kindling spirit, and a growing desire for military life.'

tion (the marked trait of Napoleon's earlier years), and the tendency to order, promptness and thoroughness, which characterized him so strikingly in after life. The good soldier is by no means a man with a special disposition to fight.

But there was a political bias, in this sport too; for the boy army was arranged in two bands, one of them personating an English and the other a French force, always an antagonistic idea to the English, and at that time obnoxious in the colonies,-the latter troop commanded by a lad named William Bustle, the former always by George Washington. It is rather remarkable that so exciting a sport did not end in quarrels if not in enmity, for the temperament of Washington was impetuous and his passions fiery, though we are little accustomed to think so, from our habit of contemplating his after life, so marked by self-control. He was known as a peacemaker, even thus early, and we have every reason to believe that peace continued to be his darling wish and pursuit, through all the struggles and oppositions that duty led him to engage in. His military turn was in-bred, not in-born. When, in after life, he was charged with having said "I have heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound"-he answered, not without some show of embarrassment and regret, "If I ever said so, it was when I was very young." He never felt so in his later years.

The precious little box of his private papers, before

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