posed by nature and affection, had repeatedly endeavored to persuade her aged parent to live apart from her no longer.

But the venerable matron, notwithstanding the affectionate entreaties of her children, continued to conduct a separate establishment, with the same indefatigable industry and judicious management which she had earlier exhibited. She still obeyed

"The breezy call of incense-breathing morn"

with as much alacrity as of yore, and still gave her attention to the most minute details of domestic affairs.

In this tranquil retreat, where

"None knew her but to love,

None named her but to praise,"

she long continued to receive the frequent and fondly-respected visits of her many old and attached friends as well as of her children* and her

* We find many proofs in the published Correspondence of WASHINGTON, of the affectionate devotion with which he paid this tribute of respect to his mother. Thus, he assigns his absence on a visit to her, as a reason for not previously replying to a letter from the Secretary of Congress; and afterwards again, in a letter to Major-General Knox, he offers the same explanation of a

children's children, blessed in her happy and honored age, by the soothing consciousness of a virtuous and well-spent life.

To the urgent and oft-repeated requests of her children, that she would make with them the home of her age, Mrs. Washington replied:—

"I thank you for your dutiful and affectionate offers, but my wants are few in this life, and I feel perfectly competent to take care of myself."

And when her son-in-law, Colonel Lewis, proposed to assume the general superintendence of her affairs, she resolutely answered—

Do you, Fielding, keep my books in order, for your eyesight is better than mine, but leave the executive management to me."

Previous to his departure for France, after the termination of the Revolutionary War, the Marquis de La Fayette visited Fredericksburg, expressly for the purpose of making his personal adieus to the mother of his beloved hero-friend, and that he might solemnly invoke her blessing.

similar delay. When his mother was ill, we perceive that he pleads this honorable errand, without reserve, as presenting claims superior to any public obligation. In an epistle written towards the close of the year 1788, we find allusions to a prolonged sojourn under the maternal roof, &c., &e.

This amiable visitor, who had frequently before enjoyed the happiness of conversing with her, repaired to the unobtrusive abode of Mrs. Washington, accompanied by one of her grand

sons.

As they approached the house, they observed an aged lady working in the adjoining garden. The materials composing her dress were of homemanufacture, and she wore over her time-silvered hair, a plain straw bonnet.

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There, Sir," said the younger gentleman, "is my grandmother."

Mrs. Washington received her distinguished guest, with great cordiality, and with her usual frank simplicity of address.

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Ah, Marquis!" she exclaimed, “you see an old woman;-but come, I can make you welcome to my poor dwelling, without the parade of changing my dress."

The conversation of this interesting group soon turned, as was most natural, upon the brightening prospects of the young Republic.

The Marquis spoke of the deep interest he cherished in all that related to the prosperity of the land of his adoption, and poured forth the fond and glowing encomiums of a full heart at

each allusion to his former Chief,-his friend, his Mentor, his "hero.”

To the praises thus enthusiastically lavished upon her son, by the noble Frenchman, his hostess only replied, “I am not surprised at what George has done, for he was always a good boy."

Thus did the true greatness of this extraordinary woman often manifest itself. It was her pleasure frequently to revert to the early days of her august Son, and to express her approbation of his dutiful and upright conduct; but she never appeared in the slightest degree elated by the honors that were showered "thick and fast" upon his glorious name.

With unaffected piety, she referred each and every occurrence of life to the Great First Cause, and when the notes of jubilant praise swelled high, even above the din of battle and the wailings of a nation's despair, it was .her earnest maternal aspiration that the "good boy" of her early care, might never "forget himself!"

For by the dread decree of Heaven,
Short is the date to earthly grandeur given,
And vain are all attempts to roam beyond
Where fate has fixed the everlasting bound."

Mrs. Washington was always remarkable for that unequivocal proof of superiority, the powerful influence she exerted over the minds of others.

Her ideas of the respect due to her as a parent, remained unchanged either by the lapse of time, or by the development of mighty events, with which her wonderful Son was so closely identified. Ever his trusted counsellor and friend, to her he was always the same in relative position.* To her he owed his existence; to her the early discipline of his extraordinary intellect, and of his high moral nature; and to her he was indebted for the sage advice and prudent guidance of maturer years.

Nor did her son manifest the slightest dissent

* This peculiarity forcibly reminds us of an expressive incident in the life of the mother of the Buonapartes-Madame Mere. On one occasion, when the Emperor Napoleon gave audience to the several members of his family, while walking in one of the galleries of the Tuilleries, among his other relatives, his mother advanced towards him. The Emperor extended his hand to her to kiss, as he had done when his brothers and sisters approached him, "No!” said she, “ you are the King, the Emperor of all the rest, but you are my son !” We leave our readers to draw the contrast irresistibly suggested by this anecdote, between the Republican Statesman and the Emperor of all the French.