. The home of Washington; or, Mount Vernon and its associations, historical, biographical, and pictorial . Mr. Thomson andColonel Humphreys, with the best disposition to render serviceto my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope ofanswering its expectations. Washingtons neighbors and friends at Alexandria, had in-vited him to halt and partake of a public dinner on the manifestation of friendship touched his heart; but stilldeeper were his tenderest emotions awakened, when, as he andhis travelling companions ascended a little hill about a milefrom his home, and came in vi
. The home of Washington; or, Mount Vernon and its associations, historical, biographical, and pictorial . Mr. Thomson andColonel Humphreys, with the best disposition to render serviceto my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope ofanswering its expectations. Washingtons neighbors and friends at Alexandria, had in-vited him to halt and partake of a public dinner on the manifestation of friendship touched his heart; but stilldeeper were his tenderest emotions awakened, when, as he andhis travelling companions ascended a little hill about a milefrom his home, and came in view of the lodges at his gate, hesaw a cavalcade of those friends, waiting to escort him to thetown. The scene was one of marvellous interest. It was thefirst of a series of ovations that awaited him on his sun was shining with all the warmth and brightness ofmid-April in Yirginia, the smiles of cultivation were on everyland, and the song of birds and the perfume of early flowersfell gratefully upon the senses. Alas ! how changed is now the aspect of that ancient entrance14 210 MOUNT VERNON. ANCIENT ENTRANCE TO MOUNT VERNON, IN 1858. to Mount Yernon ! Stately trees are near as in the days of old,but the voices of labor are no more heard. All is silence anddesolation, except when the bird sings, the squirrel chirps, orthe echo of the huntsmans gun startles the solitary pedestrian,for the road, tilled or gullied by the winds and rains, is scarcelypassable for beast or vehicle. The old lodges, wherein oncerang the merry laugh of children, are utterly deserted, andfast falling into hopeless decay; and all around them a thickforest stands, where the wheat, the corn, and the tobacco Washington was anxious to proceed to New York with as AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS. 211 little parade as possible, but the enthusiasm of the people couldnot be repressed. His journey was like a triumphal Alexandria he partook of a public dinner, when the mayor■aid, Tlie first a
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