250 Visit to Mount Vernon. 



of a leaf or rustling of the wind, I involuntarily turned to see 

 the grey shade of him who had loved to walk here, when in the 

 fulness of his strength, as the statesman, the soldier, and the 

 man. The road approaches upon the rear of the house, and, 

 passing along a range of offices, leads between them and the 

 house to the door, which is on one of three sides of a hollow 

 square. Though the effect of a full view of the house (upon 

 the approach) is lost, yet it is somewhat compensated by 

 the expectation which the house, veiled and sheltered by a 

 varied foliage, rising above the range of outbuildings, excites, 

 and which expectation, in this case, is not disappointed. The 

 carriage-way turns in a circle, forming a kind of court, which 

 stretches away into a shrubbery ; on each side are the offices, 

 beyond which are continued walled gardens for fruits, flowers, 

 and vegetables. These walls are hid from the house by shrubs, 

 and a variety of foreign, with the choicest of our own, forest 

 trees ; and I saw among them, for the first time in perfection, 

 the rich and beautiful holly, its deep shining mass of green 

 sprinkled with its coral berries. 



I knocked at the door, wishing much to get a sight of the 

 interior, but got no answer; at last a voice from one of the 

 offices told me that the family (of Mr, John Washington) were 

 all absent, and that no one was admitted unless he brought 

 letters, or was a friend of the family. I could not press my re- 

 quest upon either of these grounds ; but as she mentioned that 

 visiters from abroad sometimes left their cards for the family and 

 were admitted, I at once added that I was a great stranger, 

 and was very anxious to take advantage of this visit, as it was 

 doubtful if I ever should be there again, and, moreover, that I 

 would pay her for her trouble. " Is you very great stranger ? " 

 I felt bound to say that I was. I felt sure now that I should 

 succeed, and took one of her little " pledges " to show me the 

 tomb, while she should see the woman who had the keys. This 

 (the tomb) is as inelegant a structure as red bricks and mortar 

 can well make it, and excited in me only a feeling of regret and 

 a spirit of criticism; instead of such more noble thoughts as 

 should, like the vine, cluster around the " tomb of Washington." 

 The old vault seemed to me infinitely more appropriate, and 

 certainly more picturesque : a group of cedars covers the arch, 

 and wave their arms in deep shadows over his resting-place ; 

 fit guardians for his remains. 



Of our fathers it is said : — 



" Green sods 



Are all their monument, and yet they tell 

 A nobler tale than sculptured urn, or the 

 Eternal pyramids." 



In such a place, improvement and ornament should harmonise, 



