Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/247

 of being an upright and honorable man. His death was peculiarly afflictive to a young and growing family, which needed all a father's care and counsel, to aid in preparing them for the duties and responsibilities of life. By this sudden and great loss,, the mother of George Washington, became his guide and instructor, and moulded his character for the future eminence which he attained. She was a woman of great energy and integrity, and to her care was intrusted the management of the large property left to the children of Augustine Washington, against the time they should severally come of age. She proved herself entirely worthy of this trust. Her plain, solid sense; her decision of character; her strict but not severe discipline; her conscientious heed to the religious and moral guidance of her four fatherless children; all these gave her authority and respect in her family, which were equalled only by the affection with which she was regarded by every member of her household.

Under such guidance, and favored with constant intercourse with his brother Lawrence and Lord Fairfax and family, George Washington passed his early years. From a child fond of the mimic sport of a soldier's life, this love of adventure grew upon him; and when he was about fourteen, a midshipman's warrant was obtained for him, and his luggage is said to have been actually on board a man-of-war, when his mother's heart failed her, and George, ever obedient, gave up the plan of seeking for fame in the Navy. Humanly speaking, how vast a difference would it have made had he been permitted to follow his boyish inclination!

Returning to school, George devoted his attention to improvement in all those branches, especially mathematics, calculated to fit him for civil or military service. Perseverance and completeness marked his whole course, and the habits of method, order, and accuracy which were then established adhered to him through life. "He found time to do everything and to do it well. He had acquired the magic of method, which, of itself, works wonders." In short, his was a character which, even in boyhood, marked him out to be a leader and guide of others. His schoolfellows appealed to him to decide their little differences, and his sincerity and strict integrity and fairness gave him the undoubted ascendancy at all times. Active, energetic, delighting in athletic games and exercises, prompt, ready, knowing how to obey quite as well as how to command, conscientious, ardent, self-possessed,— these qualities might well have raised him above his fellows, and indicated, especially to a mother's prophetic ken, the greatness and nobleness of the career before him.

After he left school, Washington continued to study mathematics and trigonometry, examined works on tactics and military topics, became expert in the use of arms, and kept alive the flame of ambition for warlike deeds by association with officers who had served in the recent wars. But he could not be idle and enjoy content: hence he was ready to undertake duties of an