From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 38
FOUR INCIDENTS AND THEIR LESSONS.
Certain incidents occurred in the young life of our hero, which so forcibly illustrate leading elements of his
character that we stop here to record them.
His father came home one day so sick that he took to his bed at once. It was a severe attack of an old
complaint, which he had vainly tried to remove.
"You must have the doctor," said Mrs. Washington, somewhat alarmed by the severity of the attack.
"Wait a little, and see," replied her husband; "perhaps the usual remedies will relieve me." He kept remedies
in the house for such attacks, and Mrs. Washington soon administered them. But the relief was only partial,
and a servant was sent for the doctor.
"Go in haste," said Mrs. Washington, as Jake mounted the horse and galloped away. "Tell the doctor to come
as soon as possible," were the last words that Jake heard as he dashed forward. Mrs. Washington was
thoroughly alarmed. Returning to her husband's bedside, she said:
"I want to send for George."
"Not now," her husband answered. "I think the doctor will relieve me. Besides, George has only just got there,
and it is not well to disturb him unnecessarily."
George had gone to visit friends at Chotana, about twenty miles distant, where he proposed to spend his
vacation.
Mrs. Washington yielded to her husband's desire, although intense anxiety filled her heart. She seemed to
have a presentiment that it was her husband's last sickness. Back and forth she went from door to bedroom,
and from bedroom to door, awaiting with tremulous emotion the coming of the physician, at the same time
employing such remedies as she thought might afford relief.
"A very sick man," was the doctor's verdict, "but I think we can relieve him soon." His encouraging words
lifted a burden from Mrs. Washington's heart, although she still apprehended the worst, and yet she could
scarcely tell why.
"You think that he will recover?" she said to the doctor, as he was leaving the house.
"I think so; he is relieved for the present, and I hope that he will continue to improve," the doctor answered;
and he answered just as he felt.
Still Mrs. Washington could not disguise her fears. She was a devout Christian woman, and she carried her
burden to the Lord. She found some relief in laying her anxieties upon the great Burden-bearer. She came
forth from communion with the Father of mercies more composed if not more hopeful. She possessed a
degree of willingness to leave her companion in God's hand.
Mr. Washington was relieved of acute pain, but further than that he did not improve. After continuing several
days in this condition, he said to his wife one morning:
"You may send for George to-day."
"I will," Mrs. Washington replied, bursting into tears. "I wish I had sent before."