From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

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Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 40 father. Their tender love was mutual. "George thought the world of his father and his father thought the world of him." That dying scene in the family was proof of it. In a few days all that was mortal of Augustine Washington was committed to the dust, and George was a fatherless boy. As we have already intimated, this sudden affliction changed the current of George's life. Different plans and different experiences followed. Mr. Washington, with characteristic foresight, had made his will. Irving says of it, "To Lawrence he gave the estate on the banks of the Potomac, with other real property, and several shares in iron-works. To Augustine, the second son by the first marriage, the old homestead and estate in Westmoreland. The children by the second marriage were severally well provided for; and George, when he became of age, was to have the house and lands on the Rappahannock." Mrs. Washington assumed the care of the estate after the death of her husband, and continued her love of fine horses. She possessed several of rare beauty and fleetness. Among them was an Arabian colt, full grown, broken to the harness, but not to the saddle. He would not allow a man to ride him. He was so high strung, and so fractiously opposed to any one getting upon his back, that Mrs. Washington had forbidden any one on the farm attempting the feat. George had two or three young friends visiting him, and they were admiring the antics of the colt in the meadow in front of the house. "I should like to ride him," remarked George. "Ride him!" exclaimed one of the number. "I thought nobody could ride him. That is what I have heard." "Well, I should like to try," continued George. "If I could once get upon his back, I would run the risk anyway. He would prance some, I guess." "I should like to see you try, George," remarked another of his friends present. "You can ride him if any one can. But how do you know that you can't ride him? Have you ever tried?" "No." "Did any one ever try?" "I believe Jake has; or, at least, he has tried to get on his back." "If I were in your place I would see whether I could ride him or not," suggested his friend. "What's the harm?" "Mother would not allow it," answered George; "She would expect to see my brains beat out if I should attempt it." "But your mother would like it if you succeeded in riding him," rejoined his friend, by way of inducing him to make the attempt. "I have no doubt she would; but if I should break my neck, instead of the colt, she would not be glad at all." "Of course not; but I don't see any particular need of breaking your neck or limbs by making the attempt; and it would be a feather in your cap to manage the colt. Suppose we try;" and this proposition was made by George's companion in good faith.
Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 41 "I have no fears for myself," answered George; "there is no danger in trying to get upon his back that I see, and once there, I will risk being thrown." "That is so," continued his friend, "and suppose we try it some day." After some more discussion upon the subject, George agreed to make the attempt to mount the colt early the following morning, and his young friend seconded his decision heartily. The next morning, a full hour before breakfast-time, the boys were out, eager to participate in the sport of conquering a wild colt. The colt appeared to snuff trouble, for he was unusually gay and crank that morning. His head and tail were up, as he went prancing around the field, when the boys put in their appearance. "Drive him into a corner!" exclaimed George. "Drive the wind into a corner as easily," replied one of the boys, just beginning to appreciate the difficulties of the situation. "Well, he must be caught before he can be mounted," said George, philosophically. "I did not promise to mount him until he was bridled." "That is so," responded another boy, more hopeful of results. "That corner yonder is a good place for the business," pointing to the eastward. So they all rallied to drive the colt into the proposed corner; and, in the language of another who has described the scene, "after a deal of chasing and racing, heading and doubling, falling down and picking themselves up again, and more shouting and laughing than they had breath to spare for, they at last succeeded in driving the panting and affrighted young animal into the corner. Here, by some means or other (it was difficult to tell precisely how) they managed to bridle him, although at no small risk of a broken head or two from his heels, that he seemed to fling about him in a dozen different directions at once." "Lead him away from this corner," said one of the boys. "Yes," answered George, "we must go well toward the centre of the field; he will want room to throw me." So, throwing the bridle-reins over the colt's neck, and taking hold of the bridle close by the bits, the animal was led toward the centre of the field. Before the boys or the colt were aware of George's purpose, with one bound he leaped upon the colt's back, and, seizing the reins, was prepared for the worst. His playmates were as much astonished as the animal was at this unexpected feat, and they rushed away to escape disaster. "Look out, George!" shouted one, as the colt reared and stood upon his hind legs. "He'll throw you, George, if you don't look out!" screamed another, as the animal reversed his position and sent his hind legs high into the air. "Stick, George, stick!" they cried, as the colt dashed forward like the wind a few rods, then stopped, reared, and kicked again, as if determined to throw the rider. All the while George's companions were alarmed at the fearful plunges of the animal, fearing that he would dash him to the ground. At length the furious beast took the bits between his teeth and plunged forward upon the "dead run." George had no control over him as he dashed forward like mad. He hung to the reins like a veteran horseman as the
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