From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 59
the metropolis. A disappointment in love is said to have cast a shadow over his after life, and to have led him
to pass his time in voluntary exile on his Virginia estates, watching and promoting the rapid development of
the resources of the country, following the hounds through the primeval forests, and cheering his solitary
hours by reading and a limited society of chosen friends."
The "love affair" to which Mr. Everett refers is explained by Mr. Irving as follows:
"In the height of his fashionable career he became strongly attached to a young lady of rank, paid his
addresses, and was accepted. The wedding day was fixed; the wedding dresses were provided, together with
servants and equipages for the matrimonial establishment. Suddenly the lady broke her engagement. She had
been dazzled by the superior brilliancy of a ducal coronet.
"It was a cruel blow alike to the affection and pride of Lord Fairfax, and wrought a change in both character
and conduct. From that time he almost avoided the sex, and became shy and embarrassed in their society,
excepting among those with whom he was connected or particularly intimate. This may have been among the
reasons which ultimately induced him to abandon the gay world and bury himself in the wilds of America."
Lord Fairfax was charmed by the appearance of George.
"A remarkable lad," he said to his relative, William Fairfax; "so manly, so intelligent in knowledge beyond his
years."
"Yet not a mere book-worm," replied William. "No boy likes games and hunting better than he."
"A capital horseman, I notice," added the nobleman; "strong and powerful for one of his years. Yet he likes
books. It seems to me that he is unusually fond of reading."
Lord Fairfax possessed quite a number of valuable books, new and rare to George, who had pored over them
with absorbing interest. The nobleman inferred that he must possess an unusual taste for reading, and this was
really true.
"Yes, he generally wants to know what the books he meets with contain," responded William. "He has made
the contents of such books as he could reach his own."
"I must take him out hunting with me," continued Lord Fairfax. "He will make a good companion, I imagine."
Lord Fairfax delighted in fox-hunting. In England, before he came to this country, his best sport was found in
the fox-hunt. He kept his hounds, and all the accoutrements for the chase, so that he was always prepared for
the sport. He found increased pleasure in the pastime after George became his companion in the chase. The
latter enjoyed it, too, with a keen relish. It was not altogether new to him; he had been occasionally on such
excursions with others. But the English nobleman understood fox-hunting as no one else in Virginia did. He
had learned it as practised by English lords, who live in baronial style. For this reason George enjoyed the
wild sport as he never did before.
One day George was surprised by a proposition from Lord Fairfax.
"How would you like to survey my lands for me, George? You appear to understand the business."
"I should like nothing better if I can do it to suit you," George answered. "I like surveying."
"Well, the only way for me to do is to survey my land, and sell it, if I would keep 'squatters' off," added Lord
Fairfax. "Squatters" were a class of persons took up their abode upon lands which did not belong to them,