. Heroes and statesmen of America, a popular book of American biography . ic circle; revered and beloved by all around him;agreeably social; without ostentation; delighting in anecdoteand adventures; without assumption; his domestic arrange-ments harmonious and systematic. His servants seemed towatch his eye and to anticipate his every wish; hence a lookwas equivalent to a command. His servant Billy, the faithfulcompanion of his military career, was always at his content animated and beamed on eveiy countenancein his presence. The reverential awe which his deeds and elevated posit
. Heroes and statesmen of America, a popular book of American biography . ic circle; revered and beloved by all around him;agreeably social; without ostentation; delighting in anecdoteand adventures; without assumption; his domestic arrange-ments harmonious and systematic. His servants seemed towatch his eye and to anticipate his every wish; hence a lookwas equivalent to a command. His servant Billy, the faithfulcompanion of his military career, was always at his content animated and beamed on eveiy countenancein his presence. The reverential awe which his deeds and elevated positionthrew around him, says Irving, was often a source of annoy-ance to him in private life; especially when he perceived itseffect upon the young and gay. We have been told of a casein point, where he made his appearance at a private ball whereall were enjoying themselves with the utmost glee. The mo-ment he entered the room the bouyant mirth was checked ;the dance lost its animation ; every face was grave ; everytongue was silent. He remained for a time, endeavoring to. GEORGE WASHINGTON. 123 engage in conversation with some of the young people, and tobreak the spell; finding it in vain, he retired sadly to the com-pany of the elders in an adjoining room, expressing his regretthat his presence should operate as such a damper. After alittle while light laughter and happy voices again resoundedfrom the ball room; upon which he rose cautiously, ap-proached on tip-toe the door, which was ajar, and there stoodfor some time a delighted spectator of the youthful revelry. Though habitually grave and quiet in manner, he couldlaugh as heartily as the merriest when his keen sense of humorwas excited, and many instances are on record of his beingsurprised into sudden and hearty fits of laughter, even whenthe weighty cares of the war were hanging over him. In the retirement of his home, Washington was a close andanxious observer of the events which followed the return ofpeace. He was soon c
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