y on moon shining
nights, till bed-time. Mrs. Stevenson's sons, though not taller than
George, were much heavier men; so that at wrestling, and particularly at
the _close_ or _Indian Hug_, he seldom gained much matter of triumphs.
But in all trials of agility, they stood no chance with him."

Mr. Weems continues:

"From these Frederick County gymnastics there followed an effect which
shows the very wide difference between participating in innocent and
guilty pleasures. While companions in raking and gambling heartily
despise and hate one another, and when they meet in the streets pass
each other with looks cold and shy as sheep-thieving curs, these
virtuous young men, by spending their evenings together in innocent and
manly exercises, contracted a friendship which lasted for life. When
George, twenty-five years after this, was called to lead the American
armies, he did not forget his old friends, but gave commissions to all
of them who chose to join the army. William, who was as brave a man as
ever shouldered a musket, was advanced as high as the rank of colonel,
when he was burned to death by the Indians at Sandusky. And equally
cordial was the love of these young men for George, of whom they ever
spoke as of a brother."

When Washington had attained his highest honors, and the War of
Independence was over, the Stevensons loved to rehearse their runnings
and wrestlings with him. Said Hugh exultingly to some friends:

"Brother John and I have often laid the conqueror of England on his
back."

"But we were no match for him in running and jumping," honestly retorted
John.

It was George's thorough survey and glowing description of a region
beyond the Blue Ridge that induced Lord Fairfax to erect a costly stone
mansion there for his trans-Atlantic home. He called it Greenaway Court,
and it became one of the most beautiful and attractive estates in
Virginia, where the proprietor lived in an expensive style, dispensing a
generous hospitality. It was at Greenaway Court that George first read
the history of England.

George's success as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax called the attention of
the Virginia authorities to him, and he was appointed public surveyor,
as stated by Mr. Everett, whom we have quoted, deriving a discipline
therefrom which was of great service to him in his future public career.
The business, also, made him familiar with the country, particularly the
Shenandoah Valley, which means "Shining daughter