The windings of their way tburough toilsome years.'*

But those hours of social enjoyment were
fe^, for these friends were soon again en-'
gaged in public scenes and cares. Before
La Fayette returned to France, he visited
the mother of Washington, to bid her fare-
well and ask her blessing. She received him



308 LIF£ OF

kindly, and talked with him of the happy
prospects of her country, and of the conduct
of her virtuous son, whom La Fayette praised
with the warmth of strong attachment.
She listened calmly to him, and then re-
plied, ^^lath not surprised at what Qtorgt has
donSj for he was always a very good boy,"

On leaving this venerable woman. La Fay-
^tte asked and received her blessing, and bade
her a last farewell. When he took leave of his
friend, he indulged a lively hope that they
would once more meet; but when again he
visited America, he was received as the
** Nation's Guest," and instead of being
welcomed to Mpunt Vernon by the smiles
of Washington, he was led to his humble
tomb to shed tears of SQrroMT*

Desiring anxiously that his native country
should be freed from the tyrannical govern-
ment which oppressed it. La Fayette felt a
deep interest m the revolution which soon
commenced in France; but his heart must
' have been pained by the .manner in which it
was conducted. In the attempt to throw off
the oppression of man, the restraints of mo-
rality were cast away, and human passions
raged uncontrolled. The consequences were
dreadful ; the tenderest ties of nature were
disregarded, — ^the truths of religion were de-
nied, and liberty was worshipped instead of
God.
