In the summer of that year Washington wrote to his old secretary, Tobias Lear: "I am alone at _present_, and shall be glad to see you this evening.

Unless some one pops in unexpectedly--Mrs.
Washington and myself will do what I believe has not been done within the last twenty Years by us,--that is to set down to dinner by ourselves." Washington was the soul of hospitality.

He enjoyed having people in his house and eating at his board, but there is evidence that toward the last he grew somewhat weary of the stream of strangers.

But neither then nor at any other time in his life did he show his impatience to a visitor or turn any man from his door.

His patience, was sorely tried at times.