When he grew thirsty he would pause for a drink at his favorite gum spring, and as he made his rounds would note the progress of the miller, the coopers, the carpenters, the fishermen, and the hands in the fields, how the corn was coming up or the wheat was ripening, what fences needed to be renewed or gaps in hedges filled, what the increase of his cattle would be, whether the stand of clover or buckwheat was good or not.

He was the owner of all this great estate, he was proud of it; it was his home, and he was glad to be back on it once more.

For he had long since realized that there are deeper and more satisfying pleasures than winning battles or enjoying the plaudits of multitudes.
An English actor named John Bernard who happened to be in Virginia in this period has left us a delightfully intimate picture of the Farmer on his rounds.

Bernard had ridden out below Alexandria to pay a visit and on his return came upon an overturned chaise containing a man and a woman.

About the same time another horseman rode up from the opposite direction.