VOL. XXVIII.

Washingtoniana.

BY THE EDITOR.

THE MOTHER AND THE WIFE OF
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

The meaning of our caption is: Matters about Washington. It is an old and trite theme, worn threadbare by frequent treatment, you will perhaps say. Very true. During the last century few have been so often written on in our country as this. Yet we believe that we can furnish certain matters on this rich subject which some of our readers have not seen. The few have access to all the details of Washington's private life; the many must content themselves with the history of his public career, as found in his biographies and in histories of the United States.

Two ladies, his mother and his wife, acted an important part in the moulding and controlling of this great man. A part, it is true, to a great extent concealed from the eye of the historian, but very important notwithstanding.

The mother of Washington was descended from the family of Ball. Her ancestors came to this country from England about 1650, and settled in Lancaster county, Va. She was married to Augustine Washington, and during many years lived near Pope's Creek, Westmoreland county, Va. Here their son George was born. The spot of his birth is marked by a plain slab, put there in 1815 by some of his relatives. The inscription is as follows:

NO. 2.

save his parental fondness and personal appearance. The death of the father entailed upon the mother the care of a large estate and the still more responsible care of her family.

She is said to have been a lady of unusual intelligence, in the real sense in which this word was understood in those days. A dignified, somewhat stately matron she must have been, who rarely indulged in levity or mirth. This native queenliness she bequeathed to her great son, whom no one could approach with familiarity in his manhood. Without any effort on his part, his personal presence inspired all around him with a feeling of reverence and awe. A relative of his says:

"I was often there (at the house of his mother) with George, his playmate, schoolmate, and young man's companion. Of the mother I was ten times more afraid

than I was of my own parents. She awed me in the midst of her kindness, for she was, indeed, truly kind. I have often been present with her sons, proper, tall fellows, too, and we were all as mute as mice; and even now, when time has whitened my locks, and I am the grand-parent of a second generation, I could not behold that remarkable woman without feelings it is impossible to describe. Whoever has seen characteristic in the Father of his Country, that awe-inspiring air and manner will remember the matron as she appeared when the presiding genius of her wellordered household, commanding and being obeyed."

SO

horses, and kept blooded stock on her farm. She had a grand animal, a gay sorrel colt, which would brook neither bridle nor rider. Very large and fleet of foot, no one ventured to mount him. He careered over the fields at will, till after he ceased to be a mere colt. Washington proposed to his companions that he would tame him. By some means he was decoyed into an enclosure, and a bridle put on him. The bold

Like her son, she was fond of fine

young farmer sprang on his back. The horse was left run. He reared, pitched, ran, and performed all the motions which wild, unbroken horses are apt to engage in, without unseating his rider. At length, making a violent plunge, the horse burst a blood vessel (burst his noble heart, a writer says) and fell dead to the earth.

The horse was a special favorite of the good lady, despite his vicious nature. Who should tell her of his death?

"Have you seen my colt?" she asked of the young gentlemen.

"Your favorite, the sorrel, is dead," answered George.

been instructed. When asked why, he said that his way was the better. She replied: "And pray, who gave you any exercise of judgment in the matter? I command you, sir; there is nothing left for you but to obey." She managed her affairs with strict care and economy. By this means she could afford to give largely to charitable objects.

During the war Washington could not visit his mother for a period of seven years. In 1781, when the army returned from Yorktown, he paid her a visit. When they reached Fredericksburg, he left his brilliant suite, of European and American officers of highest rank, and walked to her humble dwelling. She was alone in the room, doing her usual housework, as her son entered. She embraced and kissed the brave man, and called him

For a moment her cheeks flushed, and then she replied: "It is well; but while I regret the loss of my favorite, I rejoice in my son, who always speaks the

truth."

Evidently Mrs. Washington strove to train her son in manly and truthful habits, and, above all, in religious duties. She taught him regular habits of daily prayer, and inspired him with an abhorrence of all that was mean and unmanly.

When the war began in 1775, Washington removed his mother from her home to Fredericksburg, Va. There she would be nearer to her friends and relatives, and less exposed to danger. She remained in this place till the close of the Revolutionary war. She was a Virginia housewife of the good old style. The queen of her own household realm, she was kind to her servants, but expected each to know his place and to attend to it. As long as health permitted, she could be daily seen, with a bunch of keys, going after her domestic affairs. And often she could be seen riding out, in an old-fashioned open chaise (or gig), to her little farm in the neighborhood. She would ride from field to field, giving her orders. Once an agent was ordered to do a certain work. He did it in his own way, and not as he had

custom was, a ball was held. None of your low, giddy, nonsensical gatherings of our day, which go by that name, but a respectable social party, where good people could rationally enjoy themselves. The great heroes of the nation were all eager to get a glimpse of the mother of their chief, but, perhaps, little expected that the old lady would honor them with her presence. With almost breathless silence and veneration they beheld the tall form of Washington entering the room, with his aged mother leaning on his arm. She was plainly dressed, as she had been accustomed during her long life, without deviating in the least to please the great company. Her dignified, yet unaffected and simple manners and intelligent conversation charmed the high and great men of two continents. an early hour she gracefully wished the company much pleasure, and left the room again, leaning on the arm of her

son.

At

In 1784 Lafayette paid her a visit. He was attended by one of her grandsons. They found her working in her garden, clad in home-made clothes, and her grayhead covered with a plain straw hat. Without the least embarrassment or apology for being found in such a plight, she cordially greeted the great Frenchman, and kindly said: "Ah, Marquis, you see an old woman; but come, I can make you welcome to my