The Little Washington's Relatives Read online

  CHAPTER III

  MARTHA CUSTIS' STORY

  Many eager eyes opened the following morning to a dismal sight. Rainfell as if it meant to wash away everything on top of the earth. Itcontinued to rain all morning, and it thus behooved the ladies toprovide amusement indoors for the active children.

  "I think I will read another chapter of Washington's life," suggestedMrs. Parke.

  "Read a quiet, uneventful chapter," hinted Mrs. Davis.

  "Read about the battle of Bunker Hill!" cried George.

  "On a dreary day like this we ought to read about the dying of the firstchild of Martha Custis and then later, the death-bed scene of ColonelCustis. Then we can fill in time with reading of Mrs. Custis' life withher two remaining children after she was widowed," ventured Mrs. Parke.

  But the objections violently raised against such mournful readings, soonquieted both ladies and led them to see the wisdom of a more active talefor that day.

  "If you do not care to hear me read of Martha Custis' bereavementperhaps you will like to hear of her second marriage?" said Mrs. Parke,turning over the pages of the book slowly.

  "Oh, aunty, do tell us how Washington met Martha Custis and fell inlove!" sighed Anne, the sentimental one of the group.

  "If the boys will keep quiet I will read that chapter, and then yougirls must promise to listen to a battle scene which I will read tothem."

  They all promised to be model listeners, so Mrs. Parke began:

  "'In the month of May, 1758, Washington journeyed from Fort Loudoun toWilliamsburg, and in the course of travelling, he first met MarthaCustis, the fair widow who was later to be his wife.

  "'The Virginia regiment had great need of necessities, so Washington wassent with dispatches to urge and explain to the Council and Assembly theimperative need of fitting the regiment properly before sending it tothe capture of Fort Duquesne.

  "'So George Washington, riding the magnificent horse bequeathed him byBraddock, and accompanied by his servant also acquired in the samemanner, was passing the county of New Kent, Virginia, when he met anelderly gentleman riding and looking about as if familiar with thescenery.

  "'Both riders halted, saluted and then rode on together. As theyapproached the avenue leading to a stately mansion, the elder man placeda detaining hand on the reins, and said:

  "'"Colonel, let it never be said that you passed the house of yourfather's old friend without dismounting."

  "'"But, my dear sir, I ride in haste to bear letters to our Governor inWilliamsburg," objected Washington.

  "'"Nevertheless, my dear colonel, you will dine with me, and borrow someof the fine moonlight to show you the way to the Governor. You willreach Williamsburg ere break of day."

  "'"Do you promise to excuse me immediately after dinner?" askedWashington.

  "'"With all the promptness of military discipline!" agreed the host.

  "'Thus the young and gallant colonel resigned the reins of his spiritedhorse to Bishop, the English servant, with orders for him to be ready topursue the journey the moment he, Washington, came forth.

  "'The name and fame of the young colonel was dear to all Virginians, andthe moment the family of the courteous Chamberlayne heard of the arrivalof the military guest, each and every one vied to make it a delightfulevening.

  "'When Washington was introduced to the guests at dinner and he firstmet Widow Custis, he was fascinated by her. Both were mutually pleasedwith each other, nor is this strange. The lady was fair to behold, ofgracious manners, and well-endowed with worldly benefits. The hero,famous, and with a form fit for the gods, was just the man to impressthis lady.

  "'The morning passed, dinner was concluded, and evening came, whileBishop, true to orders, stood at his post holding the charger whichchamped at the bit and tossed his mane impatiently.

  "'The sun sank and yet the colonel appeared not. The old andwell-trained servant wondered, for his master was never late or behindin his appointments.

  "'Meantime, the host smiled at the scene of the old veteran on duty atthe gate while the young colonel was completely entangled with thegraces of the fair widow in the parlor of the mansion.

  "'After sunset, Chamberlayne declared that no guest ever left hishospitality at dark, so Washington was easily persuaded to remain overnight. Bishop was told to put up the horses for the night and partake ofmuch-needed refreshment in the servants' hall.

  "'That night, the conversation, the manners, the appearance and thereputation of the colonel, impressed the fair widow Custis as noordinary mortal had done before.

  "'As the enamored soldier sought again and again the side of the ladywho had taken his heart by storm, he felt that fate had at last beenkind to him, could he win with what he had to offer.

  "'The sun rode high in the heavens the following day ere Washingtonmounted for the continuance of the journey. And arrived at Williamsburgto deliver the messages, he tarried but a brief time. Retracing hissteps with haste, the ardent colonel again stopped at the home ofChamberlayne.

  "'Becoming a frequent visitor at the home of the late Colonel Custis, helaid siege to the heart and hand of the widow, till she capitulated.

  "'Then there were eager and happy preparations at the White House, thehome of Mrs. Custis, for the approaching bridal. Rare indeed was therevelry at that wedding feast in the palmy days of Virginia's festalage.

  "'The good, the great, the gifted and the gay were assembled at thatnuptial ceremony, but of all the grand gentlemen gathered there, not onecould aspire to the manners and appearance of the groom himself.

  "'The bride, well-formed, somewhat below the medium size of a woman, wasin the bloom of life, handsome, winsome and aristocratic in every way.She had perfect taste in matters regarding the toilette, and was alwayssuitably gowned.

  "'It is recorded that the ceremony took place at the old St. Peter'sChurch near the White House. Imagination will better picture this sceneof pomp and splendor of the times. The reader can then behold thefairest of Virginia's daughters arrayed in superb brocades, costlylaces, and sparkling jewels supplied by the Old World; and gallantcavaliers in the elaborate and elegant costumes of the time, attendingthe ladies through the brilliant apartments to the bountiful board inthe dining-hall, where glittering with massive plate, loaded with richviands, old wines, and delicate conserves, the friendly words, merrylaughs and witty repartee but enhanced the loveliness of the happybride, and the triumphant rapture of the love-crowned hero-soldier.

  "'Soon after the marriage, Colonel and Mrs. Washington removed from theWhite House to Mount Vernon which was henceforth to be the permanentfamily residence.

  "'The life of Martha Washington thereafter became a part of the historyof her country. She entered into the plans and confidences of herhusband, and in every way proved the helpmeet for such a noble and greatman.

  "'Mrs. Washington was an early riser at all seasons of the year, andafter breakfast always repaired for an hour to her chamber where sheread from the Bible and prayed, and this practice was never omittedduring the half century of her varied life.

  "'In the papers and correspondence left by Colonel Washington it appearsthat his efforts too, were to augment the comforts and happiness of hishome, and everything that could be done for the fair and gentle lady ofhis heart was accomplished.

  "'It must be remembered that at this period of time, everything in theway of luxury, and even many articles of household necessity, wereimported from Europe, and were possible only to the wealthy. Even theclothing and many kinds of food were ordered twice a year by Washingtonfrom his English agents.

  "'The affairs of John and Patsy Custis, his stepchildren, were orderedwith the utmost care and precision, and reports made and forwardedregularly to the English firm of Robert Gary & Co.

  "'After her removal to Mt. Vernon, Mrs. Washington often accompanied herhusband on his official visits to Williamsburg, but her greatest joy wasthe time passed at home with the congenial work and pleasures of a wifeand mother.

  "'At this tim
e, the pursuits of Colonel Washington were those of aretired farmer, yet the social intercourse with people of refinement andposition was continued, and a large circle of agreeable and intelligentfriends could generally be found enjoying the hospitality of thisgenerous and delightful couple.

  "'But the melancholy event of the passing away of the gifted andfavored young daughter from the home of the Washingtons suddenlybereft the family of joy and gladness. The brother, who had walkedhand in hand with his beloved sister in all the years of childhood, wasgrief-stricken beyond words. The mother, who had tenderly watched andplanned over the child of many hopes, found her sole help in prayer andreading of her Bible. And the stepfather, as fond of the children astheir own father could have been, found solace in work and study.'"

  As Mrs. Parke reached this serious part of the history, George sighedloudly. His mother glanced up from the book and he took it for grantedthat he might speak.

  "Don't you think the girls have had their share for this time?--It's beenall love-making and marrying and funerals! Not a word about Indians orabout war."

  "I was just coming to a part of Washington's life, where it describeshis fifteen years of life on his farm, and his membership on theVirginia House of Burgesses," ventured Mrs. Parke.

  "Oh, good gracious! Please don't give us any more of his quiet lifeto-day. Look at the way that rain spatters on the windows, and then stopto think how we feel with Washington parading out of a book while he'splanting or hoeing his farm! Give us a fight!" declared George.

  Every one laughed and Jack seconded his cousin's plan for a more activestory than the one that had just been read.

  "If you insist upon having war when there was no war, I must skip thefifteen years of quiet life on his estate, to get Washington in themidst of fresh battle scenes," argued Mrs. Parke.

  "Why not read us about the Boston Tea Party?" said Anne.

  "That will satisfy the boys and interest us girls, too," added Martha.

  Without further remonstrance, Mrs. Parke turned back to the chapterdesired and began reading.

  "'During the years between 1765 and 1775, the cry of "Liberty, Property,No Stamps!" sounded from New Hampshire to Georgia. Even when the act--allexcept the tax on tea--was repealed, the populace concentrated its wrathon tea as the symbol of an intolerable sovereignty which would no longerbe endured.

  "'It was but a little more than two years from the time of the firstwhiff of the delightful beverage, to the time when millions ofteakettles steamed merrily on millions of hearths, and the consumptionof tea reached more than 5,000,000 pounds a year. Tea houses had sprungup like mushrooms all over the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and ofthe 5,000,000 pounds imported from China, at least 1,500,000 pounds weresent to the American colonies.

  "'Tea, in short, formed a harmless luxury indulged in by the thousandswho, despite the high price and tax, contrived to have it for adelectable drink of an evening when company had to be entertained. Oragain it was enjoyed by many as a beverage not willingly sacrificed.

  "'But the harmless drink now started the just and patriotic people torevolt against the tyranny of the Crown. For the next three years afterEngland imposed the high tax on tea, it became the symbol with which menconjured. As for trying to ship tea from England at this time, one wouldas soon have introduced the Black Plague.

  "'So the contention went on--England remaining proud and defiant in herattitude that British sovereignty must never yield, and the youngAmerican colony holding that a great principle underlay the act--thatfreemen should only be taxed by a representative. And during this timeseventeen million pounds of tea had heaped itself in the store-houses ofthe East India Company.

  "'The northeastern colonies were strenuous examples of precociouspolitical development; Massachusetts embraced the vast territory ofMaine, and from this northern boundary to the shore where the PilgrimFathers landed, were dotted the decent little villages, and these buzzedand hummed with zealous activities of the people.

  "'It had required a hundred and fifty years from the first step ofPlymouth Rock to the beginning of the Revolution. Boston, now a town of18,000 folk, sent forth a tongue of flame that bespoke defiance to themother country across the sea. The highest sense of public duty grew inthese people as weeds flourish in others. What a time that must havebeen: Heroes springing up over-night to live forever in the history ofthe nation. English spies, traitorous Indians, tea parties and tea-shipsriding the waves of Boston Bay, not dreaming it was the open mouth ofthe dragon.

  "'When the _Dartmouth_, the _Eleanor_, and the _Beaver_, therefore,laden with 342 chests of tea, sailed into Boston harbor, the hithertoloosely-membered colonies became welded together, for they weredetermined to stand together for their principle--Taxation withRepresentation. Thus the tea that lay scattered one night on the bosomof the sea off Boston, was much the same tea that rotted in the cellarsof Charlestown and the South, or mouldered in Philadelphia and New Yorkstores.

  "'Tea stood for Toryism, and no tea meant Independence. All over theland activities started up such as were never before heard of. Looms andspindles whirred as fabrics were woven of home-grown flax and wool, andmaterial hitherto imported from England now began to be made by thecolonists at home. Even weapons and ammunition began to be spoken of,and old recipes for manufacturing gunpowder were brought out andexperimented with.

  "'Then the "glove" was dropped and the struggle began.'"