| Show WRITE ID OU l a I t. t GEORGE ORGE WASHINGTON TO MARTHA MAETHA ji i Ma Martha tha Custis was was a pretty widow and md reported to be bo one of ot the richest in n Virginia when George e Wa Washington binon lieU fell in IOTO oo and aad married her Her maiden name was e and she sher WM a. a fan familiarly called caned 44 Patsy by her r many admirers admirer c Patsy and George e first fint met at the tho home of Major Chain Chain- in Virginia in 1758 At the tho time she was a widow of ol twenty five land and nd most attractive in appearance The father of our country always l as Was ras fond of the ladies oven even from the of his boyish love for the famous Jr Lowland Lowland Beauty Mrs r Custis is said Mid to havo have looked especially charm charm- ting un on the morning of or their iu ju her favorite fa gown own of ot white dim dim- ty a cluster duster of ot May blossoms blooms at nt her hor bit belt and a n. HUle white cap half CO cov- cov erine her soft waving brown hair Of th the love letters Washington on wrote rn t to te his he betrothed only ono one has como come down to us a manly affectionate letter let let- ter showing tho straightforward na na- tUfe of the tho man We have ha begun our march to the Ohio A A. courier is starting for Wil- Wil and nod I embrace the to send fiend a fe few words orde to ono one whoso whose life lito is is inseparable from mine Since that happy hour when wo we made our to to each other my ray thoughts ht have continually going to you as to ano self That all alt powerful provi provi- dence may keep us both in safety is the he prayer of ot 5 Your 4 buy faithful and ever affection affection- r-a r ate e friend t G HG 0 WASHINGTON The Washington Washington-Custis wedding which took place on tho the sixth of Jan Jan- uary 17 1759 1769 was a a. a. a brilliant ono one full fun of life lito and color Life opened Brightly rJ for the tho happy happ pair and their Honeymoon did not end with the six months but lasted we 0 ay say the forty fOty years cars of their marfe mar mar- r fe ed life tho the n music of wedding oddin bolls boils Will l lingered in the tho air harsher sounds me to disturb b the peace of the Wa Wash Wash- hAt h- h At n home The mutterings of war ire re loud and vehement and to the oneS bel held beld i in Ma j 1773 Wash Wash- Ih on went in iu the uniform of a Vir- Vir I finia colonel Ho Jie had bad not foreseen hi his apPointment IB UK or in chief and tl upon on thi event e he ho wrote rote to his I wife in in a spirit of earnest modesty and ana andreal I real tenderness Mv My Dearest I Dearest I am am now set down downto to write you OU on a subject that f falls me rae with ith inexpressible concern and this concern is 15 increased when 1 I think of the uneasiness I know V it will give you von It has been determined that toe whole army urmy raised for the defense of oC tho the American cause shall be bo put under my care and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston Boton to take tako upon me the command of it You may believe e me my dear Patsy when I assure you in in the most solemn manner that so flO far from se seeking seek seek- kInA k lug ing the appointment I have used ever every endeavor in my power to avoid it not nut only onh from front my unwillingness ness to part from you ou an and tho the family but from irom a R of oC it t being a a. trust hust too great feat for m my mr capacity and that I 1 should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at homo home than 1 have c the most prospect of finding abroad if m my stay was to be seven se times seven soven jeara I shall shaU feel no pain from the tho dan danger or of tho the campaign n i my unhappiness will flow from tho the uneasiness un nu easiness I iJ know you ou will win feel from frolD be- be left alone The following winter Mrs Washing Washington ton spent with her husband in in camp at Cambridge Mass and this custom she continued until the tho end of tho war spending the summers at Mount Vcr Vet non Tho The six years that intervened between between be be- tween Washington's ons on's retirement to Mount Vernon Vornon and his return to public life life his his furlough h. h as 38 he called thorn them were happy but not so quiet as ho and his lis wife vie wished them Finally there came an end to Washington's Wash ashi ash i ington's n tons ton's long term of service for his countr country and ho he and his wife gladly returned to their Mount V vernon ernon fireside and the tho II tranquil enjoyment enjoyment enjoy enjoy- ment of rural life But their days of vacation vocation were wore not nat many Less than three years brou brought ht a a. close chose to their forty y years ars of married life Whon When the great reat general died his wife calmly said Ishall soon follow him Durin During her last ait days she hc liked best to sit it alone iu in a little attic room whore from the window she could see t her bel husbands husband's grave grao me acro across tho the lawn and aud look down dowa upon th tho li light ht of the tho wild nd flowers alon along tho the river bank hank and beyond to th the bright ht waters of the Potomac ho loved lo so BO dearly 4 |
