The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-06-14
iRvING's LIFE OF WASHINGTON.
wAsHInoroN's LOVE AFFAIRS.


with his apparently unromanlc Character
In word, there are evidences 10 his own
hand writing thai, before lie was fifteen years
Of age, he had conceived a passion for some
unknown beauty, SO aerious as to disturb his
Otherwise well.regulated mind and to ms Ike
him really unhappy. Why this juvenile at
tachmenl was a source Of unhaDpiness we
have no positive means of ascertaiaing. Per.
haps The object of it may have considered
him mere school-boy and treated him as
such or his own shyness may have been in
his way, and his "rules for behavior and con.
versa,iop" may as yet have sat awkwardly
on him and rendered him formal and ungain-
ly when he most sought 10 please. Even in
later years he was apt 10 be silent ard en-
barassed in female society. "He was very
basbfui young man." said an old lady whom
he used 10 visit when they were both in their
homage al used often to wish that he would
talk more.n
Whatever may have been The reason, this
early attachment seems 10 have been source
of poignant discomfort 10 him. 7, clung TO
him after he took a final leave Of school in
The autumn of l747, and went TO reside with
his brother Lawrence al Mount Vernon. Here
he continued his Mathematical studies and
his practice of surveying, disturbed at times
by occurrences of his unlucky passion. Tho
by no means of a poeiicai temperament, the
waste pages of his journal betray several at
,empts TO pour tonh his amorous sorrows in
verse. They are more commonplace rhymes,
such as lovers al his age are apt 10 write, 10
which he bewails his "poor restless heart,
wounded by Cupid's dar,' and "bleedins
for one who remains piiiless ofhis sriefs and
woes''
The tenor Of some Of his verses induces US
| to believe that he never told his love, but, as
we have already surmsed, was prevented by
his bashfulness.
'Ab, wo is me, that should love and conceal;
Long have wished and never dare reveal
1t is difficult 10 reconcile ones self 10 the
idea of the cool and sedate Washington: the
grea, champion Of American liberty, woe
worn lover in his youthful days, "sighing like
furnscen an indciing plaintiye verses about
the groves Of Mount Vernon. We are glad
of an opportunity, however. OF penetrating
10 his native feelings, and finding that under
his studied decorum and reserve he had
heart of flesh, ,hrobbing with the warm i'm
pulses of human nature.
The merits of Washington were known
and appreciated by the Fairfax family
Though not quite sixteen years of age he no
longer seemed boy, nor was he treated as
such. Tall, athletic and manly for his years,
his early self-Haining and the code Of con.
duct he had devised, gave gravity ami de-
cision 10 his conduct; his frankness and
modesiy inspired cordial regard, and The mel.
ancholy of which he speaks may have pro-
duced soflness in his manner calculated 10
win favor ia ladies' eyes. According to his
own account, the female society by which
he was surrounded had soothing effect on
his melancholy. The charms of MISS Carey,
the sister Of the bride, seem even TO have
caused slight fullering in his bosom; which
however, was constantly rebuked by the re-
membrance of his former passion--so at least
we Judge from letters TO his Youthful conf
dents, rough drafts of which are still 10 be
seen in his tell-lae journal.
To one whom he addresses as his dear
friend Robin, he writes, "My residence is
at present a, his ordship's, where might,
was my heart dsengaged, pass my time very
pleasantly, as there's very agreeable young
lady lives in the same house (Col. George
Farfax's wife's sister, but as that's only ad.
ding fuel 10 the fire, it makes me the more
uneasy, for by often and unavoidably being
in company with her, revives my former pas.
sion for your Lowland Beauty; whereas, was
Ito live more retired from youg women,
might in some measure alleviate my sorrows
by buryine that chaste and troublesome pas
sion in the grave Of oblivion" sc.
Similar avowals he makes TO another Of
his young correspondents, whom he styles
"Dear friend john" as also TO female con-
fident, styled =" Dear Sally" " 10 whom he ao-
HnOWlc02oo tudt tho Sonlohy VI tuV Fc'J
agreeable young lady, slster-in-law of Colo
mel George Fairfax" in greet measure
cheers his sorrow and dejecedness. The
object of his early passion IS not positively
known. Tradition states tha, the Rowland
beauty was Miss Grimes, of Westmore.
land, afterwards Mrs. Lee, and mother Of
General. Henry Lee, who figured in revolu
.iionary history as Light Horse Harry and
was always favoriie with Washington, prob
ably from the recollections Of his early len
derness for the mother. 6iss IA
Whatever may have been the soothing ef-
feet OF The female society by which he was
surrounded at Belvoir, the youth found q
more efIeciual remedy for his Iove-melan-
choly in the company of Lord Fairfax. His
lordship was staunch fox-hunter, and kept
horses and hounds il the English style. The
neightorhood ab ounded with sport; but fox
hunting in Virginia required bold and skiifu
horsemanship, He found Washington as
bold as himself in the saddle, and as eagre
10 follow the hounds. He forthwith took him