Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-28

THE TIME OF LOVERS AT MOUNT VERNON
GEORGE wAsHINGToN's ADVICE IN LOVE
MATTERS.
The place Mount Vernon) at this time pos
sessed attractions for gay as well as grave, and
was often enlivened by young company One
great attraction was Miss Nelly Gusts, Mrs
Washington's granddaughter, who, with her
brother, George w. z. Custis had been adopt-
ed by the General at their fathers DEATH when
they were quite children, and brought up by
him with the most affectionate care He was
fond of children, especially girls as to boys,
with all the spirit Of command, he found them
somewhat unmanageable. | can govern men,
would he say, but | cannot govern boys Miss
Nelly had grown up under the special eve of
her grandmother, to whom she was devotedly
attached, and who was particular in enforcing
her observance of all her lessons, as well as
instructing her in the arts of housekeeping
She was a great favorite with the General
whom, as we have before observed, she de.
lighted with her gay whims and sprightly sal
lies, often overcoming his habitual gravity,
and surprising him into hearty laugh.
She was now maturing into lovely and at
tractive woman, and the attention she received
began TO awaken some solicitude in the Gen
erals mind. This is evinced in halfsportiye
letter of advice, written to- her during a tenn
porary absence from Mount Vernon, when
she was about to make her first appearance at
ball i'll Georgetown. 1t is curious as speci-
men of Washington's counsel in love matters.
1t would appear that Miss Nelly, to aay his
solicitude, had already, in her correspond
ence, professed ga perfect apathy toward the
youth of the present day, and determination
never to give herself any uneasiness on ac-
count of them" Washington doubted the
frmness and constancy of her resolves. "Men
and women" writes he, 'feel the same inclin-
alton toward each other now that they have
always done, and which they will continue to
do, until there is new order OF things and
you, as Others have done, may find that the
passions of your sex are easier raised than al
layed. DO not, therefore, boast too soon, or
too strongly of your insensbility X
Love is said to be an involuntary passion and
it is, therefore, contended thatat cannot be re-
sisted.
This is true i'll part only, for like all things
else, when nourished and supplied plenti-
fully with aliment, it is rapid in its pro-
gress, but let these be withdrawn, and it may
be stifled in its birth or much stinted in its
growth. Y Although we cannot avoid
first impressions, we may assuredly place
them under guard. When the first
is beginning to kindle, and your heart growing
warm, PROFOUND these questions to it Who
edge of him! Is he man of good character
A man of sense For be assured, a sensible
woman can never be happy with fool. What
has been his walk in life T? Is his
fortune sufficient to maintain me in the man
ner l have been accustomed to live! And is
he one to whom my friends can have no
reasonable objection! If all these interroga-
tories can be answered, there will remain but
one more to be asked that, however is an
important one Have | sufficient grounds to
conclude that his affections are engaged by
me Without this the heart of nsensibility
will struggle against passion that is not re-
The sage counsels of Washington and the
susceptible feelings of Miss Nelly were soon
brought to the test by the residence Of Law
renee Lewis at Mount Vernon. A strong at
tachment for her grew up on his part, or per-
haps already existed, and was strengthened by
daily intercourse. 1t was tavorably viewed
by his uncle. Whether it was fully recipro-.
Gated was Uncertain n G.r1a4islaiyfe rival to
Lewis appeared in young Carroll of Carroll
ton, who had just returned from Europe,
adorned with the graces Of foreign travel, and
whose suit was countenanced by Mrs. Wash
ington. These Were among the poetic days of
Mount Vernon, whenits halls echoed to the tread
Of lovers. They were halcyop days with
Miss Nelly, as she herself declared in after
years, to lady from whom we had the sto-
ry: 81 was young and romantic, then" said
she, "and fond Of wandering alone by moon
light in the woods of Mount Vernon. Grand
mamma thought it was wrong and unsafe, and
scolded and coaxed me into promise that
would not wander in the woods again undc
compdned. But l was missing one evening,
and was brought home from the interdicted
woods from the drawing-room, where the Cen
eral was walking up and down with his hands
behind him, as was his wont. Grandmamma,
seated in her great armchair opened a severe
reproof."
Poor Miss Nelly was reminded of her prom
ise and taxed with her delinquency. She
knew that she had done wrong admitted her
fault and essayed no excuse; but, when there
was slight pause, moved to retire from the
room. She was just shutting the door when
she overheard the General attempting in low
voice, to intercede in her behalf "My dear,
observed he, 81 would say no more; perhaps
she was not alone"
His intercession stopped Miss Nelly in her
retreat. She re-opened the door and advanced
to the General with firm step. "Sir, said
she, 81 told grandmamma | was alone; hope
you believed l was alone
The General made one of his most magnan-
imous bows. "My child" replied he, u beg
your pardon"
We will anticipate dates, and observe that
the romantic episode Of Miss Nelly Gusts ter
minated to the Generals satisfaction; she be-
came the happy wife of Lawrence Lewis