Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-16
The Time of Lovers At Mount Vernon
..GeOrge Washinst0n's Advice in Love

eeUeOrSo "asnlnSk0n's AOSlce Au AOso
| Matters. r -..r-
"Life of Washington" in press but not pubishedl
The place (Mt. Vcrnon) at this time pos
sessed attractions for gay as we'll as grave,
and was often enlvened by young company.
One great attraction was Miss Nelly Curtis,
Mrs. Washington's granddaughter, who, with
her brother, George W. p. Curtis, had been
adopted by the General at their father
death, when they were quite children, and
brought up by him with the most afectionate
care. He was fond of children, especially
girls; as to boys, with all the spirit of COM
mand, he found them somewhat unmanagea-
BILE. can govern men, would he say, but
cannot govern boys.
Miss Nelly had grown up under the espe-
cial eye of her grandmother, to whom she was
devotedly attached, and who was particular
in enforcing her observances of all her lessons,
as we'll as instructing her in the arts Of house
keeping. She was great tayorite with the
General; whom, as we have before observed,
she delig ghted with her gay whims and spright-
ly salles, often overcoming his habitual grav-
ity, and surprising him into hearty laugh.
She was now maturing into lovely and at
tractive woman, and the attention she receiv-
ed began to awaken some socitude in the
Generals mind. This is evinced in half
sportive letter of advice, written to her during
temporary absence from Mount Vernon,
when she was about to make her first appear
ance at ball in Georgetown. 1t is curious
as specimen of Washingtons counsel in love
matters. 1t would appear that Miss Nelly,
to allay his solcitude, had already, in her cor
respondence, professed "a perfect apathy to-
ward the youth of the present day, and de-
termination never to give herself any uneasi-
ness on account of any Of them" Washing
ton doubted the irmness and constancy of
her resolves. "Men and women" writes he,
''feel the same inclination 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 allayed. DonOt, there
fore, boast too soon, or too strongly of your
insensibility. Love is said
to be an involuntary passion, and it is, there
fore, contended that it cannot be resisted
This is true in part only, for like all the
things else, when nourished and supplied plen-
tifully with aliment, it is rapid in its progress;
but let these be withdrawn, and it may be
stfled ini its birth, or much stntcd in it's growth
y Although we cannot avoid first
der guard When the first is
beginning to kindle, and your heat growing
warm PROFOUND these questions to it: Who
is the invader? Have a competent knowl-
edge of him? Is he man of good character?
Aman of sense? For be assured, sensible
woman can never be happy with fool
What has been his walk in life?
Is his fortune sufficient to maintain me in
the manner l have been accustomed to live,
and as my sisters do live d? And is he one of
whom my friends can have no reasonable OBJ
lection? If all these interrogatOries can be
satisfactorily answered, there will remain but
one more to be asked that, however, is an
important one: Have l sufficient ground to
conclude that his affections are engaged by
me? Without this the heart of sensibilty
will struggle against passion that is not re-
cinrOcated X X
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 favorably view
ed by his uncle. Whether it was fully recip-
rocatcd was uncertain. A formidable 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, when its halls echoed to
the tread of lovers. They were halcycn days
with Miss Nelly, as she herself declared in af-
ter years, to a lady from whom we have the
story: 81 was young and romantic then,"
said she, "and fond of wandering alone by
moonlight in the woods of Mount Vernon
Grandmamma thought it was wrong and urr-
safe and scOlded and coaXed me into prom
Use that would not wander in the woods
again uaaccompanied. But was missing one
evening, and was brought home from the in
terdicted woods to the drawing room, where
the general was walking up and down with
his hands behind him, as was his won't
Grandmamnla, seated in her great armchair,
opened a severe reproof,"
Poor Miss Nelly was reminded of her pro-
mise 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 at
tempting, In a low voice, to intercede in her
behalf. :" My DEAR" observed he, 81 would
say no more; perhaps she was not alone"
His inntercession stopped Miss Nelly in her
retreat. She re-opened tho door and ad
yanced to the General with a firm STEP
"Sir," said she, "you brought me up to
speak the truth, and when told grandmamma
was alone; | hope you believed Ipas alOne." "
The General made one of his most magnan-
imous bows. "My child" replied he, {" I
beg your pardon"
We will anticipate dates. and observe ti.at
I the romantic epssodeo Miss Nelly Curtis
terminated to the Generals satisfaction; she
became the happy wife of Lawrence Lewis.