The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-12-17
wushington's Wedding.

DEER LODGE CITY, FRIDAY, DEC. IL
washinseon's Wedding.
.- from Applstons Joarnsl.l
It is now some years since visited ven
cradle cdiiicc intimately connected with the
life Of great man--old St. Peters Church
IN New Kent county, Virginia, where Wash
ington was married. .y.l-..
Let Us leave for moment tho hustle, tur
moil and rush" Of the Iron Age, and GO
back 10 the last century, when life was more
deliberate. solid, and picturesque. The old
church Of which speak takes you easily
back, as you gaze at it; and there 10 tho
added interest Of its association with the
nuptisls Of Washington.
Old st. Peters was built rs fur hack as
the year 1903, and is long, low building,
Of ''sun dried BRICK" brought over from
England, rs was then the habit, with a
steep roof, and walls cmbrowncd by age. A
square tower rises above the open vestibulc,
on . level with the ground. and in this tower
Is the very room, TO which you ascend by a
lofty flight Of ancient and crcaking steps.
Growing the tower is . sort of stceplc sur.
mounted by crossed rods, bearing the let
tcrs IN. s. L. w." and on the summit of
is a small portion of an old wcathcr-cock,
which probably vcercd in tho winds Of last
last century.
The surroundings of the time-honored
elifice are As antique rs the building, which
stands on its wooded kncll, with tho sturdy
air of a veteran, careless of ''timc and
tide" On the brick arc carved names and
dates by hands that have long since crum'
bed One of these dates is 1880. On a
great tombstone beneath the oricl window,
walled up for some reason, is coat-of-
arms, raised in bass rciicf-a shield, with q
''!onc star" upon IL: above, n knights Wis
arc, with coyonct-of duke or marquis,
ppsrcntly-encircling il; and surmount'
Ing all the grinning head Of wolf. On
this stone, dark and durablc rs was the mar
HE of that epoch, is cut the date ''17l6."
Not = tracery has grown dim-not letter
or figure is indistinct The VOLTS tongue
Tolls out iicrceIy; his eyes glare; his teeth
snarl. The rain and snow and sunshine
have fallen for century and a half on the
knightly helmet and the head OF the wolf,
and neither rain, snow nor sunshine have
affected the iron surface.
These objects take you back to remote
period, very unlike the present, when build
ings, tombstones, and all things, seem con-
s,ructcd OF transient materials. Another
memorial of old time is the grove of great
oaks around the church. What picturesque
scenes these must have witnessed Beneath
their spreading boughs, generation after
generation, rolled the chariols of the old
time Virginians, drawn by their four horses
and containing the squire, his wife, and
maidcns and children, attending church. To
those boughs were tcthcrcd tho brides of
thorough bed horses, ridden by gallant
youths. YOndcr the clsariOts discharged
their burlcns-thc pompous old lord of tho
manor, the good dame his wife, and tho lit.
tic beauty, their daughter, in her hooped
dress, square-cui bodice, powdered hair,
and rcd hcelcd shoes, which she displays Is
she raises her silk dress and scarlet petit
coat" as they called il then. You may sec
her still in Imagination, as size smiles and
mods, staying with her bright eyes, the
youths in embroidered coats, long waistcoats
and rutilcs, who hasten to assisther and con-
tend for touch of the small hand.
All that has passed away; the youths and
maidcns arc long dead. The psrson no
more swceps down the ves,sy stairs, or
,hundcrs or droncs in his high, tub-shaped
pulpit above the listeners in the lofty pews.
Squire and tame and parson and gallant
lover and little beauty live only in the men,
oyy of the great oaks which waved above
them, wave still, and will probably rustic
their leaves In tho winds Of another cen.
fury.
Such Is snd was old St. Peters Church
IN interesting relic, 10 day of time that is
long dead; Interesting, more than I'LL, as !
have ssid, rs having been the scene OF
Washingson's'wedling. ~ asFa h2---
The incident that led 10 that event Is
worth narrating, and Is something of a
comedy. hope, in relating 1t, shall not
bc charged with ''irrcverence" to the mem.
Org of the famous bridegroom. lie was q
man Of lofty pride, august dignity very
grand type of manhood. But he was man
not . demi.god, and ''fell in love" At least
twice In his life, like the hnmblest of his
species. This was his second love, and
something Of romance va connected with
tho origin OF the affair. ....... .......,
ID 1t was In the spring Of 1853. Mr.. Gusts,
planter residing at his estate called "'The
White House," Was riding out one morning,
when he met coming from the northward, U
young gentleman Of military appearance
excellcntly mounted, and accompanied by
gaunt old servant, or sergeant, who rode
respectfully few PAGES behind bis master:
The new corners were Colonel George Wash
ington, on his way from Winchester Il
Williamsburg, and his attendant, Bishop
formerly Bnddock's body servant now hi'
own. 10y ..r.r aaatr .'tf a.EI
Washington was twenty 1--WE It the time