The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-16

This training of servants was formerly
supposed to be part of the duty of all mis-
tresses of great houses, whether the ser
wants were white or black, bond or free
Ladies did not then regard a house, with
all its complicated business and apparatus,
as great clock, which, being wound up
fter breakfast, would run twenty-four
Ii, ours without further attention. Having
til emselves actually performed all the oper-
at'.ons of housekeeping, and having &C
q,Iired skill in their performance, they
new that a good servant is not born,
bnt made; and they were willing to take
world of trouble in forming servant, in
! order that by and by they might enjoy the
| cas- e and pleasure derived from skillful SER
vic.e. | must confess that sometimes
when have heard ladies complaining of
the awkwardness of girls who, until recent
", had never seen a household implement
more complicated than poker or an iron
pot, the thought has occurred to me that
possibly, if they would take some trouble
to teach such girls their duty, they would
| observe gradual improvement.
| There is a tradition in Virginia that Mrs.
Washington, with all her good qualities
WAS a little tart in her temper, and favored
the General, occasionally, with nocturnal
discourse, too much in the style of Mrs.
Caudle The story rests upon the slightest
foundation, and it is safe to disregard it.
Great housekeepers, however, are not
g., Oh; Of IicpOSitipp
and aides whose husbands are very famous,
are apt to be over-run with company,
which is not conducive to domestic peace,
nor does it tend to curb the license of
woman's tongue to remember that, at her
marriage, she brought her husband vast
increase, both of his estate, and of his
importance in the social system.
How far George Washington was, in his
youth, from anticipating the splendid
career that awaited him! He was by no
means SO favored in fortune and family, as
his biographers would have us believe
Every reader, 1 suppose, remembers the
fine tale, which even Mr.. Irving repeats, OF
the youthful Washington, getting mid
shipman's commission, and yielding it
again to his mothers tears. There lay the
British man-of-war at anchor in the river.
The boat was on the shore; the lads trunk
was packed; and, think his uniform was
on. But, at the last moment, the tender
youth, overcome by his mothers tears,
declined to 60. Such is the romance. The
truth was this:
His mother, left widow, was anxious
for the future of her boy, fourteen years OF
age, whose only inheritance was farm and
tract of land on the Rappahannoc, OF no
great value or promise. She was advised
to send the lad to sea, before the mast, in
one of the tobacco ships that so often as
cended the broad rivers Of Virginia. She
was for while disposed to favor the scheme.
But her brother, Joseph Ball, London
lawyer, in large practice, demonstrated
against her sacrificing her son in that way
and advised her to bring him up planter.
81 understand" he wrote, I" that you
are advised, and have since thought OF put
ting your son George to sea. THINK he
had better be put apprentice to tinker,
for common sailor before the mast has
by no means the common liberty of tive
subject; for they will press him from
ship where he has fifty shillings month,
and make him take twenty three, and cut
and slash, and use him like dog. And as
to any considerable preferment in the navy,
is not to be expected, as there are always
f,r hara Wi have
interest; and he has none.'
He proceeds to tell her that, Virginia
planter, with three or four hundred acres
of land, and three or four slaves, has
great deal better chance OF winning COM
Portable and independent position, than
even the captain of merchant ship-and
it was far from easy to get to be captain.
e.George," lie concluded, "must not be in
too great haste to be rich, nor aim at being
a fine gentleman before his time:' but
&c go on gently and with patience" The
mother accepted this view of the situation,
and the boy was not cut and slashed on
board ship. He learned, as we all know,
the business of a surveyor, and practlced
that vocation until the death of his brother
gave him competent estate.
He was Colonel commanding the Eir-
ginia troops, twenty seven years of age,
and shining with the lustre OF the fame
recently won on Braddocks field, when
first the rich young widow Gusts cast upon
him admring eyes. He was riding, booted
and spurred, in hot haste, from headquar-
tiers to the capital Of the province, where
he was to confer with the Governor con-
corning the defence of the frontiers. With
in few miles of his destination, he was
pressed by friend to stay to dinner. With
/: extreme reluctance he consented, intend
ing to mount the moment the meal was
over At the table he met the widow, and
was captivated. The horses were paving
at the door, but the young Colonel came
not forth. The afternoon flew by, yet he
came not Evening drew on, the horses
were taken back to the stable; Colonel
Washington had made up his mind to stop
all night. 1t vas not till the next morn
ing that he rode away.
Within year they were married at the
''Whte House," which was her home,
and they took up their abode at Mount
Vernon soon after. Her first husband had
left vast estate in lands, and forty-tive
thousand pounds in money, one-third of
, which was hers, and now became the joint
, property of Colonel Washington and her
self. By their marriage, he became one of
the richest men in Virginia. She gained
an excellent husband, and her three chill
dren wise and care father.
If any lady in Virginia could claim
exemption from the cares and labors of a
household, ON account Of her wealth and
social standing, it was Mrs. Washington.
She had been an heiress and beauty. For
generations her ancestors had been persons
: of wealth and high considerations. Her
first husband possessed great fortune,
and her second was the most illustriOus
parsonage of his time. But she deemed it