Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-15
WASHINGTON'S FIRST LOVE.
by REV. j. b. wAKELY. D. D.

ington appears, in his military and civil
character, on the pages of history as
gloriously conspicuous as the sun in the
heavens.
But we are now to behold him in an
other relation; to have an inside view of
him; to consider that part of his private
and personal history that has never been
made prominent by any of his numerous
and gifted historians. We are to con-
template him as a Joeer; yes, and disap-
pointed lover, also.
Washington's love disappointments
form thrilling chapters in his life that in
vest it with peculiar interest far surpass-
ing romance, more delightful than tales of
fiction; for they are not mere imaginary
love stories, not fancy, but fact, sober
truth, real lhistoryintimately blended with
that of the nation which delights to call
him father.
The cold cynic may deny, and others
laugh, and some ridicule the idea of love
and its disappointments, yet that does not
do away with the fact, when there are so
many witnesses who have not only felt the
passion of love, but known something of
its bitter griefS and sad disppointments.
There is such a thing as disappointed
love, love sighted, love neglected, love
despised love unreciprocated.
Love is sometimes trifed with. A man
tells the story of having fallen in love
with one superlatively beautiful. He was
one day walking in the garden with the
fair one, and he made known to her, in
burning words, the story of his love. He
expected she would reciprocate the at
tachment, and he was just ready, with
throbbing heart and anxious looks, to hear
her reply, when she serenely turned, and
pucking handful Of green goOseberries,
gravely asked, "What are these?" He
answered, "Gooseberries, my darling"
EAT them," she coolly replied; goose-
berries mast be good for y0ur complaint"
Disappointed love has clouded the
brow marred the check of beauty once
radiant with smiles, dimmed bright eyes
once shining with peculiar luster, crushed
hopes, broken hearts, covered earth with
pail of darkness, made life failure and
burden, and brought some of its victims
to early graves.
Washington, when in his sixteenth year,
fell in love with one whom he called his
9" Lowland Beauty" To him love unyail-
ed her charms, and oh, how enchanting
was the fair one, for beautys budding
rose was on her cheek like summers tint.
Nothing is more admired than the beauti-
ful in nature, the beautiful in art, and es-
pecially beautiful conference.-the hu-
man face divine.
In regard to Washington's "Lowland
Beauty we have no pOrtraiture of her !;
we know not what he beheld in her that
made so deep an impression upon his
young heart. We are not told of her
beautiful form, of the color of her hair,
whether golden or raven, or of its hanging
in rnglets over her shoulders and about
her alabaster neck; whether her eyes
were hazel, blue or black; or of her ruby
Al. ~l.Is1. rg.Fl
lily white hands Nor do we learn of
gether over all this vail is thrown.
All we know about her is that she was a
woman whom Washington loved, and
that she was a "Lowland Beauty"
Itwas Washington's first love. There
is nothing like the first young love.
There is "A melting tenderness, an eX-
quisite sensibility, a superlative delight
in the first warm spring of love. IT'S
like the first rays of morning light, like
the first breath of spring, like the first
opening bud like the first early dew
drops upon the beautiful and expanding
flower
For some reason Washington was dis
appointed, and his mighty heart felt it
keenly; and he sighed and cried When
ever lie was at home or abroad, the image
of the beautiful one was before him. 1t
untitled him for study or anything else.
1t distracted his mind; it affected his
heart He gave evidence of the truth Of
these ancient words
- Love is a dizziness,
1t winua let puir body gang aboot his business
How true, ''the course of true love
never runs smooth" Multitudes have
been smitten, have been love struck,
have felt "A strange sensation around the
heart, and many are disappointed in love
whether they are willing to acknowledge
Beauty" or a Highland beauty, or a
beauty above the Highlands, or some other
beauty
We read of the poetry of love. The
poetry of the love-siek is generally love
sick poetry, partaking largely of the dis
position of the author,
Shakespeare says
Speak but one rhyme, and am satisfied
~ but ah, me couple but love and dove.".
Had Wellington turned poet he could
have said
s - By heavens, do love;
And 1t has taught me To- rhyme, and to be melan-
chOly.n
ftt HcNished and sighed,
And yersiied,
And thousand other pretty things
l. beside.h
Washington's poetry does not equal
Milton or Cowper; Young, or Pollock,
Two lines, Think, will satisfy the reader.
''Ah! woe is me that should love conceal;
Long have wished, and never dare reveal
Washington wrote this to his dear friend
Robin; "lIy residence is at present al
his Lordship's, where might, were my
heart disengaged pass my time very
pleasantly, as there is a very agreeable
young lady living in the same house
'(Colone George Farfax's wife's sister,,
but as that is only adding fuel to the fire,
it makes me the more uneasy, for by often
and unayoidably being in company with
her, reyives my former passion for youI
Lowland Beauty whereas, was l to live
more retired from young women, | might
in some measure, alleviate my sorrows
by burying that chaste apd troublesome
passion in the grave OF oblivion" etc,
Washington Irving says; cit is difficult
to reconcile one's self TO the idea of the
cool and sedate Washington, the great
champion of American liberty, woe
worn lover in his youthful days, sigh
ing like furnace, and inditing plain
tive verses about the groves of Mount
Vernon. We are glad of an opportunity
however, Of penetrating to his native
feelings, and finding that under lri'
stadied decoum and reserve he had {
heart of flesh throbbing with the warn
impulses Of human nature.n rF'rA(. r
The question will naturally be asked
how was Washington disappointed in hil
earliest love? Benson j. Losing say
Miss Grimes "reciproeated not his love.