The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-17
lines, l think, will satisfy the reader.

L
conceal;
Long have wished, and never dare reveal. :"
Washington wrote this to his dear friend
Robin: "My residence is at present
at his Lordships's, where 1 might, were
my heart disengaged, pass my time very
pleasantly, as there is very agreea-
BILE young lady liviSg in the same house
Colonel Fairfax's wife's sister, but as
that is only adding fuel to the fire, it makes
me the more dreary, for by often and una
voidably being in company with her, re-
wives my former passion for your Lowland
Beauty; whereas, was to live more retired
from young women, 1 might, in some
measure, alleviate my sorrows, by burying
that chaste and troublesome passion in the
grave of oblivion" etc.
Washington Irving says: 1t is difficult to
reconcile ones self to the idea of the cool
and sedate Washington, the great cham
pion of American liberty, a woe. worn lover
in his youthful days, "sighing like fur
nace," and inditing plaintive verses about
the groves of Mount Vernon. We are glad
of an opportunity, however, of penetrat
ing to his native feelings, and finding that
beneath his studied decorum and reserve
he had heart of flesh throbbing with
the warm impulses of human nature"
The question will naturally be asked,
why was Washington disappointed in his
earliest love? Benson J. Losing says
Miss Grimes reciprocated not his love-"
Washington Irving says "bashfulness :"
was the cause.
There is such thing as the difidence Of
love. His poetry is a key to unlock and
explain the whole business. He concealed
his passion; he never revealed it to the
"Lowland Beauty She did not know
the ardent love he felt for her. 1t was a
secret he locked up in his own bosom, and
sighed over it when it was too late. 1t
was bashfulness. This is the rock on
which his first love was wrecked. "He
was very bashful young man." said an
old lady whom Washington used to visit
when he was young, 81 used often to wish
he would talk more''
For a long time there was mystery con-
corning Washington's " Lowland Beauty"
Tradition pointed to one and then another;
but the mystery is finally solved, the cur
tain is drawn aside, and we are introduced
to the veritable lady herself. She was
Miss Grimes, of Wcstmoreland county, Va.
She was married to gentleman by the
name of Lee, and, in 1856, became the
mother Of Henry Lee. He was one of the
heroes of the revolution, and his name
adorns the annals of his country. He was
Familiarity known as "Light Horse Harry"
He was not only distinguished as General,
but as a statesman; being member of
Congress, Governor of Virginia, etc.
Washington held him in high estima-
ton; not only on account of his splendid
military talents, but because he was the
son of his first love.
There was an air of dignity about Wash
ington SO he could not be approached with
undue familiarity. Gouverneur Morris
once tried it, but he met with such stern
rebuke he never had the disposition to try
it again.
But on such intimate terms were Lee
and Washington that the former could
approach him with the utmost freedom, as
the following shows. When the revolu-
tionary war was over, General Lee was
often welcome guest at Mount Vernon
One day they were seated at the dinner
table, and Washington said he was in want
of carriage horses, and he asked General
Lee if he knew where he could get pair.
81 have pair" replied Mr.. Lee, "but
General, you cannot have them"
"Why not?"
"Because you will never pay more than
half-price for any thing; and must have
full price for my horses This reply
caused Mrs. Washington to laugh heartily,
and her parrot at her side to join in the
laugh. Washington was exceedingly
pleased, and said, "Ah, Lee, you are
funny fellow-see that bird is laughing at
YOU"
Wnen washington died, Congress ap-
pointed Gen. Lee to pronounce the funeral
Grafton. General Lee, the son of Wash
ington's "Lowland Beauty" was the
father of Robert E. Lee, the great General
of the army of the Southern Cenfederacy.
And what is still more singular, Gen.
Robert E. Lee married daughter of
Georpe WASHINGTON parke CuStia tho
grandson of Mrs. Martha Washington,
and the adopted son General George Wash
ington. How strangely mingled and COM
mingled. Poetry and romance fade away
before these facts, and give overwhelming
evidence of the truth of the old adage,
Truth is stranger than felton,