Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-03-01

with admiration and delight; and can we
wonder the strange passion of love" again
awoke in bis bosom, and she responded to
it with modest blush. as smile of un-
utterable sweetness irradiated her counte-
nance. Washington and the beautiful
young widow there formed mutual ad-
tniration society, and they both became
members of it, as love responded to love,
their hearts not only beat in unison with
each other, but like kindred drops, were
mingled into one. This was indeed sur
prise, and they sOere both smitten at the
same time.
We will return for moment to Wash
ington's colored servant Bishop. whom We
left at the gate with the horses ready for
his master to pursue his journey after din
ner. He wondered at his masters delay.
for he had never known him behind the
time on any other occasion. Hour after
hour passed away, and the sun went down
behind the western hills, and the shadows
of evening gathered around them. The
horses were ordered to be put up in the
stable Washington was in no hurry
He spent that night in the parlor with the
blooming young widow. admiring her, and
she admiring him; and the night glided
swiftly Ger their heads. made up of inno-
cence and love. as they talked of love,
and love affairs; and the sun rose in the
east. and Washington was 10 no haste !;
the morning passed away. and the sun
uoc f,r m IN tba haovans xUboD ba 1aft
that house. with its overwhelming attrac-
tions. as reluctantly as Adam left paradise.
Bishop had waited and marvelled at the
delay of his master. .'Ah. Bishop" says
fair writer describing the occurrence.
there was an urchin in the drawing-room
more powerful than King George and all
his governors Subtle as sphynx. he
had hidden the important dispatches from
the soldiers sight, shut up his ears from
the summons cf the tell-tale clock, and
was playing such mad pranks with the
bravest heart in Christendom, that it fut-
tered With the excess of new-found hap
piness."
Washington Irving says: 1--WE are not
Informed whether Washington had met
with her before. probably not during her
widnwhood We have shown that with
all his gravity and reserve be was quickly
susceptible to female charms, and they
may have had a greateraeffeets upon.him,
when thus casually encountered. At any
rate. his heart appears to have been taken
by surprise. F"
| Washington spent some time in Will
liamsburgh, ard had frequent opportunity
to visit Mrs. Custis, who resided at the
White House. Mr.. Irving thinks he hur-
ried up the business. He says: "Wash-
ington's time for courtship was brief
Military duties called him back almost i'm
mediately to Winchester. but he feared
should he leave the matter in suspense,
some more enterprising rival might sup
plant him during his absence. as 10 the
case of Miss Phillipse. in New York. He
improved, therefore, bis brief opportunity
to the utmost. The blooming widow had
many suitors, but Washington was bless
ed with that renown SO enobling in the
| sight of woman. In word, before they
separated, they mutually plighted their
faith, and their marriage was to take place
as soon as the campaign of Fort Duquesne
was at an end"
Washington had showed the difidence
of love, and suffered by it; now he exhib-
its the heroism of love.
About year and a half after their first
interview, Mrs. Martha Custis became
Mrs. Martha Washington. They were
married at the White House. the residence
of the bride, January 6. 1853.
The marriage was one of uncommon
splendor; the wealthy, the gay, and the
fashionable were there in crowds. What
splendid bridegroom What beautiful
bride
They were not only married at the
White House, but there was an unusual
amount of white displayed; white dresses,
white wells, white ribbons, white gloves,
and white vests. There never was more
suitable couple united since the Grst mar
riage in Eden. At the wedding there
was wealth and beauty courtesy and gal
lantry. wisdom and wit. 1t was long
remembered. George Washington Parke
Custis said he inquired of an old negro in
his hundredth year. Gully. do you re-
member when Colonel Washington came
courting your mistress ?" As his eyes
frightened, and smile of joy played over
bis aged and wrinkled face, this ancient
servant in the family. who had lived to
see five generations replied: AYE, mas
ter. that | DO Great times. sir. great
times; shall never live to see the like a.
gain" land Washington looked like a
a man, proper man, hey. Cully?' continued
the inquirer "Neber seed de like sir, neb-
ber. nebber de likes of him, though | have
seen many men in my day; so tall, SO
strait; aud den be sat horse, and rode
with such an air =! Ah sir. he was like
no one else! Many of the grandest gen
tlemen were there. in gold lace. at the
wedding, but none looked like the man him
SELF" What a lifetime impression Wash
ingtou and his wedding made. upon the
mind of this uucultivated negro that three
score years could not efface.
/ We have seen that Washington married
a TiHnws baun 4