Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-01-18

mas tOlu
When two, that are linked in one heavenly tie,
With heart never changing and brow never
cold,
Love on through all ills, and love on until they
die.
The young officer with his accomplish
ed bride remained with Mr.. Gusts du-
ring such intervals as when he vas not
required by the active duties Of his pro-
fession. And as years went BIZ, car
lington became more attractive by the
sunshine of the presence of Children"
Mrs Gusts died suddenly on the 23rd
Of April, 1858. It was the first dark
shadow that had fallen across Arlington
as it was the first wave of sorrowwlich had
swept over the hearts of Mr.. Gusts and
his daughter, Mrs Lee. Its true that
Mr. GUSTS, at the time of The death Of
his step-father, to whom he vas so fond
ly attached and whose death he so deep
ly dcplored, was considerably advanced
towards manhood. yet the Vgor Of youth
with its pleasures and enjoyments added
to the various responsibilities that de-
volved upon him so early In life. soon
enabled him to rise above the sadness of
so great bereavement and regard it in
philosophical manner. but in this in
stance he had arrived at hat period of
life when he was little abe to stand so
great blow; little abb to see death
come almost without vgrd of warning
and when both had reason to hope that
the golden Autumn of life through which
they we're then passing, still held in re-
serve for them many happy hours-thc
blow proved to be as wlhering y its cf-
fects as it was unexpected.
After the death of Mrs. Gusts, Mr..
Custis seldom left hone, and gave but
little attention to his private Affairs, or
took but little interoS in any public oc-
casion. He spent most of his time in
his library ia reading, and from time to
time received bis fiends and personal
admirers until the day of his death,
which occurred on he 10Th of October,
1857, when the last remaining "link
which connected TIC illustrious Father
Of his Country aud the present genera
ton was broken
Mr.. Gusts was buried in beautiful
grove near the MANSION, of which we
will speak at length as we progress with
our subject.
Upon examination of the last will and
testament of gorge Washington Parkc
Gusts, dated Mach Goth, 1855, we
find the folloung
IL give and bequeath to my dearly
, beloved daughter and only child, Mary
Ann Randogl Ice. my Arlington house
t estate, in 10 county of Alexandria and
Q State of Virginia, containing eleven hun
3 dred acres, Iore or less, and my n i'll on
G Four Mile Fun, in the county of Alex
5 andria, an the laad Of mine adjacent to
said mill, d The counties of Alexandria
and Fair x, in the State of Virginia, the
use and benefit of all just mentioned
, during ID term Of her natural life"
+ 1t W shus be seen that Arlington
: passed ITO the possession of Col Robert
Il. LIZ. for such was his rank at that
9 time 10 right of his wife. Immediately
' upon te death of Mr.. Gusts, Col. Lee
: took dual possession of Arlington. where
he raaained with his wife and children
unit Lo breaking out of the war in
. 1861
3 Adington was deeply endcared to Gen
D Lee and not by reason of association
{ alon. 1t was the altar where clustered
i the rosy dreams of his early manhood,
. whge love first put forth its tender
. lesres, as it had been the spot where
bal eliminated every earthly hope,
every earthly ambition. There was to
ban no place so sweet, no shades so re-
| FISHING, no memories SO hallowed and
, sothing, no flowers as beautiful. no
I music like that which began in the hours
O Of childhood and which grew richer and
more mellow as change succeeded change
/, In the mutations of life.
. ( Upon the death of Mrs GUSTS, Mr..
/ Cnstis failing to take any interest in the
daily affairs Of the ESTATE, the duties at
once devolved upon Col Ice, who took
great interest aud pleasure in every
thing which pertained to the growth aud
beauty as well as the agricultural de-
partment of Arlington. There was no
branch connected with the agricultural
duties Of which he did not make him
self thoroughly acquainted, and thus
gradually he became a practical as well
asa theoretical farmer. The Warren :
ton (Va.) Iader relates the following /:
Early in the fall Of 1860, Col Lee rode
over from Arlington TO the iron-foan-
dry Of Mr. Schneider, on the corner Of
Eighteenth street aud Penna. Avenue,
aud drew from his pocket the draft of a
peculiar kind of Golfer, which he re-
qucsted TO be east for him 10 be used in
breaking up lot Of heavy meadow-sod
The price Of the Golfer was fixed at two
dollars. and the ColonePs old market
man called for il a day or two afterward.
Late in 1861, amid the stirring events
that were enacted around him and while
all the mighty cares aud responsibilities
Of his position were resting upon him,
Mr Schneider received by the hands Of
a little boy two dollar gold peices with a
brief note Of apology" We mention the
circumstance TO show how conventional
aud exact he was in the performance Of
his obligations in private life.
But as we have seen. Col Ice spent
only few years after the death Of Mr.
Gusts amid the peaceful walks Of agri-
culture, for when the black cloud Of civil
war covered the land. Col. Lee threw
bis fortunes with bis own people, aud
the blissful aud quiet retiremenis Of