Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-04-26
4 Dutinl Girl.


On the 23d of December, 17Ss, the foo,
Of the United States senate chamber !,
Annapolis vas flied to overnowing BY
stately danes and gentle msidens who
had hocked to the capitol as if the weight
OF state questions had been for this one
hour intrusted 10 their wise deliberations
Washington, the mighty vet unambiuoui
hero Of the time, while still the idol of the
public heart. was on this day to lay down
his lsurels by resigning to Congress hii
commission as commander-in-chief of the
brave little army, whose iriumphs he had
directed and whose sufferings be had
shared.
Accompanied by his aides, Colonel
Benjlmin Walker and Colonel David
Humphreys and the officers appointed as
escort Washington entered the hall where
the assembled congress avail ed him, every
manly voice among the spectators cheer
Ing, and every feminine kerchief waving
an enthusiasm OF approval and welcome;
but the cheers were hushed into breathless
silence by the first words Of the great
hero's dIgnitied address, to which General
M.ft1in, as President of the senate, made
an eloquent and appropriate reply.
On Washington's left stood the valient
soldier Colonel John Eager Howard OF
Maryland, and facing Colonel Howard,
conspicuous among the foremost group OF
senator's, was General Read of South Caro-
lima, the hero of this short legend Of a
bv-gone love. How little did either of
these young men, strangers to one another,
dream Of the day to come when a son and
daughter of each were to become husband
and wife to the daughter and son Of the
other!
Many were the men whose names were
already distinguished or to become historic.
who were present, either as members Of
congress or SPECTATORS Of the impressive
scene. Madison, Jefferson, Monroe; Lee
of Virginia, Osgood of Massachusetts,,
Morris of Pennsylvania, McComb of Dela-
ware and Gen. Ohio Williams, Gems.
Smith and Swan of Maryland. The we'll
known Charles Carroll of Carroliton was
accompanied by his two daughters, one of
whom was afterward, rs Mrs. Cation,
mother of the celebrated trio Of American
beauties who became respectively Lady
Stafford, the MsrchIoness OF Wellesley,
and the Duchess of Leeds
But absorbing as was the attention given
to Washington by the august assemblage
of heroes and patriots, who recognized in
him the greatest hero and patriot Of any,
the young Carolinian's eyes. wandered up
to the gallery above, where Mrs. Washing
ton. with her young grandchildren at her
knee. was seated in all the dignity and
legitimste pride Of the wife who crowns
herself with her husbands glory.
Grouped around her chair were the
three Calvert sisters, Maryland's blood
royal, the family of Lord Baltimore; and
never was the fame of Maryland beauty
better maintained than by the contrasting
loveliness Of the youngest, Mss Ariana
Calvert, with the more brilliant charms of
her elder sisters, who had been espoused
during all the perils of the war, both on
the same evening, the one by Washing
toms step-son, Parke Curtis, and the other
by Mr.. George Stuart, of Maryland.
1t is told Of these gentlemen that each
received the announcement of the birth of
a son-born on the same day, a year after
the marriages-while on the battle field.
But 1t was not the rich bloom or dark
eyes of the beautiful young matrons
which so riveted the attention OF the young
southerner that even the sublime presence
Of Washington was for a while forgotten.
To his eyes the youngest sister was much
the fsirsst; and he gazed up at the uncon-
scious young girl until the friend at his
elbow, Mr.. James Monroe-too thorough
a VIrgInIan not to recognize the phen-
omena of love at first signt-whispered
her name In his ear, and the offer TO pre-
sent hm before the lady quilted ADna-
polls town for her home in the country
The offer was gratefully accepted, and ere
to her eager and enrsptured
young lover; but not, alas! with the entire
and appreciation of her family and
friends, and thence arose the cloud which
darkened the horizon of this love
legend.
As usual, that passion youth defies. age
cOldly ignored. The Carolinlan was veal
thy, OF prominent position and good birth,
and of distinguishes education bu: the
lady was threatened with decline. She
was also the youngest darling Of the
utT elsitIS uaQ uldIIleu 81 VIGIL,
yet renamed in their midst; and her fam-
ily grew more and naore reluctant that this
stranger should bear away
their tender and fragile flower to his far
Of southern home. to pine away, and die,
perhaps. out of sight and hearing Of those
who loved her from her cradle; and the
apgered lover saw the feeble health of his
lady-loYe give way under the conflict OF
duty With feeling, until she Became indeed
ill.
But the passionate southerner was not
to have the woman of his heart granted
TO his wishes. The sensiDility which
could doom the gentle Ariana Calvert to
an early death could not perrIt her to
.acrifce family affection to her own and
lovers happiness. What bitter tears and
words were exchanged in their
parting none can tell but the miniatures.
given once as the tair tokens Of union,
zach still retained, to be sorrowful cOnso-
alton and reminder Of lifelong sepsra-
finn