The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-06-02
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ture of an old Reformer, painted by Van
Dyke. There also were the three-quarter
length portraits of Daniel Parke and Mar
tha Gusts, by Woolaston. There were
other portraits of the Washington and Gus
tis families. One of these was the portrait
Of Washington in the costume of Virginia
colonel at the age of forty years, painted by
Charles Watson Peale. Near this picture,
suspended from ceiling, was lantern,
formerly the property of Lawrence Wash.
ington, which hung in the preat passage at
Mount Vernon fully eighty years. There
was also the black-walnut sideboard used
in the dininy-room at Mount Vernon, of
elegant workmanship; Washington's mas
sive silver teatservice, made at New York
in 1889 of the old family plate; also pieces
of the Sevres porcelain dinner and tea-sets,
called the "Cincinnati china,' because they
were presented to General and Madam
Washington, with the elegant ieweled Or
der of the Cincinnati by French officers,
and bore pictures of the order dellcately
painted. In all the rooms were pieces of
furniture and many other objects which
were once at Mount Vernon. In an upper
chamber was the bed on which Washing
ton died, held too sacred for use; and in
another was the large war-tent or marquee
of the General which was used at York
town. 1t was incased in two large leathern
pouches.
On my first visit at Arlington House, in
In lS4S, l saw living relic of the Wash
ngton family more interesting than all the
rest. Mrs. Cusiis, nee Fitzhugh, charm
ing woman. Christlike in character and
disposition, and saintlike in her works of
beneyolence and perennial goodness, then
presided over the household at Arlington.
She was like mother and guardian angel
in her care for the physical and spiritual
comfort of their slaves, and was blessing
to the poor far and near. She was a most
gentle creature-slight in frame, sweet in
the expression of her face; her voice was
soft and musical, and she retained much
of her early personal beauty Her piety
was fervid but unostentatous, and her
presence was like sunlight in a room. She
conducted family worship morning and
evening, while her husband, standing, in
voked blessing at every meal.
On the morning after my arrival at Ar
lington House in 1S4S, Mrs. Custis, when
ready to read the Scriptures, stepped to a
room near by and lead out very aged col
ored woman, not of quite pure African
blood, who was much afflicted with rheu-.
matism. Mrs. Custis helped her 10 kneel
by her side during prayer, and then assisted
her To rise and return to her room. After
the door was closed made inquiries con-
cerning the old woman.
"She is the last survivor of the bondser-
wants of the Washington family at Mohnt
| Vernon" Mr.. Custis remarked. 81 do not
| know her age precisely, but | think she
must be nearly ninety years old She re-
members the hunting-partes at Mount Yer
non before the Revolution. She was such
good care-taker of children that she be-
came the nurse Of Mr.. Custis and his sisters
in their infancy. On the death of Mrs.
Washington she remained at Mount Ver-
non Ia the family of Judge Washington,
who inherited the estate, until we were
married, in 1904, when at her earnest re-
quest she came to live with us and became
the nurse of our four daughters, only one
of whom MAY, the wife of Colonel Lee)
grew 10 womanhood. Eleanor, who lIyes
from her fourth TO her twelfth year. Vest
ford, Judge Washingtons servant. is her
nephew and is yet at Mount Vernon. They
much resemble each other.
SIS she intelligent, and is her memory
trustworthy" | inquired.
"She is remarkably intelligent, and her
memory of events IN her earlier years seems
: perfectly clear"
"Would it be agreeable for me TO have
some conversation with her?'' ! inquired.
Perfectly So" responded Mrs. Gusts.
''She is little deaf, but you can easily
make her understand YOU"
Mr.. Custis went TO her room, and soon
returning, said, "You can see her an houl
after breakfast"
/ found the aged woman sitting in al
arm chair knitting stockings, her room IL
perfect order. Seated near her it was easy
to converse. Her dialect was that of tn,
4 colored people in general, which ] shall
d not attemptthis to initiate in record.
made many inquiries of her touching th'
daily life of her master and mistress ant
u received satisfactory answers. | asked he
u if she remembered the young Martha Gus
: tis-the dark lady-who died before SIN
> was seventeen years of age.
9 Sin course do" she answered. ''Iwa
: a smart gal, almost as old as she was. oh
she was so purity and so good. 1t scenes
a as if the Lord wanted her sure, and though
II she was zoo good to stay in this wicke
# world. Her dying made master and mis-
e tress almost sick and very sorry a Ion
G time, they loved her so; and Master Jack
G her brother, took it so hard we though
y he'd go crazy. But somehow he soon &c
1t oyer it. l 'spects 1t was cause he got /
"a love with Miss Nelly Calvert, and marie
n her soon afterwards. She was so purity
T. too They lived at Abingdon, not far froI
;, Mount Vernon, most of the time after th
ID war was begun: and / lived with theI
lie from the time when their first baby wa
b born until Mastar Jack Joined master TO 9
r and fight Corvallis. Then he left. youn
5. mistress and her four children at Mour
p Vernon"
e. "Master Jack, as you call him, nev'
10 came back aliYe," l said.
5, "Oh, he did notp' she exclaimed. 90
te was drefful, drefful! He was so good, an
ry everybody loYed him so. Oh, it was /
of drufful! was building a fire in mistres
g room one frosty morning, just at daylight,
by she continued, "when there was lou
US knock at the west door. ran an opent