Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-07-17
WASH!NGTON'S WOOING.
He WAS Signing and LOrn. But Diffident
and InSuccessfnI

and Unsuccessful.
Strange that one so persistent and
successful as statesman, patriot and
warrior should have been so diffident
and unsuccessful as a wooer In the
latter capacity we catch glimpse of
the man in an entirely different char
acter from that presented by the faith
full parents and historians to the rising
generations. First, the little child is
told with telling emphasis that
George" never told lie, and the cred
ulous youngster opens his eyes and tries
to swallow the statement. Why do
they not tell him instead that
George" never saw lucifer match,
steam engine, electric light or tele-
phone? They could comprehend this and
still keep faith in what their elders say.
Some people even go so far as to say
that he never swore but once. We hope
this is so. but woefully doubt it: how
ever, this has nothing to do with wash
ington as wooer." He figured first in
this capacity at the mature (?) age of
sixteen, the object of his affections being
, Miss Grimes, known in history as
| ''Nashington'S Lowland Beauty" He
was signing and lorn, but, o, so bashful!
Again and again he tried to speak, tried
to pour out his heart to this beau
teous damsel, but each time. panic
stricken, he failed. And she? Well,
she married the man who did ask her,
and he CHANGED to be named Lee in
stead of Washington. According to
tradition she became the mother of
Henry Lee Light Horse Harry, who
was the man finally chosen by Congress
to deliver the Grafton at Washington
funeral. Henry Lees daugh ter-the
Lowland Beauty's granddaugh term
due time became the wife of Martha
| Washington's son. Truth is stranger
than fiction" The youth mourned long
for his lost dove, doubtless spending
hours in futile self accusa ton.
But by and by sly Cupid twanged his
bow-suring, and away sped another arrow
straight into the barely healed heart,
and George became a victim to the
charms of beautiful New York belle
who resided with her brother. Here
again he became deeply enamored, and,
as the years had somewhat effaced his
diffidence. there seemed naught to in
terrupt the flow of true love; but, alas.
her brother was a Tory, and she sided
!
difference to the young lover,
but it did; and for the sake of
principle (Which was dearer to this
man than life or love- he babe
the fair woman farewell and turned
away. Again he mourned a ruined
hope, again he sighed DER faded
dream; but not for long Those were
days to stir the blood and rouse men
from the selfish contemplation of their
own woes. Life rolled on.
One day when riding across the coun-
try on horseback he CHANGED to pause at
! the house of 4 friend. The latter in
.vited him to tarry for dinner. Wash,
ington refused, on plea of the urgency
of his business; but as the invitation
was pressed, he yielded and dismounted,
and then and there he met his fate
in the person of blushing, winsome
Martha Gusts. WAS ever widow so
divinely fair?" thought the smitten
patriot, and then forgot business, for
got every thing but the new-foun1 joy.
genuine case of ''love at sight it
proved, maturing and ripening rapidly,
until, when he continued his way the
next day, there was no doubt in the
mind of either but that Providence had
ordered it thus.
They were married soon after, posi-
bly, any undue haste being the result of
Georges" fear of another slip 'twiXt
the cup and the lip" -Milwaukee Wis
conSin.