The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29
wAsHINGToN's WOoING.
He Was Signing and Lorn. But D1mdens
and Unsuccessful.

He Was Signing and Lorn. But Dimdens
and Unsuccessful.
Strange that one so persistent and
successful as statesman, patriot ana
warrior should have been so diff1dent
and unsuccessful as wooer. In Inc
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
thew not tell him instead that
George" never saw a 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 a 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
.'Washington'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's
funeral. Henry Lees daughter-the
Lowland Beauty's granddaughter-in
due time became the wife of Martha
Washington's son. Truth is stranger
than fiction" The youth mourned long
for his lost love, doubtless spending
hours in futile self accuse ton.
But by and by sly Cupid twanged his
bow-s5ring, 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 Tory, and she sided
with him. 1t need have made no
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 a 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 a 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-found Joy.
A 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.