The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-13
FANNIE GREGORY.
A binpdcn Va
GIRLS CONTRIBUTION.
A Little Forth CsroIinian Writes About
Mrs. Washington.

Two weeks ago we invited the little
articles on THE First Mistress OF the
White House" Since then we have re-
ceived ever so many contributions on
this subject and after carefully reading
them all we have selected the following
one, written by little Miss Mamie J..
Hannah, Of Salisbury, n.
"Once upon time" long, long ago,
there was a beautiful home on the Poto-
mac. a quiet. elegant home. with its am
pie rooms and wide halls; with its broad
verandas overlooking Il gently undulat-
ing lawn, whose carpet OF softest vel
vety green was-just one hundred years
ago to-day-dotted irregularly with bits
Of brown and russell and gold. and whose
gorgeousy tinted trees sighed softly as
they threw handfuls OF their beautiful
clothing to the earth, reserving the
brightest and reddest tints TO the last,
and dreadng when the bleak November
winds should ruthlessly tear even these
away and leave their limbs in a state OF
dark and ugly nudity
Away as far as the eye can reach
stretch the broad acres. cultivated by
hundreds OF negro slaves, and when the
owner OF this great wealth. the scion OF
antique. family. our brave and gallant
General Washington, married Mrs. Mar
tina Gusts and brought her TO the beauti-
full home he had chosen. lovely Mount
Vernon, she was like a princess OF
wide domain.
But Mrs Washington's life knew not
idleness. She was a disciplined, exem-
plary woman, with well-regulated mind.
and so a wellregulated household. You
a N Il
cry book which Mrs. Washington brought
from New Kent. and which is said to be
the gift from her mother. 1t bears an
inscription. Frances cambridge, and the
date December Is, 1853"
In simple dress Of homemade stuff, OF
memorable neatness, Mrs. Washington
faithfully discharged her household du-
ties. She occasionally accompanied her
husband to williamsburg and TO her
home the white House" and her
friends In New Kent. But there could be
but little time for such visits with the
extensive cares that bound her TO Mount
Vernon At home there were the river
families and the circle that gathered at
the old Pohick church, and a few miles
TO the north was the society OF Alexan-
dra, and farther off 10 the south was old
Fredericksburg, and Mary, the mother OF
Washington, in her well-kept home. And
Mount Vernon was the attractive centre
where were found an unaffected hospi-
tality and many social charms.
How pleasant must have been those
long-ago evenings which General Wash
ington always spent with his family
around the blazing hearth?
The health and happiness OF her chill
dren were special matters OF concern TO
Mrs. WASHINGTON. As Miss Custis adj
NH
liar object Of her mothers tender regard
and her companion and JOY. There was
reason for solicitude, for at the age when
her mother was first a bride death claim
ed Eleanor Custis The mothers heart
was bowed with its weight Of grief, which
left its mark upon her for many years
After this sad event the usual routine or
life at Mount Vernon was unbroken, only
things could not be as they had been.
There was a dainty room upstairs, look
ing upon the river front, which was va
cant and the key turned in the lock.
Seventeen years after the marriage AT
the white House" the dark clouds OF
war gathered over the colonies. Mrs
Washington remained at home. but af-
forwards Joined her husband at his head
quarters in Boston. where her universal
popularity and gentle graciOusness gave
her the name Of Lady Washington
which she always afterward had In the
American army.
After her return home her time was
employed with unusual diligence. Six
teen spinning wheels were whirring away
and more than one loom weaving cloths
from morn till eve" in those Mount Yer
non rooms. Her own hands knit the
stockings, so much needed and set the
example to all the ladies who came TO
her drawing room.
At Morristown and Valley Forge 1t
was Mrs. Washington who went among
the soldiers. ministering with her own
hands to their wants and cheering with
words Of sympathy.