Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-08-29
HIS MOTHE Err.

III, says his DlOSfapnef, he was
early trained in the way he should go,
his mother trained him. If he was al
ways good as his father wrote, she Ia
bored to keep him so. If his principles
were sound and his life success, to
her, more than to any other, should
the praise be given. This lovely wo-
man, as stated, was the daughter of
Charles Carter, of Shirley, who resided
in his grand old mansion on the banks
of the James river, some twenty miles
below Richmond, then, as now, the
seat of an open, profuse, and refined
hospitality, and still in the possession
of the Carriers"
Whatever care and affection his
mother bestowed upon him was re-
turned in kind with filial devotion
to her comfort his hours out of school
were given" says Fitzhugh Lee. He
waited on her, nuysed her when sick,
drove with her, obeyed her every wish,
and this reciprocal love was a goodly
picture in old Alexandria to those who
saw mother and son in those days. AS
Robert grew in years he grew in grace;
he was like the young tree whose
roots, firmly imbedded in the earth,
hold it straight from the hour. it was
first planted till it develops into males
tic proportions.
EDUCATION AND MARRIAGE.
When old enough to choose profes
sion he decided for the army, one OF
his brothers already being in the navy:
and he graduated at the head of his
class from West Point. He was good
boy and he grew up a good man.
lice was naturally exposed to an en-.
ginear's temptations, but was careful
and abstemious. He went much into
the society of ladies-always most con
genial to him. His conversation was
bright, his wit refined and pleasant
Cement, mortar, lime, curves, tangents
and straight professional lines disap
peared then. He enjoyed a dress pa
rade of this kind, was happy in the
drawing room in the evening, and hap
by in his work on the parapet next
day. He was in love from boyhood
Fate brought him to the feet of one
who, by birth, education. position. anC
| family tradition, was best suited to be
his life companion. Mary Gusts, The
daughter of George Washington Parkt
Gusts, of Arlington, and Robert E
Lee were married on the 30th of June
1881, only two years after he ha(
emerged from his Alma Mater. The,
had known each other when she was
child at Arlington and he young DO!
in Alexandria, some eight miles away
1t is said she met him to admire wheI
he came back to Alexandria on fur
Tough from the Military Academy.
was the first time any one in that vicin
ity had ever seen him in his cadet uni
form. He was handsomer than ever
straight, erect, symmetrical in form
with finely shaped head on a pair o
broad shoulders. He was then q
years old, and a fine specimen of T.;
West Point cadet on leave of absence
The impressions produced were of al
enduring nature, and the officer, upol
graduation. followed up the advantag,
gained by the attractive Cadet
His wife's father was the son O
Martha Washington and the adopted
son of the Father of His Country
1.-THE BRAVE sToNEwALLERs."
From camp, April 2, 1864, he wrot,
Mrs. Lee: Your note with the sock
arrived last evening. Ihave sent then
to the Stonewali Brigade; the numbe
is all right-thirty pairs. Including
this last parcel Of thirty pairs, | have
sent to the brigade 1853 pairs. Still
there are about one hundred and forty
whose homes are within the enemy.
lines and who are without socks.
shall continue to furnish them till al
are supplied. Tell the young womer
| to work hard for the brave Stonewall
ers." And once more, from Orange
county, April 81, 1864: "Your note
with bag of socks reached me last even
ing. The number was correct-thirty
one pairs. sent them to the Stone
wall Brigade, which is not yet supplied
Sixty.one pairs from the ladies in
tauquier have reached Charlottesville
and | hope will be distributed soon
Now that Miss Bette Brander has
come to the aid of my daughters, the
supply will soon be increased"