The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-05
WASHINGTON'S KINDLY WAY.
Gen. Gree ne's Daughter aud the Great
President

I-feoIuSut.
Martha Littlsfeld Phillips, who was
the granddaughter Of Gen. Nthauiel
Grene's youngest daughter contributes
to the January Century " Recollectlous of
Washington and His Friends taken
down from tho lips of her grandmot other.
She quotes the following account OF her
grandmother first meeting with Wash
ington:
The second great event OF my early
life, said she 'wgs my first interview
with General Washington. But faint
suggestion now survives of the love and
reverence for Washington which inspired
tho children Of the Revolution. These
sentiments were exceptionally strong in
my brothers and sisters and myself, be-
cause In addition TO the sentiment OF pat
riotism was the personal regard we held
for Wasbingon as our fathers intimate
friend and Immediate commander.
My mother had deeply imbued me
with the honor in store, and had drilled
my behavior 10 meet all the probable re-
quirements Of the occasion. / was, for
example TO rise from my seat for presen-
tation to General Washington, and after
rendering him my profoundest courtesy,
stand at ease, and modestly answer oil
his possible questions, but at the same
time KEEP religiousIy i'm the background,
where all the good little girls of that day
were socially referred.
Tho eyentful day came, and / was
taken 10y my mother to Mount Vernon TO
make the longed for visit. We were
graciously welcomed by Mrs. Washing
ton but my heart was So thick with 1ut-
tering, and my tongue SO tied, that l
made but stdtterine semblance OF re-
sponse to her kindly questions. At
length the door opened, and General
mothers critical eyes. and advanced with
the intention of making courtesy and
deolaiming the little address previously
taught me; instead Of which 1 dropped
on my knees at Washington's feet, and
burst into tears All the resources of
dramatic art oculd hardly have devised
more effective coup Washington stopped
ana tenderly raised me, saying with a
smile, Why, what is the matter with this
foolish childy The words do not have a
tender sound. but language may not con
vey the geEtleness of his manner and the
winning softness of his voice as he wiped
away my tears with his own handker-
chief, kissed my forehead, and led mo TO
IA seat as he might young princess. He
sat beside me, ana with laughing jests,
brought down to the plane of my appre-
citation, banished my sins from my eyes
rescued me from humiliation, and brought
me back to cOmposure. He guarded me
from my mothers outraged eyes kept
me with him while in the drawing-room,
had me placed beside him at the dinner
table, and with mis- own hands heaped all
the good things on my plate. After din
ner he took me TO walk in the garden,
and with an intelligent STOPPING to my
intellectual stature. anu sympathetic
understanding of my emotional state and
need, he drew mo into talks on the
themes of my daily life, and won me in
TO revelations of my hopes and fears. 1t
has always impressed me as quaint and
pretty picture, that of the famous warrior,
statesman, and patriot turning from
great affairs, and lending himself to the
task of making the happiness and charm
ing the confidence Of shy and fright
ened child Aud SO proud and happy was
the little girl thus made tnat. seventy five
years afterward, she lives, with tears of
JOY In her eyes. to tell the story to her
granddaughter. "
"How about Mrs. Washington, grand
mother? How did she impress you?"
asked.
''1he fact is, {" she replied, II was so
absorbed on that occasion with General
Washington, paid very little attention
To his wife. she took small note of child
rem, and the only recollection that comes
to mo Of her In that first interview is
that she was handsome. Of dignifled car
riage. and was dressed in rich figured
silk, with an embroidered apron around
her waist aud n dainty kerchef folded
about ner neck aud shoulders. E"