The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-01-14
WASH1NGToN's KINDLY WAY.
Gen. Greene's Daughter and the Great
President,

Gen. Greene's Daughter aud the Great
President.
Martha Little6eld Phillips, who was
the granddaughter of Gen. Nathaniel
Greene's Youngest daughter, contributes
to the january Century "Recollections of
down from the lips of her grandmother
She quotes the following account of her
grandmOther's first meeting with Wash
ington:
1.-The second great event of my early
life said she, twas my first interview
with Gen. Washington. But faint sug-
gcstion now survives of the love and rev.
ercnce for Washington which inspired the
children of the Revolution. These senti-
ments were exceptionally strong in my
brothers and sisters and myself. because
III addition to the sentiment of patriotism
was the personal regard we held for
Washington as our fathers intimate
friend and immediate commander.
My mother had deeply imbued NE with
the honor in store, and had drilled my
behavior to meet all the probable require
ments of the occasion. l was for ex-
ample. to rise from my seat for presenta-
ton to Gen. Washington, and after ten
derlng him my profoundest courtesy, stand
ut ease and modtstly answer all his DOS
sibie questions, but at the same time
keep religiousy in the background, where
all the good little girls of that day were
socially referred.
THE eventful day came, and | WIS
taken by my mother to Mount Vernon to
make the longed-for visit. We were era
ciously welcomed by Mrs. Washington;
but my heart was so thick with titttter-
ing, and my tongue SO tied, that I made
but suffering semblance of response to
her kindly questions. At length the door
opened, and Gen. Washington entered
the room. l felt my mothers critical
eyes. and advanced with the intention of
making d courtesy and declaining the lit.
tie address previously taught me; instead
of which l dropped ON my knees at
Washington's feet, and burst into tears.
hardly have devised more effective
coup. Washington stopped and tenderly
raised me, saying with a smile, Why,
what is the matter with this foolish
childT The words do not have tender
sound, but language may not convey the
gentleness of his manner and the win.
ming softness Of his voice, as he wiped
away my tears with his own handker.
chief, kissed my forehead, and led me to
seat as he might a young princess. He
sat beside ME. and with laughing jcsts,
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 his own hands hcnped 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 intel
lectual stature. and sympathetic Under
standing of my emotional state and need,
he drew me into talks OH the themes of
my daily life. and won me into reveal
tons of my hopes and fears. It has al
ways impressed me as quaint and
pretty picture. that of the famous war
rlor, statesman and patriot turning from
great affairs and lending himself TO the
task of making the happiness and charm
ing the confidence of d shy and fright
ened child. And so proud and happy
was the little girl THUS made that, seven
ty-fve 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" l
asked.
"The fact isl she replied, 81 was so
absorbed on that occasion with Gen.
Washington I paid very little attention
to his wife. She took small note of chill
dren, and the only recollection that comes
to me of her in that first interview is that
she was handsome. of dignifed carriage,
and was dressed in a rich figured silk
with an embroidered apron around her
waist, and a dainty kerchief folded about
her neck and shoulders