Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15

that Is, O Memories that are" impress their
truth each one standing in the shade of
the sacred old building The past lives in the
deeds Of today and the memories Of other
gatherings here in the church yard will color
all the thoughts and feelings Of old Pohick's
friends.
The church yard must have been quite gay
and bright as the congregation stood around
in groups after the service over. It was
leisurely age for the gentry and one of social
distinction The family came to church in the
family coach and sat in the family pew and
after the service the head of the family held
what resembled little court in the church
yard. There were friendly chats and greetings
and the news of the day was exchanged. The
lesser folk paid their respects to the greater;
and the young gallant presented to his adored
one the couplet scrubbed on the f1yleaf of O
prayer book. So many came to offer their
greetings to Col Washington and his lady that
it Is said the sweet and placid Martha once
showed a burst of impotence and carried her
admired husband of peremptorily to their
waiting coach and champing pair, held in by
their servitor, Thomas Bishop beoueathed to
the service Of the young Virginia colonel by
Gen. Braddock
The Mount Vernon household was only one
Of many that kept the faith and offered prayers
and contrite hearts at Pohick Church The
gentry OF that prosperous countryside met
there and devoutly prayed for the welfare Of
their King across the sea. Names that win
never be forgotten are written large on Pohick's
Church membership, and larger still ON that
great roll Of honor the Roster Of the Ameri.
can Revolution. f'1 'v'
A LWAYS an outstanding establishment in the
annals Of Virginia. the example Of vestry-
man George Washington and his household
served as q model, as it still does, for the
homely virtues Of orderliness and punctuality
as well % for the gracious living for which
Mount Vernon was famous. These two vir.
tues have much to do with the success OF all
the others! As for example, getting to church
in time, which depended entirely on starting
on time, and that In turn depended on every-
thing being in q current state Of order. Six
miles was nothing at all of drive for those
good Virginia bays of the Mount Vernon
stables, but due allowance had to made for
the state Of the roads, and little extra ale
lowed for unforeseen incidents. The green and
gold chariot that the young colonel had ordered
from London for his bride in 1859 had not
proved to be as worthily made as its cost
should have guaranteed, and its panels had
long since warped out Of their grooves, having
been made Of insufhciently seasoned timber and
such an equipage was so heavy that In iuS-
tice to his horses Col. Washington never used
it without double span and this he thought
too ostentatious for driving to morning serv-
ice. So they rode in their less snowy equpage
Of Sunday, drawn by the pair of bays that
Fairfax county ladies RECALLED with cut sugar.
while their lords saw Madam Martha WASH
ington to her carriage. This turnout could
be seen as far as the Mount Vernon road was
open, for the Washington livery was white.
turned up with scarlet; the position was ex-
actly as he should be, and all the accouter-
mentS that should shine were shining
brightly. And that family arrived in ample
time, and were a pleasure for weary eyes to
see, had any such been there, as they walked
up the aisle and the tall colonel stood at the
head of his pew, until his family and guests
were comfortably seated. Old letters state
that the two children sat on their stools in
the center Of the pew, and they behaved them
selves Handsomely" small John Parke Gusts
finding the places In the fine prayer book
ordered from London for him by his always
thoughtful stepfather, and Madam Washing