Evening star., 1938-12-25
ALWAYS LOYAL GUIDE
First President Shared in Discouragng Days
of Revolution When Poverty Came With
Periods of Traditional Feast

had been commissioned by the Gov
ernor as lieutenant colonel of the
Virginia Regiment and ordered to
take his troops to the Ohio to help
build forts. That Christmas was
spent at Belvoir, as his expense book
entries indicate.
The Christmas of 1855 came midst
added rank and heavier RESPONSE
bility in the duty Of protecting 300
miles of frontier with the insuffi-
cient force of TOO men Twenty-three
years old, he had already expert
enced the most grilling, test
ing baptism of fire in the disastrous
Braddock expedition. out of which
he came unharmed. though two
horses had been killed beneath him
and four bullets went through his
coat. Military orders took him to
Fort Cumberland over the holiday
of 1756, as his diary proves.
1t is evident that the young mas
ter of Mount Vernon had his estate
much on his mind. He rented his
land during his military service
and part of it until 1761, but the
needs of the house pressed home
to him and in 1857 he spent Christ
mas at Mount Vernon. planning i'm
provements, ordering supplies and
sending with them explicit instruc-
tions for careful packing of the
china, etc.
Christmas of 1853 bears only the
note of expenses in his account
book:
December 25, 1758-By Exps. at
Chizzels Ordy. s." He had met and
become engaged to Martha Custis,
and was on his way to resign his
commission and complete all plans
for his wedding within the first
week in the new year.
Christmas of 1889 must have been
one of the gayest. happiest of days
for the young couple at Mount Ver-
non. The colonel had found love-
ly young mistress for his home, and
his wife had not only found capa
BILE manager for her vast estate. but
a loving father for her two little
ones and a devoted mate for herself
The best gifts of the gods shoWered
upon the pair. They had youth
they were q years old. both of them
each wealthy and of assured So
cial position, and of Importance in
the affairs of the Colony.
Certainly the Christmas ball and
banquet at Mount Vernon the first
year of their marriage was long
remembered for its elegance and
gayety. Love ruled the feast anc
JOY set the measure of the dance
How young Mrs. Martha must have
planned, keeping her slaves anC
servants busy every moment fol-
days and days in preparation fol
the event and to welcome the rela.
tives and friends to the first Christ.
mas celebration of the master anc
mistress of Mount Vernon, who
were related by blood and marriage
to half the county.
Two little ones to hang up stock.
ings, two pair of happy little fee
pattering excitedly through thu
house and the sound of sweet child.
ish voices made it a real home t
the colonel, who loved all children
and his stepchildren as dearly a.
though they were his own. Domestic
happiness so completely envelopee
these two people for the next dozer
years that little is recorded of theil
personal doings.
Christmas from earliest times wa
the great celebration of the yea,
in Virginia, and the diary of Georg,
Washington shows that he spent few
away from his home and family ex.
cept at the call of public or privat,
duty. Mount Vernon drew him a.
a magnet. The long hours of hare
riding so often entailed in his reach
ing home never seemed to matte
to him. Christmases of 176O, l76
and OF 1852 were spent at hom,
after an absence in each year, ant
without doubt he arrived laden will
trinkets and toys for the childre,
and for his people" as he terme,
his slaves.
Yuletide 1853 was season O
great joy to Mrs. Mary Ball Wash
ington, for she had the great salts
faction of having her eldest son
George, with her from December 2
until January S.
If there was anything more thai
the usual round of gayety at Noun
Vernon in the Christmases of 176
and 1765, the colonel did not leav
any record of it nor did he recor,
the names of any guests.
Belvoir. so frequently visited b.
the Washingtons when the road
were passable, drew the entir
washington family for the Christ
mas festivities in 1766. In 1767 an
, 1'oo' the holidays were home festi
vals. but In 1859 the colonel reache,
Fredericksburg on December % an
spent the evening and had Christ
, mas dinner with Col. and Mrs. Field
ing Lewis.
Apparently the Christmases O
, ITO and It'll were devoid of un
: usual interest, since the colone
' disposed of them with no othe
! comment than the terse, AT hom
= all day." and Went to Pohick +
, church and returned to dinner
v During Christmas week of IN
1 Col and Mrs. Washington took thei
= family and all of the guests of
sizable house party, among WHOM