, who
saluted me very civily, and Mrs. Spotswood's Sister, Miss Theky,
who had been to meet him en Cavalier, was so kind too as to bid
me welcome. We talkt over a legend of old Storys, supp'd about 9
and then prattl'd with the Ladys, til twas time for a Travellour
to retire. In the meantime I observ'd my old Friend to be very
Uxorious, and exceedingly fond of his Children. This was so
opposite to the Maxims he us'd to preach up before he was
marry'd, that I you'd not forbear rubbing up the Memory of them.
But he gave a very good-natur'd turn to his Change of Sentiments,
by alleging that who ever brings a poor Gentlewoman into so
solitary a place, from all her Friends and acquaintance, wou'd be
ungrateful not to use her and all that belongs to her with all
possible Tenderness."

"...At Nine we met over a Pot of Coffee, which was not quite
strong enough to give us the Palsy. After Breakfast the Colo. and
I left the Ladys to their Domestick Affairs.... Dinner was both
elegant and plentifull. The afternoon was devoted to the Ladys,
who shew'd me one of their most beautiful Walks. They conducted
me thro' a Shady Lane to the Landing, and by the way made me
drink some very fine Water that issued from a Marble Fountain,
and ran incessantly. Just behind it was a cover'd Bench, where
Miss Theky often sat and bewail'd her fate as an unmarried woman."

"...In the afternoon the Ladys walkt me about amongst all their
little Animals, with which they amuse themselves, and furnish the
Table.... Our Ladys overslept themselves this Morning, so that
we did not break our Fast till Ten."[82]

We are so accustomed to look upon George Washington as a godlike man of
austere grandeur, that we seldom or never think of him as lover or
husband. But see how home-like the life at Mount Vernon was, as
described by a young Fredericksburg woman who visited the Washingtons
one Christmas week: "I must tell you what a charming day I spent at
Mount Vernon with mama and Sally. The Gen'l and Madame came home on
Christmas Eve, and such a racket the Servants made, for they were glad
of their coming! Three handsome young officers came with them. All
Christmas afternoon people came to pay their respects and duty. Among
them were stately dames and gay young women. The Gen'l seemed very
happy, and Mistress Washington was from Daybreak