every corner, and the best are always in use. She costs me enough!"
And this was about as near a complaint as the Father of his Country, and
the father of all his poor relations, ever made. In his ledger we find
this item: "By Miss Harriot Washington, gave her to buy wedding-clothes,
$100.00." It supplied the great man joy to write that line, for it was the
last of Harriot. He furnished a fine wedding for her, and all the
servants had a holiday, and Harriot and her unknown lover were happy ever
afterwards--so far as we know.
From Seventeen Hundred Fifty to Seventeen Hundred Fifty-nine, Washington
was a soldier on the frontier, leaving Mount Vernon and all his business
in charge of his brother John. Between these two there was a genuine bond
of affection. To George this brother was always, "Dear Jack," and when
John married, George sends "respectful greetings to your Lady," and
afterwards "love to the little ones from their Uncle." And in one of the
dark hours of the Revolution, George writes from New Jersey to this
brother: "God grant you health and happiness. Nothing in this world would
add so to mine as to be near you." John died in Seventeen Hundred
Eighty-seven, and the President of the United States writes in simple,
undisguised grief of "the death of my beloved brother."
John's eldest son, Bushrod, was Washington's favorite nephew. He took a
lively interest in the boy's career, and taking him to Philadelphia placed
him in the law-office of Judge James Wilson. He supplied Bushrod with
funds, and wrote him many affectionate letters of advice, and several
times made him a companion on journeys. The boy proved worthy of it all,
and developed into a strong and manly man--quite the best of all
Washington's kinsfolk. In later years, we find Washington asking his
advice in legal matters and excusing himself for being such a
"troublesome, non-paying client." In his will the "Honorable Bushrod
Washington" is named as one of the executors, and to him Washington left
his library and all his private papers, besides a share in the estate.
Such confidence was a fitting good-by from the great and loving heart of a
father to a son full worthy of the highest trust.
Of Washington's relations with his brother Charles, we know but little.
Charles was a plain, simple man who worked hard and raised a big family.
In his will Washington remembers them all, and one of the sons of Charles
we know was appointed to a position upon Laf
|