Personal appearance of Mrs. Custis—Introduced to Colonel
Washington—Traditions relating to their first interview—The
body-servant’s long wait for his master’s appearance—His orders
to put up the horses for the night—The wooing of the soldier
lover—Returns from the seat of government to offer
himself—Engagement—Marriage—The wedding at the “White House”—The
Virginia home of the bride—A most joyous and happy event—The
girlhood of Martha Dandridge—The belle of Williamsburg—Her first
marriage—Death of her eldest son—Colonel Custis—His fine
character and romantic nature—Happy married life with him—Left
with two children—She manages her estate after her husband’s
death—Residence near her father’s home—Twenty-six years old when
she becomes Mrs. Washington—Had never known care or poverty—Her
high social position—Removal to Mount Vernon—Again the mistress
of a wealthy planter’s home—Often with Washington in Williamsburg
while he was a member of the Legislature—Her life a happy
one—Washington’s great consideration for her—Only letter
preserved that was written by him to her—Mrs. Washington before
her death destroyed all her letters—This one overlooked—His
assurance that he is unwilling to part with her and their
children, at the time that he is made Commander-in-Chief of the
Continental Army—His only unhappiness due to her loneliness—Urges
her to be content, and not complain of what he could not
avoid—Makes his will in her favor, and hopes that his “dear
Patsy” is pleased with its provisions—Her visits to him—Travels
in her private carriage to his head-quarters each year—The
servants wish his return home—Washington anxious about her, and
after her arrival sent letters of thanks to all who had been
attentive to her—The officers glad to see her—Once insulted in
Philadelphia through party bitterness—Sensitive to her husband’s
fair fame—Mrs. Washington not fond of dress—The spinning wheels
and looms in her house—Washington’s inaugural suit the handiwork
of his household—She wears “a simple russet gown and white
handkerchief about her neck” to a ball given in her honor—Two of
her dresses woven from the ravelings of brown silk stockings and
old crimson chair-covers—Washington’s return to Mount
Vernon—called again from his retirement—Mrs. Washington’s
crowning glory—Some other attributes—Her life an interesting one,
viewed historically—Mrs. Washington not much of a reader—A good
daughter and mother, but not a notable housekeeper—Her husband
the manager of the establishment—The children governed by him—A
source of regret that he had no sons and daughters—His countrymen
glad that there was no parental tie to divert him from his public
service—Death of Miss Custis—John Parke Custis with General
Washington—His young wife and children at Mount Vernon—Mrs.
Washington at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–78—Death of
her son—General Washington adopts her two grandchildren, and
returns to Mount Vernon with the mourners—Mrs. Washington’s first
reception as wife of the Chief Magistrate—Pleased with her lofty
position—The levees held at the Republican Court—The residence of
the President in New York—The etiquette of the mansion—Mrs.
Washington’s views on the subject of her elevation—A letter to a
friend, in which her philosophy is shown—Removal of seat of
government to Philadelphia—Letter of the Rev. Ashbel Green—Mrs.
Washington again at Mount Vernon—The President rents a house in
Market street between Fifth and Sixth, and furnishes it
handsomely—Return of the President and Mrs. Washington from Mount
Vernon—Congress assembles—Mrs. Washington’s drawing-rooms held on
Friday evenings—Early hours for retiring—She tells her company
that her husband retired at “ten” and she followed very soon
afterward—Stiffness and formality of the drawing-rooms—How Mrs.
Washington received—No hand-shaking in those days—The
grandchildren of Mrs. Washington—Mrs. Robert Morris receives with
Mrs. Washington—The Marchioness d’Yuro—The first levee in
Philadelphia the most brilliant occasion of the kind ever known
in this country—Recollections of Mrs. Binney—Mrs. Washington’s
punctuality in returning calls—Her manners easy and
pleasant—Makes tea and coffee for an English guest—Her plain cap
and gray hairs, as described by this visitor—Return to Mount
Vernon—The old life resumed—Washington lays out the future
capital—The “White House” named in honor of the former home of
his wife—The building afterward partly burned by the
British—Anecdote of “obstinate” David Burns—“What would
Washington have been if he hadn’t married the Widow
Custis?”—Mount Vernon thronged with visitors—Closing years of
Washington’s life—His death in 1799—Grief of Mrs.
Washington—Refuses to be comforted—Never re-enters the chamber in
which he died—Congress passes resolutions of respect and
condolence—Entreats Mrs. Washington’s consent to the interment of
the remains in Washington—She gives reluctant consent to the
request—Remains interred at Mount Vernon, where they are now—Mrs.
Washington’s resemblance to her husband—Her dependence upon his
guidance and love—Her appearance at this time—Serene of
countenance—A devoted Christian—His death a fatal blow—Her death
two and a half years later—Their bodies side by side—Visit of
Lafayette to Mount Vernon in 1826—Visit of Albert Prince of
Wales, in 1860, in company with President Buchanan—Description of
the place as it appeared before its restoration 39