Recollections and Letters | Page 9

what had
occurred.
By this time I had become old enough to have a room to myself, and, to
encourage me in being useful and practical, my father made me attend
to it, just as the cadets had to do with their quarters in barracks and in
camp. He at first even went through the form of inspecting it, to see if I
had performed my duty properly, and I think I enjoyed this until the
novelty wore off. However, I was kept at it, becoming in time very
proficient, and the knowledge so acquired has been of great use to me
all through life.
My father always encouraged me in every healthy outdoor exercise and
sport. He taught me to ride, constantly giving me minute instructions,
with the reasons for them. He gave me my first sled, and sometimes
used to come out where we boys were coasting to look on. He gave me
my first pair of skates, and placed me in the care of a trustworthy
person, inquiring regularly how I progressed. It was the same with
swimming, which he was very anxious I should learn in a proper
manner. Professor Bailey had a son about my age, now himself a
professor at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, who became
my great chum. I took my first lesson in the water with him, under the
direction and supervision of his father. My father inquired constantly
how I was getting along, and made me describe exactly my method and
stroke, explaining to me what he considered the best way to swim, and
the reasons therefor.
I went to day-school at West Point, and had always a sympathetic
helper in my father. often he would come into the room where I studied
at night, and, sitting down by me, would show me how to overcome a
hard sentence in my Latin reader or a difficult sum in arithmetic, not by
giving me the translation of the troublesome sentence or the answer to
the sum, but by showing me, step by step, the way to the right solutions.
He was very patient, very loving, very good to me, and I remember
trying my best to please him in my studies. When I was able to bring
home a good report from my teacher, he was greatly pleased, and
showed it in his eye and voice, but he always insisted that I should get

the "maximum," that he would never be perfectly satisfied with less.
That I did sometimes win it, deservedly, I know was due to his
judicious and wise method of exciting my ambition and perseverance. I
have endeavoured to show how fond my father was of his children, and
as the best picture I can offer of his loving, tender devotion to us all, I
give here a letter from him written about this time to one of his
daughters who was staying with our grandmother, Mrs. Custis, at
Arlington:
"West Point, February 25, 1853
"My Precious Annie: I take advantage of your gracious permission to
write to you, and there is no telling how far my feelings might carry
men were I not limited by the conveyance furnished by the Mim's [His
pet name for my mother] letter, which lies before me, and which must,
the Mim says so, go in this morning's mail. But my limited time does
not diminish my affection for you, Annie, nor prevent my thinking of
you and wishing for you. I long to see you through the dilatory nights.
At dawn when I rise, and all day, my thoughts revert to you in
expressions that you cannot hear or I repeat. I hope you will always
appear to me as you are now painted on my heart, and that you will
endeavor to improve and so conduct yourself as to make you happy and
me joyful all our lives. Diligent and earnest attention to ALL your
duties can only accomplish this. I am told you are growing very tall,
and I hope very straight. I do not know what the Cadets will say if the
Superintendent's CHILDREN do not practice what he demands of them.
They will naturally say he had better attend to his own before he
corrects other people's children, and as he permits his to stoop it is hard
he will not allow them. You and Agnes [His third daughter] must not,
therefore, bring me into discredit with my young friends, or give them
reason to think that I require more of them than of my own. I presume
your mother has told all about us, our neighbors, and our affairs. And
indeed she may have done that and not said much either, so far as I
know. But we are all well and have much to be grateful