The True George Washington | Page 9

Patsy Custis put a termination to study, for Mrs. Washington
could not bear to have the lad at such a distance, and Washington "did
not care, as he is the last of the family, to push my opposition too far."
Accordingly, Jack returned to Virginia and promptly married.
The young couple were much at Mount Vernon from this time on, and
Washington wrote to "Dear Jack," "I am always pleased with yours and
Nelly's abidance at Mount Vernon." When the winter snows made the
siege of Boston purely passive, the couple journeyed with Mrs.
Washington to Cambridge, and visited at head-quarters for some
months. The arrival of children prevented the repetition of such visits,
but frequent letters, which rarely failed to send love to "Nelly and the
little girls," were exchanged. The acceptance of command compelled
Washington to resign the care of Custis's estate, for which service "I
have never charged him or his sister, from the day of my connexion
with them to this hour, one farthing for all the trouble I have had in
managing their estates, nor for any expense they have been to me,
notwithstanding some hundreds of pounds would not reimburse the
moneys I have actually paid in attending the public meetings in
Williamsburg to collect their debts, and transact these several matters
appertaining to the respective estates." Washington, however,
continued his advice as to its management, and in other letters advised
him concerning his conduct when Custis was elected a member of the
Virginia House of Delegates. In the siege of Yorktown Jack served as
an officer of militia, and the exposure proved too much for him.
Immediately after the surrender, news reached Washington of his
serious illness, and by riding thirty miles in one day he succeeded in
reaching Eltham in "time enough to see poor Mr. Custis breath his
last," leaving behind him "four lovely children, three girls and a boy."

Owing to his public employment, Washington refused to be guardian
for these "little ones," writing "that it would be injurious to the children
and madness in me, to undertake, as a principle, a trust which I could
not discharge. Such aid, however, as it ever may be with me to give to
the children especially the boy, I will afford with all my heart, and on
this assurance you may rely." Yet "from their earliest infancy" two of
Jack's children, George Washington Parke and Eleanor Parke Custis,
lived at Mount Vernon, for, as Washington wrote in his will, "it has
always been my intention, since my expectation of having issue has
ceased, to consider the grandchildren of my wife in the same light as
my own relations, and to act a friendly part by them." Though the cares
of war prevented his watching their property interests, his eight years'
absence could not make him forget them, and on his way to Annapolis,
in 1783, to tender Congress his resignation, he spent sundry hours of
his time in the purchase of gifts obviously intended to increase the joy
of his homecoming to the family circle at Mount Vernon; set forth in
his note-book as follows:
"By Sundries bo't. in Phil'a.
A Locket £5 5 3 Small Pockt. Books 1 10 3 Sashes 1 5 0 Dress Cap 2 8
Hatt 3 10 Handkerchief 1 Childrens Books 4 6 Whirligig 1 6 Fiddle 2 6
Quadrille Boxes 1 17 6."
Indeed, in every way Washington showed how entirely he considered
himself as a father, not merely speaking of them frequently as "the
children," but even alluding to himself in a letter to the boy as "your
papa." Both were much his companions during the Presidency. A
frequent sight in New York and Philadelphia was Washington taking
"exercise in the coach with Mrs. Washington and the two children," and
several times they were taken to the theatre and on picnics.
For Eleanor, or "Nelly," who grew into a great beauty, Washington
showed the utmost tenderness, and on occasion interfered to save her
from her grandmother, who at moments was inclined to be severe, in
one case to bring the storm upon himself. For her was bought a "Forte
piano," and later, at the cost of a thousand dollars, a very fine imported
harpsichord, and one of Washington's great pleasures was to have her
play and sing to him. His ledger constantly shows gifts to her ranging
from "The Wayworn traveller, a song for Miss Custis," to "a pr. of gold
eardrops" and a watch. The two corresponded. One letter from

Washington merits quotation:
[Illustration: ELLANOR (NELLY) CUSTIS]
"Let me touch a little now on your Georgetown ball, and happy, thrice
happy, for the fair who assembled on the occasion, that there was a man
to spare; for had there been 79 ladies and only 78 gentlemen,