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An old view of the Mansion, Mount lc’rnon BY ESTELLE HARRIS. “God rest you, merrie gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Christ, the Lord of Bethlehem, Was born on Christmas day!” HRISTMAS, Mount Vernon, carols, egg-nog, Chrismus-gil’, Marsa, and Tank yo', Missis; children, toys, and Christmas dinner—could there be > more. fascinating words? . ““December 25th. Christmas day, fine and @lear,” begins George Washington in his diary. For this most wonderful day in the world ‘was at Mount Vernon an especially happy time for a great many reasons. It was more a day of re- joicing and- the pleasures of home than the day for giving and getting. P Never could there have been a more perfect setting for the proper observance of the great festival. To be sure, the estate of this great man was a small principality, and few people can arrange their days so pleasantly and satis- factorily, but the spirit that always pervaded Mount Vernon is a good one to follow. The unremitting efforts of George and Martha Washington had much to do with the success of their home. The simple, homely virtues, honesty, industry, punctuality, order, hospi- tality in and out of season made Mount Vernon the ideal home. . During these early American days the cus- toms for the observance of holidays and festive occasions were naturally very similar to those In Virginia hospitality, religious observance, the Yule log and merriment for the servitors, whether free white, bond or slaves, were more the order than Kris Kringle and Christmas Clear thinker that Washington was, his first The sad thing about his life was that not even all his holidays were passed at this beloved home. THE first Christmas spent at Mount Vernon by its future owner was in the year 1747, with his elder half-brother, Lawrence Wash- ington. Here the young lad was initialed into the English manner of living, his brother hav- ing married Anne Fairfax, whose family, at Greenway Court nearby, remained English to the core, and drank to the king’s health long after the Revolution. - After the early death of this beloved brother and his only child, George Washington con- tinued to spend the greater part of his holidays with the family at Greenway Court, but only a few years elapsed after his establishment as the owner of Mount Vernon before he accepted the call to defend his country under Gen. Brad- dock. When he came home for good, as he thought, from this service he brought with him a legacy from Gen. Braddock—the good servitor Thomas Bishop. who waited on George Washington with rare devotion as long as life permitted. It was Bishop who held the horses and who arrayed George Washington in all his wedding bravery. Not perhaps the most splendid and notable Christmasses at Mount Vernon—those came after the Revolution and when he had returned later still from the Presidency, secure forever as the deliver of their country and the first and carefree at Mount Vernon were those fol- lowing his marriage to the eminently attractive and worthy Martha Custis, when he had the two little children to make Christmas ‘for him and he for.them. There was no half-way business about this man. When he married the mother, the children became his to love and cherish. This renowned man found his greatest happiness in his home and family. Had the lines “Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest: Home-keeping hearts are happiest” been written in his time Washington would have loved them. He never left his home without great regret and never returned without the greatest delight. Mount Vernon began to grow, the acreage in- creased, farm after farm was laid off, and the house became a mansion, filled with beautiful things, the intelligent owner realizing that the purchase of the best only is true economy. It was not, however, until after the Revolution that Mount Vernon attained its full glory. These were busy years, requiring unerring judg- ment and the great industry of the master to make the land support the three hundred and odd slaves and the numerous bonded and free white employes necessary. The tobacco crop, the crop that made America so dear to England, was depended on to bring the choicest of English supplies, necessities and luxuries, clothing, food, books, toys, furniture as its ex- change value. Historians consider that Martha Washington was perhaps too dotingly fond and indulgent, both to her children and grandchildren when their turn came, and instance her husband as the perfect parent, wise, loving, lenient if pos- sible, and always with an understanding heart. China presented to Martha W ashisgton by Lafayette and used at Mownz Vernon. Christmas at THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHI A From the Diary of George Washingto FHome on the Potomac, Where He A Genial and Hospitable Bost, ¢ Occagion of Gay and Colorf Miniature of John Parke Custis om Ivory. (From original.) The welfare and happiness of these two little children was most dear to him, and their needs and desires always received the most active consideration. A sweet, happy home, peace, plenty, children and friends. Certain it is that, though sometimes found awe-inspiring and unapproachable by those not intimately connected with him, Washingten was most considerate of the rights of others and recognized by children as their friend. Afar off little ones were taught to say his name in reverence, but those within his eircle sat on his knee and were told Aesop’s Fables and Cinderella to their hearts’ content. C!{RISTMAS at Mount Vernon and Christ- mas the child-world over were the same. " Delightful surprises hid in the old rooms and the same ancient but ever-satisfying gifts of a jack knife to the boy and a doll baby to the girl, and homemade mints that (soaked in French brandy from the liquor chest) might be used for a pleasant remedy for Christmas pains in the middle of the night! Home grown and homemade gifts from the mansion servants— an old mammy doll with a wizened carved face that was once a hickory nut until oper- ated on by Uncle Tom’s fish knife, or a willow bow with a peacock’s quill for an arrow—and substantial gifts from the mother’s box. Not that Martha Washington kept her “Widow Custis money”; she seems to haye’ A Christmas Rece, merged hevself and her belongings with those of George Washington. There is a quaint entry in the diary which states “4£ for spending money furnished Mrs. Washington.” This was to spend when she went a-shopping in Alex- andria. Such shopping was only for emergencies, when something had gone wrong with the orders sent to England. Early in September, when the shipment of tobacco had been made, careful and explicit orders had been sent fof pumps, gloves, mitts, fans, stays, aprons (if fashionable) and many other things considered appropriate for a little lady of high standing at the tender age of 4 years, and this list further included a fashionably dressed baby and other toys for Miss Patsy Custis, while young John Parke Custis was to have silver buckles, a whole bolt of hair riband, six little books and certain toys. Confectionery was not to be found at every corner store even in the City of Alex- andria, and boxes of sweetmeats from London were ordered for special days. If a service was held in Truro Parish and the weather permitted Mr. and Miss Custis were taken to it and sat on little stools in that famous front pew and “behaved themselves handsomely.” Christmas day, however, was primarily for home celebration. Earlier in the, century the strict Virginia laws had been eny forced rigidly, but in George Washington’s day enforcement had become a trifle lax. No one was jailed or placed in the stocks, but to be- absent from Sunday morning service was to depart from grace. e On this happy day largesse and special con- sideration were given every one on the place— managers, overseers, free whites and bonded servants and the large number of slaves. The slaves were not of Washington’s choosing, but he did not see his way to free them, for they had intermarried with the “Dower” Negroes, as he termed the ones coming from the Custis estate, and they would have been like canaries shut out of a well supplied cage. They were freed by his will. Happy, carefree creatures they were at Mount Vernon, comfortably clothed, and housed and provided with a doctor