CHAPTER X
Itseemed to George that he had not been in bed an hour before he heard, in the gray glimmer of dawn, Billy’s voice, crying:
“Chris’mus. Marse George. Chris’mus! an’ jes listen to dem niggers singin’ under de winder!” Although a sound sleeper, George always waked quickly, and in an instant he recognized the Christmas melody that floated upward from the ground outside. A dozen or so of the field-hands were marching around the house just as the first faint grayness of the Christmas Day appeared, and singing, in their rich, sweet, untrained voices, a song with the merry refrain,
“White folks, black folks, Chris’mus am heah,An’ Chris’mus comes but oncet a year,An’ dis is Chris’mus mawnin’!”
“White folks, black folks, Chris’mus am heah,An’ Chris’mus comes but oncet a year,An’ dis is Chris’mus mawnin’!”
“White folks, black folks, Chris’mus am heah,
An’ Chris’mus comes but oncet a year,
An’ dis is Chris’mus mawnin’!”
Sounds showed that the house was stirring. Laurence Washington, as the master, had to dress and go down-stairs to give the singers the treat they expected. Betty got up and dressedherself at the first sound, and, tapping on George’s door, called softly, “Merry Christmas, George!” Nobody could sleep much after that, and soon after sunrise everybody was up, and “Merry Christmas” resounded through the whole house. The negroes were most vociferous, as this was their favorite holiday, and no work, except the feeding of the stock and the cutting of wood, was to be done for several days—that is, as long as the back log on the Christmas fire remained unconsumed. The putting of this log on the fire was an annual ceremony that George thought most amusing. The English officers thought so, too, and watched it with the greatest interest. Before breakfast was served, when all the guests were assembled in the hall, Uncle Manuel, the butler, who was very tall and very black, and who wore, on great occasions, a pair of scarlet satin knee-breeches that had once belonged to Laurence Washington, appeared and announced, with a condescending smile, that “de boys” had come with the back log.
Amid much grinning and shoving and jostling and chuckling four stalwart negro men walked in the house carrying a huge log, which was placed at the back of the great fireplace, upon the tall iron fire-dogs. It was of unseasoned black gum, a wood hard to burn at all times, andthis particular log had been well soaked in a neighboring swamp. It was the privilege of the negroes to select the back log, and although the masters and mistresses knew perfectly well that everything was done to make it as non-combustible as possible, the plantation joke was to pretend that it was as dry as a bone and would burn like tinder.
“We fotch you a mighty fine back lorg dis time, mistis,” grinned the head man. “Hit gwi’ bu’n same like lightwood.” At which Mrs. Washington looked grave, as she was expected to look, while a general guffaw went around among the negroes.
“I ’spect we ain’ gwi’ to have no holiday ’tall ef we has to go ter wuk as soon as dis heah lorg bu’n up,” chuckled another.
“’Tain’ gwi’ lars’ mo’n fer Christmas Day!”
“I think I saw a black gum log soaking in the swamp a few days ago,” said Laurence, smiling at the grinning faces before him; but there was a chorus immediately:
“Naw, suh; dis lorg ain’ never had a drap o’ water on it, an’ we all’s been dryin’ it fer a whole mont’.” The log was then steaming like a tea-kettle, and the negroes yah-yahed with delight at the ready acceptance of theirruse.
“Very well, then,” cried Laurence Washington;“you can all have holiday until this log is burned out, and if I am not mistaken it will last the week through!”
Immediately after breakfast horses were brought out, and the great coach, and several gigs and chaises, to take a party to old Pohick Church. There was to be a service, however, on theBellona, and the “church flag” was flying from her peak. Admiral Vernon invited George to go with him on board the ship. They went to the landing, where the captain’s gig awaited them. On board theBellona, everything was as clean as hands could make it, the ship was dressed, and the men, being excused from work that day, were in their Sunday clothes and prepared for their holiday.
The service, performed by the chaplain, was held upon the gun-deck. Four hundred sailors, in spotless clothing and each with a sprig of mistletoe in his glazed hat, were assembled, seated on capstan-bars, which made improvised benches. In front of them their officers were assembled, the captain at their head, while in front of the officers were the admiral and his guests. Never had George seen a more beautiful and reverent service. The sailors were reminded of their homes in green England, far away, and every heart was softened by the recollection.The officers needed no reminder of their families and friends at home, and all felt drawn together in sympathy at their common separation from those dearest to them.
After the service the admiral took George over the ship, showing him all the beauty and strength of her. The boy gazed with wonder and delight at her trim yards, her immaculate decks, and at the rows of menacing guns in her batteries. Until then he had strongly inclined to the army, but in the first flush of his new enthusiasm he longed to be a naval officer. There were several midshipmen of his own age on board, to whom the admiral introduced him, and George yearned, boy fashion, to wear a smart uniform like theirs, and to carry a midshipman’s dirk. He said little; his enthusiasms were all of that silent kind which burn the more furiously because their blaze is concealed. But the moment he reached the house, after leaving the ship, he went straight to his brother Laurence’s study, and marched in with this bold announcement:
“Brother Laurence, I want to serve in the king’s navy.”
Laurence looked up smiling at George’s earnest face, in which a fixed purpose was plainly seen.
“I should have preferred the army for you,” responded Laurence. “But if a youngsterwillserve in the king’s navy, in the king’s navy he must serve.”
“And will you get me my warrant?” eagerly asked George.
“The fact is,” continued Laurence, “I have a midshipman’s warrant offered me for you at this very time. Admiral Vernon has the privilege of nominating a midshipman on theBellona, and some days ago, in speaking of your arrival, he asked me, as my old friend, if it would be agreeable to my family to appoint you in his majesty’s naval service. I told him I had not yet consulted with Madam Washington, but I had no doubt whatever that it would be highly agreeable to her, and the admiral assured me that it would be at my service at any time.”
George stood perfectly breathless with surprise. His first thought was that surely he was the most fortunate boy in the world. At that moment there was a knock at the door and Admiral Vernon entered.
“Ah, admiral!” cried Laurence, “you see before you a very happy lad. He is overjoyed at the notion of entering the naval service.”
“It would be a thousand pities to lose so fine a fellow from the king’s navy,” said the admiral,smiling. George wished to thank him, but when he tried to speak he felt a choking sensation, albeit he was so happy. It was so exactly what he wanted at that very time; and how few there are who get what they want before the wish for it has departed!
All the rest of that day George felt as if he were walking on air. He made plans for his whole life ahead, and already saw himself an admiral. He thought it would not be right to speak of this beautiful plan for him to any one until his mother knew it, and so he would give no hint to Betty, or even tell it, as he longed to do, to Billy. But when in his room in the afternoon, before the Christmas dinner, Rattler jumped upon him and licked his hands, George could not forbear whispering to him: “Good dog, your master will soon be a midshipman!” He had gone to his room to carry out his intention of reading every day something out of a useful book; but his heart was too full to read, and his book lay unopened while he sat before the fire in a happy dream, slowly passing Rattler’s silky ears through his hand. From his chair he could see through his window the handsome frigate lying motionless in the stream. Some of the men were dancing on the fok’sle to the sound of a fiddle and tambour played by two of the crew.In George’s eyes, infatuated as he was with the navy, she was the stateliest beauty of a ship he had ever seen, and he thought every man on her must be altogether happy.
At five o’clock there was a grand Christmas dinner. The ladies wore their gayest gowns, the officers were in full uniform, and the other gentlemen present were in all the splendor of velvet coats and breeches and ruffled shirts. There was much laughter and many toasts, and at the end of the dinner Uncle Manuel, gorgeous in his scarlet silk breeches, entered, bearing aloft, on a huge platter, a plum-pudding blazing with blue flames, and with sprigs of mistletoe stuck in it. Afterwards, in the hall, came off the ceremony of placing the branch of mistletoe on the lantern that hung from the ceiling. Then there was great jollity and a merry scramble, for, according to the hearty custom of the time, any lady caught under the mistletoe could be kissed by any gentleman who caught her. George and William Fairfax secretly longed to act the mannish part and join in the sport, but both felt quite overcome with bashfulness at the idea, and only watched the gay doings from afar. Not so Betty, who quite assumed the young lady, and who not only treated William Fairfax as if he had been an infant, but gave herself lofty airs towardsGeorge, whom she had heretofore regarded with the greatest respect. Then, soon after dark, the coaches of the neighboring gentry drove up with the guests. In the hall the negro fiddlers were in great force, and sawed the air from eight o’clock in the evening until daylight next morning. Besides the minuet and rigadoon there were jigs and reels, and at last everybody, young and old, danced Sir Roger de Coverley, while the candles sputtered in their sockets and the chickens crowed outside. George danced all night with the greatest enjoyment, not finding any difficulty in obtaining partners, all of the ladies being willing to dance with so handsome a stripling. Among the guests who came from a distance was a remarkably pretty young girl of about George’s age, Miss Martha Dandridge. With her George danced Sir Roger de Coverley, going down the middle swinging partners, and making the grand march to the music of the crashing fiddles and dancing feet. When at last it was over, and in the gray dawn the coaches and chaises rattled off, and the ball was over, George thought it was the finest ball he had ever seen in his life.
SHE WAS THE STATELIEST BEAUTY OF A SHIP HE HAD EVER SEEN“SHE WAS THE STATELIEST BEAUTY OF A SHIP HE HAD EVER SEEN”
“SHE WAS THE STATELIEST BEAUTY OF A SHIP HE HAD EVER SEEN”
“SHE WAS THE STATELIEST BEAUTY OF A SHIP HE HAD EVER SEEN”
For a week gayety and jollity prevailed at Mount Vernon. There were fox-hunts, when the huntsmen assembled by daybreak, and thewinding of the horns, and the hounds with tongues tuned like bells, echoed across the river and among the hills; and after a day’s hard riding there would be a jolly dinner and dancing afterwards. Then there was a great party aboard of theBellona, where the decorations were all of flags and warlike emblems. George’s enthusiasm for the navy did not decrease in the least, but rather gained by being in company with so many officers, and feeling obliged to keep his delightful secret of a promised commission to himself. He became friends with the midshipmen, and in his heart he enjoyed more his visits to the cockpit, with all its discomforts, than the luxury of the admiral’s cabin and the comfort of the wardroom. He was never weary of listening to the officers telling of their adventures; and his expressive young face, with the blood coming and going like a girl’s, showed his overpowering interest in what he heard. No real doubt of his mother’s consent entered his mind; and if the thought occasionally crossed him that her consent must be asked and might not be given, he dismissed it, as all young and ardent natures dismiss unpleasant possibilities.
Among the quieter pleasures which he had at this time was that of making friends with littleMildred, the two-year-old daughter to which his brother and sister were so devoted. They had lost three other children; and in a time of the utmost sadness after their deaths, when Laurence Washington realized his own delicate constitution, and the chances that none of his children might live, he had made his will, giving Mount Vernon and all he had, if he should leave no children, to George. But this little one bade fair to grow up into a healthy and happy child.
Betty, who was by nature a little mother, was never more at home than when she had charge of the child, and could take as good care of her as any grown person. George, on the contrary, although his heart went out to the little girl, regarded her as a piece of china that might be broken by touching her. But Mildred took a violent fancy to him, and was never so happy as when carried about in his strong young arms, or sitting on his knee while he made rabbits out of his handkerchief and pictures out of the shadows on the wall, and was ready to do anything and to give her anything that would amuse her. He had never been thrown with a child of that age before, and regarded every instance of her baby cleverness as the most extraordinary thing in the world, to the amusement of his brother and sister.
The year before George had found William Fairfax a delightful boyish companion, but this year, with his new experiences, and the company of the young officers on theBellona, George unconsciously neglected him. But William, who had a sweet and forgiving nature, showed no ill-humor over it, and said to himself: “Never mind; when the ship goes away, and all the visitors, George will again find me good company.”
And such was the case. On the morning that theBellonaloosed her top-sail, as a sign that she was about to trip her anchor, George felt utterly forlorn. He wondered how he should get through the time until he could go to Ferry Farm and, securing his mother’s consent, join the ship before she sailed from the Chesapeake. So eager was he that Laurence, in the goodness of his heart, had ordered, at his own expense, George’s uniforms to be made in Alexandria, and he was given his side-arms from the stores on board theBellona. George in fancy already saw himself Midshipman Washington. Admiral Vernon, on parting, had said some kind words to him which sank deep in his heart. “I shall look forward with pleasure to your joining, Mr. Washington,” he said. “It is just such youngsters as you that we want in the navy.” George thanked him with shining eyes.
On a bleak January day theBellonawent out. George watched from the shore as long as he could see her, and sighed as he turned back to the house. On his way back he was joined by William Fairfax.
“George,” said William, diffidently, “I am afraid we are not as good friends as we were last year.”
“Why?” asked George, in surprise. He had almost forgotten William’s existence in the last few busy and exciting days, and he had felt so immeasurably older than he that companionship seemed out of the question.
“Because,” said William, “you do not seem to care for my company any longer.”
George stopped, and his heart and his conscience smote him. William was his sister’s cousin and his brother’s guest, and he had been neglected by both George and Betty; for Betty had grown about ten years, in her own estimation, since dancing with officers and being allowed to come to the first table. George thought this rather ridiculous of Betty; but was it not equally ridiculous of him to lord it over William, as if there were twenty years between them, instead of William being actually older than he?
“I see how it is, William,” said George, aftera pause. “I dare say I have often made a fool of myself in this last week, talking to men as if I were their equal, and to boys of my own age as if I were a man. But, although you may laugh at me, I do feel a great deal older in the last two months—I suppose because I have been with men like Lord Fairfax and Lance, and then Admiral Vernon and his officers. But if you will be friends again with me I will promise not to treat you as I have done, and I acknowledge it was not very gentlemanly of me.”
William was of too gentle a nature to resist this, and the two boys in five minutes were as good friends as ever. George recalled how silently William had borne neglect, how ready he had been to be friends again, and he wondered if he himself had so much generosity.
The house seemed strangely quiet after all the company had left, and there were no more routs and balls and romping and hunting. Snow had fallen, and George and Betty were waiting for good weather before attempting the journey back to Ferry Farm. George spoke to Betty about William, acknowledging that he had been as much to blame as she; and Betty, being of a generous nature, felt ashamed of herself, with the result that William enjoyed the latterpart of the time much more than the first. But he was destined to have one more clash with George before their friendship became so firmly cemented that it lasted during the whole of their lives.