And this was about as near a complaint as the Father of his Country, and the father of all his poor relations, ever made.  In his ledger we find this item:  “By Miss Harriot Washington, gave her to buy wedding-clothes, $100.00.”  It supplied the great man joy to write that line, for it was the last of Harriot.  He furnished a fine wedding for her, and all the servants had a holiday, and Harriot and her unknown lover were happy ever afterwards—­so far as we know.

From Seventeen Hundred Fifty to Seventeen Hundred Fifty-nine, Washington was a soldier on the frontier, leaving Mount Vernon and all his business in charge of his brother John.  Between these two there was a genuine bond of affection.  To George this brother was always, “Dear Jack,” and when John married, George sends “respectful greetings to your Lady,” and afterwards “love to the little ones from their Uncle.”  And in one of the dark hours of the Revolution, George writes from New Jersey to this brother:  “God grant you health and happiness.  Nothing in this world would add so to mine as to be near you.”  John died in Seventeen Hundred Eighty-seven, and the President of the United States writes in simple, undisguised grief of “the death of my beloved brother.”

John’s eldest son, Bushrod, was Washington’s favorite nephew.  He took a lively interest in the boy’s career, and taking him to Philadelphia placed him in the law-office of Judge James Wilson.  He supplied Bushrod with funds, and wrote him many affectionate letters of advice, and several times made him a companion on journeys.  The boy proved worthy of it all, and developed into a strong and manly man—­quite the best of all Washington’s kinsfolk.  In later years, we find Washington asking his advice in legal matters and excusing himself for being such a “troublesome, non-paying client.”  In his will the “Honorable Bushrod Washington” is named as one of the executors, and to him Washington left his library and all his private papers, besides a share in the estate.  Such confidence was a fitting good-by from the great and loving heart of a father to a son full worthy of the highest trust.

Of Washington’s relations with his brother Charles, we know but little.  Charles was a plain, simple man who worked hard and raised a big family.  In his will Washington remembers them all, and one of the sons of Charles we know was appointed to a position upon Lafayette’s staff on Washington’s request.

The only one of Washington’s family that resembled him closely was his sister Betty.  The contour of her face was almost identical with his, and she was so proud of it that she often wore her hair in a queue and donned his hat and sword for the amusement of visitors.  Betty married Fielding Lewis, and two of her sons acted as private secretaries to Washington while he was President.  One of these sons—­Lawrence Lewis—­married Nellie Custis, the adopted daughter of Washington and granddaughter of Mrs. Washington, and the couple, by Washington’s will, became part-owners of Mount Vernon.  The man who can figure out the exact relationship of Nellie Custis’ children to Washington deserves a medal.