Washington's Modesty
by Henry Cabot Lodge
Washington as soon as Fort Duquesne
had fallen
hurried home, resigned his commission, and was
married. The sunshine and glitter of the wedding
day must have appeared to Washington deeply
appropriate, for he certainly seemed to have all
that heart of man could desire. Just twenty-seven, in the
first flush of young manhood, keen
of sense and yet wise in experience, life must have
looked very fair and smiling. He had left the
army with a well-earned fame, and had come
home to take the wife of his choice, and enjoy the
good will and respect of all men.
While away on his last campaign
he had been elected a member of the House of Burgesses,
and when he took his seat, on removing to Williamsburg,
three months after his marriage, Mr. Robinson, the Speaker,
thanked him publicly in eloquent words for his services
to the country.
Washington rose to reply, but
he was so utterly unable to talk about himself that he
stood before the House stammering and blushing until
the Speaker said:
"Sit down, Mr. Washington, your
modesty equals your valor, and that surpasses the power
of any language I possess.'' |
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