Letters to His Children — 27. Charms Of Valley Forge, Washington's Companions At Valley Forge

DEAREST ETHEL:

I think you are a little trump and I love your letter, and the way you take care of the children and keep down the expenses and cook bread and are just your own blessed busy cunning self.

You would have enjoyed being at Valley Forge with us on Sunday.

It is a beautiful place, and, of course, full of historic associations.

The garden here is lovely.

A

pair of warbling vireos have built in a linden and sing all the time.

The lindens, by the way, are in bloom, and Massachusetts Avenue is fragrant with them.

The magnolias are all in bloom, too, and the jasmine on the porch.

WASHINGTON'S COMPANIONS AT VALLEY FORGE

White House, June 21, 1904. DEAR TED:

Mother and I had a most lovely ride the other day, way up beyond Sligo Creek to what is called North-west Branch, at Burnt Mills, where is a beautiful gorge, deep and narrow, with great boulders and even cliffs.

Excepting Great Falls it is the most beautiful place around here.

Mother scrambled among the cliffs in her riding habit, very pretty and most interesting.

The roads were good and some of the scenery really beautiful.

We were gone four hours, half an hour being occupied with the scrambling in the gorge.

Saturday we went to the wedding of Teddy Douglas and Helen.

It was a beautiful wedding in every way and I am very fond of both of them.

Sunday we spent at Attorney-General Knox's at Valley Forge, and most unexpectedly I had to deliver a little address at the church in the afternoon, as they are trying to build a memorial to Washington.

Think of the fact that in Washington's army that winter among the junior officers were Alexander Hamilton, Monroe and Marshall--a future President of the United States, the future Chief Justice who was to do such wonderful work for our Government, and the man of most brilliant mind--Hamilton--whom we have ever developed in this country.