t without a mild, and
well-merited reproof, in which he playfully reminded me of my "Virginia
pride."

And thus it ever was, my dear children, with your honored
grandfather. Firm in principle--kind in action; but most kind to
those who had the first and highest claim upon him. Never afraid of
compromising his dignity or position as head of his family, he always
retained it unabated. How unlike some men, who, by attempting to
maintain their rights by an overbearing, arbitrary manner, and harsh
and unbecoming words, evince a weakness which makes them contemptible,
if not in the estimation of the wife and children, at least so in that
of others, who plainly discern that littleness, in some shape or other,
and not manly dignity and good sense, places them in their unenviable
position of "master of my own house."

And yet how much do I regret, now, when it is too late to remedy
it, that I did not, readily and cheerfully, accede to every wish of
this dear friend, whose truly consistent and beautiful character shone
out most clearly at home. How much do I regret now, that I should have
allowed his few little foibles to annoy me. The greatest of these, and
the one that caused more unpleasant words between us than any and all
things else, was his carelessness in dress. I do not know that I am
scrupulously neat, but I did pride myself in the personal appearance of
my husband, which was sometimes seriously marred by an unshaved beard
or a soiled shirt. We were once traveling on a steamboat, and,
standing on the guards, I discovered him on the wheel-house, and called
to him to come to me. A lady asked if "that old gentleman" was my
husband, and said: "You look so young, I am surprised that you should
have married so old a man." She seemed to be an unoffending,
simple-hearted woman, such as we frequently meet in traveling, and I
replied, with a smile, "He suits me very well, ma'am;" but made use of
the earliest opportunity to tell him of it--really taking pleasure in
doing so--for I had often expressed my own views on that subject,
assuring him that he looked at least twenty years older when he
neglected to dress with care, especially if he had not shaved.

Next morning he paid particular attention to making his toilet,
declaring it to be his intention "to create a sensation," which he
certainly succeeded in doing, much to our mutual amusement; for the
same lady, eyeing him closely at breakfast; expressed to me afterward