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 The Visit of Lafayette
 
 THE VISIT OF 
 LAFAYETTE 
 
 The Old Housekeeper's Sto?y 
 
 BY 
 
 LUCIA GRAY SWETT 
 
 Author of " Sisters of Keparutrice " 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 LEE AND SHl'l'ARD 
 
 1903
 
 Copyright, 1903, 
 By Lucia Gray Swett, 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 THE VISIT OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Published, October, IQ03. 
 
 llncklBtll anb Cfeurcbill ^nss 
 
 BOSTON
 
 The portrait of General Lafayette, from zvhich this picture 
 
 was photographed, is in the Lee Memorial Chapel of the 
 
 Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, 
 
 and by the kind permission of Dr. Denny, President of the 
 
 University, we are permitted to use it for our frontispiece. 
 
 This and a very fine portrait of General Washington were 
 
 presented to the University i>)' General George Washington 
 
 Custis Lee, the eldest son of General Robert E. Lee, and 
 
 they were inherited by him from his grandfather, who was 
 
 the grandson of Martha Washington. This picture was 
 
 painted for General Washington and probably presented to 
 
 him by General Lafayette. The artist was Charles Wilson 
 
 Peak, the father of Rembrandt Peale, and usually known 
 
 as the Elder Peale.
 
 
 HIS picture of Geqeral Lafayette \^as copied froDq 
 oqe of a pair of rqedallioqs, etcl:]ir\gs or) tt\e 
 — bacK of a pair of loqg -wi^ite Kid gloves. 
 Tt\e gloves were woq frorri Geqeral Lafayette by Miss 
 Eliza Roarie ov\ a t]orserace at Fairfield, r|ear Ricl^iriorid, 
 Yirgiqia, iq 1824. Miss Roar^e -was afterward Mrs. filbert 
 G. Ruffir), arid l^er secoqd tiusbaqd was Goverqor McDonald, 
 of Georgia. 
 
 Miss Eliza McDonald Ruffin, of fllben\arie Courity, Yir- 
 giqia, is rioW tl^e possessor of tl|ese gloves, ar[d it is to 
 \\eT kindriess tl|at I owe \\\e above picture. Miss Ruffiq 
 is a great-great-grariddaugl:\ter of Tbiorqas cJeffersor\, ar\d 
 it Was at l]is tiorqe, Moqticello, iq fllbecqarle Couqty, tlriat 
 Lafayette paid t\is faii\ous visit to <Jeffersor\.
 
 The Visit of Lafayette 
 
 '\ li TELL have I known the old house in 
 New Hampshire where the house- 
 keeper's story was told ; where President 
 Monroe visited in July, 1817, and General 
 Lafayette in June, 1825. A great, square, 
 colonial house, standing high on terraces, 
 roses and honeysuckle climbing up the pillars 
 of its porch. An ideal New England borne, 
 with its large, sunny rooms and long hall 
 opening upon the garden.
 
 Here the housekeeper, who lived to be 
 ninety-five years old, had spent the greater 
 part of her life, and for three generations the 
 children of the family had loved to listen to 
 her stories. They were usually told winter 
 evenings, in the larger and pleasanter of the 
 great kitchens where she ruled supreme, — 
 and a good rule the children thought it, for 
 no one could make such sweets and pasties, 
 and no child who had been familiar with the 
 quaint old cupboard under the stairs could 
 ever forget its mingled fragrance of pound- 
 cake, gingerbread, and crullers. 
 
 The favorite story was always " The Visit 
 of Lafayette," and the childcn loved to hear 
 
 8
 
 about tlie great supper, and of the huge 
 pkuu-cake, which was so hirge that it had 
 taken two whole days to bake, and how when 
 Phito Wahh-on, the old colored servant, or 
 Plate, as he was called, had proudly carried 
 it in, Lafayette turned to his hostess and said, 
 " Madame, I presume that cake was made in 
 my honor ; therefore I will take a piece." 
 And then would come accounts of the pro- 
 cession, and of the " thirty young gentlemen 
 from fifteen to twenty years of age, in uni- 
 form dres.s, and mounted, who added much 
 to the interest of the scene." And the 
 stories she had heard about the great banquet 
 in the town hall, and of the toasts, of which
 
 there were sixteen, for after the thirteen 
 customary toasts in honor of the thirteen 
 orig^inal States, three additional ones were 
 given : the first by George Washington 
 Lafayette, the second by the Secretary of 
 General Lafayette, Monsieur Levasseur, and 
 the third by S. Mitchell, Esq., which the 
 children thought the best of all : 
 
 '' The Major-Generals of our Revolutionary 
 Army, the chief cohimns that sustained Lib- 
 erty's Temple throughout the war of Inde- 
 pendence ; Rest to the fallen ; Health to 
 Lafayette, the last chief column standing." 
 
 lO
 
 The Visit of Lafayette 
 
 \ li THEN the old housekeeper was sitting, 
 
 Winter evenings by the fire, 
 Rocking and nodding o'er her knitting, 
 Whilst the great oak logs blazed higher, 
 
 As though tr3hig to drive from its place 
 The gleam of the candle-light mild, 
 Which sofLl}- fell on the thoughtful face 
 Of a beautiful dark-eyed child ; 
 
 II
 
 And when the tall clock, ticking, ticking, 
 Would seem trying to do its best 
 To keep time with the needles' clicking. 
 There came ever the same request : 
 
 " Tell me the story, oh, dear Dame Dean ! 
 That I love and will ne'er forget, 
 About the wonderful things you've seen, 
 And the visit of Lafayette." 
 
 Then the child drew her chair still nearer, 
 ^yhile the Dame gazed long in the blaze, 
 As if to find there for her hearer 
 All the splendors of other days. 
 
 12
 
 •• Little Mary, the great doings then ! 
 The like we shall never more see, 
 For those good times cannot come again, 
 But their mem'ry's ever with me. 
 
 By bells and by cannon that morning 
 We were wakened long before light, 
 And eau'erlv watched for the dawning 
 Which brought the day clear, warm, and 
 bright. 
 
 At six o'clock they began to come. 
 People gath'ring from far and near. 
 Till we scarcely knew our quiet home ; 
 I've heard full ten thousand were here. 
 
 13
 
 There were some who'd walked twelve miles 
 
 or more, 
 But they heeded not tired feet, 
 For they gladly would have walked a score, 
 Their hero to see and to greet. 
 
 From rich and poor alike came flowers, 
 And each one lent a helping hand, 
 Till the whole house was filled with bowers — 
 One wandered through a fairyland. 
 
 Lafayette's room was ready for days, 
 The great room with canopied bed, — 
 Where evenings your Aunt often stays, 
 And her portrait hangs overhead. 
 
 H
 
 His son's room the west chamber we call, 
 Tt looked on the garden and pond. 
 With landscapes painted over the wall ; 
 Then rooms for their suite were beyond. 
 
 At ten o'clock came sounds of cheering, 
 With music, and drum's martial beat ; 
 I knew the procession was nearing, 
 And hastened out into the street. 
 
 There were carts with flags and flowers 
 
 wound, 
 Drawn by oxen with ribbons bright, 
 That came for miles from the country round 
 Bringing pretty girls dressed in white. 
 
 15
 
 The bells in the steeples were ringing, 
 And everywhere one was met 
 By bands of children gayly singing, 
 ' Welcome ! Welcome to Lafayette ! ' 
 
 The windows and porches were crowded. 
 The joy of the da}^ never waned. 
 Its happiness was not once clouded ; 
 Devotion and gratitude reigned. 
 
 Our flag and the French flag were entwined 
 All across the triumphal arch. 
 And banners, mottoes, and emblems lined 
 The way along which they would march. 
 
 16
 
 Then soon I saw the epaulets shine 
 
 On the handsome uniforms new, 
 
 Of the artilleiy down the line, 
 
 And the Strafford Guards were in view. 
 
 A finer company I've ne'er known, 
 And the Marslial riding- ahead. 
 Then all gallantly marching as one, 
 Came the Rockingham Guards well led. 
 
 The bands played ' Welcome to Lafayette,' 
 It was a stirring martial air. 
 To a good old tune it had been set. 
 And one heard it everywhere. 
 
 17
 
 I'd hoped lie'd wear his uniform best, 
 Like a Marquis and General grand ; 
 But instead he was quite plainly dressed, 
 And carried his hat in his hand. 
 
 Waving it right and left while they cheered. 
 I, too, cheered as well as I could, 
 And saw as soon as his carriage neared, 
 That he looked most kindly and good. 
 
 I saw him well in spite of the throng ; , 
 In an open barouche he rode. 
 And as he bowed at the cheering long, 
 It seemed littk; his years he showed. 
 
 18
 
 Yet it made me marvel when I thous-ht 
 
 Of the stories I'd heard and read, 
 
 That told how he'd suffered, marched, and 
 
 fought, 
 And of the Olmiitz prison dread. 
 
 How often still in my dreams at night 
 The song of the children I liear, 
 With sound of the buo-les clear and liu^ht. 
 And the voices of people near ! 
 
 ' It's a proud time for our Granite State,' 
 1 could hear an old neighbor say, 
 ' And I shall not know at anv rate 
 AnuLher such glorious day.
 
 ' His Secretary, Levasseur, 's there — 
 I mean that man comely and slight ; 
 He'll win the hearts of the ladies fair ; 
 And who's that on the General's ris-ht ? ' 
 
 ' George Washington Lafayette, his son, 
 God bless him ! for he's been well named,' 
 And I w^as turning to see w^hich one. 
 When a woman next me exclaimed, 
 
 'There's my man John, the first of those 
 
 four. 
 And doesn't he look In^ave and fine ! 
 Marching just as when the Hag he bore 
 At the battle of Brandywine ! 
 
 20
 
 ' He has good courage ! Yes, there they go/ 
 
 And I saw a battle flag; borne 
 
 By a little old man, white as snow, 
 
 His army coat faded and worn. 
 
 Then came splendidly mounted young men, 
 Many citizens carriages brought, 
 And soldiers, proud to see him again — 
 Their General with whom they once fought ! 
 
 But, ah ! I knew it was growing late, 
 That to hasten huuje would be I'ight, 
 And I'd the promise of helping wait 
 
 At the supper party that night. 
 
 21
 
 To leave was harder than words can tell, 
 I was young then and lively, too, 
 My pink frock I knew became me well, 
 And the sights were not yet half through. 
 
 Lafayette was expected at three, 
 And all was in readiness then ; 
 At six o'clock was served a grand tea, 
 But supper was not until ten. 
 
 A stately picture our Madam made ; 
 
 We thought none with her covdd compare 
 
 In her lilac and silver l)r()cade, 
 
 And lace cap on her dark l)r()wii hair. 
 
 22
 
 Then there were the beauties, the cousins, 
 Miss Mollie could sing like a bird, 
 Miss Polly had suitors by dozens, 
 The toast of the County, I've heard. 
 
 Miss Rachel, whether sad or merry, 
 
 A sweeter voice I never hear. 
 
 And Miss Jeannette with lauc^h so cheerv — 
 
 CD \j 
 
 They're silent now this many a year. 
 
 And then Miss Hetty, with winning charm. 
 Came fresh as a morning'' in May, 
 A basket of flowers on her arm. 
 And looking so joyous and gay. 
 
 23
 
 In her gown of white, and strings of peai'ls 
 That fastened her girdle of bhie, 
 And held the coiul) in her shining curls, 
 She was truly pretty to view. 
 
 Then quite demurely she showed us how 
 She had learned a bit of a speech. 
 To make with a courtesy deep and low. 
 And a nosegay ready for each. 
 
 'Tis a custom still you know ne'er fails, 
 And not only on days of state. 
 But there nev^er was guest of Squire Hale's 
 That had ever l)een known to wait; 
 
 24
 
 The whole of the household, high and low. 
 Would be gathered about the door, 
 And they made a pleasant, goodly show ; 
 Alas, then there were many more ! 
 
 There were bright eyes that sparkled and 
 
 danced, 
 Soft cheeks that, like roses, were red ; 
 And 'twas not at the flowers he glanced, 
 When the Geucral smilingly said : 
 
 ' I have entered a land of roses ! ' 
 
 But your little Aunt did not speak. 
 
 And blushed and looked (Icjwn at her posies, 
 
 Not as britrht as those in her cheek. 
 
 25
 
 As soon as the twilight was ended, 
 With lights the whole town was ablaze, 
 Countless torches and fireworks splendid, 
 While the bands played • The Marseillaise.' 
 
 And the crowd grew ever greater yet. 
 Till their cheering the echoes woke, 
 For a speech or word from Lafayette, 
 But he turned to his host and spoke : 
 
 ' Will you thank them for their welcome, 
 
 Sir?' 
 Then he said with his pleasant smile, 
 'Truly, kinder hearts there never were ! 
 Yet I needs must rest for a while.' 
 
 26
 
 And with speeches and crowds for weeks past. 
 Journeys to tire the strongest men, 
 Is it strange he was weary at last? 
 He was near three-score years and ten. 
 
 But at supper once more he seemed young, 
 And e'en now I love to recall 
 How then, as he moved the guests among. 
 He'd a kind, thoughtful word for all. 
 
 In truth, I've heard he was always so, 
 And liad nice pleasing things to say. 
 That helped to gladden the world, although, 
 Perhaps, 'twas his pretty French way. 
 
 27
 
 Miss Rachel was the evening's queen, 
 The wonder of all the grand folk, 
 With her Lafayette was often seen. 
 And in French together they spoke. 
 
 She'd a voice like the sweetest singer, 
 And though I could not understand. 
 Yet I could not forbear to linger, 
 For it seemed like some foreign land. 
 
 Two hundred guests were asked to the feast, 
 Which indeed was a banquet fine, 
 And although my part had been the least, 
 I thought all the glory was mine. 
 
 28
 
 •« 
 
 Many had over ten miles to ride, 
 lint canie in good cheer none the less, 
 Whilst the ladies with each other vied 
 In the elegance of their dress. 
 
 There were high, carved combs on ringlets 
 
 set. 
 Rare old laces and satin gowns, 
 For the beanty and fashion were met 
 From our own and adjacent towns. 
 
 And they shone m the soft, glowing light, 
 For a myriad candles Ijurned ; 
 A great company gathered that night, 
 But all eyes to Lafayette tui'ncd. 
 
 29
 
 Amonu; those who'd come to the meetmo; 
 Were old soldiers loyal and brave, 
 And there ne'er was more heartfelt greeting 
 Than their General to each one gave. 
 
 One could see stern faces grow brighter. 
 Once more in his presence rejoice, 
 As thoug-h ag;e and care became lighter 
 At the sound of their hero's voice. 
 
 The next day when about to depart, 
 And when for farewell all were met, 
 Lafayette's kind way won ev'ry heart. 
 His words one could never forget ; 
 
 30
 
 Then over our Macluiu's hand, quite low 
 He witli courtly grace bowed liis head, 
 And they were just preparing to go, 
 Wlien ' But where\s Levasseur ? ' he said. 
 
 It was not for nie to be talking, 
 And no more did I care to say ; 
 With Miss Hetty I'd seen liiin walking, 
 Turning down the long garden way ; 
 
 I 
 
 I saw them pause where the pansies grew, 
 I could see the red rose she wore, 
 As he stooped down to gather a few. 
 And then they strolled on as before. 
 
 31
 
 Yet at the last I was sent to look, 
 
 When t]ie\'d called and he was not found ; 
 
 They may have thought that some time it 
 
 took, 
 For I chose the longest way round. 
 
 Down through the lilies and purple phlox, 
 Where to-day the apple boughs bend, 
 And through the alley of hollyhocks, 
 To the myrtle walk at the end. 
 
 But T forget, you never have seen 
 The garden that I alwa3^s knew, 
 Fit for the garden of any queen, 
 Till the new street cut its way through. 
 
 32
 
 With arbors, and pond, and chestnut trees, 
 Tlic honeysuckles loved so well 
 By the humming-birds and honey-bees, 
 And the hedgi-e where the robins dwell. 
 
 o 
 
 No llowers can cMjual, to my mind. 
 Those old-fashioned fav'rites now rare. 
 And een late in the lull one could find 
 Some blossoms still lingering there. 
 
 They were resting on the pleasant seat 
 'Neath the great spreading linden ti-ee, 
 Where good James Dean and I used to meet. 
 Just where I had thought they would be. 
 
 ?,^
 
 But soon as I heard their laughter gay 
 And saw them so truly content, 
 I quite forgot what I came to say 
 And wished I had never been sent. 
 
 Miss Hetty ne'er looked fairer to me, 
 In her frock with white satin bows, 
 Yet one thing I could not help but see, 
 'Twas he who was wearing the rose. 
 
 And now, good-night ; there's no more to 
 
 hear," 
 The Dame laid her work in her lap, 
 Then said : " Go ask your Aunt Hetty, dear," 
 As she closed her eyes for a nap. 
 
 34
 
 "Go ask your Aunty," again she said, 
 But the housekeeper was alone, 
 Her listener had already fled 
 And up the winding stairway gone, 
 
 Through the long corridor was flitting 
 Like a small phantom in the gloom, 
 To where she knew her Aunt was sitting 
 In the great, silent, lonely room. 
 
 To her it was not silent or sad, 
 For voices the child did not know 
 Came each with its echo, faint yet glad, 
 Sent back from the years long ago. 
 
 35
 
 In the shadows were happy faces, 
 
 In the fire-light memories dear, 
 
 And bright forms came to find loved places — 
 
 She was never alone when here. 
 
 "Aunty, do you think Dame Dean quite 
 
 knows ? 
 Were you ever so gay and fair ? 
 Did the Frenchman really wear the rose ? 
 Had you pearls in yoin^ gown and hair ? " 
 
 " Yes, dear, the story must be the truth," 
 And then she glanced up at the face 
 In the portrait of her radiant youth, 
 With its charm of beauty and grace, 
 
 36
 
 Whose glp.d eyes met the eyes that had wept ; 
 But the child did not heed the ghiiice. 
 " Do you think the rose he always kept 
 And carried it with him to France ? 
 
 In some French book has it long been pressed, 
 Some quaint book with curious name, 
 And nobody there has ever guessed 
 Its story, or knows why it came ? 
 
 Or dreams that in such a far-off land, 
 It once bloomed with the roses red ?" 
 And the child stooped down and kissed her 
 
 hand. 
 But the little Aunt nothing said, 
 
 37
 
 For her thoughts had wandered far away, 
 And she smiled, but was silent yet ; 
 They had gone to find that happy day 
 With the visit of Lafayette. 
 
 38
 
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