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.''