There was something in his manner which naturally pleased everyone without his making an effort; at the same time a dignity and reserve which commanded respect and precluded anything like undue familiarity. All desirable qualities seemed united in him to render him popular. It was wonderful to observe--in the evenings when his parlors were overflowing with people, young and old, from every conceivable place--how by a word, a smile, a shake of the hand, he managed to give _all_ pleasure and satisfaction, each going away charmed with him. The applause of men excited in him no vanity; for those around soon learned that the slightest allusion or compliment, in his presence, to his valor or renown, instead of pleasing, rather offended him. Without vanity, he was equally without selfishness. One day, observing several quaint articles of furniture about his house, and asking Mrs. Lee where they came from, she told me that an old lady in New York city--of whom neither herself nor the general had ever before heard--concluded to break up housekeeping. Having no family, and not wishing to sell or remove her furniture to a boarding-house, she determined to give it to "the _greatest living man_" and that man was General Lee. She wrote a letter asking his acceptance of the present, requesting that, if his house was already furnished and he had no room, he would use the articles about his college. The boxes arrived. But--such was his reluctance at receiving gifts--weeks passed and he neither had them opened nor brought to his house from the express office. Finally, as their house was quite bare of furniture, Mrs. Lee begged him to allow her to have them opened, and he consented. First there was among the contents a beautiful carpet large enough for two rooms, at which she was delighted, as they had none. But the general, seeing it, quickly said: "That is the very thing for the floor of the new chapel! It must be put there." Next were two sofas and a set of chairs. "The very things we want," again exclaimed the general, "for the platform of the new chapel!" Then they unpacked a sideboard. "This will do _very well_," said the general, "to be placed in the basement of the chapel to hold the college papers!" And so with everything the lady had sent, only keeping for his own house the articles which could not possibly be used for the college or chapel,--a quaint work-table, an ornamental clock, and some old-fashioned preserve-dishes--although his own house was then bare enough, and the donor had particularly requested that only those articles which they did not need at their home should go to the college.