But not with joy and gratitude was the news received by old Lord Fairfax, who had given Washington his first opportunity in life. He had liked the fifteen-year-old lad, had taught him to follow the hounds, and been his cordial friend as long as he fought for the Crown. Lord Fairfax, "the Nimrod of Greenway Court," was now ninety-two years old. "When he heard," says the irrepressible Parson Weems, "that Washington had captured Cornwallis and all his army, he called to his black waiter: 'Come, Joe! Carry me to bed, for it is high time for me to die.'" "Then up rose Joe, all at the word And took his master's arm. And thus to bed he softly laid The Lord of Greenway farm. "There oft he called on Britain's name And oft he wept full sore. Then sighed, 'Thy will, O Lord, be done,' And word spake never more." The old Royalist's heart had broken with grief and disappointment. But how was the aged mother to hear the news? Would her heart break with the sudden access of joy? Washington himself despatched a courier to her with the news of the surrender. She raised her hands to heaven and exclaimed with the deepest fervor:-- "Thank God! Thank God! All the fighting and killing is over. The war is ended and now we shall have peace and happiness." [Illustration: GREENWAY COURT.] Mindful of her age her son would not come to her suddenly and unheralded. He could not come immediately. He had to attend to the distribution of ordnance and stores, the departure of prisoners, the embarkation of troops, to say nothing of the courtesies of the hour--such as the selection of two beautiful horses as a present to De Grasse, who did not sail until Nov. 4. He was then summoned in haste to Eltham, the seat of his old friend Colonel Bassett, there to fold his tender arms around the dying form of Parke Custis and receive his last breath. Years before, he had thus comforted the sweet young sister, "Patsy Custis," in her last hour. Martha Washington, the mother, and the wife and four children of Parke Custis (who was only twenty-eight years old) were all at Eltham, and with them Washington remained until the last tribute of respect was paid to the deceased. And that he might comfort his wife and help the young widow, he then and there adopted George Washington Parke Custis and Nellie Custis into his family. From Eltham he proceeded immediately on pressing business with Congress at Philadelphia, and not until Nov. 11 did he reach Fredericksburg. CHAPTER VII "ON WITH THE DANCE, LET JOY BE UNCONFINED"