In one of her letters she tells of a visit "in Westmoreland whare I spent a weak very agreabley.

I carred my little patt with me and left Jackey at home for a trial to see how well I coud stay without him though we ware gon but won fortnight I was quite impatiant to get home.

If I at aney time heard the doggs barke or a noise out, I thought thair was a person sent for me.

I often fancied he was sick or some accident had happened to him so that I think it is impossible for me to leave him as long as Mr.Washington must stay when he comes down." Any parent who has been absent from home under similar circumstances and who has imagined the infinite variety of dreadful things that might befall a loved child will sympathize with the mother's heart--in spite of the poor spelling! Patty Custis was an amiable and beautiful girl who when she grew up came to be called "the dark lady." But she was delicate in health.

Some writers have said that she had consumption, but as her stepfather repeatedly called it "Fits," I think it is certain that it was some form of epilepsy.