Family The Real Story Of The Bush Dynasty

CHAPTER ONE Flora Sheldon Bush was fuming. Her thirteen-year-old son, Prescott, was supposed to have spent that August of 1908 at a New Jersey sports resort with a classmate and his family. Flora's husband, Samuel Prescott Bush, had sent the boy there to play tennis, while Flora, their two daughters, Mary and Margaret, their younger son, Jim, Samuel's mother, Harriet, and the family nanny were spending the month at the East Bay Lodge in Osterville, Massachusetts. But Prescott had abruptly been sent home by his friend's mother, Mrs. Dods. Flora's regal mother-in-law, Harriet Fay Bush, urged her to demand an explanation and an apology from Mrs. Dods, but Flora, whose social instincts were unerring in these matters, restrained herself. "I am not ready for that," she wrote to her husband. "I think I may hear from Mrs. D. and if so, you must forward the letter . . . for nothing has ever happened that raised my indignation more than her summary dismissal of Prescott." A few days later Flora again mentioned her vexation: "Your mother is quite sure I ought to write Mrs. Dods. It scarcely seems right. I resent it all more than anything I have experienced." The unexpected change in Prescott's plans upset his father, who worried that the incident might have been Prescott's fault. If so, that might affect his acceptance into St. George's School in the fall. But after hearing her son's side of the story, Flora tried to assure her husband that the youngster was not entirely to blame: I am sorry you are disappointed in Prescott and yet I am not surprised. He is of course a boy of very tender years. And I sometimes have a feeling of great dread at sending him away to school and yet I do feel that the strict discipline may be just the thing. He was glad to get back to us again but he misses his sport at Osterville--There are no tennis courts here but poor grass ones--he said if he had his clubs he would play golf. The matter of Prescott's departure was finally cleared up when Samuel telegrammed Flora that the much-maligned Mrs. Dods had indeed written to explain herself. Samuel forwarded the letter from Ohio, and Flora was almost comforted to learn that Mrs. Dods had taken ill in New Jersey. "It was the only excuse I could possibly have accepted," she wrote. "Her letter was as satisfactory as anything could be + while I do not justify the haste I at least can appreciate her anxiety to get rid of the young company--as summer cottages are not the quiet hospitals one needs in case of illness." A few days later, Prescott received his golf clubs. And Samuel must have been somewhat reassured to receive a letter from his seventy-nine-year-old mother extolling the teenager, if not without reservation: I was much impressed with Prescott's appearance and manner as he jumped out of the carriage + came to speak to me--he is a handsome boy + a well developed figure for [illegible] growth. I trust the time will soon come when he will--if I can use the word--slough off the pernicious habit of fooling. If I had not seen its results in Aunt Virginia's family perhaps it would not seem to be so fraught with danger, but with you and Flora to guard him and the uniform discipline of a school he will doubtless find its disadvantages himself. It makes friends with the boys but antagonizes the teachers as I also know by personal experience but little can be done except . . . protect him until he is wise enough to check it. Grandmother Bush was more perceptive than perhaps even she could have realized. Her grandson's "pernicious habit of fooling" was something that would remain with him for years. At times, the result would be humorous; at other times, there would be serious repercussions. Prescott could simply not be suppressed. He possessed all the precocious gifts of a firstborn son who was indulged and adored bKelley, Kitty is the author of 'Family The Real Story Of The Bush Dynasty', published 2004 under ISBN 9780385503242 and ISBN 0385503245.