Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-07-22

exhibited that perfect etiquette which marks
the intercourse of the digniiicd and higll-brcd.
Commencing at seven and closing at ten, they
lent no more sanction to late hours thun levity
The first lady Of the nation preserved the habits
OF carly life. lndulging in no Incidence, she left
her pillow at dawn and after breakfast retired to
her chamber for an hour, for the studyofthe scrip
lures and devotion. This practice, during the
long period Of half century, was never omit
ted The duties of the sabbath were dear to
her. The President and herself attended pub
lie worship with the utmost regularity, and i'll
the evening TO read to her, in her chamber, the
scriptures and sermon.
The spring of 1867 opened for them with
the most pleasing anticipatlors. The cares of
high Office were resigned, and they were about
TO retire, for the remainder of their days to the
sprng-shadcs of Mount Vernon. The new turf
sprnging into fresh greenness wherever
they trod, the vcrna blossoms opened to receive
them, the warbled welcome oc the birds were
never more dear, as wearied with the tolls of
public life, and satatcd with its honors, they
returned to their rural retreat, hallowed by the
rccollections of earlier years and by the con-
seriousness of virtue.
But in two years Washington was no more.
The shock of his death, after an illness of only
twenty-four hours, fell like thunderbolt upon
the bereaved widow. The pety which had
long been Eer strength continued its support,
hut her hnart 1roopipp md tbouuh hor
cheertulness did not utterly forsake her, she dis
charged her habitual round ofduties, as one who
felt that glory had departed.
How beautiful and Characteristic was her re-
ply to the solicitations of the highest authority
of the nation, that the remains of her ilustri-
Gus husband might be removed to the seat of
government, and marble monument erected
to mark the spot of their repose.
Taught by the great example which have
had not long before, never to oppose my private
wishes to the will of my country, consent to
the request made by Congress and in doing
this need not. cannot, say what sacrifice of
individual feeling | make to sense of public
duty
The intention of the Congress of 1907 has
never been executed, nor the proposed monu-
ment erected. The enthusiasm of the time pas
sed away, and the many conflicting cares of a
great nation turned It's thought from thus per-
pctuating his memory, whose image, it trusted,
would be ever enshrined inthe hearts ofa great
people.
Scarcely two years of her lovely widowhood
were accomplished, ere the lady of Mount Yer
non found death approaching. Gathering her
family around her, she impressed on them the
value OF religion which she had tested from her
youth onward to hoary hairs. Then calmly
resigned her soul into the hands of him who
gave it, at the age of seventy, full of honors
she was laid in the tomb OF Washington.
| In this outline of the lncaments of Martha
| Washington, we perceive that it was neither
the beauty with which she was endowed, noI
the high station which she had attained, that
gave enduring lustre to her character, but hel
| Christian fidelity in those duties which deyolve
upon her sex. This fitted her to crradiatc the
home, to tighten the cares, to cheer the ankle
ties, to sublimate the cnjoyments of him who
in the expressive language of the Chief Justice
Mashall, was so favored of Heaven as to de
part without exhibiting the weaknesses of hu
manity.'