The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-25
American women-The elder Mrs. Adams.

American WOmen-Ihc
Perhaps our annals, rich beyond comparison In
female WORTH furnish no brighter example OF an
American woman, than the wife OF the elder John
Adams The following brief "reminiscences from
the letter OF vlser TO the old family mansion al
Quincy, in the n. Y. Express, may lead our read
ers TO a more intimate acquaintance with her char
acter:
The family home, the small family estate, al
most the whole family business was managed by
the prudent wife and the thoughtful mother, and n
very small farm and fortune cultivated and hus-
banded that IL yielded enough for present support,
and something to spare for the days of declining
life.
The separations of husband and wife became
more frequent, beginning in the circuits OF the
county courts, increasing in the absences of rep
reservations in Congress, and closing with putting
broad ocean, covered with enemies, between
those whose hearts and homes centred in the same
fond circle OF these separations Mrs. Adams
wrote, in letter to one of her grand daughters,
in long years after, (the Goth October, lSl4.)
Yesterday completes half a century since en-
tered the married state then just your age have
great cause of thankfuness that have lived SO
long, and enjoyed 50 large portion OF happiness
as has been my lot. The greatest source of un-
happiness l have ever known in that period has
arisen from the long and cruel separations 10 which
was called, in time of war, and with young
family had TO submit TO-"
For the last seventeen years of her life, Mrs. Adj
ans lived in Quincy beloved by all who knew her,
and happier far, though always cheerful, in pri
vate life than she had ever been as the always re-
spected and often brilliant of the honors of
high official station Through her whole life in
deed, she bore a buoyant spirit, and wisely for us
all She writes TO one: 81 am mortal enemy to
any thing but cheerful countenance and merry
heart, which Solomon tells does good like a
medicine"
When John Adams was conducted TO the Presi-
dental office her feelings altogether sympa-
thetic and religious, and her language that Of
prayer for her country's honor and the success of
her husband in the administration upon which he
had entered. Four years after, when the scenes
had shifted from success to disappointment. owing
10 occurrences familiar enough to the reader of
political history, but which had their sting in the
remembrance of the wrongs of the times, real or
ancied she writes with the highest moral courage
and the greatest self-respect
eff did not rise with dignity can al least fall
with ease, which is the more difficult task. feel
not any resentments against those who coming
into power, and only wish the future administra-
ton of the Government may be productive of
the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the nation
as the two former ones have been. leave to time
the unfolding of the drama"
The next scene of interest is Quincy amidst the
verdure of the grass the flowers, the vegetable
world, the abundant hay crop and the busy life of
the farm, where Mrs Adams is acting the part of
the farmers wife This is in 1901. Eight years
later she writes to a sister wise lesson for many,
but all do not heed it, 1t is this:
"Ossian says age is unlovely. When look in
my glass do not wonder at the story related of the
celebrated painter Zeuxls who died OF laughing at
a comical picture he had made of old woman.
II our glass latters in youth, it tells truths
in age. The cold hand of death has frozen up some
of the streams of early friendships; the congo
lation is gaining upon our vital powers and mark
ing US for the tomb No man ever pros
pered in the world without the consent and coop
Grafton of his wife. | consider il as an
inestimabe requisite that every American wife
should herself know how to order and regulate her
family; how to govern her domestics and train up
her children. For this purpose the all wise Crea
tor made woman an help meet for man, and she
who fails in those duties does the end of
Creation / have frequently said to
my friends, when they have thought me overbur-
dened with care, would rather have too much
than too little. Life stagnaes without action. |
could never bear merely TO vegetate:
Waters stagnate when they cease to flow"
Nine years later and the curtain falls upon this
noble woman. The church walls here upon the
right of the pulpit bear ample testimony of the
virtues of the deceased The insc rption from the
pen of John Quincy Adams, and chronicles the
virtues Of father and mother upon the same page.
Both repose in the tomb and place is re-
served upon the left of the pulpit for the late John
Quincy Adams, and his companion of so many
| years, when she shall be summoned to her earthly
habitation.