Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-29
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escape him, i will not be long" Then again
dropping on her knees, she sent searching
glance into the dark cavity which held her
last earthly treasure. ~
Her desire was obtained. The memory of
that look she felt, would dwell with her for
ever, and giving her hand to her mother she
suffered herself to be led INTERESTINGLY away.
Poor thing, said the sexton, audibly sigh
ing, half solliquising and half addressing me,
who stood weeping beside him, "she takes on
badly; it would be better that people should
make up their minds to the thing before COM
ing here, it is to little purpose grieving so.
This homely truth, coming as it did from
one incapable of Judging of the strength of a
mothers love, Jared upon my feelings, and |
directed his attention to the gate, toward which
an other funeral was approaching.
Here, too was an only child, but one Of
wealthy parentage. Unlike the former, long
line of carriages, with numerous train Of
mourners dressed in their sable vestments,
were seen following the hearse containing the
body on the way to its final resting place
Here was all the "pomp and circumstance"
ofwoe. Nothing had bee omitted that could
add to the impressiyeness of the scene. Here,
if may be allowed so to speak, was The pro-
pricty grief No outbreaks of nature to dis.
turb its striking solemnity. True, there was
at times an occasional smothered sob, coming
from the place where the mother stood,
cvincing how deeply she was suffering, tho at
the same time an observer might have noticed,
as the ceremonies proceeded an internal strug.
gle to subdue such plebian marks of anguish.
The coffin was deposited, the obsequies con-
cluded, and with the same measured tread with
which they had entered the grave yard, the
funeral trains disappeared
And here they lie, the richland the poor
Where now are the distinctions? The high
born maiden and the poor Widows only child
together rest, side by side upon the bosom of
our common mother earth; they both belong
to the family of the dead they both await, in
the city Of silence" the sound ofthe last trump
which shall call them into the presence of Him
who knows no distinction between the rich and
the poor.
Slowly wended my way homewards, chas-
tened, and trust improved, by this silent SER
mon in a grave yard the final home Of us ALL
"WHo is THE SOUTHERN MArRoN ?-The
Southern Matron' who set on foot the holy
and patriotic work of purchasing the home Of
Washington, and preserving it as shrine at
which Americans may strengthen their pa
triotism by contemplating the virtues Of the
Father of his Country, is a native daughter of
Of .oh.
mond, Va. She is not matron at all, but
maiden lady-Miss Cunningham, by name
and has, for years, been a confirmed invalid.
She has devoted hersefto the noble work, and
ispowerfuly seconded by other eminent women
of the South, among whom are Mrs. Cora
Richie, formerly Mrs. Mowatt, and Madame
LIE Vert the charming writer of Mobile, who
herself has raised $4,000. ."-St. Louis Neros.
We have the pleasure Of knowing Miss Cum
ningham, and it is indeed pleasure. She
has, as the st. Louis editor says, been an in
valid for years; she has never known health
since her early girlhood. She has suffered,
physically, long and much, yet she has borne
her sufferings with more than resignation.
They have given calm and sweet and beaut-
ful serenity to her pleasant and even joyous
countenancc, whilst they have etherealized and
exalted and cnnobed her mind. She seems not
to repine at her LOT, but to be happy in the cx-
crcisc Of the wondrous energy, with which,
even upon her bed of pain, she dcvotcs her
self to the great work of effecting the purchase
Of Mount Vernon.
Miss Cunningham's voice is as sweet as a
BIRDS her heart as fresh as a spring flower,
her spirit cheerful and enthusiastic, and her
conversation, hot only upon her favoritc theme,
but upon all others, glowing and eloquent. We
have loved to listen to her words Of lofty pa
triotism. Born and reared in South Carolina,
and related to some of the most distinguished
disunionists of the South, she early contracted
the southern contagion and longed for nothing
more ardently than for the secession Of her
native State even lift should secede alone. But,
when she became deeply interested in the char
actcr Of Washington, and began to dedicate her
self to the sacred work Of securing his tomb and
the home Of his living years as national shrine,
where all the pilgrims Of liberty might be free
to linger and worship, new and loftier spirit
took possession of her soul, and size gives to
the whole country the love and devotion that
she gave section. She earnestly believes that
the Union, if saved at all, must owe its saliva
ton to that deep love and reverence which the
general movement throughoutthc United States
for making Mount Vernon national Mecca
must tend to inspire in the hearts of our peo-
pie for the character Of Washington and his
patriotic counsels. Louisville Journal r
| Z ASHoRT CATECHrsa ADAPTED TO THE TINES
O Who was n contributing member Of the
States Hose? .Ha
A. Berrett. ... LEg..E
Q. Why was he a contributing member'
4. Because he is the friend Of claw and
| Ordnr