St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-08-10
the LATE MRS. SEWARD. .
Letter II om MRS. Jane G: swisshel,


THE LATE MRS. SEWARD. i
Letter II om Mrs. Jane G.. swisshelna.i
Correspondence cfthe Pittsburgh Commercial.
WAsH1sGros, July 20, 1865.
I" The pail of silence which has fallen upon
the grave of Mrs. Seward is still more re-
markable than the unobtrusive quiet of her
life, and / trust it is not idle curiosity
which makes me more anxious to know her
history than that Of any woman whose
name have ever heard. III mistake not
her example is one which the women of
this country cannot afford to lose an | in
hope 1t may induce some one who knew her
10 give US some incidents in her honorable
life, let me tell you the little, the very little
! know. .::-i..- - ,s:...
When L went. into Campbell Hospital,
after the battle of CAancellorsyille, and call
ed upon the public for fruit acids as an an
tidote to thirst and hospital gangrene the
first contribution I received was from Mrs
Frederick Seward. lt~as accompanied by
. note asking me tosend to her when any
thing special was wanted Some one, that
supposed knew, told me that this Mrs.
Frederick Seward was the wife of nephew
Of The Secretary of State, who, being 4
batchelor. had this lad. to preside over his
home. She afterwards called at MY rooms,
and at Mr.. Stewards house, on. hospital
business, supposing she was Mr.. Stewards
niece by marriage. until the following win
ter, when there was much trouble in the
contraband camps. Among the teachers
was a quakeress, from central New York,
one Of those women who left homes o
wealth and refinement to live in camp, cab
in, andbarrack, to distribute clothing, books:
encouragement, and instruction amongst
those scattered and bereaved people. We
were one day in troubled council on one Of
the many wrongs which had sstnbbornly re-
fused toabe righted.so:It was hard to ask
Secretary Stanton to give the time necessa
~ to understand the case, while his ante
room was constantly thronged with persons
waiting on important business. What to
do.owasthe question. Folding her hands
in her lap, and looking down thoughtfLlly,
this lady soliloquized: ,s.If Mrs. Seward
was only here" =. -.....< -. ...oz...,
"What Mrs. Seward ?"
''Mrs. Secretary Seward !'' she answered
abstractedly, and kept OF thinking. -'
My exclamation of fshrprise aroused her,
and her surprise at my ignorance was equal
to mine at her Information A question as
to the presentability of that lady, since
such a person did actually exist, started her
TO talk as had never before heard her.
She described Mrs. Seward as one Of the
excellent of the earth, q woman of wonder
full intellectual power, and great breadth
of attainment-the5 companion, confident
counsellor Of her husband-one who read
his written speeches before slle printer, saw
them, and gave an opinion which he valued
ui.yAS fAAs.aA Guy OtA = i Wv :4gSu oAU
fdigested long, .tiresome documents, and
gave him the substance in few moments.
freside chat, thus contributing largely to
that fund Of, information vich distinguish
ed Mr.. Seward. She WAS his t.higher law
adviser, and whenever his po6eysfell below
I that standard q he had differed with her in
opinion: she, ever regarded the right as
the expedient or, in other words. aimed
always t. wwaik in the narrow path straight
toward .'the mark for the prize Of the high
calling which is IN Christ Jesus, our Lord. .,
/ In dress and manner this tried described
her as simple, and unostentatious to singu-
larity. A smart mechanic's wife would
notahave exchanged wardrobes viii. her,
and milliners' apprentices looked at her in
plying wonder for her lost opportunities,
a ten days after this conversation Mrs.
Seward returned from Auburn, but her arr
rival was rot publicly announced: The
contraband trouble was explained to her,
and . short note of modest request from
her to one in authority removed the difficult
ty ybsfosewkehwe had been standing in
dism.H After that, whensI, heard people
remark that the!ssEsrqs gave no receptions
have thought Of : little teacher Of contra
bands, IN the magnificent costume Of q: mix
ed straw IL bonnet and brown ribbons, dark
woolen dress and shawl, and heavy shoes
having a marks Of .'aaered soil.' With little
travelling basket On her arm going 70 Mrs,
ssw.FFda,lss 3D. house ho in The cleaning. weary,
hungry. ;ddiissh1eeartened, 81 81 e and footsore ;and
finding reception, /, !, bath : dinnsr, bed,
: breakfast, 9 long comforting talk, note
to remove her overhanging mountain. and
,s~' her lightened itsp i She returned 70
her duties rejoicing. never heard swkat