Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-11-03

inc only prospect ot enjoyment "a
which they looked forward in going
to the seat Of government
The opening Of his Inaugural Ad-
dress contains an allusion to this afllio.
ton
M coua;r5 men 1tisa relief 10 feel tha, no
heefl bu' my own can know the personal regret
ana Di'cr f'rrow over which have hcen borne 10
position ~ suitable Tor eihers rather than dcsi-
ratle Ia myself
A short time heiore they went on
to Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce
were riding out alone near Boston,
and Mrs. Pierce said 90, Franklin,
is II not strange that perhaps the on
ly two persons in the country VINO do
not want TO, are obliged TO 90 there z"
Mrs. Pierce was a lady of deep reli-
gions culture and earnest piciy, daugh-
ter Of Rev. DR. Appleton, President
of the Bowdon College. Mr. Pierce,
after the affective death Of his only
son aud child, (which was by rail
road accident, was led TO the cordial
embrace Of personal religion This
was at the vcsy beginning of bis Pres
idential term. lie at once became q
strict and consistent observer of the
Holy Sabbath, attending public wor-
ship regularly, refusing TO see eompa-
ny or attend 70 secular business. Tho
weekly religious lecture he attended
whenever it was possible, going ia
quietly and taking retired seat
| ] a N ~ - Ia
household were assembled in the libra
ry Of the mansion, and he read the
Scriptures and prayed with them
He frequently invited clergymen to
visit him, and whenever one was there,
he was made chaplain of the the house,
but otherwise, Mr. Pierce led in the
family devotions, and always Invoked
the divine blessing ai the table, what
ever guests were present.
spent a week at the White House
while Mr. Pierce was President. Usu-
ally halfa-dozen or more distinguish
ed men-Senators, Ministers, stran-
gers, were guests at dinner, Mr. Pierce
always called upon me TO ask the bles-
sing. One day he did so himself. but
Immediately turned 80 me and said /:
81 beg your pardon, ] forgot for the
moment" 1t was pleasant to notice
that the habit was so strong upon him.
Wines were on the table and three
or four glasses at every plate but his.
He drank nothing but water. In his
early public lie be had a proclivity to
the use of liquors, which he thorough.
" conquered, and became stern alb
stinent from Intoxicating drinks.
One day he took me into his bed
chamber His bed was removed u lit
. tic way from the wall, and he sat down
on the inside, while he removed a
white curtain from before picture
the portrait Of beautiful boy: his
son, bis only son bis son that was
killed Just US he was stepping into the
highest Office in the land 1--WE wept
together for some time IN silence Tho
picture told tho whole tale of disap-
pointmcnt, sorrow, and mute compan-
ionship. At length he said "All the
compensation Mrs. Pierce and had in
looking forward to this place was in
the future of this dear child; no
, thought of him in these rooms, and Of
our pleasures in bis, and What he
f might be in after life; but when he
was taken away, it was all over We
. would rather have gone anywhere
else, than TO come here"
Another day was his reception day,
: and he asked me to stand with him
and assist in receiving the guests Just
before l2-the hour Of reception-ho
called at my room and took me TO the
! East Room. where we walked up and
down until the doors should be thrown
, open to the public. | was thinking
how proud aud cnvlable the position
Of a man who is the bead of "a great
nation-the Chief Magistrate of mill
: ions of prosperous and happy people
: As if he were divining my thoughts,
f he passed his arm over my shoulder,
and, leaning upon me, he said "Afler
all, the man who breaches the Gospel
ann wins men to heaven has the high
est office on earth"
ii Rarely, if ever, in this or any other
/ country, have | met a gentleman Of
f more refined aud cultivated manners,
of more humane and tender feelings,
4 or Of higher or better purposes His
e gentle aud ussidnous attentions to bis
o invalid wife were beautiful, blending
the father and the lover, and shown
5 in the public and private alike, the
c habit OF his life
g One little incident will illustrate The
o man. ] was walking in Broadway
5 with him, on the Sabbath day. some
d yesrs after he was President, when Z
c last young man, driving a gay horse
c came dashing along. and the horse
r was suddenly pulled up in consequence
Y of the harness getting out Of order
}. We stepped into The street / tool
, .hc horse by the head, the President
e adjusted the harness with ready skill
n aud the yonth drove on with scarcely
}. an expression Of thanks. | said to Mr.
e Pierce "rhat young man will neve
h know that Ne was helped out of tha
; bya President Of the United States.
If He was fine scholar, accomplish
Y cd in his rhetoric, exceedingly happl
% IN brief addresses, and, in cnnversn
b. tion, easy, genial, humorous, an,
II agreeable. ! say nothing Of his politi
$. cal principles and official acts, becaus
my associations with him were purcl,
II OF social and religious nature M,
,e had no reference 10 public measures
,f sympathy in kindred sorrow led q
ID our acquaintance, ripeped into friend
,s ship which, trust, viii survive III
10 grave aud be renewed in heaven -
RI Nci0 York Obserref
A BAnY srAnnED TO TIE HEART
One Of the must singular acuiden
d. I ,Vn have hQarl 10 rarnrd for many