Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-09
The Life OF = Noble Woman.

Is = ~.
The Life OF Noble Woman.
MARGARET EILBURS-AMIDoN.
We have received a copy OF the Proceedings
Commemorative of the Life and Services of Mrs.
Margaret Milburn-AmdOn, late Principal Of the
Female Grammar school in the Fourth District,
Washington, D. G."
proceedings in South Washington, the admir-
able memorial address on the life and services
of Mrs.. Amidon by Samuel Yorke Alice Esq,
and remarks on the same occasion by Rev. DR.
Samsop, u. Z. Wight and j. o. WILSON,
The pamphlet Is issued in excellent STYLE by
jos l. Pearson, and has phOtogTap portrait
u Mrs. Amidon, afiordng a good remembr ance
Of her pleasant, thoughtful face.
From Dir. AtLee's Biographical sketch of Mrs
Anidon We take the following interesting par
uculars:
and Alice Milburn, was the nth Of seven chill
sren, and was born in Alexandria, Va. on the
list day OF January, 1877. Her father, George
Milburn, a native of Dumfries, Scotland came
TO this country when boy. and settled in Alex
dria- Her mother, Alice Miburn, was also q
resident in Alexandria, and descendant Of an
English family which came 70 Virginia soon
Of the same name, but neither could trace aAy
soEsanguinity between their families. Marga-
ret lost her mother soon after her sixth year,
and she became fafherless live years Afterwards
Meanwhile her fathers second marriage gave
Margaret new mother. so that at his death
che did not consider herself an orphan Be
tween this mother and herself there was always
the most devoted affection. Named after her
then aunt, at her baptism into the New ,Jerusa-
lem tSwedenborgian) Church, Margaret learned
70 expect her caresses, and to enioy her love
from her earliest remembrance until this earthly
relationship was severed by her decease, on the
ID OF December last, q period of nearly forty
three wears.
Margaret was first placed under instruction In
An infant school at four years of age. She
learned rapidly, and comforted her mother in
ser last sickness, by her considerable tlial ASST
duty, and by reading aloud to her from the New
Testament at her bedside. She was next nunil
Of Mrs Hunt; and, afterwards, of Mrs Tbomp-
son, whose son. John E. Thompson, perpetuates
ty-fve years, been a teacher in our public
schools. Margaret and Mr.. THOMPSON were
thus schoolmates; and, in after life, occupied
1ne same building as teachers for fifteen years.
They were each emulous of the other but their
rivalry had no enmity in 1t; and not for an
hour, IN all that time, was their friendship in
terrupted. Her last preceptOr was Mr. Wilson,
Who became afterwards a teacher in the public
schools, and was fayorably known by MANY OF
cur old citizens "
Soon after leaving Mr.. WIS school she opened
q ssnool nersen. Young as she was at that time,
about sixteen years, sac had the faculty of Sc,
curing the respect of her pupils; and her love
OF order and gentle manners won their ohe-
1ence and affection Her success In her pro.
Iessioh sCon obtained general commentator
anu Dy the advice OF her friends she offered
herself as candidate for employment in our
public schools. She passed the examination be-
lore the Board of Trustees and was elected in
le4S 10 the charge of q primary school in the
fourth district. In this position She Remained
enhancing her reputation, until her promotion,
IN iso4, 10 the grammar school OF the same dis
trict, which she occupied until her decease
IN Dece mber, 1852, she was married to Mr..
Hollis Amidon, of this city, a gentleman who
- uuiy appreciated her character that he never
Ought 10 uissuade her from a vocation that had
become identified with her happiness.
- 80. 20 10. teacner from any motive OF self
=, OF Pfont. She could at any time, by
oPenhg private seminary, have secured a
treble compensation for her labor; but she
quietly put aside all such Solicitations And ~
severed IN her prescribed duty: for her labor
Vas labor OF love- A friend OF hers was onca
wnhin aloud that she were rich enough to retira
from the drudgery of teaching She thant.S
MN LOT Dis good VIII, but assured him that ne
matter how rich she might be, she would con.
time to teach.
EHgroSSing as were her daily cares. she was
not content to take her ease on the day of rest.
She was attracted To the worship of God bv tine
mirstrations of the Rev. DIR. Samson and on
the 4th Of March, 1si9. became a member of the
Baptist Church She soon volunteered to take
"A charge in the Sunday school, and class was
accordingly assigned to her. How faithfully
and conscientiously she faliiled her duty let the
tears of her little scholars attest, When her
health began to fail, she was expostulated with
by fire nd, who urged that, weak as she was il
could no longer be her duty To exhaust her little
strength with her Sunday class She replied
mat she did not regard il a duty much a. a
pleasure.
IL was in May, 1858, that latent consump-
ton began to manifest itself. But she strug-
gied against the disease, and. with brief inter
walls OF exhaustion, attended her school; but
IN about a year she was compelled to forego
the labors she delighted in. The trustees with
considerate Kindness, anticipated the usual
time for holding her annual examination, and
appointed the month of May for what was then
To be her last performance of that duty. Her
Pallid face and painting utterance betrayed her
waning life, and tears were seen on the cheeks
Of her pupils She was exhorted TO set out for
more genial climate. and a committee of the
city authorities waited upon her, offering her
years leave of absence with continued salary
But she could not reconcile her conscience 10
the acceptance of the Kind offer. and she calmly
prepared for the inevitable result. Nest sohci-
tous friends ministered TO her, and the Rev. Mr.
samson and the Rev. Mr.. Fox impaired all the
consultations OF religion and Of personal friend
ship.
She fingered without complaint until the third
Of last December, when she departed, calmly
and humbly, but with a difident trust that she
might be received into one Of the many man
sOns prepared by the Lord for those who love
Him and obey His commandments"
n.u