Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-04-11

MARGARET MILBURN-AMID0N.-Te nave
received a copy ofthc proceedings commemo'
-atiyc of the Lille and Services ot Mrs. Mar
rarct Mil5urn. Amidcn, late Principal OF the
Tsn,la Grammar Sehooi, in the FourliDst'ic;,
Washington, D. c."
This little work embraces tue common"
rative proceedings in South Washington me
memorial address on the life and services CT
Mrs. Amiion by Samuel lorkc Alice E,q
and remarks on the same occasion by ReT. l'r.
SaInson, O., G.. Wight and j.. O. Wilson.
From MIR. A,Loc's biographical sketch of Mrs.
Am;doo we take the following interesting par
ticulars:
"Margaret Agnes, the daughter OF George
and Alice Milburn, was the fifth OF seven Chi
drcn, and was born in Alexandria, ! a., on the
11st iav Of January, 1927. Her father,
George Milburn, a native OF Dumtrics, Scot
land. cane to this county wien Il hoy, and
sctiIrd in Alexandria. Her mother, Alice
M;lhnrn. was also a resident in AirxandriI,
and a descendant of an English family Which
came 10 Virpinia soon alter the Revolutionary
war, Her parents were Of the same name,
but neither could trace any consaDgulnlty
between their families. Margaret lot her
mother soon after her sixth year, and she
became iatherless five years Mean
| while her fathers second marriage gave Mar
raret g new mother, 80 that, ii his death, she
| did not consider herself an orphan. Between
| this mother and herself there wAi always the
| most devoted affection. ,
Soon after leaving school she opened a school
herself. Young as she was at that time, aoou'
s;vtccn wears. she had the faculty OF securing
| the respect of her pupils; ard her love OF order
and rtntIc manners won their obedience and
| aFectiop, Her SUCCESS 10 her profession soon
| obtained general COMMUNICATION, and by :he al
| vice of her friends she offered herself as IL
! candidate for employment in our public shoots.
| She passed the examination before the Board OF
Trustees, and was elected in lS49 10 the charge
Of a primary school in the fourth district. 10
| tits position she remained, enhancing her rcpu
\ ta,iop, until her promotion, IN 1854, to The
grammar school of the same district, which she
| occupied until her deceasc.
In December, 1862. she was married 10 Mr.
Hollis Am.don, OF this city, gentleman Who 50
truly appreciated E:r character that liz Fever
sought to dissuade her from a vocation that
had become identified with her happiness.
Che was rot a teacher from any motive OF
self or desire Of profit. She c1uII at any time
by opening q private seminary, haze secured j
treble compensation tor her labor; ou; she
nnietlp mt aside all such solicitations aud per.
| ScYereu 10 OeT pTlSSIiuCu uuIy AZ"
VIZ a labor of love. A iriend OF hers was once
wishing aloud that she were llch enough 10 re
ire from the drudgery oil teaching. She
thanked him tor his good will, but assured him
that, no matter how rich she might DC, she
would continue to teach.
it was ia May, 1868, tina; latcn, con$uml-
ton began to manifest itself. But she strus
g!cd against the disease, and. with briet inter
walls OF exhaustion, attended her schoo'; tut IL
aboht q year she was conpcl:ed 10 !orcgo the
Eabars she delighted in. The trustees, with
cnasideratc kindness, anticipated the usaa
time Tor holding her annual examlta:lo0, and
appointed the month of May for what was then
to be her last performance OF that du'y. HeI
palIid face and painting uttcrancc betrayed her
waning lite, and tears were >ecn % thu c1cck>
OF her pupils. She was rxhor!ci to SIT ont 10!
4 more genial climate, and il committee OF the
city authorities waited upon Ter: otT.rlng her 4
years leave CT abscnc5 With Continued salary.
But she could not reconcile her conscience 10
the acccptaLca of the kind offer, and she calm
ly PREPARED for the inevitable result.
She fingered without complaint uutll the
third OF last December. when She departed,
cllm!y and humhiy, but with . ditident trust
that She might &c received Into one ut he many
mansions prepared By the Lord for those who
love Him -rd obey His commanlmcn;$.