Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-03-01
len, among whom were John Wesley and

George Whitefeld. am not advocating
second marriages, but stating historical
fact. [ am aware there are those who are
directly opposed to them, and who would
have law uralterable as the Medes and
Persians, that no widow or widower should
ever be married. If that had been enfor-
ced we never would have had George
Washington. for he was child of a second
marriage; and he would never have had
a Martha. for she was widow.
Martha Washington is one of those per-
sons whom we can contemplate with ever
increasing delight, no matter whether you
view her as the queen of Mount Vernon.
in the soldiers camp. or in the house of
the President. Her character is not easily
exhibited in colors of poetry. for she was
a matter-of-f fact woman. She had not
only external. but internal beauty-beau-
ty Of character. and beauty of life: She
was endowed with all those qualities that
rendered her striking and interesting. She
had wealth without pride; beauty without
vanity tenderness without weakness. She
was a high-souled woman. with strong
common sense, an iron will. genuine pat
riotism, untiring industry, beautiful SIM
plicity, majestic sweetness. digniGed self
possession. and unobtrusive piety. She
was well worthy to have been the wife of
the father of his country" A man can
afford to be disappointed twice who can
succeed so we'll the third time. She was
in many respects the model woman. -
Favor is deceitful. and beauty is vain !;
but woman that feareth the Lord, she
shall be praised"
Forty years they lived together. and
Mount Vernon was their earthly paradise,
their terrestrial Eden. But the hour of
separation came, and on the 18th of De-
cember, 1899, Washington gave his great
soul to God. and his body to the dust
Mrs. Washington was resting her head
upon well-worn Bible when he expired
She inquired in a mournful tone, lis he
gone? 'Tis we'll all is now over. I
shall soon follow him; | have no mole
trials to pass through" Her prediction
proved true. Two years and half after
his death Mrs. Washington expired at
Mount Vernon, the 22d of May. 1902. A
few month ago was at Mount Vernon.
and in the rooms where they died; and l
felt it hallowed place I went to the
old vault, where they were first buried.
and beautiful birdss.-ad made its little
nest within. then visited the new tomb,
where the illustrious dead are sleeping in
marble collins Over the iron gate are
these words: II am the resurrection and
the life: he that believeth in me. though
he were dead. yet shall he live" Over
the arch is q white marble tablet; on it is
inscribed" Within this enclosure rest the
remains Of General George Washington. >
| felt that that was sacred spot, that
[ was treading on hallowed ground. I,
too would have taken off my sandals.
1t was in May. The sun was shining
in spring-like beauty, the birds were sing
ing. the flowers blooming. as l turned
from the tomb, exclaiming:
"See truth, love and mercy in triumph des-
cending,
And nature all glowing in Edens first bloom :;
On the cold cheek of death smiles and roses are
blending,
And beauty, immortal, awakes from the tomb. !"