The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-04-24
"cld Adam" remaining in cold Hick-

Gu huam reudluluB III Olu hlch
ory" to the last.
Those who saw Mrs. Jackson in hel
youth say that at that period she was {
plump and quite pretty brunette. But
in middle age the plumpness increased
until all signs of waist had disappear
ed, and the dark complexion became
still darker, until it was almost the TIM
of venerable mahogany. In plain words
she was a short, fat, and remarkably
common looking old woman, ungrace
full, of course, and not at all versed IL
the ways of polite society. Her hus
band, on the contrary, though square
and angular in figure, and quite as des.
titute of culture as his wife, was con
fessedly one of the most elegant gentle
men of his day. His public life, par
ticularly after the battle of New Or
leans, Brought him into close communi-
cation with the gay world, and his man.
ners contributed as much as his fame to
make him the centre of every circle IN
which he mingled. But neither the
sweet smiles or the sweeter words OF
the beauties who crowded around him
ever made him for an instant forget
much less prove false to-the mistress
of his soul. Even his most intimate
friends could not discover by any word
or act on his part that he was conscious
of his wife's physical disadvantages ard
lack of what is called good breeding.
To him she was not old or ugly, not ig-
norant or awkward-but always young,
always handsome, always the embodi-
ment of brightness and of grace. No
knight that ever laid lance IN rest was
more devoted to the fair lady whose
colors he wore, than was Jackson to the
ancient dame who bore his name. She
was the only human being who could
stem the torrent of his fearful passion.
A word from her lips, glance from her
eye, and the iron man, blazing with
wrath and apparently as untamable as
the lion of the jungles, became as tame
as lamb. He loved her from the very
depths of his stony nature, and because
he loved her she could transform the
storm int a calm. One might infer
from the extent of this influence over
such character, that Mrs. Jackson was,
what we now term, A." q strong-minded
woman" But she was far removed
from that questionable honor. The late
Thomas FL. Benton, in a book which is
a much better monument to his memo
ry than the bronze abortion in Lafayette
park, gives a charming picture of
"Aunt Rachel" as he affectionately
calls her. In this sketch, drawn by
loving hand, she is represented as an
modest and unassuming per-
son, who never lost her native simplici-
ty of thought and action in attempting
to keep pace with the rising fortunes of
her husband. When the most brilliant
of the war had lifted him high
above all competitors, and when that
had been supplemented by his
election to the first Office in the gift of
his countrymen, she was the same ami
able, sensible, unaffected woman as
when they lived together in log cabin
and had nothing to distinguish them
from their humblest neighbors. To her
he was never ''the general, but always
"Mr. Jackson ;" and she valued his
wonderful success in life for the pleas
ure it gave him, and not for the glory
reflected upon her. A sincere and ar
dent Christion, fond wife, a true
friend, constant and liberal benefactor
of the poor, she faithfully discharged
her duties to God and man, and found
therein her highest happiness. All
who knew her loved "Aunt Rachel" as
such women, from their rarity, deserve
10 be loved; and WHEN she died there
was mourning, not only in the stately
i' Hermitage" but in every negro hut
,or miles around.
Jackson, as we have remarked, never
entirely rallied from the blow which
lis wife's death inflicted. He went to
he White House in many respects a
changed man. He laid aside, to great
.xtent, those tremendous oatbs which
lsed to make the air of Tennessee turn
,lue; he grew softer, tenderer, more
eady to forgive than in former years,
nd was-for her sake-the firm and in
IomitabIe champion of all slanderel |
7omen. He broke up his cabinet in
Mrs. Eaton-though there |
vas probably more truth than slander in
Ter case-and would never listen to or |
any of that so-called "gos-
ip" which delights in insinuations |
gainst female virtue. Because his |
7ife was pure, he believed-and was
roud to believe-all her sex was
s pure as she. He wore next |
is heart an old-fashioned miniature of |
is lost darling, and each night before |
etiring he laid it on the table beside
he bed, SO that he might look at it
lille reading a chapter in her Bible
heir ashes repose side by side, and if
here be such a thing as reunion be-
ond the confines of the tomb, surely
heir souls are blended in the land
here death never comes, nor any sick
ess nor sorrow-but where love is i'm
lortal as Him who gave it.