The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-03-14


even the linen, for her bed must be pro-
vidcd IN her own house, like Solomon
virtuous woman, of whom King l.cmucl
said "slle maketh herself, coverings of
tapestry: her clothing is silk and pur-
ple.'
Her women spun wool and flax and
wove II into cloth, out of which their
clothing was made, and indeed, her own
dresses, during the war, for she would
purchase nothing from England. Her
dresses were models of home manufac-
ture. The flax and wool spun as finely
as possible, was striped with brown and
scarlet silk--the brown saved from the
ravcllings of old silkcn hose, the scarlet
obtained by picking to pieces and carling
some Damask furniture covers. past doing
service any longer as such.
Possibly some of my younger readers
think this is an old country woman who
worked, and wore bomespun dresses
Her manners were so stately and her con-
versation so interesting and elegant, thai
the French officers who were on her sons
staff, oisen sought her society, and IN their
letters written home compared her to the
mother of the Gracchi and the ladies of
| the French Court. Ii has come down to
| us that when the famous Lafayette went
to pay his farewell call to her, he found
her at work in her garden. clad in dress
of home manufacture. with plain straw
bonnet on. She did not slip away; but
went forward and received the gallant
Marquis graciously, entertaining him
| with conversation, which was so pleasing.
aud displayed so much cultivation. that
to him we are indebted for an account of
the visit.
! The one idea most prominently con-
veycd to my mind by this woman's char
acter is that of grandeur. When her son
had been made President, men of all par
ties called to congratulate her with glow
ing encomiums Of the great man. 10
one OF these gentlemen che replied, IAN
this is very ilattcring, but il will not spoil
\ my son, who cannot forget himself ailcr
the lessons have taught him. Truly
neither the mother nor her lessons were
ever forgotten. IN all the excitement at
tending his public career. his letters writ
ten to her In which he addressed her rs
"lIonorcd Madam" are models of filial
correspondence.
But must hasten to the closing scene.
I
! At tho age of eighty-three, after forty
six years OF widowhood, she died in her
own home, having ''set her house IN or
DER Her will devised each article ol
property 10 the legatcc for whom she de-
signed it, and requested that the distribti-
ton be made without going into court or
appr,ising the property-ii this could be
allowed by the law.
have never heard that she had any oc.
cilsion to fluid fault with the laws OF God
or man, but on the contrary, have every
reason 10 believe that she found sufficient
opportunity for the exercise OF her exec.
utive powers. which certainly were very
great. viii any one say that this wo.
mans life was not success? Yet this IN.
fortunate creature lived in the dark days
when progressionists aud woman-sunra
gists were unknown.
And this reminds me of little jok,
which our legislators played upon thu
women OF this State last winter. doing j
in such sly way that the strong-mindc,
still speak Of it rs a step forward.
When my husband spends his sub
stance in riotous living" allowing th'
expenses OF our household 10 accumulat,
until people will not only not credit hin
any longer, but sue me ut law and sell tn
property | Inherited from my parents t,
payfor the food he has eaten, and, posi-
bly,, even to pay the doctor who came t.
mend his broken head after one OF h
wine suppers, 1t does seem 10 me, tina
the beauties of that step in advance vii
not loom up very grandly, and that
would rather have one right the less
|