The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-06-09


STRUGGLE at arms aroused within her The
most mother-like anxiety and pride n
: failure, no accumulation of reverses
could ever persuade her that the South
would be overcome, and so severe wa:
the blow when it finally fell, that hei
decline in health may be dated from the
hour the tidings reached her.
The condition of her slaves following
upon their emancipation, was very trying
to Nine. Murat. Left now without a
dollar, she had no means of assisting
them, and they were slow to understand
/ why they were not still bound to her and
she to them. She gave them rhe privi-
lege of cultivating the % old plantation,
while she supplied her own immediate
necessities by the sale of valuable jewels.
Her affectionate nature was greatly moved
on the Christmas following emancipation,
/ by the generosity of her former slaves,
who presented her with barrel of flour,
| syrup, chickens, eggs, and other articles,
as general contribution from the plan
/ tatjon.
| With fearful eyes and swelling heart
she thanked them for their kindness, and,
declining the offering SO delicately as not
to wound their feelings, added from her
own store to theirs, bidding them make
merry the season, as had been their habit
heretofore.
1t was early in 1866 that [ met her.
She seemed much agitated, and, placing
in my hand in official looking document,
said q Read this Ten minutes ago
did not know that | possessed dollar
in the world" The paper proved to be
letter from Louis Napoleon's private
secretary, informing her that his Majesty
had settled upon her an annuity of 3d.
900 francs. 1t was a moment of exqui-
site pleasure to US both, and we mingled
our grateful tears together. In broken
speech she said: g God bless Louis l 4
shall write him that know and feel God
will bless him, for his gift will relieve
many poor widows and orphans need"
1t was while engaged in the merciful
work of raising funds for the defense of
Maj. John Gee, imprisoned on charge
of cruelty to Federal soldiers during the +
war, that death first gave her warning.
A room was to be prepared for a con-
cert. 1t had recently been used for a
festive occasion, and the withered wreaths +
still hung festooned from the ceiling /
On entering, Nine. Murat exclaimed, /
but in subdued tone, g Withered flow
ers! How dreadful the odor of dead |
flowers Her speech became confused, |
and for a day or two she was partially I
unconscious, having suffered at the mo
ment slight stroke of paralysis. Ral- +
lying, however, a trip to Europe was
recommended, and she was again receiv-
ed into the bosom of her husbands fam
lily.
Months after this, when, on her return
home again, friends rejoiced to meet her,
she appeared to be in her wOnted health /
and spirits, but the season of their con-
graduation was destined to be short-lived. |
In half-year afterwards, the victim of !
protracted invalidism induced by typhoid
fever, she breathed her last, succumbing
to its ravages one August morning, at
Lipona.
Nine. Murat was Observation-Disclosures
of an existence prolonged almost to the
prescribed three score years and ten
without being old. One could. never
associate age with her. OF uninterrupted
health to the last year of her life, she
was remarkably preserved in beauty of
person and ynnth frlI.,o9n &c faaI;.>e, %
voted to the endeavor of pleasing. she had
in no degree relaxed her interest in work
of charity or festive enjoyment and the
peculiarly lovable impulses of her high
toned nature, made her the chosen COM
panion Of all ages and stations.
A distinguished French author pro-
nounces it a condition of glory to die at
the proper time. Nine. Murat, in pass
ing from life in the maturity of her at
Effectiveness and usefulness. seemed to
have departed in the noontide of exist
ence. Yet she had in truth fulfilled her
destiny, and the qualities so long valued
are obscured in no association of feeble
ness and infirmity, as they must naturally
have been had her days been prolonged
but few years or months more.
While her noble traits and good deeds
continue bright vision of all that is
lovely in woman, the mortal remains of
Catherine d. Murat are lying beside |
those of her husband in the Episcopal |
cemetery at Tallahassee.