Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-03
To the Memory of the late Mrs. Ann
Ma.ruder Windsor

Whilst grief is encirclng a hearthstone ateY
made vacant. / would invade its solemn still
ness and ask the favor OF laying upoo the grave
Of the late Madam Windsor little iwer
There is no pace or sphere in life where the
accomplishments and virtues Of q lady are more
called into requisltIon or more ialt and appre-
claed than within the range OF her domestic
circle. 1t WAS The pleasure of the writer have
made the acquaintance OF this late Madam Wind
sor at her country residence, IN Fairfax county,
only few years since Her cordial AMI modest
welcome and her gratiic ton at forming my &C.
gu-lntance Il moo ent obliterated all co,yen-
tlonalities and made me feel 1T home. She was
then laboring under a hesvy atf1 ction, (los: OF
hearing) bu! the apparent g'sce and ease with
which she discharged III du les of hostess ST
once told me she was lady Of refnement and
sui erior Guilty. ,tion. Nor this alone; for as nv
visits W" "a repeated to her hosptab.c home and
l had the pleasure of occasionally enjoying a
short conversatlon found that she pos essed
high appr eciat on Of all that WAS beautiful in
conception, a!l that was elev.t!ng and refining
in character.
distinctly remember that upon one occasion,
it W IN the early blush Of summer, had been
l. Wit to partake of the hos pitaiitles Of Hay
field" Shortly after my arrival, and willis. seat
ed on poctco which overlooked series of
psrtrrre, Vile we're con ain d every variety
Of rare shrubs and h>wers Madam Windsor
sp reached me, and after cordisl reception,
handed me small hoauet, st the same time re-
marKlng "s'.ce have lost my hearing my
wers have been almost my only companions;
like q bird j go fr N bush 10 bush; their
qaiet lag uage tells me Of joyous innocence and
the memories of early days-tnemores that are
fastened TO my heart, and which will break only
with the close of l.te' This beautiful sentimelt.
went o. ep into my heart; | have treasured and
cultivated it ever since. To-day l reproduce
and place 1t ien!eriy, yet sadly, arourd the
broken vase"
Death is terrible terrible at any time and in
anv form.
Come to the bridal chamber Death.
Come where tn, mother feels
For the first time her first burn's bresth,
Come where the blessed sess
That close the pestilence are broke,
And crowded cites wall its stroke.
Come IN consumptlon's form,
The earthquakes shock, the oces g storm,
And though art terIlb Q.
In this instance it came not as the poet has
mentioned, but in the caim fitness of years sur
rounded by large and htfsctonats family
with the closing m ments meilowed with the
pleasing reflection that her life had been good,
useful and vlrtu US 1t came just AS she was
looking on. upon the Gle, ing hours of that quiet
and splendid autumn, when the golden fires of
memory were burning all along the dark lines
nf the cCml'g winter. From this solemn but
beautiful standpoint in life, without murmur,
IN the full possession Of every faculty, with eve
~ earthly comfort attended by q large numN err
OF friends and relatives, in the midst of an un-
broken household who had kept ;ir less watch
during her long Illness the fires died gradually
out from the horizon, the silver cord was gently
loosed, and the wave at last parted with the
shore On the beach are gathered those whom
she most loved, and the sobbing cf the heavy
waves, 1t makes far out INTO the sea- is sounding
like the murmurs of lost music Xxx