Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-29
HOW ANDREW JACKSONS
WIFE DIED. Y8l
AS Told BY "0ld Hannah, " a Person
al Servant Still Living. SO

AS Told BY "Old Hannah, Person
al Servant Still Living.
There was to be a grand sup
per given ole master in Nash
vile the next day, and in the
evening she tole him he,{ must
lay down and get some sleep.
He hadn't had his clothes off
since Wednesday; but he said
"No." Ole mistus said he must,
and she had a bed brought into
the parlor for him. Betty, who
was old, and talked tomaster as
she pleased,sai to him he should
lay down, and that he should
not SO to town next day; that
she saw death on the ole mistuS
face. He then went into the
parlor, took off his coat, west
coat and boots and lay down.
lie said he couldn't sleep, but he
might rest a While, and to come
for him quick if there was any
change in mistus. In a little
while mistus said she wanted to
get up. Me and Betty helped
her up and placed her in a chair.
Betty was about to fix the bed,
when mistus, who was leaning
on me, said, "Ah!" and her head
dropped on my shoulder. just
then George came to the door.
lie was going home, and his wife
wanted him always to ask how
old mistus was before he started.
| tole him to call master. Mas
ter run in, and we placed her in
bed. She did not breathe.
George went for the doctor, who
aEas asleep in another room,
When he came in master said.
"Bleed her, bleed her, doctor" "
The doctor shook his head. Mas
ter again said, ''Bleed her, doc
tor, for Gods saker' The doc
tor then struck the lancet in her
arm, but there was no blood.
lie then tried the temple; there
was Just a drop Of blood-hard-
ly enough to stain her cap. Then
he said, "General, sheeis dead. +"
She never drew a breath after
she said "AhW Moses, a color
ed boy on the place, mounted a
horse and galIoped to Nashville
to tell the news to friends and
relatives. Master Andrew Don
elson and Major Lewis came a
bout daylight. | remember their
hats were coveredswi frost. 1t
was a cold, clear night. Others
came in afterward, and, with
the neighbors, soon filled the
house. Master never left the
room where mistus lay. He
stayed while we washed, combed
and shrouded her. We tried to
get him away, but ghe wouldn't
.9o. lie sat in a chair with his
head bowed and his face in his
hands, crying all the time. No
.b0dy could comfort him. After
|mistus was laid out he sent up
stairs for ten blankets for the
body to be laid ON. Ne and
Betty and Mary Matthews went
up and fetched them down. They
were spread on a table in the
parlor, where the body was to
lay, and it was put upon them.
lie thought She might come to
in the night, and said she wonld
lay SO hard on the bare board.
w hen this was done my lit
tie boy Byron came in. Mas
ter called him to him and stood
/ him between his knees. "Your
ole mistus is gone, Byron" he
said, and began again to cry.
Miss Matthews took Byron a
way from him. lie sat by the
corpse all night, holding his
head down and moaning so pit
iful. Every now and then he
would uncover the face and kiss
it, and watch to see if there was
any sign of life. Z Whemslle
buried he could hardly walk,and
had to be helped to the gravelby
two of his friends. lie @saidto
one of the gentlemen when they
got back to the house: "NVhat
lis the worlds honorsto me since
she is taken from me?" He had
a small frame house built over
her grave. He said he didn't
want the rain to fall on her. il
remained there until Mr.. Harris
put up the monument. Master
kept ole mistus' cap with the
spot of blood on it for many
years. / don't know What ever
'cum Of it. m