, 1880-10-15
How Andrew Jackson's Wife D,ad

There was to be grand supper giveD
ole master in Nashville the next dav
and in the evening she tole him he must
lay down and get some sleep. He had
not had his clothes off since "Wednesday.
but he said "No." Ole mistus said Ie
must, and sne had bed brought into
the parlor for him. Betty, who was old
and talked to master just as she pleased
said to him he should Law down. and
that he should not go down next dav.
that she saw death In ole mistus' face
He then went into the parlor, took of
his coat, waistcoat and boots and Law
down. He 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 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
mistns, who was leaning ON me, said,
"Ahl" and her head dropped on my
shoulder. just then George came to the
door, He was going home and his wife
wanted him always to ask how ole mis-.
tus was before he started. / told him to
call master. Master run in, and we
placed her in bed She did not breathe.
George went for the doctor, who was
asleep in another room, When he came
in he said. "aBleed her, bleed her, doc
tor" The doctor then shook his head
Master again said, "Bleed her doctor,
for Gods sakew The doctor then struck
the lancet in her arm, but there was no
blood. He then tried the temple; there
was just a drop Of blood, hardly enough
to stain her cap. Then ne said, "Gen-
eral, she is dead" She never drew
breath after she said, "Ah!" Moses,
colored boy on the place, mounted a
horse and galloped to Nashville, to tell
the news to friends and relatives. Mas.
ter Andrew Donelson and Major Lewis
came about daylight. Iremember their
hats were covered with frost 1t was q
cold, clear night. Others came iu after
ward, and, with the neighbors, sooR
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 he
wouldn't CO. He sat in chair with his
head bowed and his face in his hands
crying all the time. Nobody could com
fort him. After mistus was laid out he
sent up stairs for ten blankets for the
body to be laid on. Me 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. He
thought she might come to in the night,
and said she would lay so hard on the
bare board. When this was done my
little boy Byron came in Master called
him to him and stood him between his
knees. "Your ole mistus is gone, BY.
ron," he said, and began again to cry.
Miss Matth ews took Byron away from
him. He sat by the corpse all night,
holding bis head down and moaning $50
pitiful. Every now and then he would
uncover the face and kiss it, and watch
to see, if there was any sign,of life.
When she. was buried he could hardly
walk, and had to be helped to the grave
by two OF his friends He said to one
CT the gentlemen when they got back to
the house, 'W hat ia the worlds honors
to me since she is taken from me9" He
had small frame house built over her
grave. He said be didn't want the rain
to fall on her. He remained there un
til Mr.. Harris put up the monument,
Master kept ole mistus" cap with the
spot of blood on it for many years ~
don't know whatever cum OF iEl YlD