Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-08
How Andrew Jack sons Wife Died
AS TOLD BY "oLD HANNAH" \ PERSON
AL SERVANT STILL LIVING.

AL SERVANT STILL LIVING.
There was to be grand supper given
ole master in Nashville the next day,
and in the evening she tole him be
must lay down and get some sleep.
He hadn't had his clothes eff since
Wednesday; but he said No." Ole
mistus said he must, and she had a bed
brought into the parlor for him. Bet.
ty, who was old, and talked to master
just as she pleased, said to him he
should lay down, and that he should
not go to town next day; that she saw
death in ole mistus' face. He then went
into the parlor, took off his coat, west
coat and boots and lay 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 "a
little while mistus said she wanted to
get up. Me and Betty helped her up
and placad her in chair. Betty was
about to fix the bed, when mistus, who
was leaning on me, said, "Ah!" ard
he, 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 mistus was
before he started. l tole him to call
master. Master run in, land we placed
her in bed. She did not breathe.
George went for the doctor, who was
asleep in another room. When he
came in master said, "Bleed her.
bleed her, DOCTOR" The doctor then
shook his head. Master again said =,
"Bleed her doctor, for God g
sake!' The doctor then struck
the lancet in her arm. but there
was no blood. He then tried the temple;
there was just drop of blood, hardly
enough to stain her cap. Then he
said, General, she is dead" She
never drew breath after she said,
"Ah" Moses, colored boy on the
place, mounted horse and galloped to
Nashville. to tell the news to friends
and relations. Master Andrew Donel-
son and Maj. Lewis came about day
light. I remember their hats were
covered with frost. 1t was q cold, clear
night. o aers cam Q 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 he
wouldn't go. He sat in chair with
his head bowed and his face in his
hands, crying all the time. Nobody
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
would lay 30 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, Byron,
he said, and began again to cry. Miss
Matthews took Byron away from him.
He sat by the corpse all night, holding
his head down and moaning so pitful.
Every now and then ho 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 OF the gen
tlemeh when they got back to the
house, "What is the worlds honors to
me since she is taken from me?' He
had small frame house built over her
grave. he said he didn't want the rain
to fall on her. 1t 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 it.