Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-17
The Jackson Hermitage.

In a conversation with Mrs. jackson, !
asked her incidentally when and where she
met her husband. She smiled at the ques-
tion as if all the romance of her youth re-
turned to her, and said: why, | first met
him in Philadelphia, on the streets. was
with lady friend, he with u gentleman
As we passed | turned-it was not exactly
the thing for a young lady to do-and looked
at him, only to find that he had done the
same thing. He called that evening, and
50 began the acquaintance which ended in
our marriage. That was during father :
(meaning General jackson, whom she al
ways speaks of affectionately as father
first administration. We went directly tC
Washington. and the White House was our
home as long as father was President.
This little "reminiscences seemed to brighten
the lady not little. She was seated in a
cushioned armchair in rather gloomy
looking room, Immediately back of the one
in which General jackson died. Her eye:
are bright and black, her raven hair show
ing few silver threads and her complexion
retaining its purity which, in her youthful
davs, made her 4 dazzling beauty.
Ii has always been understood by thost
who knew them best that when the youth
full Mrs Andrew Jackson went TO the White
/ House there arose question as to whom
the honor should belOngof presiding as lady
Of the White House. Mrs. Andrew ]
DonelsOn was already in that position anC
had filled 1t acceptably and gracefully
| General Jackson desired that she shoUlc
still preside. ard the younger lady yieldeC
any claims she might have had.
/ In nv conversation Mrs. jackson re
marked that she frs; visited the Hermltag
before the birth OF her eldest son, whom
she named Andrew jackson, and who i
now Colonel jackson, the stay and supper
Of her declining years.
None of your children were born in tn
White House, believe, Mrs. Jacksonl'
No, they were all-four in number
born here at the Hermitage
! When the terms Of Jackson expired an,
he repaired to the Hermitage, Mrs. Jack
son, her husband, Andrew jackson, Jr.
and their family constituted the household
afterward increased by the admission int
the family circle of Mrs. Marion Adams
sister of Mrs. Jackson.
Jackson passed away and was placed il
the nausoleum he had long before pro
vided for himself by the side of his wife
to whom he was so fondly attached. Tn
years flowed peacefully on, the young peo
pie had grown up and many brilliant scene
Of gaiety awakened the echoes in the build
ing and We're reflected in the long mirrors
The marriage of the only daughter of tn
household, named in homer of the beloyet
and long departed wife of General Jackson
Rachel, was an event that broke into long
ranquil yeaIs-
Then came the distraciing times of tn
war. Three young men-twO Of the Jack
son sons and one Adams-went into th
Confederate service. Only one returned
and that was the one now living-COlone
Andrew jackson. The latter went throug
the vicissitudes of war with honor, but wa
at the close of the same, prisoner at Cam
Chase While here he first heard, throug
a chance paragraph in a newspaper, of hi
fathers death. Ii seemed that while in
dulgiag in his favorite pastime of huRting
|. Andrew Jackson, Jr.. had shattered hi
hand; the wound produced lockjaw an
death. Said Colonel jackson: ''The da
on which i read that paragraph was tn
blackest, gl)omiest one of the whole wal
. thought of my sorrow-stricken motht
in her lonely home, and myself unable I
60 to or help her.
In q few months the unhappy struggl
was ended, and Colonel jackson returne
to the Hermitage and to his widowe
mother. Life now flowed on in a listle:
way. 1t had taken on a quiet, subdue
, tone, shadowed by the newly-made grave
: In the corner Of the garden, only a fe-
steps from the mansion Mrs. jackson an