The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-14

| JaIHes, Wlle OF the POStWaster-Generai,
and Mrs. Hunt, who were doing all that
| sympathetic women could do to make
him comfortable, that Mrs. Garfield
would be with him by 6 o'clock. Every
moment seemed an age to the fast siSE-
ing father and husband. He turned reat.
| lessly in his bed and asked the time of
day continually. 1t was evident that his
anxiety to meet Mrs. Garfield Was sggFa.
vaLing the effect Of the wounds which he
had received, but nothing could be done.
Six O'Clock came, and with 1t, instead of
Mrs. Garfield, the news that the engine
OF her train had broken down II miles
outside of Washington. This news was
carefully kept from the suffering Presi-
dent, and fresh engine started OFF to
take the place Of the disabled one. It
brought Mrs. Garfield, Mollie Garfield,
Gen. Swain and Mrs. Rockwell to the
city, at the rate of GO miles an hour, aud
at 6.59 the party drove up to the private
entrance in the rear of the White House.
Here the almost heart broken wife was
met by her son, James A. Garfield, Jr.,
Mrs. James and Attorney-General Mac.
Veagb. She placed her hands in those
OF Mrs. james aud directing piercing
inquiry into her eyes, exclaimed inter-
negatively "Well?" "Oh, everything
is going ON beautifully" said Mrs. James
in reply, "only he must not be excited.
You must be very calm when you meet
him." Mrs. Garfield had nerved herself
for the ordeal, and she answered simply,
but with great 6rmness: II can do it."
The party then went sadly up the stairs,
young james A. Garfield with his arm
about his mothers waist. Arrived in the
k,,f II
parsed, and tho doctors Withdrew with
ber: Mrs. Garfield passed quickly 10.
emn meeting between husband and wife
we're alone together, without witnesses.
At the end of about fifteen minutea the
door opened, aud Mrs. Garfield came
slowly out. The,s werc no tears iu her
eyes, and she walk I'd with firm step and
took her seat in The l;orary. She was
very brave and bore up nobly under the
great blow which had fallen upon her.
As she left the room Mrs. James passed
in. The President was ,miling, and he
beckoned with his finger - the lady TO
approach. She leaned over the Presi-
dent and he said: "Have you met
Creto2" Mrs. Garfelds Christian name
Is Lucretis, and Crete is the pet name by
which the President always speake of
her. eyes have met her," said Mrs.
james. "And how does she act; how
did she bear it?" WAS the next eager
question. "She bore it like the true wife
of 81 true soldier" answered Mrs. James.
"Ah. the dear little woman exclaimed
the President, II would rather die than
that this should cause relapse 20 her."
Soon after Miss MoIlie entered the
room. She, too, was very brave, and
forced herself to assume calmress which
she could not feel. Advancing steadily
toward her father as he lay on what was
supposed to be bis death bed, she said
H"Oh, papa, I'm so glad to get back to
you, but I'm so sorry to see you in this
way" Then she kissed him, and the
President, putting his arm around her
neck, exclaimed: "Mollie, you're a
brave, good little girl" "Well. I'm not
going to talk to you now," said the stout
hearted little girl, az she tenderly re.
mo. 81 his arr, from her neck wait till
you get we'll" aud with these parting
words che kissed him again and turned
and walked from the room, followed by q
beamiug su,il, from the President.
From the moment Of Mrs. Ga.feld's
visit to him the President seemed to gain
IN strength and sp. rits, and if he RECEIVERS
the doctors say that il will be due greatly
TO the presence OF his devoted wife.
After MOllie had LETT him he turned over,
aud with one hand clasped firmly in one
of Mrs. James, and his head resting
upon her other hand, he fell into q gen
tie sleep. In half IN hour, however, he
awoke and complained of a pain in his
feet It did not last long, and he dozed
off again, still holding the hand of Mrs.
james. This time he slept q little over
half all hour, and when he awoke he said
10 Mrs. james: "Do you know where
Mrs. Garfield is now ?" ooh, yes" Mrs.
james answered, "she is close by, watch
ing and praying for her husband" He
lonked up to the lady with an anxious
face, and said: II want her to go to bed.
Will you tell her that say If she will
undress and go to bed I uill turn right
over, and feel sure thai 'shen I know
she is in bed can go to sleep and sleep
all night. Tell her." he exclaimed with
sudden energy, THAT ,yiN sleep all
night if she will only do what ask"
Mrs. James conveyed the message to
Mrs. Garfield, who said to her at once !:
"Go back and tell him that am undress.
ing" She returned with the answer,
and. the President turned over on his
righ: side and dropped into quiet sleep
almost instantly.