The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-09-27
The News with the Presidents
Mother.

CLEVELAND, o., Sept. 2O.-The mother of
Gal field Is now at SOlun with her daughter,
Mrs. Larabie. A Herald special from Solon
says that until three days ago full particulars
OF the situation We're telegraphrd with the
greatest regularity t., friends at Solon. Since
that date only meagre dispA pAtches were sent
aud the suspense of the household can only
be Imagined. Saturday night and Sunday
night Mrs. Larabe and the Presidents moth
er slept together and the former affirms that
Mrs. Garfield did not sleep at all. Her
anxiety rendered sleep out of the question
During the last week or two Ger general
health has been remarkably good. On Mon
day evening only one dispatch reached the
Solon office, at $3.50 o'clock, and as imme-
diaiely delivered. During all these davs,
since July I'd, the mother OF the President
has remained hopeful. She had faith that
her noble son would be spared TO serve his
country and comfort her d clinng years
Mrs. Larabie, who is sister, on the contra
ry has had feelings of discouragemeut and
fear from the first, and even OH the day when
he left Mentor she says her mind was filled
with vague forebodlngs which she could not
drive away. AS Garfield went about his
farm giving things farewell look she felt
presentiment that it was a long good-bye
The effect of thus telegram was reassuring,
however, and inspired Mrs. Garfield with
feeling of cheertulness. During the day
.he Was constantly busying herself about the
house. Mrs. Larabie besought her not to do
any work.
''Mother," she said, .you will only worry
YOURSELF"
"Oh, no. replied the old lady, "if am
active 1 shall be able to sleep better.''
The exhaustion occasionc4 by the loss of
rest for two nights previous induced a sleep
which the members OF the family say exceed
ed III length any previous sleep of the Old
lady. At O'Clock Tuesday morning the
vii age bell toled and at O'Clock the Sllow-
ing private telegram was received:
"ELBERoN, n. j., Sept 10.
Mrs. Eliza Garfield:
James died his evening at 1885, calmly
breathing his life away.
(Signed) D. NJ. SWAIN,
Mrs. Larabie first thought her mo her was
not awake. Mrs. Garfield was sleeping calm
ly, and SO they did not awaken her till 8 a. m.
Ihe old lady then awoke, having slept since
III p. H., when Mrs. Larabie passed her door
with heavy heart and found her up and
dressed reading the Bible. 1t was thought
best not to break the news until Mrs. G. had
eaten breakfast. Oddly enough the old lady
did not insist upon hearing the news until
she had finished eating. Then taking the fa-
tai telegram from the shelf she was ABOUT to
read it, but Miss Ella took it from her tren-
bling hands.
SIG odiu, ''WOulU you Oe
prised to get bad news This morning."
"Why, 1 don't KNOW" said Mrs. c.
"Well l shouldn't" said Mrs. Larabie.
81 have been feeling and expecting it all
the morning.
"Grandma," said Ellen, ''there is bad
news.'
SIS he dead?" added the old lady, trem-
ulously.
"He is
The quick tears started insensibly to the
eye. There was no violent paroX .sm of grief;
no expression of fancy told of anguish within.
sis it true:" she asked, with quiverins lips.
''Then the Lord he will help me, for if he is
dead, what shall | do?"
She was rendered weak and a little nerv-
Gus by the announcement and she was oble-
ed to repair to her room within its solitude
when she began to comprehend the awful
truth. But she was not contented to remain
there and soon returned to the sitting-room
About $50 O'Clock Mrs. q. was found sitting
i'll IA rocking-chair waiting for the news of
the morning paper, which she read with ca
gerness.
alt cannot be that James is dead" she
murmured. 81 cannot understand it. l have
no further wish to live and cannot live il
1t is so.' Although her general health is
good at present, many fear that her words
are prophetic.