The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-07
Mrs. Garfield's Coming g-Touching Scenes
at the Bedside-A Pathetic Story.
New York Times speciall


He feared the effect of the terrible news up
on Mrs Garfield, and he was anxious to have
her and their daughter Mollie with him, that
he might reassure them if possible, and look
upon them for the last time if it was decreed
that he should die. He was very weak at this
time, and to all appearances sinking fast. He
was told by Mrs. James, wife of the Post-mas-
ter-General, and Mrs. Hunt who were doing
all that sympathetic women could do to make
him comfortable, that Mrs. Garfield would be
with him by six o'clock. Every moment
seemed an age to the fast sinking father and
husband. He turned restlessly in his bed and
asked the time of day continually. 1t was ev-
ident that his anxiety to meet Mrs. Garfield
was aggravating the effect of the wounds he
had received, but nothing could be done. Six
O'Clock came, and with it, instead of Mrs. Gar
field, the news that the engine of her train had
broken down seventeen miles outside of Wash
ington. This news was carefully kept from
the suffering President, and a fresh engine
started off to take the place of the disabled
one. 1t brought Mrs. Garfield, Mollie Gar
city at the rate Of sixty miles an hour, and at
$50 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 Atiorney-General MacVeagh. She
placed her h,nds in those of Mrs. James and
directing piercing inquiry into her eyes, ex-
claimed interrogatively, "Well?" ooh, every
thing is going on beautifully" said MIS-
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 Or
deal, and she answered simply but with great
sadly up the stairs, young James A. Garfield
with his arm around his mothers waist Ar
rived in the library everybody but Mrs. Gar
field paused, and the doctors withdrew with
bowed heads from the Presidents chamber
Mrs. Garfield passed quickly in, and the door
was closed. OF that solemn meeting between
husband and wife no record will ever be given
The two were alone together without witnesses
At the end of about fifteen minutes the door
opened and Mrs. Garfield came slowly out
There were no tears in her eyes and she
walked with firm step and took her seat in
the library. She was very brave and bore up
nobly under the great blow which had just fall
len upon her. AS she left the room Mrs. James
passed in. The President was smiling, and he
beckoned with his finger to the lady to ap-
proach. She leaned over the President and he
said, "Havo you met Crete?" Mrs. Garfield's
Christian name is Lucretia, and Crete is the
pet name by which the President always
speaks of her. eyes, have met her." said
Mrs. James, "And how does she act; how
does she bear it?" was the next eager question.
"She bore it like the true wife OF a true SOL
dier," answered Mrs. James. ''Ah, the dear
little woman" exclaimed the President, 81
would rather die than that this should cause a
relapse to her,
Soon after Miss Mollie entered the room.
She, too, was very brave, and forced herself
to assume q calmness which she could not
feel. Advancing steadily toward her father
as he lay on what was supposed to be his
deathbed, she said: "Oh, papa, I'm so glad to
get back to you, but I'm sorry to see you in
this way" Then she kissed him, and then
the President, putting his arm around her
neck, exclaimed: "Mollie, you're a brave,
good little girl" "Well, I'm not going to
| talk with you now,' said the stout-hearted
| girl, as she tenderly removed his arm from
| her neck; "wait till you get well, and with
| these parting words she kissed him again and
| turned and walked from the room, followed by
| beaming smile from tho President.
From the moment of Mrs. Garheld's visit tC
him, the President seemed to gain in strength
and spirits, and, if he RECEIVERS, the doctors say
| that it will be due greatly to the presence ol
his devoted wife, After Mollie had left him
| he turned over, and with one hand clasped
| firmly in one of Mrs. Jamess, and his head
resting upon her other hand, he fell into a
gentle sleep. In half an hour, however, he
awoke and complained of pain in his feet. 4
did not last long, and he dozed off again, still
holding the hand of Mrs. James. This time
he slept a little over half an hour, and wher
he awoke, he said to Mrs. James, "Do yor
know where Mrs. Garfield is now?" "Oh
yes," Mrs. James answered, ''she is close by
watching and praying for her husband" He
looked up to the lady with an anxious face ,ant
said 81 want her to go to bed. Will you tel
her that if she will undress and go to bed
will turn right over, and feel sure that whei
1 know she is in bed, 1 can go to sleep an,
sleep all night. Tell her. he exclaimed will
sudden energy, "that acH sleep all night i
she will only do what 1 ask" Mrs. Jane