Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-10-06
GARFIELD'S HOME LIFE.
Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont Des-
cribes Visit 10 Mother and Son.

CTIDCS u blSII 10 WOlHeT anu OOH'
Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont has
written the following letter, giving
some Tecollections of Gen. Garlleld's S
mother and of the president:
Making visits in Washington one
day in the spring of 1870 l returned
that of Mrs. Garfield, and after going
into her house | was a little put out
to be told by the servant that "it was
a mistake, for Mrs. Garfield was out"
March weather is so rough in Wash
ington that Il throat subject to bron-
chitis ninches from passing from the
shelter of the carriage across the wide
wind swept payements into the warm
houses and back again oftener than
necessary. So, when the servant ran
down to ask that | would come in
again. that "the generals mother had
read the card and wished to see me,
! went back, chiefly moved by the hab-
it Of never willingly disappointing a
child Or an aged person. Little chill
dren believe in the good will of every
one, while the old-what disappOint.
ments have they not met. l was glad
then that did 60 back. Now
THE HISTORICAL PICTURE
that visit gave me makes me speak
this word for the mother Of Gen. Gar
field. Mrs. Garfield wished to see and
know me because Of my (her) sons
| such tender pride in the little words)
deep interest in and work for The
cause we had all done our best TO- IA
| 1856, and had continued to work I
until the war closed that chapter
the nations history. She was yer!
small and quiet, but full of fresh in
terest in, and clear knowledge of,
events and men, and understood large
motives; a woman who had shared the
| life of growing man and a growing
nation. Turning to more personal
topics, and the bringing up of boys,
which she dwelt on as 50 much the
mothers work. Mrs. Garfield told us
of her own good SON." l had with
me Il New York friend, still young, and
only knowing surface conventional life,
| Her eyes were wet as his mother told
quite simply and as a matter of
c0uvsg-Of
HER LONELY EARLY LIFE,
and It's struggles and privatons, and
the exceeding rrCat reward she had in
my lhcr sons success, and his loving
care for her, Of the place he gave heI
in his life and in his new home where
It'll the war and dangers safely end.
ed-thcy were to dwell together III
peace.
Just then Gen. Garfield himself en-.
tered. Hearing ! was there he came
. in TO see me, going first, however It
Ihij mother and giving her the evident
~ accustomed kiss Of greeting, and
/ st.I hu'din. h,r hand, thanked me fol
coming hac! ".o please his mother
au ispe them. The little gray mother
Ia. rest iu the love Of the GOOD son; she
SO fUIl and spent with the battle OF
1ife; he 80 nobly strong, and bright
land giat, lie did not look 50 when
5aw him next, this last May, when tht
FMHagUJ statue was unveiled. Tht
d light had gone out, both form and fact
were stamped with endurance and hard
resolve, in place Of
ITE BRIGHT, SPONTANEOUS CoUEAGI
so marked on his earlier face. Whel
q man has been the target for the pois
.oncd arrows Of Il presidential campaign
b he may be rs sloical as IN Indian, bu
the scar remains; and this marked
change was still more noticeable tn,
, last time ! saw the president, on tn,
l7lh Of June We know now that TIN
following morning, the 18th Of June
, had been originally fixed by his assas
, sin as the time for his act. Tha
| morning !, too, left Washington on tn
e same train. How unconscious we al
were of the close lying tragedy! Some
thing had had to be referred to til
5 president, and had gone down to Sc
= il through the necessary departments
. ending with an appointment with tn
president "for o'clock this afternoon.
, ! was there punctually when the pres
Q dent came in aud drOpped-not 50
= down, but let himself go-into an arr
S chair 4 fixed sadness was on hi
e face, and the loss of ali the red ting
!, from the skin made me tell him l wa
S glad That they were both going ava
from
THAT UNHEALTHY HOUSE.
Mrs. Garleld's dangerous illness hat
n l knew, greatly grieyed him, but b,
b yond that was a look Of 80, life, ho'
little WORTH 80, weary, weary earth,
The look Of one who has got benin
o the scenes and counts the cost, an
. finds it great The rest by the sea {
4 fatal Elberon restored much of h
Il own manner and look but did not Sc
4 him again. To me he remains, as
G saw him the first and last times, I'll
0 fond, good son, holding the hand of h
d little mother, and pleased with one wi
l. had given her a pleasure, and the col
q siderate gentleman, who out Of h
Z troubled and crowded time had sci
il for me that he might say PERSONAL
what might have been put in writing
From the outside no one can judg
b. but it seems like mistaken kindne
d that that mother and son should hay
y been apart when the end came. Whi
{. if t. should end her feeble life? 81
had never counted the cost of being
mother. For myself l would bett
& liked that the mother heart that a
swered to his very baby cry had bee
, beside him when his great heart brok
Il that the hand had seen so fonily on
n stretched to hers would have -four
!, her also when he was reaching out i
Il to the great darkness, This fami
s 70 has been long held under the burnir
a glass of public inspection, and out
" the scrutiny has come ono unbrokt
a. impression Of
Iv RESPECT AND TENDEREST PITY.
l. Their uprightness and simplicit
their united and blameless domest
life, their genuine christian silence al
IS dignity, have reused to expression Il
best underlying feeling of our who
y country and found response throug
le out the world-most beautifully fro
ie England. 1t was u good thought
take from death the added sting
nnvnr1v. And lhn nrininal sum h