Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-02-21
the MOTHER OF WASHINGTON.
The Woman Who Gave Great SOU to the
world.

rot such objects Of interest 10 the world as
;hey are now. Bot little wss thought in
the then new country Of the mother share
in producing and developing an immortal
figure.
Enough is known to support the suppc-
sition that from her be inherited his strong.
est mental qualities and splendid phys
que, After he became the military hero
/ OF his country everything pert iniGg TO HE
paternal ancestry Was gathered and treas
uced with Jealous care, bu, 10 one thought
of the maternal genealogy
Mary Ball was the daughter Of WELT
DO Virginia planter. She vas born in
1906, was carefully brought up and re-
hgiously trained On March /, 1870, at
the age oC2+, sne became the second wife
OF Augustine Washington, friend aud
neighoor Of her father Tie wedding waa
celebrated with toe I'D time generous
hospitality Of Virginia
The Nashlngtops were planters OF con
siderable means 10 Westmorelaud count
Mary Washington found herself the step,
mother Of several children and the mis-,
tress Of one Of the most comfortable homes
that section of the country afforded. 1t
was q one storied frame house with steep
root, tour large rooms, and an entrance OF
| Old-fsshioned width At each end of the
house on the outside was an enormous
chimney. 1t was situated on an eminence
about hall a mile from the Potomac river,
( command view of the Maryland shore
/ for miles.
/ Here, on February %, 1882, George, ths
I hrst child Of Mary ind Augustine Wash
/ iugtou. was born. Six children ws:e
/ eventually corn 10 them. They were
named respectively, George, Betty after
ward Mrs Lewis Samuel John Augustine,
| Charles scd Mildred. The last named
| died Il Infancy. The three soGs iahe'l,ed
separate plantations IN Virginia icom tLeis
father, and there lived anu 6icd
When George was years Old the " ash
iuQtons removed TO e large plantation or
farm o. the Rappabauaock river opposite
Fredericksburg
The Washiugtous oRaed taauy slaves.
and the spinning wheel aud loom eHd sa"-
ing room required constant care from olrs
Washington. TWAS religious household
Both MIR. and Mrs. Washington we're mem
oers of the Episcopal church, AM family
Drawers, at which al the servants we're
present. were the rrle ii the house.
The mother was serious, earhe5t FER
son, whose reproots 10 her Children ERE
often made in scrigtuTsl language. fon0r
thy father and mother was Q Command 20
thoroughly instilled into their young IGih4s
that they were ss o5sdien' ana r-7eren. IL
their later as in their earlier years. Mrs
Washington was LEFT a widow when Tsorse
was bat eleven years old. She was the
guardian Of her step children az veil IS
6er own, intrusted with the revenues OF
their property until they seyeraILY came Of
age, q trust she conscientlous!y ia'hllsd
She ruled kindly bct firmly, eX.c'inc
Difference as well ss Obedience, and this, 1t
ia said her children willingly paid 10 the
day of her death. She was dignihed TO
he point Of being severely stately. From
her, doubtless, General Washington inner,
tied the aweiuspiring manner ne was ssid
o possess. Thsre ia an old story deaerlo-
ing the discomtorture of 2 man, sn oticlal
Of high rank. too, who once tamlhnr!y put
his land on Washington shoulder. de
aid he wouldn't do il again 20 save has
own lite. M.
| That mother and son were much ahKe
character, appearance and conduct,
here can be no doubt. Both were lac klng
n humor and imagination Both were
silent, reserved, self-contaiEed and serious
George frequently sp2nt his holidays ii
Mount Vernon with his brother Lawrence.
who was largely responsible Tor pl't'nSS
hum in the way Of a military career ana
tho beouesthed to him Mount erucn.
When he vas but Ii years old midsnip
mans position on a British manor val
conId have been secured 70: him, bat his
nnfbs- refused her consent. This nt!e
;rcidant doubtIess saved him from o)sclr'
| ity. Later she cheerfully sssented 70 his
departure to the French and lna'a9 war
and from that time on be only saw her on
occasional visits.
Before starting north ~ assume com,
nsnd Washington visited his mother, a1a
during bis absence wrote ber repeatedly;
When abe heard him extra7sgsntly praise
she answered that Providence ordered 81
rhinss: or said simply that he had been "
good son and she believed he had done hls
5ntv "A a man shoald. She did not sei
him for six years. Aztec tie surrender O.
Cornwshs at Yorktown, Washington Nisi'
I'd her attended o. his stat Inc Gto9l
of Frede.icksburg gave ball IN his honor
vbich was attended ~ the most dlsla
gnisbed officers and c tizens That was th'
onlv occasion when Mrs Washington %
nsarsd in public with her sor. She Wsi
than over 10. and received more County az
..p;ioE ,hsn any other figure present, me-
, ,IIpstr,sus son excepted. She ls DESCRIBED
, a. the picture of beautiful simplicity NOV
! ips amor 2 the dazzling throng dressed II
! The apprt pirate costume OF Virginia ma
} tron of tie olden time. ,
= The MARQUIS de LAFAYETTE Vlsi:ed sfea
ar;.ksbrrg especially to bid Mrs. "sss'sS
ron GOOD by. he forni her in ahonas2al
SresS and sus%onnet working II her gardsi
; "Ah. MARQUIS" she sGid, "yo1 see en OF;
! von,an: but come l car make yol vel
+ come TO nv pocr dEelliDg without ~
parade Of changing my dress -
, WIEN Washington was elected presiien
? "a bar a farewell visit This was tht
+ wear of her death. Both felt thar toe PsE'
, fng was the last in the world: She va
. then fast iourneying to the lite esYonu
having for years been afflicted 6y cancer
Lssn;nO her silusnt q secret as long as
90. possible for heF TO DO SO. She died o.
sn,pst IS 1888 in her SD year. he
80 vas unmarked. even by q hes'
Store till the year 1898, when Presiden
Jackson laid the corner stone OF
monrment 10 her memory. A colosas
bnSt Of Washington wss TO adcru the shat
and tbs. suImounted By the AmeE'cs
eagle sustaining q civic crown above 3 tn
$ ,;on. merry, the mother Of Washington.
= R,t s,ss the nsdastsl is moss covered az
!. nTso;sIs! sri the marble ron which to