The Ottawa free trader., 1886-02-20

TOE washingtons owned many slaves, and
the sd inning wheel and loom and sewin:
room required constant care from Mrs.
Washington. IL was . religious household.
Both Mr.. and Mrs Warrington were members
of the Episcopal church, and family prayers
at which all the servants were present, were
the ru Of the house
The mo. her was serioos, earnest person,
whose rsproofs to her children were often
made In scriptural language Honor thy
father and mother was command so thor.
oughly instilIed into their young minds that
they were % obedient anil reverent In theiS
later az in their earlier years MIS- Wash
ington was left 9 widow when George Wa
but II yeays old. she was the guardian OF
her stepchildren a we'll az her own intrust-
ID with the revenues Of their property until
they severally came Of age, trust she con-
scisntiousiy fulfilled
Ehs ruled kindly but firmly, exhcting
deference as well W obedience, and this, II
is said, her children willingly paid to the
day Of her death She was dignif'ed to the
point Of being severely stately. From her,
dou 1tless, Gen. Washington Inherited tht
awe inspiring manner he was said to pos
sess There 10 an old story describing the
oinSohhNOs0 Va Moah oA oAsi>1es. ~ %
rank. too who once fsmi!iarly put his hand
on Washington shoulder. He said he
wouldn't do IL again 10 save his own life
That mother and son were much alike In
character, appearance and conduct, there
can 10 no doubt Both we're lacking III
humor and imagination; both were silent,
reserved, self contained and serious
George frequently spent his holidays at
Mount Vernon with his brother Lawrence,
who was largely responsible for putting him
In the way of military career, and who
bcuueathed to him Mount Vernon When
he was but IA years Old midshipman $
position on a British man-of-war could have
been secured for him. but his mother refused
her consent. This little incident doubtless
saved him from otscuriiy. Later she cheer
fully asscnted to his departure TO the French
and Indian war, and from that time ON he
only saw her on occasional visits
Before starting north TO assume command
Washington visited his mother and during
his absence wrote her repeatedly When
she heard him extravaSaptly praised she an
swered that Providence ordered all things;
orsaid simply that he had been good son and
she believed he had done his duty as a man
should. She d not see him for six years.
After the surrender Of CORVALLIS at York
town, Washington visited her attended by
his staff The people Of Fredericksburg gave
q ball in his honor, which was attended by
the most d stiusuished officers and citizens.
That was the only occasion when Mrs
Washington apreaIcd III public with her
son She was then over 40, and received
more courtly attention than any other figure
present. her illustrlous son not excepted.
She is described as "the p cturc Of beautiful
simplicity moving among the dHz2InG
throng dressed in the appropriate costume
of a Virginia matron of the o,den time"
The Marquis de Lafayette visited Fred
crick burg cspoc ally 20 bid MIS-. Washing
ton ccod-h by he found Ter in homespur
dress and sunLounet, working in her garden
"Ah, Marquis" she said, 'you sce an o!C
woman: Tut come, | can make you we'com,
to MY poor dwelling vi .hout the parade ol
changing my dress"
When Washington was elected president
he pai1 her a farewell sit. This was tht
wear of her death. Both felt that the part
ing was the last in this world. She was ther
fast iourneying 20 the life beyond having fol
years been afflicted by cancer, keeping heI
atlnent Il Sc ret as long as it was possible tc
do so She diel on Aug, %, l7.3, in hei
Sc yepr.. Her grave was unmarried, ever
| by head stone till the the year 1893. whel
President Jackson laid the corner one o! {
monument to her memory A colossal bus
of Washington was to adorn the shaft, an,
! that surmouGtei by the American eagle su'
| taining Give crown above the nero
head This was to he its Inscription
| MARY. the mother Of Washington" But
| alas, the pedestal is moss cove ed and un
finished, and the marble from which th'
shaft was to have been made lies beside i
crumbling TO decay. Tie accompanying
picture, drawn by w. Q Hazard, OF Fred
cricksbury. gives 4 faithful transcript Of 1t
| arrayruuCp