The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-02-27

The Washingtons owned many slaves, and
the 50 inning wheel and loom and sewing
room. required constant care from Mrs.
Washington It was a religious household.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Washington 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 a serious, earnest person,
whose reproofs to her children were often
made in scriptural language. Honor thy
father and mother was command so thor
oughly instilled into their young minds that
they were as obedient ami reverent in their
later as in their earlier years. Mrs. Wash
ington was left widow when George was
but II years DID, She was the guardian of
her stepchiidren as well as her own, intrust-
ed with the revenues of their property until
they severally came of age, trust she con-
scientiously fulfilled.
She ruled kindly but firmly, exacting
Difference as we'll as obedience and this, it
is said, her children willingly paid to the,
day of her death She was dignified to tho
point of being severely >tately. From her,
dou 5tless, Gen. Washington inherited tba
awe:inspiring manner he was said to pos
sess There is an old story describing the
discontinue of man, an official of high
rank. too, who once familiarly put his hand
on Washington shoulder. He said he
wouldn't do it again to~save his own life
That mother AZ son were much alike in
character, appearance and conduct, there
can be no dorot. Both were lacking in
reserved, self-contained and serious.
George frequently spent his holidays at
Noun, Vernon with his brother Lawrence,
1rI/ III Por
in the way of military career, and who
bequeathed to him Mount Vernon. When
he was but Il years old a midshipman S
position on British man-of-war could have
been secured for him, but his mother refused
her consent This little incident doubtless
saved him from otscurity. Later she cheer
fully assented to his departure to the Fl ench
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 extravagantiy praised she an
swered that Providence ordered all things;
or said simply that he had been a good son and
she telleved he had done his duty as O man
should. She did not see him for six years
After the surrender of Cornwallis at York
town, Washington visited her attended by
his staff. The people of Fredericksburg gave
q ball in his honor which was attended by
she most distinguished officers and citizens
That was the only occasion when Mrs
Washington appeared in public with her
son. She was then over TO- and received
more courtly attention than any other figure
present, her ilustyious son not excepted
She is described as ''the picture of beautiful
simplicity moving among the dazzling
thror dressed in tie appropriate costume
of q Virginia matron of the olden time'
The Marquis de Lafayette visited Fred
ericksburg especially to bid Mrs Washing
ION good by. He found her in homespun
oress and sunbonnet working in her garden
"Ah, Marquis she said, you see an Old
woman; but come, l can make you we come
to my poor dwelling without the parade of
changing my dress
When Washington was elected president
he paid her farewell sit This was the
year of her death. Both felt that the part
ing was the last in this world. She was then
fast iourneyiny to the life beyond, having for
years been afflicted by a cancer, keeping her
ail1nent a secret as long as 1t was possible to
do so. She diel on Aug. 25, 1889, in her
SD year Her grave was unmarked even
fy head stone, till the the year 1888 when
President Jackson laid the corner one of a
monument to her memory. A colossal bust
of Washington was to adorn the shaft, and
that surmounte by the American eagle su'-
tanning a civic crown above the hero's
read This was to be its inscription:
Mary. the mother of Washington" But
;.las, the pedestal is moss cove, ed and un
'inlshel, and the marble from which the
haft was to have been made lies beside it
crumbling to decay. The accompanying
ric.ure, drawn by W. o Hazard. of Fred
4ri:ksburg, gives faithful transcript of its
apraaranca