Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-01-12

is another picture, made nearly fifty
years ago, when the old-fashioncd
daguerreotypes were in vogue.
Relics, pictorial and otherwise, of
Garfield's life are found in many places
about the house. But by far the most
interesting is the letter he wrote to his
mother one hot August day during his
struggle with death, when he felt
strong enough TO sit up in bed.
Propped up with pillows, he wrote
with pencil and pad the now famous
letter to his mother, and insisted on
directing the envelope in his own
handwriting. 1t was the only letter
he wrote during his long illness, and
while she lived, Grandma Garfield val
ued it above all earthly possessions.
She had it framed and hung it on the
wall beside her bed. And there it
hangs to-day, although somewhat yel-
low and faded.
There is plainly but neatly fur
nished room Adjoining what was the
parlur of the old home, which is
known as "Grandma's" room, because
for many years and until her death the
mother of Garfield lived in it, sur
rounded by the closest and dearest rel.
les of her boy 'Jimmie"-for thus she
called him even when he was the Pres
ident of the United States. He loved
the name when ii was spoken by her
loving lips. Here in this room she sat
in the dark days of 1881 when her
Jimmie" was dying. She sat by the
window each day reading the worn
family bible and looking with anxious
eyes for the messenger bearing tele-
grams from the sick room.
T When Garfield died at Elberon in
September, 1881, his five children were
old enough to realize their great grief.
There was Harry, the eldest, whose
full name was Harry Abram, the mid
die name being for his fathers father.
Then came James Rudolph, having the
family name of his mother. Next in
years was "Mollie, for no one at home
ever called her by her christening
name of Mary. Irwin was next, and
then Abram, the baby boy, who rad
the run of the white house after the
family moved from Mentor in March
of 1881.
The eldest son was at Williams col
lege, at Williamstown, Mass, when
his father was shot, and after gradua-
ton he studied law, and took his de-
gree at the Columbia college law
school. He does not resemble his
father in any respect, although some
of the family friends do not agree to
this. Nor does he resemble his mother;
he has passive, resolute face, but it
lacks the constant smile and genial eX-
preston OF his fathers generous good
nature. lie does not care for politics,
but prefers the hard routine of the
law. He is a diligent student, and he
gives advice to clients in u cold, hard,
dictatorial way very unlike the father.
Both he and James X. were admitted
to practice in their native state after
creditable examinations. On Sept. IA,
1858, he married Miss Belle Mason,
daughter of James Mason, a wealthy
Cleveland lawyer. At the same time
Mollie Garfield was married TO j. Stan
ley Brown, her father former private
secretary. 1t was nota bic social
event
James Rudolph Garfields PERSONAL
ty is suggestive Of that of his father.
In Cleveland every one says Jimmie"
looks like his father and "acts like
him." too. He is well thought of on
his own account, and great things are
expected of him. Some day he hopes