The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1894-09-08

tho fall Of 1881 The dress u * pure
white crepe, embroidered IN sllk. It
was bought Ia Paris. She also wore
this interesting ring. I had also the
pleasant and novel experiences Of see-
Ing, and looking through a. old pair Of
gold spectacles that we're Gen. jack
sons, and are now the much priced 10.
heritance Of his great-grandsou, John
Marshall Laurance, at whose home We
supped and dined, usiug some Of the
silver and china that was our honored
ancestors, Gen. Jackson and his wife,
Miss Rachel Donelson. &
Another historical rslic Of my auut's
Ia baby ratler presented TO her by an
old lady then upwar 10 Of "a years, with
the following note:
MRS. Clara Meigs love to Mrs Jack.
son, and sends her daughter y small
present Of q rattler pin-cushion, Of her
own work." Some Of the materials are
Of our revolutionary age and the tinsel
upon y was worn by one Of Gen. WASH
ingtou's aids. The paper upon which
the note is written 10 yellow with age,
being sent In 1888. This pin-cushion is
oblong in shape, and made Of old bro
cade satin; the flowers are still bright
There is q romantic story about the
giver, Mrs. Clara Meigs, which / will
give you as I heard It. Mrs. Meigs
had lover who on rcertaln day ad.
dressed her; she answered him, but as
he was leaving the house, she repent
ing raised the window rand said IRE
turn Jonathan. He did return, and
they were married and named their
first boy "Return," since which time
the eldest son Of each generation has
been called ''Return Meigs, "and many
prominent men Of Tenn, have worn
with honor the name of Return
Meigs." r"
Another keepsake shown me, repre-
sents two men standing upon a plat.
form with arms locked; above them
projects 1.-THE old hickory tree.' One
figure represents Gen. jackson, the
other Louis Philip, King of France,
contending for the indemnity OF
France. On the front of the pedestal is
cut an ocean view, with the sun Just
rising. On the ocean are two ships
laden with the bullion, sailing from
France, represented by palaces carved
on one side, to America, represented by
the capitol on the other side.
This keepsake was carved out of q
block Of solid wood with q plain pocket
knife. During the Revolutionary War
American vessels we're captured by the
French, valued by the American
Government ut Sl3, 900. Gen.
Jackson while President claimed this
just debt Of Louis Philip, called the
indemnity, and wrote to Louis Philip
demanding payment which was refus-
ed. Gen jackson then wrote q more per.
emtory letter. Notwithstanding the op.
position In " ashing ton, they fearing
1t would involve this country 10 anoth.
or war, but to the contrary Louis Phil
ip was 10 pleased with the tone Of the
letter displaying the character Of the
man, he, without hesitation sent the
bullion on to Washington and was ever
after u great admired and warm friend
Of Gen. jackson. Some years afterwards
he sent the Artist, Hely over to |
America to take Gen. J's. likeness for
his palace with other prominent men Of
this country.
But the lait I most appreciated |
A token Of love was . miniature likeness
painted on ivory Of my aunt's grand.
Attached to 1t was guard
chain worked In black and gold beads,
the gold beads running the length oi
the chain and forming the inscrip ptiou, !
presented 70 Gen. Andrew jackson,
President Of the United States, a. . |
token Of esteem, by Caledonia G. Glib.
son. May blessings crown thy hoary
head" Gen. Jackson wore the guard |
from the time OF his wife's death until
within q few days Of his own death,
June 1845, and gave 1t In person to his
granddaughter, telling her to wear II
for his sake.
After bidding my widowed aunt and
her two sons goodbye, q pleasant drive
OF two miles brought us to the home Of
Gen. jackson, Familiarity known as
1.-THE Hermitage" It Ia about 12 miles
from Nashville. cannot describe TO
you my feelings upon entering for the
hrst tilne this old historical house and
realizing that both my grandfather
and my mother had played us happy
children within its walls. We we're
met by the old negro man known to all
who visit the Hermitage Us 'sUncle
ALI" He seems = part Of tho Hermit
age, having been Cen. Jackson's pri-
vate servant, and remaining in the EN-.
pl0y Of his childrenS children, and IN
now upwards OF 96 years old. l told
the old man who was, and he seemed
90 glad TO Gee me, said he and my faith.
or had played together many q day. I
told him he meant grandfather, aud
he said, "sure enough; I forget" The
house is Of brick. Long galleries run
the entire length Of II, both ub-stairs
and down, supported by large white
luted columns. The house contains
about II r0oms and IL very modest.loOk-
ing compared with the palatial resi-.
dences Of to-day. The rooms are large,
and airy; there are double parlors di.
vided BY an arch; I'd joining IL the din
ing room-the largest room ID the
house, and running the length Of both
parlors. In this room II q msntel.piece.
oi wonderful workmanship and histori.
cal interest. Il was made by q Niaais.
sippi man and presented TO Gen. Jack.