The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-09-14


CHAPTER L.
| Nobody in this world can make me 50
| happy or so miserable as you. Retire
mort from public life will long be-
| come necessary for me TO your sister
and yourself | look to render the evening
| of my life serene and contented. Its
morning has been crowded with loss
after loss till have nothing left but you.s
In this strain Mr.. Jefferson wrote to
his daughter Martha while he was minis
ter to France. 70 his two girls he was
both father and mother. lie shared their
sriefs and joys; he selected their books
ana directed their studies; he watched
over the development of their minds and
their bodies; he instilled into them the
wisest precepts and the purest princi-
pies. Down to the very shoe-strings that
tied their shoes, he gave his personal at
tention to their every want. Public de-
lnands upon his time were never 50 ex-
acting as to shut out his daughters
When they were absent his long. affec-
tionate, instructive letters flowed to them
in almost unbroken lines What were
they dong? What books We're they read
ing? Were they keeping mp their music
lessons? Did they practice dancing two
hours per day? Did they always keep
busy at some useful work? Did they
wear their bonnets when they went out
in the sun and wind? Were the flowers
vet in bloom? Had the hooking bird ar
rived? What We're relatives friends and
neighbors doing and saying? When did
the blue birds appear? When We're the
first chickens Matched? Is the garden
iloufishng? Gossip and family matters
mngIe with facts concerning the gravest
III in
ing certain hogsheads OF tobtcco are fol-
lowed by the announcement; "Mirabeau
is dead" In 1901 he tells Maria of a visit
to Mount Vernon ana of the kind IN
quiries which Mrs. Washington made al
ter hcr-a letter which would seem TO dis
prove the existence of any GOODNESS be-
tween the two families. General Wash
ineton was dead: but jefferson would
hardly have been visiting the widow at
her home in the familiar manner OF
friendly intercourse if he and Washing
ton had been cstranged Continue al
ways to love me. and be assured that
there is no object on earth so dear to my
heart as your health and happiness. My
tenderest affections always hang on YOU
Adieu. my ever dear Maria
Running through all this tender corre-
spondence The refrain is "Re good. be
Sood ne US0I"i' never G nut "i""9
he at some work, rove nature EXERCISE
IN the open air. be ialthtui 10 lflehoS'
wish no evil to enemies. do not beg TOT
anything, do not be angry ABOVE an
things, be good and useful II you won't"
and happy
The morning Of life has been crowded
with loss after loss tii l have nothing
leCt but you: to yo1r SISTER and yourseli
t look to render the evening of life serene
and nappY.
The evening had now come ana 'he
aged statesman was turning ms leet
homeward; but only one OF the daughters
was left 10 .lake him serene and content
ed. Maria the vision Of beauty, 100
fran to bear up under the burdens OF
motherhood. had died In 1SQi-died in the
spring time. when such a loss secma
doubly cruel
1t win be remembered that one Of lief
ferson's earliest friends. hoyhood
ravo,ate fine confidaut of his first little
1,,.o off,ir vae John Pare of college
d,,e Artsr an tho shifting scenes OF
lfra Nj, page was now governor of the
ola Dominion. while jefferson was presi-
d.nt i, fl,, tiine of his grief for the loss
~ H., 7,,,oI,tcr Mr. Jefferson was con
,l,ll 49,. W. e,.,o,,tl,v or his old friend
paa ava NJ. Jeffer-
a,4 ,,t,a,. - ,.a,,l,. ,s,oinde one Of Ed
'l' 49,, ,,il1,.,'- ,.t,. o,,1,, CON
~. ~, -, ~ ,,.or Tho
, ,-..,l
country over """" nav ,.n,.t'