The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1910-02-24
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Virginia Antiquities The superintendent is r. c. Beae
Who with his wife. occupies the house.
The big living the ground floor and to the
left is that in which Mrs Washington
died AS nearly possible 1T is preserved as Mrs
Washington kept it. A old mahogany tester bed
stands that part OF the floor where stood Mrs Wash
fngtons bed
The walls are lined with steel engrayngs which be
longed Washington and some Of these were her
property when she was Mary Ball before her marriage
to Augustine Washington and from her girlhood
home. "Fpping Lancaster county about 30
miles from Fredericksburg The room in the rear OF
living and sleeping was the dining room and
the same table around which the Washingtons ate
stands the middle of the floor. The dining room Is
bare OF carpets and was in Mrs Washingtons
time. The furnishings plain and simple
It was four months before the death of Mary Wash
angon George Washington took his final leave OF
his mother This directly before his Tor
New York for inauguration the first president News
of his death to him in letter from Col
Burgess Ball The president was at dinner with Baron
won Steuben and Clair. The letter handed
the president by nephew private secretary Rob-
Lewis After slowly reading it. Washington retired
to his private room remained there for time
He then wrote this his sister. Betty Washing
Lewis at fredericksburg
sMy Dear Sister: Col Balls letter the arst
account Of my mothers death Since that have re-
Carriers letter. written at your request ana
previous for the event BY advices
of her illness coming from your son Robert
-Awfrl and Affecting the death Of parent is.
there q consolation In knowing spared
ours age which few attain and favored her with
the enjoyment of her mental faculties and as ucn
these in the hope that she Is trans
lated happier place. it the duty OF her relatives
u Weld submfssion the decree OF the Creator
when was last in Fredericksburg took final leave
of my mother never expecting to see her more
your anectonats brother
GEORGE WASHINGTON"
Three Aay. after her death Mrs. Washington
buried The dug In the grounds OF her dausn
ter Betty site Of the grave was near group OF
rocks 1uttinE out of hillside overlooking tranquil
little valley between Fredericksburg and Maryes
Heights one OF the boodies battle ridges OF the civil
h{a RrOup rocks favOrte SPOT
with Mrs. Washington.
She retired there In fair weather to knit. pray and
read her Bible Because of this association with Mrs
Washington these called the "Oratory rocks
They are shaded by heavy oak trees 1t was shady
place days OF Mrs Washington and the trees nat
shieded her from the till 1862 when they
the storm Of shot that rolled over
grave of the mother OF George washington IN me
battle between the Army OF Northern virginia ana ens
Army OF the Potomac
Susan REVERE Hetzel history Of the Mary Wash
sneton association OF Mrs WashnEtons funeral
as follows
"Business suspended in the city of Fredericks-
burg: Grape hung from the houses. The church was
ehronsed with her friends neighbors Her body was
followed by loving daughter and to
place by herself to be her resting place the
granite powders called the Oratory rocks. where
she retire and for her beloved son during
the troublesome of the American revolution The
CONN was carried the church mems shoulders
the knoll where grave dug covered by the
and spectators for they had lost
not only the the president but old and be
loved friend
The MOURNING was general all the country. Press
and pulpit made Of the event Members OF con-
ress Grape for 80 days for distinguished ON
cial Congress passed resolution to erect monument
10 the mother Washington and to that resolution
President Washington responded in note OF thanks.
adding:
81 attribute my in life to the moral in
telectual physical education which received from
my mother"
The government never erected the monument called
for In the washingtonh administrations were
hampered BY the Indian the whisky nsurrection
and shays rebellion; Adams term was taken up with
the French troubles and the threatened with the
directory: 1enersons administration Allied with the