The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-02-24

ton and other Virginia relics 1t is q <|>f"(
owned and cared for by the Society for Preservation
virginia Antiquities The superintendent is r c. Beae
who with his wife, occupies the house.
Tho big living the ground floor and to the
left of the is that in which Mrs Washington
died AS nearly possible it is preserved Mrs.
washington kept It, rare old mahogany tester bed
stands part of the floor where stood Mrs Wash
ington's bed.
The walls are lined with steel engravings which be-
lopged to Mrs Washington and some of these her
property when she Mary Ball before her marriage
to Augustine Washington and came from her girlhood
home "Eppng Forest, in Lancaster county, about 80
miles from Fredericksburg. The room In the rear OF
this living and sleeping room was the dining room and
the same table around which the Washingtons ate
stands in the middle of the floor The dining is
bare of carpets rugs and in Mrs. Washngton's
time The furnishings plain and simple.
It was four months before the death of Mary Wash
tngtop that George Washington took his final leave of
his mother This was directly before his departure for
New York Inauguration the first president News
Of his mothers death came to him In letter from COL
Burgess Ball The president at dinner with Baron
Won steuben and Gov St Clair The letter was handed
the president by his nephew and private secretary Rob
ert Lewis After slowly reading it, Washington retired
his private and remained there for some time
He then this letter to his sister Betty Washing
ton Lewis at Fredericksburg:
MY Dear Sister: Col. Balls letter gave me the first
account of my mothers death. Since that have re-
ceved Mrs Carriers letter written at your request ana
previous both prepared for the event by advces
Of her illness coming from your son Robert
awful and affecting the death of parent is.
there consolation In knowing that heaven has spared
ours to an age which few attain and favored her with
the enjoyment of her mental faculties and as much
bodily strength usually falls to fourscore' ohue
these and in the hope that she Is trans
lated to happier place. 1t is the duty OF her relatives
to yield submission to the decree of the Creator
when last in Fredericksburg took maj leave
Of my mother, never expecting to see her more
your affectonate brother
GEORGE WASHINGTON"
Three days after her death Mrs. Washington was
buried The dug in the grounds OF her daug
Betty. The site of the grave was near group Oh
rocks jutting of hillside overlooking ranqVil
little valley between Fredericksburg and Maryes
Heights one of the bloodiest battle ridges of the civil
war This little group of gray favorite spot
with Mrs. Washington.
She retired there In fair weather to knit, pray anu
read her Bible Because of this association with Mrs.
Washington these now called the oratory rocNs,
They are shaded by heavy oak trees II was sna a
place in the days of Mrs Washington and the trees .
shielded her from the survived TIL 1867 wnen ne!
were torn to death by the storm of shot that roeu
the grave the mother of George Washington IN the
battle between the Army of Northern virginia anu '
Army of the Potomac
Susan REVERE Hetzel An history of the Mary Wash
ingon association writes of Mrs Washingtons funera
as follows: $500
Business was suspended in the city OF trederlchs
burg; Grape hung from the houses me church YVES
thronged with friends and neghbors Her oouy was
followed by her loving daughter and grandchluren "
place chosen by herself to be her resting place near
granite powders called the Oratory rocks wne.
she loved to retire and pray for her beloved son
he troublesome days of the American reNolution'
loN!h was carried from the cnuTch vi hOh q
the knoll where the grave was dug covered by tn'
concourse of and spectators for they hau |
not only the mother of the president but an ola anu "
loved friend
The mourning general all over the country lo
and pulpit made note of the event Members oi con ON
stess wore Grape for 80 days as for distinguished wa
e'al Congress passed resolution to erect nlo
70 the mother of Washington and to tha' Iesuiuo r
resident Washington responded In note Oh 'i"
adding
i attribute all my in life to the moral ~
@Nectual and physical education which rece'Neu '''
n my mother"
The government never erected the monument cane
o In the resolution Washington's Administrations We.
pampered by the Indian wars. the WHISKY ihsuiieeo
snu shays rebellion; Adams term was taken up w.
Tue French troubles and the threatened war WIN III
directory; JeHersons administration was hed WIN !"