The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-02-16

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glimpse of Mary Ball at the most at
tractive age. sixteen. It is dated "Wil-
liamsburg, Va, the 7th of October.
1922. Madame Ball and her sweet
Molly have gone home. Mother thinks
Molly the comeliest maiden she
knows. She is about sixteen, is tall
and very sensible and loving. Her
hair is like fax, her eyes are the color
of yours. and her cheeks like the May
blossoms. I wish you could see her"
The home Of Washington's mother
in Fredericksburg is in an excellent
state Of preservation. It is now the
property of noble band of Virginia
women, known as the Society for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities"
In spite of the terrible shot and shell
of two wars, 1t remains unmolested.
During the battles around Fredericks-
burg in the Civil war there in the lit
tie town and county of Spottsylvania
1t Is said more great armies maneuv-
cred, more great battles were fought,
more men were engaged in mortal
combat and more officers and privates
were killed and wounded than in any
similar territory in the world. More
men were said to have fallen in bat
tie in this one county during the Civil
war than Great Britain has lost in
all her wars of century, and more
men were killed and wounded in four
hours at the Battle of Fredericksburg
than Great Britain lost in killed,
wounded and prisoners in her eight
months war in South Africa.
When these terrible days were over
the old house was found without a
scar. Apparently, not shot had
touched it. It is Of frame, with hall
running through the center, with
rooms on either side. There is moth
ing to betoken luxury; there is no fine
paneling or frescoiEg which is so
marked feature of SO many of the
homes of that date in Virginia. AS far
as obtainable much of Mrs. Washing.
toms furniture is there. In her bed
room we are shown her .four-poster,
her bureau, her cap-box and one or
two old chairs. In her dining-room
an old-fashioned table, chairs and her
bread-box. We are so prone to ideal
lie our heroes, and all that pertains to
them, but close and candid investiga-
ton will reveal that in the latter years
Of Mrs. Washington's life we find
much that is stern, undemorstrative
and not what we would be pleased to
term "a dear old lady" She was a
woman Of most indomitable will.
Mother and son were alike in this re-
spect. and the consequence was that
there was not always harmony be-
tween them. She was said to be
most penurious, a trait which Wash
'ington inherited, it is said.
AS will be seen by her will, Which
is q copy Of the original preserved in
the courthouse in Fredericksburg. she
speaks Of her Negro Wench, old
Bett." Ills said shortly before her
death she requested this faithful slave
be buried by her side. and their dust
has mingled for many generations.
The old.fashioned garden at the rear
OF the house must have been IN its
day one Of its chief attractions. Mrs.
Washington was devoted to flowers
and spent many, Of the last, days OF
her life In this spot. II was here that
the visit Of Marquis de Lafayette was
announced to her. She came forward
to meet him dressed IN white cotton
ifrock, which history also states was
tucked up. She received him without