Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1915-02-18

him her blessing. She had given up
her tory predictions of necessity.
On one accession, at time when a
battle was imminent, a courier named
George Kiger. came riding hard to de-
liver her letter from the front She
was busy with her work; she dropped
the packet in one OF her capacious
pockets and went on with what she
was doing. 1T is all right" she re-
marked placidly; Il am we'll assured
OF that"
Kiger breathlessly explained to her
that there was a crowd at the gate
waiting for the news There may
have been a battle" he said; the
neighbors would like to know"
Mrs. Washington fished the letter
out. glanced over it, and dropped 1t
back. There has been a victory"
she said, and added complacently,
George generally carries through
whatever he undertakes"
Lafayette, who had met her before.
visited her after the battle Of York
town, and came upon her working in
her garden in a homespun dress and
a straw hat. She did not change her
dress in honor Of the young nobleman.
She listened to his enthusiasm over
his idol, Washington. and merely said:
Il am not surprised at what George
has done, for he was always a good
boy"
Washington came with his suite OF
French and American officers to
Fredericksburg after the decisive bat
tie. An orderly preceded him.
Madam" announced the orderly, his
excellency will be here within an
hour"
His excellency!" repeated Mrs.
Washington. Tell George ! shall be
glad to see him." and then, to her
maid servant, Patsy, shall need an
other apron"
The conqueror of CORVALLIS arrived
and was affectionately greeted. But
during the conversation that followed
she made no reference whatever to
his military exploits. There was ball
that night in the town in Washing.
toms honor, and she appeared leaning
on his arm and danced minuet with
him.
In these later years their relations
we're not pleasant. to tell the truth.
She spread reports that he was not
treating her we'll in money matters,
and he suffered a great deal of pain
on this account. Her statements were
not true, but they were believed never
theless, and were 80 widely spread
that strangers undertook the work Of
providing for her supposed wants, to
the intense modification Of her son.
But worse was to come. He found
that she was borrowing and accepting
gifts from neighbors. He wrote that
he had learned that she has, upon all
occasions and in all companies, COM
planned of her wants and diff
ficulties; and IL not in direct terms, at
least by strong innuendos, endeavors
to excite belief that times are much
altered, &C., &C., which not only
makes her appear in an unfavorable
point of view, but those who are con-
nected with her."
He asked a relative to find out II
there was any basis for her talk and
see what is necessary to make her
comfortable" while ! have any
thing" he wrote, Il will part with 1t
to make her easy" He also asked his
correspondent ito represent to her in
delicate terms the improperly Of her
complaints and acceptance of favors,
even when they are voluntarily Of
fered, from any but relations"
But at last he was provoked into |
giving up the renting Of her planta-
ton, not because, as he explained, Il
mean to withhold any aid or support l |
can give you. for while ! have a shil'
ling you shall have part" but because
what / shall then give l shall have
credit for" and not be viewed as q
delinquent, and considered perhaps be-
fore the world as an unjust and undu-
tiful son."
She died Of cancer on August rs,
1883, at the age Of eighty-three.