Year: 1860

THE WIFE OF JOHN ADAMS.


In few weeks the proclamation reached the
colonies at several ports. Abigail Smith, the
wife of John Adams, was at the time in their
home near the foot of Penn Hill, charged with
the sole care of their little brood OF children
managing their farm; keeping house with fru-
gality, though opening her doors to the house
less and giving with good will her scant
portion to the poor; seeking work for her own
hands, and ever busily occupied, now at the
spinning Wheel now making amends for hav-
ing never been sent to school by learning
French, though with the aid OF oboks alone
Since the departure of her husband to Con-
gress, the arrow Of death had sped near her by
day, and the pestilence that walks in darkness
had entered her humble mansion she herself
was still weak after violent illness her house
was hospital in every part and such was
the distress of the neighborhood, she could
hardly find well person to assist in looking
after the sick. Her youngest son had been
rescued from the grave by her nursing her
own mother had been taken away, and in the
manner of her toretathers, buried without
prayer. Woe followed woe, and one affiiction
trOd on the heels of another. Winter was
hurrying on during ihe day family affairs
took off her attention, but her long evenings,
broken by the sound of the storm on the
ocean, or the enemy S artillery at Boston, were
lonesome and melancholy. Ever in the silent
night Illuminating on the love and tenderness of
her departed parent, she needed the consoa
tion of husbands presence but when, in
November, she read the kings proclamation
she willingly gave up her nearest friend exelu-
svely to his perilous duties, and sent him her
cheering me sage: "This intelligence will
make plain path for you, though danger
Gus one /; l could not join to day in the peti-
tons of our worthy pastor for a reconciliation
ht,ff
state, and these colonies. Let us separate
they are unworthy to be our brethren. Let us
renounce them; and, instead of supplications
as formerly, for their prosperity and happi.
ness, let us beseech the Almighty to blast their
counsels, and bring to nought all their devices"


cATHARINE IL. OF RUSSIA.


The affairs of the united colonies were at
that time under discussion in the heart of the
Russian empire, the ancient city of Moscow, at
the court of Catharine the Second. The rul-
ing opinion in Russia demanded the concen-
tration of all power in one hand. From the
moment the empress set her foot on Russian
soil, it became her fixed purpose to seize the
absolute sway and govern alone, Though she
mixed trfing pastime with application to bus
mess, and for her recreation sought the COM
pany of the young and the very gay, she far
eXcelled those around her in industry and
knowledge. Frederic said of her, that she had
an inhnity of talent and no religion yet she
went over to the Greek church and played the
devotee. Distinguished for viyacity of
thought and Judgment for the most labori-
GUS attention to affairs, very proud of the great
ness and power of her empire, her intercourse
with all her subjects was marked by midness
and Incompatible grace; and she made almost
incredible eXertions as Il monarch to be useful
even to the meanest to benefit the future as
well as the present age. Tragedy, comedy,
music, wearied her she had no taste but to
build, or to regulate her court no passion
but to rule and to make a great name f; and
this led her to undertake too much herself
without sufficient aid from her ministers. In
the crowd OF the ambitious, who were all eager
tor advancement and favor she compared her.
self TO Il hare worried by many hounds and
among an INSCRIPTIONS nobility in land
which was not that of her birth, she was
haunted by feeling of insecurity, and reveal.
ed a secret unrest and discomfort OF soul But
those around her were not offended at the
completeness with which she belonged to a
century representing the supremacy OF the
senses ; the spiritual life that dihused itself
over her form was a refinement of delight in
physical pleasures; the Establishments of her
manner the smiles on her face, the flowers on
her breast covered fiery passions that coursed
Tiotousy through her veins.