The lady was alone, her aged hands employed in the works of domestic industry, when the good news was announced, and it was further told that the victor chief was in waiting at the threshold. She welcomed him with a warm embrace, and by the well remembered and endearing name of his childhood; enquiring as to his health, she remarked the lines which mighty cares and many trials had made on his manly countenance, spoke much of old times and old friends, but of his glory-not one word! Meantime, in the village of Fredericksburg all was joy and revelry; the town was crowded with the officers of the French and American armies, and with gentlemen from all the country around, who hastened to welcome the conquerors of Cornwallis. The citizens made arrangements for a splendid ball, to which the mother of Washington was specially invited. She observed, that although her dancing days were pretty well over, she should feel happy in contributing to the general festivity,-and consented to attend. The foreign officers were anxious to see the mother of their chief. They had heard indistinct rumors respecting her remarkable life and character, but forming their judgments from European examples, they were prepared to expect in the mother that glare and show, which would have been attached to the parents of the great in the old world. How were they surprised when the matron, leaning on the arm of her son, entered the room! She was arrayed in the very plain yet becoming garb worn by the Virginia lady of the olden time. Her address, always dignified and imposing, was courteous though reserved. She received the complimentary attentions which were profusely paid her, without evincing the slightest elevation, and at an early hour, wishing the company much enjoyment of their pleasures, observed that it was time for old people to be at home, retired, leaning on the arm of her son. The foreign officers were amazed to behold one whom so many causes contributed to elevate, preserving the even tenor of her life, while such a blaze of glory shone upon her name and offspring. The European world furnished no examples of such magnanimity. Names of ancient lore were heard to escape from their lips, and they observed, that "if such were the matrons of America, it was not wonderful the sons were illustrious." It was on this festive occasion that General Washington danced a minuet with Mrs. Willis. It closed his dancing days. The minuet was much in vogue at that period, and was peculiarly calculated for the display of the splendid figure of the chief, and his natural grace and elegance of air and manner. The gallant Frenchmen who were present, of which fine people it may be said that dancing forms one of the elements of their existence, so much admired the American performance, as to admit that a Parisian education could not have improved it. As the evening advanced, the Commander-in-chief, yielding to the gaiety of the scene, went down some dozen couple, in the contra-dance, with great spirit and satisfaction. The Marquis de Lafayette repaired to Fredericksburg, previous to his departure for Europe in the fall of 1784, to pay his parting respects to the mother, and to ask her blessing. Conducted by one of her grandsons, he approached the house, when the young gentleman observed-"There, Sir, is my grandmother." Lafayette beheld, working in the garden, clad in domestic made clothes, and her grey head covered by a plain straw hat, the mother of "his hero!" The lady saluted him kindly, observing-" Ah, Marquis! you see an old woman-but come, I can make you welcome to my poor dwelling, without the parade .of changing my dress.' Much as Lafayette had seen and heard of the matron before, at this interesting interview he was charmed and struck with wonder. When he considered the great age, the transcendent elevation of her son, who, surpassing all rivals in the race of glory, "bore the palm alone"-and at the same time discovered no change in her plain_yet dignified life and manners, he became assured that the Roman matron could flourish in the modern day. The Marquis spoke of the happy effects of the Revolution, and the goodly prospect which opened upon Independent America, stated his speedy departure for his native land, paid the tribute of his heart, his love and admiration. of her illustrious son, and concluded by asking her blessing. She blessed him ;-and to the encomiums which he had lavished upon his hero and paternal chief, the matron replied in these words :-"I am not surprised at what George has done, for he was always a very good boy." Immediately after the organization of the present government, the Chief Magistrate repaired to Fredericksburg, to pay his humble duty to his mother, preparatory to his departure for New York. An affecting scene ensued. The son, feelingly remarked the ravages which a torturing disease had made upon the aged frame of his mother, and thus addressed her: "The people, madam, have been pleased, with the most flattering unanimity, to elect me to the chief-magistracy of these United States, but before I can assume the functions of my office, I have come to bid you an affectionate farewell. So soon as the public business, which must necessarily be encountered in arranging a new government, can be disposed of, I shall hasten to Virginia, and Here the matron interrupted him-" You will see me no more. My great age, and the disease which is fast approaching my vitals, warn me that I shall not be long of this world. I trust in God, I am somewhat prepared for a better. But go, George, fulfil the high destinies which Heaven appears to assign you; go, my son, and may that Heaven's and your mother's blessing be with you always." The President was deeply affected. His head rested upon the shoulder of his parent, whose aged arm feebly, yet fondly, encircled his neck. That brow, on which fame had wreathed the purest laurel virtue ever gave to created man, relaxed from its lofty bearing. That look, which could have awed a Roman Senate in its Fabrician day, was bent in filial tenderness upon the time-worn features of the venerable matron. The great man wept. A thousand recollections crowded upon his mind, as memory, retracing scenes long past, carried him back to the paternal mansion, and the days of his youth, and there the centre of attraction was his mother; whose care, instructions, and discipline had prepared him to reach the topmost height of laudable ambition,-yet how were his glories forgotten, while he gazed upon her, whom, wasted by time and malady, he must soon part with to meet no more. The matron's predictions were true. The disease which so long had preyed upon her frame completed its triumph, and she expired at the age of eighty-five, rejoicing in the consciousness of a life well spent, and confiding in the promises of immortal life to the humble believer. In her person, the matron was of the middle size, and finely formed; her features pleasing, yet strongly marked. It is not the happiness of the writer to remember her, having only seen her with infant eyes. The sister of the Chief he perfectly well remembers. She was a most majestic woman, and so strikingly like the brother, that it was a matter of frolic to throw a cloak around her, and place a military hat upon her head, and such was the perfect resemblance, that, had she appeared in her brother's stead, battalions would have presented arms, and Senates risen to do homage to the Chief. In her latter days, the mother often spoke of her own good boy, of the merits of his early life, of his love and dutifulness to herself;-but of the Deliverer of his country, the Chief Magistrate of the great Republic, she never spoke. Call you this insensibility?—or want of ambition? Oh, no, her ambition had been gratified to overflowing. In her Spartan school she had taught him to be good, that he became great when the opportunity presented, was a consequence, not the cause. Thus lived and died this distinguished woman. Had she been a Roman matron, statues would have been erected to her memory in the Capitol, and we should have read in classic pages the story of her virtues. When another century shall have elapsed, and the nations of the earth, as well as our descendants, have learned the true value of Liberty, the fame of our Hero will gather a glory it has never yet been invested with; and then will youth and age, maid and matron, aged and bearded men, with pilgrim step, repair to the now neglected grave of the Mother of Washington. THE WIFE'S REMONSTRANCE. Come, rouse thee, dearest!-'tis not well Thus darkly o'er the cares that swell As brooks, and torrents, rivers, all, And, with their gloomy shades, conceal Come, rouse thee, now-I know thy mind, Strange thou shouldst be thus shaken! And be what Heaven intended thee; Throw from thy thoughts this wearying weight, I would not see thee bend below Full well I know the generous soul Each spring which can its powers control, For deemest thou she had stooped to bind The shrine-than sunk her so to shame. Then rouse thee, dearest, from the dream And though at present seems so far St. Louis, Missouri. MOINA. |