Three of the first four Presidents of the United States married widows. Jefferson, Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Tyler, were all widowers while occupying the White House. Neither Washington, Jefferson, Madison, or Monroe, left sons to succeed them. The wife of Martin Van Buren died in her youth, long before he had grown to high political honors. She had been dead seventeen years when, as the eighth President of the United States, he entered the White House. During his administration, its social honors were dispensed by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Abram Van Buren, born Angelica Singleton, of South Carolina, who entered upon her duties and pleasures as a bride. She was of illustrious lineage, possessed finely cultivated powers, and “is said to have borne the fatigue of a three hours’ _levée_ with a patience and pleasantry inexhaustible.” Doubtless she shared some of the help which bore Mr. Monroe triumphantly through a similar scene. “Are you not completely worn out?” inquired a friend. “O, no,” replied the President. “A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue.” * * * * * Anna Symnes, the wife of President Harrison, a lady of strong intelligence and deep piety, never came to the White House. Her delicate health forbade it, when her husband made his presidential journey to Washington. In a little more than a month he was borne back to her, redeemed by death. She survived, almost to the age of ninety, to bid sons and grandsons Godspeed when they went forth to fight for their country—as she had bidden her gallant husband the same, when he left her amid her flock of little ones, in the days of her youth, for the same cause. From time to time sons and grandsons came from the field of battle to receive her blessing anew. She said to one: “Go, my son. Your country needs your services. I do not. I feel that my prayers in your behalf will be heard, and that you will return in safety.” And the grandson did come back to receive her final blessing, after many hard-fought battles. Her only surviving son writes: “That I am a firm believer in the religion of Christ, is not a virtue of mine. I imbibed it at my mother’s breast, and can no more divest myself of it, than of my nature.” Mrs. Letitia Christian Tyler, wife of the tenth President of the United States, was another sensitive, saintly soul, whose children rise up to-day, and call her blessed. She died in the White House, September 10, 1842. Her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Robert Tyler, writing of the event, says: