Thomas Jefferson, the Apostle of AmericanismChinard, Gilbert
History
Thomas Jefferson, the Apostle of Americanism
Chinard, Gilbert
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
As a nurse no female had ever more tenderness nor anxiety. He nursed
my poor mother in turn with aunt Carr and her own sister--sitting up
with her and administering her medicines and drink to the last. For
four months that she lingered he was never out of calling; when not
at her bed-side, he was writing in a small room which opened
immediately at the head of her bed. A moment before the closing
scene, he was led from the room in a state of insensibility by his
sister, Mrs. Carr, who with great difficulty, got him into the
library, where he fainted, and remained so long insensible that they
feared he never would revive. The scene that followed I did not
witness, but the violence of his emotion, when, almost by stealth, I
entered his room by night, to this day I dare not describe to myself.
He kept his room three weeks, and I was never a moment from his side.
He walked almost incessantly night and day, only lying down
occasionally, when nature was completely exhausted, on a pallet that
had been brought in during his long fainting fit. My aunts remained
constantly with him for some weeks--I do not remember how many. When
at last he left his room, he rode out, and from that time he was
incessantly on horseback, rambling about the mountain, in the least
frequented roads, and just as often through the woods. In those
melancholy rambles I was his constant companion--a solitary witness
to many a burst of grief, the remembrance of which has consecrated
particular scenes of that lost home beyond the power to obliterate.
In Jefferson's prayer book is found this simple entry:
"Martha Wayles Jefferson died September 6, 1782, at 11 o'clock 45
minutes A.M."
She was buried in the little enclosure in which rested already three of
her children; on a simple slab of white marble her husband had the
following inscription engraved:
To the memory of
Martha Jefferson,
Daughter of John Wayles:
Born October 19th, 1748 O.S.
Intermarried with
Thomas Jefferson
January 1st 1772;
Torn from him by death
September 6th 1782
This monument of his love is inscribed
[Greek: Ei de thanontôn per katalêthont' ein Haidao,
Autar egô kakeithi philou memnêsom' hetairou.][87]
If in the house of Hades men forget their dead
Yet will I even there remember my dear companion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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