Mary Washington Monument, Fredericksburg, Va.

Mrs. Terhune, better known as “Marion Harland,” was born in Amelia County, Virginia, where her father, Samuel P. Hawes, a merchant from Massachusetts, had made his home. She began writing at the early age of fourteen. In 1856, she was married to Rev. E.P. Terhune and since 1859 has lived in the North. Her novels, dealing chiefly with Southern life, are very popular and have made her well known North and South. “The Story of Mary Washington” was written in order to aid the enterprise for a monument to the mother of Washington, which was happily consummated May 10, 1894, by its unveiling at Fredericksburg, on which occasion Mrs. Terhune was present, an honored guest.

WORKS.

Alone.
Moss Side.
Nemesis.
Husbands and Homes.
Helen Gardner’s Wedding-Day.
Ruby’s Husband.
At Last.
Empty Heart.
Judith, a Chronicle of Old Virginia.
Hidden Path.
Miriam.
Husks.
Sunnybank.
Christmas Holly.
Phemie’s Temptation.
Common Sense in the Household.
Eve’s Daughters.
A Gallant Fight.
Story of Mary Washington.

LETTER DESCRIBING MARY [BALL] WASHINGTON WHEN A YOUNG GIRL.

(From Story of Mary Washington.[35])

“Wmsburg, ye 7th of Octr, 1722.

“Dear Sukey, Madam Ball of Lancaster and Her Sweet Molly have gone Hom. Mamma thinks Molly the Comliest Maiden She Knows. She is about 16 yrs old, is taller than Me, is very Sensable, Modest and Loving. Her Hair is like unto Flax, Her Eyes are the color of Yours, and her Chekes are like May blossoms. I wish you could see her.”

We do seem to see her in lingering over the portrait done in miniature in colors that are fresh to this day. It is, as if in exploring a catacomb, we had happened upon a fair chamber adorned with a frescoed portrait of a girl-princess of a legendary age. Romancist and biographer are one as we study the picture line by line. The brush was dipped in the limner’s heart and wrought passing well.

MADAM WASHINGTON AT THE PEACE BALL.

(From the Same.)

Her only public appearance as the hero’s mother was at the Peace Ball given in Fredericksburg during the visit of Washington to that town. With all her majestic self-command, she did not disguise the pleasure with which she received the special request of the managers that she would honor the occasion with her presence. There was even a happy flutter in the playful rejoinder that “her dancing days were pretty well over, but that if her coming would contribute to the general pleasure she would attend.”

... A path was opened from the foot to the top of the hall as they appeared in the doorway, and “every head was bowed in reverence.” It must have been the proudest moment of her life, but she bore herself with perfect composure then, and after her son, seating her in an armchair upon the daÏs reserved for distinguished guests, faced the crowd in prideful expectancy that all his friends would seek to know his mother. She had entered the hall at eight o’clock, and for two hours held court, the most distinguished people there pressing eagerly forward to be presented to her.... From her slightly elevated position, she could, without rising, overlook the floor, and watched with quiet pleasure the dancers, among them the kingly figure of the Commander-in-Chief, who led a Fredericksburg matron through a minuet.

At ten o’clock, she signed to him to approach, and rose to take his arm, saying in her clear soft voice, “Come, George, it is time for old folks to be at home.” Smiling a good-night to all, she walked down the room, as erect in form and as steady in gait as any dancer there.

One of the French officers exclaimed aloud, as she disappeared:

“If such are the matrons of America, she may well boast of illustrious sons!”.....

Lafayette’s report of his interview to his friends at Mt. Vernon was: “I have seen the only Roman matron living at this day!”