Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 13.pdf/219

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The Green Bag.

рапу his wife to the residence of some would take him by the hand and bid him friend in the country and there quietly pass be very quiet; then, on tiptoe, with finger on the day. Upon her death, in 1831, Marshall his lips, he would take him to her room to felt himself indeed sorely stricken, and he say good morning and good night. He was never ceased to revere her memory and a devoted lover every day of her life." mourn her loss with that fidelity which has For nearly fifty years they two shared with always characterized his devotion during her each other the gladness and the grief of life. life. On the first anniversary of her death It is related that the day before her death she he wrote a tribute to her character beautiful tied about her husband's neck a ribbon from and touching. By that tribute Marshall not which depended a charm containing a ring only perpetuated the character of a noble let of her own hair. Never afterwards, by and charming woman, who had been esti night or day, did it leave the resting place mable as a wife and mother, and deserved where it had been laid by those gentle hands, all commendation capable of expression, but until after his death, when, by his directions, unconsciously betrayed the beauty and sub it was the last object removed from his per limity of his own nature. It was Christ son.1 mas day and he writes: "This day of joy and festivity to the whole Christian world The official demands upon the duty of the is to my sad heart the anniversary of the Chief Justice being confined to the sessions keenest affliction which humanity can sus of the Supreme Court, at Washington, and tain. While all around is gladness, my mind looking after the circuit in Virginia and dwells on the silent tomb and cherishes the North Carolina, he had the privilege during remembrance of the beloved object it con much of the year of remaining at home. He tains." Without further using his words, he owned a farm near Richmond, and was ex refers to her who had gone as the compan tremely fond of agriculture and well in ion that had sweetened the choicest part of formed upon all matters pertaining to the his life, had rendered toil a pleasure, had successful cultivation of the Virginia soil. A fair share of his leisure from official du partaken of all his feelings and was en throned in the inmost recesses of his heart. ties was devoted to the farm, and he took He recalls having often relied upon her especial delight in superintending its oper judgment in situations of some perplexity, ation. The house in which Marshall lived at and states that he did not recollect to have once regretted the adoption of her opinion.1 Richmond was built by himself, and is still standing on the corner of Marshall and Ninth Streets. It was a commodious struc A great-granddaughter of Marshall, writ ing a few years since to a distinguished mem ture, but modest in appearance and made no ber of the Bar at the South, said, in that pretensions to architectural beauty. We are part of the letter which was made public, told that the exterior has never been re that the family knew well she would learn modeled, and but few changes have been from others that her great-grandfather was made within. One writer has complained a great man; "they told me he was only a that this dwelling was constructed "hindgood man. My father spent many Christ side before." "A handsome entrance hall mas holidays with his grandparents. His and staircase, the balusters of which are of grandmother was an invalid, and intolerant carved cherry, dark with age, are at the of the slightest noise, but his grandfather back opening toward the garden and domes was ever ready to be his playfellow and com tic offices. Directly in front of this is the panion. Every morning and evening he dining-room, looking upon Marshall Street. 1 Mr. Chief Justice Potter.

1 Honorable Sanford B. Ladd, Kansas City, Missouri