From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 211
"Is he gone?"
No one could answer; hearts were too full for utterance. But Mr. Lear "held up his hand as a signal that he was
gone."
"It is well," responded Mrs. Washington, with firm, unfaltering voice. "All is over now; I shall soon follow
him; I have no more trials to pass through."
Mr. Custis says, "Close to the couch of the sufferer resting her head upon that ancient Book with which she
had been wont to hold pious communion a portion of every day for more than half a century, was the
venerable consort, absorbed in silent prayer, and from which she only arose when the mourning group
prepared to lead her from the chamber of the dead. Such were the last hours of Washington."
The news of the ex-president's death spread rapidly for that day when railroads and telegraphs were unknown,
and the sadness and mourning were universal. Congress was in session at Philadelphia, but did not receive the
sad intelligence until the 18th of December, the day of the funeral at Mount Vernon.
The members of Congress appeared to be overwhelmed by the calamity, and immediately adjourned. On
assembling the next day, they eulogized both by speech and resolution the illustrious dead; ordered that a
marble monument, bearing the record of his great achievements, be erected at Washington; and appointed
General Henry Lee to deliver a eulogy before both branches of Congress on the 26th. The Senate addressed an
eloquent and pathetic letter to President Adams, in which it was said:
"On this occasion it is manly to weep. To lose such a man, at such a crisis, is no common calamity to the
world. Our country mourns a father. The Almighty Disposer of human events has taken from us our greatest
benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to Him, 'who maketh darkness his
pavilion.'... Thanks to God, his glory is consummated! Washington yet lives on earth, in his spotless example;
his spirit is in Heaven.
"Let his country consecrate the memory of the heroic general, the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage.
Let them teach their children never to forget that the fruits of his labors and his example are their inheritance."
The funeral ceremonies were performed at Mount Vernon on the 18th, under the direction of Rev. Mr. Davis,
rector of the parish, assisted by other clergymen. The people came from many miles around to pay a grateful
tribute of respect to the honored dead. Almost the entire population of Alexandria, nine miles distant, was
there, including its military companies. Eleven pieces of cannon were sent from that city, and one of its
leading citizens, Robert Morris, anchored a schooner in the Potomac, in front of the Mount Vernon residence,
from which minute-guns were fired during the funeral exercises and the march of the long procession to the
tomb.
His remains were deposited in the old family vault, which was so dilapidated that the proprietor was thinking
of building a new one. Only two or three days before he was taken sick, he called the attention of his nephew
to the spot where he should build it, and, referring to other work demanding his attention, he added:
"But the tomb must be built first, since I may need it first."
It would be quite impossible to describe the scene of sorrow that pervaded the country when the death of
Washington became known. Congress enacted that the 22d of February, Washington's birthday, should be
observed for funeral services throughout the nation. Every method of expressing grief known to an afflicted
people was called into requisition. Houses of worship, public halls, State capitals, schoolrooms, stores, and
even dwellings were hung in mourning draperies on that day. Sermons, eulogies, and resolutions by public
bodies were multiplied throughout the Union. The sorrow was universal.