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upon her. But, in the next volume of this work will be shown quite fully the political significance of this woman.

The entertainments and receptions at the White House up to this time had not generally been very miscellaneous in character. At all events, the greater part of those who attended there were those who considered themselves as belonging to the "court circle," the "good society" of the Capital.

It was then the fashion, as it is yet, to some extent, in Washington "society" to set apart a room at the fashionable parties for gambling or card-playing. Those, like Henry Clay, who did not or could not dance, spent much time at these games, in which high betting was a part of the morals of the times.

But the most fashionable parties at Washington, in 1828, broke up before midnight. The ceremonial part of Mrs. Adams's life was one of necessity. Hers was not a mind for frivolity. In the summer of 1828 Mr. Adams wrote of her occupation at the White House: "Mrs. Adams is winding silk from several hundred silk-worms that she has been rearing." Much of her time was spent in beautifying the grounds about the Presidential House, and in looking after her future home at Quincy. When her husband again went to Washington as a Congressman, she spent the winters. there with him; and, to some extent, renewed their former practices, although both her health and inclinations now often relieved her from participating in these hollow affairs. It was now less a necessity for her to be a slave to the follies of "society." They always kept "open house" on New-Year's, and sometimes competed with the White House in the number of

callers. On some of these occasions Mrs. Adams did not appear at all, when Mr. Adams said he received the women callers as best he could, not ever having been an especial favorite among them. However it was, nobody was ever refused admission or treated differently at Mrs. Adams's on account of political enmity or ill-will towards her husband.

In the summer of 1845 Mr. Adams, on a favorite day with him, wrote in his Diary

"July 26th. Anniversary of my marriage. Forty-eight years have since passed away. A small remnant only can be before us. A merciful Providence has hitherto conducted us along the path of life. We have enjoyed much. We have suffered not a little. Good and evil have followed us alternately. The thread has been of checkered yarn. Altogether my lot has been a happy one upon earth, and every feeling of my heart ought to be a sentiment of gratitude to Him who is the disposer of events. I have met with bitter disappointments. Heavy calamities have befallen me. All my children, with one exception, have been taken from me, one in infancy, two in the prime of life; and this bereavement has once been extended to the second generation. The successive decease of my brother Charles, of my sister, of my mother, of my father, and of my brother Thomas have, for the last thirteen years, left me the only member of the family of the past and the present generation surviving on earth. The common theme of reason is the death of fathers, and it is one of the fatalities of old age to follow to the tomb all the joys of contemporary kindred and friendship.

'As those we love decay, we die in part;

String after string is severed from the heart.'

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"With regard to what is called the wheel of fortune, my career in life has been, with severe vicissitudes, on the whole highly auspicious. My life has been spent in the public service. Washington, Madison, Monroe were my friends and benefactors; Jefferson, a hollow and treacherous friend; Jackson, Charles J. Ingersoll, George W. Erving, Jonathan Russell, base, malignant, and lying enemies; a list to which I might, but will not, add other names. I have enjoyed a portion of the

favor of my country, at least equal to my deserts, but have suffered, and yet suffer, much from the slander which outvenoms all the worms of Nile. But I am wandering from my weddingday."

Yes, yes, poor old man, wandering far from the wedding-day! Mrs. Adams survived her husband four years, dying in 1852, at the age of seventy

seven.

In a letter I have from her only remaining child, there are these modest words, written in a plain but trembling hand :—

"With respect to my own life, I could give you little more information than that I am now seventy-two years old, the youngest of three brothers, and the only survivor in my generation. "Very truly yours,

"CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS."

At the time this letter was written Mr. Adams lived wholly retired at Quincy, in the old home of the family where his father lived and his mother died; and although physically and mentally exhibiting signs of decay, he pursued quite an even and methodic life, in many respects resembling his father's. He filled a number of public positions, and illustrated in his own career the possibility of eternally multiplying and perpetuating great qualities and virtues. Both as a speaker and a writer he excelled his father and grandfather, and in other solid qualities he was not much behind them; in some respects, perhaps, their superior. His "Life of John Adams," his grandfather, is one of the best written and fairest works of biography ever produced in this language; in which he has accomplished what few other men ever did, perhaps, given only a just value to the life

and deeds of one standing so near to him by the ties of nature. Mr. Adams died late in 1886, years after this work was mainly ready for the press. He left a family of sons, several of whom are quite equal to himself in his prime days, men holding most of the strong, admirable, and virtuous marks of a very remarkable, old family.

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE WORD EXPLAINED TO THE CHILDREN-THE CHRIS. TIAN-PRAYING IN RHYME-MR. ADAMS'S RELIGIOUS LIFE AND CHARACTER.

N his discourse at the funeral of Mr. Adams, the Rev. William P. Lunt said:

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"Mr. Adams was eminently a religious man. The best elements of New England Puritanism were blended in his nature, while, at the same time, the harshness of Puritanism was softened, and its narrowness was enlarged and liberalized. His constant attendance upon public worship, with which all are familiar; his exemplary observance of the Christian Sabbath, and his readiness to join with others in efforts to promote a better general observance of the day, by all classes in the community; his diligent daily study of, and familiar acquaintance with, the Holy Scriptures; his deep reverence for sacred things; his high estimate of faith as the basis of the Christian life; his sense of the efficacy of prayer; his exalted idea of the person, mission, and offices of the Savior; his conviction of the need of spiritual influences; all bear testimony to the religious character of his mind.

"I hope I do not offend the dead when I say that my own mind has never been more solemnly impressed than when, on a visit to him to inquire for the health of one of his family, he requested me to go with him to his private room, and unite in prayer. The memory of that scene, as we bowed together in supplication in behalf of the child then dying under his roof, will, I am sure, never be effaced from my mind, but will perpetuate the conviction, which was then, if not created, strengthened of the simple, genuine piety of the man.

"In 1826, while he was President of the United States, Mr. Adams united himself to this Church, to which his ancestors,

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