Chapter XLVIII

OLD HOMES AND HAUNTS OF WASHINGTON—MEMORIES OF OTHER DAYS.

The Oldest Home in Washington—The Cottage of David Burns—David
Burns’s Daughter—The Attractions of a Cottage—The Favored
Suitor—How The Lady was Wooed and Won—Mother and Daughter—The
Offering to God—A Costly Mausoleum—The Assassination
Conspiracy—Persecuting the Innocent—The Octagon House—A
Comfortable Income—The Pleasures of Property—A Haunted
House—Apple-Stealing—“Departed Joys and Stomach-Aches”—The
Tragedy of the Decatur House—A Fatal Duel—The Stockton-Sickles
House—A Spot of Frightful Interest—The Club-House—Assassination
of Mr. Seward—Scenes of Festivity—The House of Charles
Sumner—Corcoran Castle—The Finest Picture Gallery in
America—Powers’ Greek Slave—“Maggie Beck”—During the War—The
Romantic Story of Mr. Barlow’s Niece—Forgetting His Own
Name—Locking Up a Wife—The “Ten Buildings”—Old Capitol
Prison—The Deeds of Ann Royal and Sally Brass—“Paul
Pry”—Blackmailing—Feared By All Mankind—An Unpleasant Sort of
Woman—Arrested on Suspicion—Where Wirz was Hung, 549

CHAPTER XLIX.

MOUNT VERNON—MEMORIAL DAY—ARLINGTON.

The Tomb of Washington—The Pilgrims who Visit it—Where George and
Martha Washington Rest—The Thought of Other Graves—The
Defenders of the Republic—Eating Boiled Eggs—A Butterfly
Visit—Patriarchal Dogs—Remembering a Feast—The Room in which
Washington Died—The Great Key of the Bastile—The Gift of
Lafayette—Moralizing—Inside the Mansion—Uncle Tom’s
_Bouquets_—Beautiful Scenery—Memorial Day at Arlington—The
Soldiers’ Orphans—The Grave of Forty Soldiers—The Sacrifice of
a Widow’s Son—The Record of the Brave—A National Prayer for the
Dead, 581