LEAVING the main building, we enter the kitchen which is some twenty feet distant, but is reached from the house by an arched-covered way, which makes a curve of perhaps, a fourth of a circle. Our attention is quickly arrested by the great fire-place which would accommodate huge logs of wood, the ponderous crane on which still hang the old iron pots, the bellows with which to blow the fire; the iron tea-kettle standing at the side of the long unused fire-place; the great mortar which would hold perhaps a bushel of hominy; and near by the bake-oven, there is the long spit, too, on which the meat was roasted. It seems strange to us how great feasts could have been prepared with these crude cooking utensils; but so it was, for there were many guests at the Washington mansion. And a well-stocked larder, as well as means for preparing the food, was needed for all these guests “in addition to the regular household and large retinue of servants.” But time is passing, and taking a hasty glance at the rows of long shelves reaching to the ceiling, and the array of dishes upon them, we hasten on. “The spinning house, north of the court, is where much material was prepared for clothing the slaves, and where rag carpets and other fabrics were woven for the use of the family. Flax, cotton, wool, and silk were there put through the various processes of spinning and weaving by skilled servants.” But we have not time even to look in. Passing by the smoke house, laundry, and other buildings, we come to the coach-house. As the door stands wide open we stop for a minute and look, with much curiosity, at the heavy old coach in which Washington and his family once rode, and which could not have been pulled by less than four horses. The door of the coach is open, and the four little steps by which ascent to the carriage is made, are out. When the occupants of the carriage have taken their seat the steps are folded up. A little piece off is the barn, which is the oldest building of the place; it was! erected in 1733 by Washington’s father. Now we follow a beautiful, winding road which brings us, in a few minutes, to the. tomb where the remains of Washington and his wife find a resting place. The body of Washington was at first laid in a vault which his brother Lawrence constructed, midway down the hill on the winding road leading to the deer-park and the river, but afterwards was placed in the new tomb which Washington himself had planned. This is a plain brick structure, with an arched gateway in front. It is covered with ivy, and, is nicely shaded with elm, maple, and British oak trees. The spot on which it stands is very peaceful and attractive.
Looking through the iron gateway we see the two marble sarcophagi, or receptacles, in which the remains of Washington and his wife were placed and then hermetically sealed. On the wall opposite are written these words, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” As we ponder them, we think, how blessed to know that there will yet be life out of death. Death may hold the body for a time, but the hour is coming when it will have to yield up all its victims. Happy moment when Jesus comes! For not one of the redeemed of the Lord can remain under the power of death, when He who is “the resurrection, and the life” will descend with a shout. For them, victory over the grave will be achieved.
Not so for the wicked, for they must remain under the power of death yet a thousand years. Then at the mandate of Him, whose word they must obey, they will come forth, but only to be judged and cast into the lake of fire.
Dear young reader, where do you stand? Is Jesus your Saviour? If not, oh, heed His loving invitation, and come to Him now! Mercy’s door still stands open for you, but if you wait until tomorrow it may be closed never to open again. Now is the accepted time.
ML 07/10/1904