on directed him to give to me. I wrapped them in the general's
handkerchief, and took them to my room."

"It may be asked," says Mr. Custis, "'Why was the ministry of religion
wanting to shed its peaceful and benign lustre upon the last hours of
Washington? Why was he, to whom the observances of sacred things were
ever primary duties through life, without their consolations in his last
moments?' We answer, circumstances did not permit. It was but for a
little while that the disease assumed so threatening a character as to
forbid the encouragement of hope; yet, to stay that summons which none
may refuse, to give still further length of days to him whose
time-honored life was so dear to mankind, prayers were not wanting to
the throne of grace. 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."[141]

Washington's body was brought down from the chamber at midnight, and
laid out in the drawing-room; and on the following morning (Sunday) a
plain mahogany coffin was procured from Alexandria, and mourning ordered
for the family, the overseers, and the domestics.[142] On the same day,
several of the relatives, who had been sent for, arrived, among whom was
Mrs. Stuart, the mother of Mrs. Washington's grandchildren. Mr. Lewis
and young Custis were in New Kent, and only arrived home in time to be
present at the funeral, a servant having been despatched for them.

The family wished the burial to be postponed for a week, to give an
opportunity for some of Washington's relatives at a distance to be
there. But the physicians decided that the disease of which he died,
being of an inflammatory nature, it would not be proper to keep the body
so long. The time of the funeral was therefore fixed at twelve o'clock,
meridian, on Wednesday, the eighteenth. The Reverend Mr. Davis, of
Alexandria, who had officiated at a wedding at Mount Vernon ten months
before, was invited to perform the burial service, according to the
beautiful ritual of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Having received information from Alexandria that the military and
Freemasons were desirous of showing their respect for their chief and
brother, by following his body to the grave, Mr.