8 Chapter 7 Last Years at Monticello

Chapter 7 Last Years at Monticello Jefferson was nearly sixty-six when he retired to Monticello. He spent the last seventeen years of his life at the home he loved. The year her father returned, Patsy moved to Monticello with her husband and children. Of Patsy's twelve sons and daughters, all but one reached adulthood. Jefferson's daughter Maria had died. But her son, Francis, who was seven years old when Jefferson retired, was often at Monticello. Jefferson loved nothing more than to pass the time with his grandchildren. Grandpapa Jefferson played the violin for them while they danced. He ran races with them on the lawn. He enjoyed giving them books and other presents. His granddaughter Ellen received a special gift. Jefferson gave her the portable desk on which he had written the Declaration of Independence.

When away from his grandchildren, Jefferson wrote to them. In a letter to his granddaughter Cornelia, he pointed out that she should remember her periods and capital letters while writing. He included a little rhyme to show what he meant: I've seen the sea all in a blaze of fire I've seen a house high as the moon and higher I've seen the sun at twelve o'clock at night I've seen the man who saw this wondrous sight.

Jefferson wanted his granddaughter to see that this only makes sense if punctuated properly: I've seen the sea. All in a blaze of fire I've seen a house. High as the moon and higher I've seen the sun. At twelve o'clock at night I've seen the man who saw this wondrous sight. Nine-year-old Cornelia Jefferson Randolph wrote back to her grandfather: Dear Grandpapa I hope you will excuse my bad writing, for it is the first letter I ever wrote, there are a number of faults, in it I know but those you will excuse; I am reading a very pretty little book, I am very much pleased with it. all the children send their love to

you we all want to see you very much. adieu my dear Grandpapa, believe me to be your most affectionate Granddaughter. C.R. Jefferson complained to his grandchildren if they didn't answer his letters. In turn, they teased him if he didn't answer theirs. In 1813, eleven-year-old Francis wrote: Dear Grandpapa April 1813 I wish to see you very much I am very sorry that yo wont write to me this leter will make twice I have wrote to you and if you dont answer this leter I sha write to you any more … Actually, Jefferson rarely failed to answer a letter. He wrote 36,000 letters in his lifetime. In those days, most people made copies of their letters by hand. Jefferson had a device that made copies for him as he wrote. It was a special desk with several pens attached by wires. As he used one pen, the others moved automatically and copied his letter. Although he hadn't invented this device, he did make improvements to it.

THE EARLY POST OFFICE

IN 1789, CONGRESS CREATED THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AS PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. POSTAGE RATES WERE FIXED ACCORDING TO THE DISTANCE THAT THE MAIL TRAVELED AND THE NUMBER OF PAGES BEING SENT. MOST PEOPLE COLLECTED THEIR MAIL AT THE NEAREST POST OFFICE (OFTEN THE LOCAL TAVERN OR GENERAL STORE), BUT A 1794 ACT DID PERMIT HOME DELIVERY FOR TWO CENTS EXTRA PER LETTER. IN EITHER CASE, THE PERSON WHO RECEIVED THE MAIL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING