Star of destiny : the private life of Sam and Margaret Houston / Madge Thornall Roberts ; foreword by Randolph B. Campbell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Roberts, Madge Thornall, 1929- author.

Contributor:

Campbell, Randolph B., writer of foreword.

Language:

English

No linguistic content

Subjects (All):

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863.

Houston, Sam.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 432 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

University of North Texas Press 1993

Denton, Texas : University of North Texas Press, [1993]

Language Note:

English.

Summary:

As the great-great-granddaughter of Sam Houston and Margaret Lea, Madge Thornall Roberts played in her great-grandparents home in Independence, Texas, which had Santa Anna s saddle in the upstairs hall, the San Jacinto sword over the mantle, and where she kept her doll s clothes in an old chest of Margaret Lea s. Trunks of documents sat unattended in the barn. Some of those papers later were burned, and what remained were divided among descendants. Madge Roberts has gathered these documents together again and, along with other Houston letters and interviews, woven them into the story of the Houstons marriage. Much is known about Sam Houston s political and military career, but the influence of his wife and children on his life has been overlooked. The letters are astonishing in their emotional honesty, revealing a deep interdependency as well as a close and loving marital partnership.

Contents:

Foreword ix

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter I-I have a strange feeling that someday I shall meet this man. 1

Chapter 2-Last nightI gazed long upon our beauteous emblem, the star of destiny. 17

Chapter 3-My mind fixes itself on the bright hour in which we first met and loved. 35

Chapter 4-The gay voice of his wife, mingling with tones of her harp and piano, was heard. 61

Chapter 5-She would have graced the household of any man, be he president or prince. 93

Chapter 6-Alas, what has always been my decision when my own happiness or the good of the country was to be sacrificed? 111

Chapter 7-He has decided [I] must be operated on ... I hope to sit down to it like a soldier. 141

Chapter 8-I am where it is said the world is, and yet I am far from all that constitutes my world on earth. 155

Chapter 9-Last night as I came home ... I saw our "Star." 181

Chapter 10-I am gratified to see that you are homesick and weary of public life. 203

Chapter 11 -If his affection had been equal to mine, could he have left me? 225

Chapter 12-There is everywhere a void which nothing can fill, but the presence of my darling husband. 251

Chapter 13-Do you know I am more in love with you than I ever was in my life? 269

Chapter 14-In the still watches of the night, I hear him agonizing in prayer for our distracted country. 285

Chapter 15-1 have no spirit to write...on account of my deep affliction from my dear boy being sent to Mississippi. 307

Chapter 16-When the great sorrow first fell ... I could not see how [to] guide my little flock through the dreary wilderness. 331

Epilogue

[She was a woman] of character, culture and staunch devotion ... [who] greatly influenced Sam Houston and the course of Texas history. 357

Appendixes 369

Bibliography 405

Index 419.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Includes bibliographical references and index.