The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-07
ONE OLD WOMAN'S STORY.
yBAyELLING INTO CONNECTICUT TO
FIND A CENTENARIAN.
. Primitive Country where People GROW
Old-A Long-Lived Family = Ts' ,,,n
Made Immortal By the Father OF Ms
Co,,,rv-A Lively Lady of 100 Years

Coup,ry-A Lively Lady Of 100 years
u.prronn. Conn, July 2G.--Ashford Is
n little township in wndham county III Wv
Northeastern part Of this state IL IS no'eu ~
oaIlv for being the only Democratic town-
sbip In that county, which has long been nc
pubitcan stronghold During the war ho' e'e"
Ashford sent Democratic representative 10
the Legislature. windhsm county was he-
publican unit. In those days the tribune hau a
largo circulation there. All the farmers took
,heir onths by IL. There were over two hundred
subscribers to the paper In Ashford alone. but
that has changed vastly. The farmers do not
recognize I'm the Tribune Of Jay Gould the old
p,per that was identified with Horace Greeley.
The Tf1buns's circulation In that region has al
most entirely disappeared. In the same way 70
the old-time attachment for the Republican
party fading. The fact that what wac once the
Marty Of republican PRINCIPLES has outlived Itself
and become the party Of fraud and corruption
Is gradually dawning upon the minds Of men
even in that secluded region.
But politics Is not what took me TO Ashford.
A report has been floating about here OF late
which credited that little township with the
further distinction Of possessing among its In
hAbitants the oldest woman In this state-a ripe
old lady OF 100 years. THIS venerable dame SGT
OF TO see In a hurry for In SUCH case 'nere""
not be much time to spare.
To get to Ashford long journey oy the stage
coach Is necessary In railway guides and In
the ordinary atlas the town 10 not marked At
all. Twas unable to discover lite location until
Iconsulted the clerk Of the Post once In this
city, and examined the large map Of post routes
that hangs back Of his chair. There are two
stage routes to the town. One 10 from Bolton
and the other from willimsntc, both OF which
are stations on the Boston and New York Air
Line Railroad. That from Bolton Is twenty
mlies. up hill and down hill, over the old turn
pike on witch men travelled from Boston TO
New York Ia the days Of tue Revolutionary war;
INT from willimantic is six miles shorter. aud
chosen by me Tor that reason. IL winds
through beautiful aud fertile country, in
winch bill aud valley succeed each other in
Ils asing variety The road was In splendid con-
dtipn from recent rains, and the day was
perfect. Large old trees were passed frequently
ard several moss-grown mills. that spoke OF
considerable oee and long settled country.
the roadside. and sunburnt old farmers and
farmers wives and daughters FASTENED out to
or verbal messages, TO be delivered on the way.
He was short. sturdy man. this diver. aud re.
good nature.
MODEST COMPENSATION.
do these people pay you for vour trouble In
delivering their letters ana messenger asked
wall" said be. OCCASIONALLY they do hand
over lent or , s me dos'oi doT Sp mere re-
keep the horses in fodder ana pay for the wagon
We stopped at several post Offices. kept IL
Foadside groceries, wheie the driver delivered
the mail Ia smai letter bags, and received other
we passed a silk thread factory. and there an-
other mail bag was leu. For this factory tn'
Once every day, and he is n for il by the year
He also had kilograms to deliver along The
iman;ic In the direction OF Ashford, aud meg
sages are sent on from that point " 9taae
coaca. To one old lady the driver delivered a
par 81 specticles that he had taken to Wiliin m
&c to be mended. sirAppinz' clear-eyed
uounced Yansee twang. he returned an empty
bucket In which lac had taken huckieberrl "a
and he cold them there to a marketman and
turned the proceeds over TO her deductins a
small commission. For another who was sui
fering from a bees sung he mad a bottle that he
had taken along The day oefore,which an apotne
cary had Hlled with hartshorn. Amona the let
tiers was one from a farmers lass to a farmer
lad. II was folded up small in Imitation OF the
sis,e Of the city girls. but It was fastened with
found the driver an interesting fellow. He
had been born in the region over which he droy'
his daily coach, and Judged that It must have
been AT least hfty years since that event oc
good deal of worldly wisdom, aud found
easy % keep up lively conversation with him
what my ooJect was in going no into that out-oi
theway country, and lnasmuoh as wanted hi
help TO md the venerable dame Of whom ba'
heard. presently told hlm.
"waL" said ne, reckon thar Ia such an ole
woman Guess 1T stoo At Murphys, at warren
ville-that's In Ashford town, two miles tui
lide o. Ashford Centre-aud ask him. Reckon
he's Jst the man you want. His wite'n know l
n any one in WindhAm county does. Recko
he'll take you over to her, II thar Is sucn a VIC
man. and you kin put up with MIN TIL to-mo OF
row"
After little pause he continued; "D'Yo
kucw thought you was after woman afor
is that 80 p said "But rot after won Al
lo8 wears old Z"
No" he replied with laugh. mot quite 81
'SwSst made you think sO2'.I asked: I'D
the city fellows ever come here after you
wal, once In while"
Have you got good many pretty girl
around here to attract themT'
Wall, there's pretty piece in these pasture
now and then"
here would carry them OF before the town Eel
lows got show at them"
ON wIll," he replied, with knowing wink
"tney don't always know how 10 do IT,"
IL was growing dark as We reacnsd Warren
vile. We first passed the house Of Miller Lon
bard, who stood at the gate on the roadside. W
pulled up the horses, aud tue driver nuled him
sA-ay, here's man been al! over the world
and VOWS come up ter Ashford ter see WON /.
who's 100 years OLD. Have you heerd OF al
titeh woman llyin' around herer
The miller reflected, and called TO bis vii
about Il, aud finally recollected.
on THE ROAD TO The LEFT.
Yes" said he. guess ! know who, 70
mean. You want ter see old woman Perkins
that's what she seq sne IL. she lives with he
so Chester on the road 20 the left, about "
farmin and supports her, but she's prett
eiy-sarinly for one Of her age-and work
around the house"
Miller Lombard said he would gladly drive n
over TO see the I'D woman, II his horse wei
not out IN the fed, but | could probably ge
soine one TO 90 50 AZ Narphys. Murphy's wa
afew rods further up the road II was q grocer
md Post once combined, aud neighbours weT
constantly dropping In and out. Sir. Murpu
Lad heard about old woman Perkins aud h
promised, II the stage dropped me there 20 g.
that obtained conveyance 10 the venerdbl
dame, aud also accommodations for the al zh
My baggage was handed fouh, the driv
cracked his whip and the stage rolled rapid
on to Ashford Centre.
Half all hour later-it was growing dusk
was beng driven fapldly over tue road TO Oh
house OF old Anna Perkins. Beside me sat NJ
Baker, Town Clerk of Ashford, handling II
Ieins. He knew the road, and was BESIDES De
sonally well acquainted with the ola lady
found him very well-nfOrmed aud obliQf
gentleman, Democrat, ana a stancn bsiieV
In Tilden and Reform. VI the genuinsness
Mrs. Perkins's reported age he expressed sou
toubts.
We've been hearing good deal arour
here" he said, OF her being 80 ola Items IA
been published In the local papers, and curio
folks have come here from different parts Of 4
country to see the old woman and make Gale
latlons for themselves. For myself don't
nsye sues anything like l0o; don't think she =
Gay over w. Most OF the folks who know h
think Of II about as do. It's only within Il
h afli 4rfa has haa al nd a