The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-12-01
Glenville. W. Va. Pathfinder

friend and myself, sent out by the
Pathfinder, rode slowly down the
long path which led to the door of
the unpretentious little cabin, the
home of aunt Eunice." The deep
bay of hound and the shrill little
yelp of a terrier greeted our APP
proach, and then a swarm of tow
headed youngsters lined up at one
end of the house and in open eyed
wonder watched us as we dismount-
ed. But it was not the hounds, the
youngsters, or yet the gray haired
old man who came to meet us, that
first commanded our attention. On
the low rooted porch, in a little spot
Of sunshine. sat figure so small
and withered and so silent, whose
every attitude spoke SO plainly of a
great, great age, that it did not re-
quire Uncle Henry's" answer to our
question of as this your mother?"
to tell us that before us sat the won.
an of nearly six score years.
From some cause there was gu tie
little assembly at the house, but
Henry, the old lady's son-familiar-
~ known IN that section as Uncle
Bobby made room for us and
we stated our mission. Your re-
porter said:
MIR Conrad, on account of your
mothers great age her name has ap
peared in many papers during the
past few years, but quite a number
of people are loath to accept as facts
the statements as to her age. We
have come to learn the truth as to
the number of years she has seen,
and we wish the history of her life,
also a photograph of her, so that
our paper can make a true state
ment in regard To the matter
"Well, gentlemen" SAID he, Tin
course Eli give you all the informa
tion can, and if Granny don't care,
You can take her picture.
One of the girls standing by ex-
pressed a doubt as to Granny" be-
ing willing to sit for picture, but
another bright looking young woman
assured us that she could prevail
upon her to do anything; and shift
ing youngster off her lap, she went
over 20 where the old lady was sit
ting.
Meanwhile Granny was gazing at
the distant hilltops, seemingly I'M
conscious of the fact that she was
the subject of an animated CONVEX
sation. The reporter had learned
two things, namely, that Granny
was very deaf, and that she had a
mind of her own and usually did as
she pleased. We were not certain
but that she would object to the
picture taking process, but the con
ffdence of the young woman in her
powers to persuade Granny to have
her "pictur' took" treasured us and
we awaited the result.
ooh, Grannyw said the Young
woman, pitching her voice very high
"these gentlemen have come to take
your.picture and you must look nice
won't your"
What do they want with my pic
turel" said the old lady, in low,
smooth, even voice.
"Why, they want to put it in the
paper to show the people that you
are the oldest woman in the world"
"Well, if that's it don't care"
That settled it, and we were sure
of Granny's picture. Quite a bevy
of her grandchildren and great
grandchildren and some of the neigh
bors gathered around her, and there
was quite discussion as to wheth-
er she should be dressed in her new
black dress or photographed as she
was. The reporter objected to any
change, but his suggestion was over
ruled, and in short time they had
Granny in the house and out again,
dressed in the new black-and for
the first time, no doubt, in the his
tory of her life the image of her
good old face was impressed upon
the plate of camera
And now for our pen picture of
this lady who enjoys the distinction
of being so wonderfully old. She is
little woman, being only about four
feet high, and of course, beneath the
weight of years, her form is bent so
that she looks very small. But with
al, her face is round and full, and
though furrowed and wrinkled by
age, yet the wrinkles are not deep
enough to make the face as thin as
one would expect Above her face
and out from beneath the grandma's
cap, her hair-as white as snow
strays forth and forms fitting con
trast to the sombre hue of the cap.
Her hands are thin and seem as if
gloved with wrinkled parchment,
and by her side there constantly
rests the good stout cane, by the
aid of which she often walks about
the house and even so far as two or
three hundred yards from the door.
AS sue lOokeu WIEN bNe Iaceu the
camera, she indeed formed quaint
picture, yet ones mind could scarce
~ grasp the fact that she had seen
the sunshine of 119 summers. But
it. is true, and as one looked at her
an,' caught that steady gaze, that
far away look Of her eyes, one could
not help thinking that If the artist
could only transfer to his plates all
the pictures her eyes have seen, he
would indeed have an album to be
treasured.
The years have done much
towards erasing from Mrs. Conrad's
memory the recollections of events,
except those of her earlier years. 1t
took some time to get her to under
stand our questions, but when she
did SO her answers were always sen