The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-20

from iuOto ny " We otaIShS4'
unpretentious little cabin, the homo Of
"Aunt Eunice." The deep bay OF o
hound and the shrill little yelp of ter.
rier greeted onr approach. and then a
swarm OF tow headed youngsters lined
up at one end OF the house and in open
eyed wonder watched Ne as we dis
mounted. 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 little spot Of sun.
shine, sat figure so small and withered
and so silent, whose every attitudeepoko
40 plainly of great, great age. that 1t
did not require "Uncle Henry's" an
swer to our question of as this your
mother?" to tell US that before US sat
the woman OF nearly ak score years.
From some cause there was quito O
little assembly at the house. but Henry,
the old lady's son-familiarly known in
that section as "Uncle Bobby"-soon
made room for US and we stated our
mission. Your reporter said:
"Mr. Conrad, on account OF your
mothers great age her name has up.
peared in many papers during the past
few years, but quite number OF people
are loath to accept as facts the state
ments as to her age. We have come 70
learn tho truth as to the number OF
years she has seen, and We wish the his,
tory OF her life, also photograph OF
her, 30 that our paper eau make true
statement in regard to the matter"
swell, gentlemen" said ne. IN
course IN give you all the information
/ can, and if Granny don't care, you
can take her picture"
One OF the girls standing by ex-
| pressed doubt as to Granny" being
willing to sit for picture, but another
bright looking young woman assured Us
that she could prevail upon her to do
ANYTHING; and shifting youngster of
her lap. she went over to where the old
lady was sitting.
Meanwhile Granny was gazing at the
distant hilltops. seemingly unconscious
OF the TACT that she was the subject. OIL
an animated conversation. The reporter
had learned two things, namely, that
Granny was very deaf, and that she
had 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 confidence
Of the young woman in her powers
to persuade Granny to have her
"pictur' took" treasured US and we
awaited the result.
"Oh, Grannyw said the young wo
man, pitching her voice very high
"these gentlemen have como to take
your picture and you must look nice
won't your"
"What do they want with my pic
ture% said the old lady, in low
smooth, even voice.
"Why, they want to put it in the
paper 10 show tho people that you are
the Oldest woman in the world.
"tYeii, If that's it don't care"
That settled it, and We were sure OIL
Granny's picture. Quite beyy OF hei
grandchildren aud great grandchildren
aud some OF the neighbors gathered
around her, and there was quite die
cushion as to whether che should be
dressed in her now black dress or pho
tocraphed as she was. The reporter
objected to any change. but his sugges
ton was overruled, and IN short time
they had Granny in the house and oul
again, dressed in the now bfack-and
for the fret time, no doubt in the his,
tory OF her life tho image OF her good
old face was impressed upon the plate
OF camera.
And now for our pen picture Of this
LADY, who enjoys tho distinction Of be-
inc 40 wonderfully old. She Is a little
woman, being only about four feet
high, and OF course, beneath tho weight
Of wears. her form is bent 40 that she
looks very small. But, withal, her face
ia round aud full, and though furrowed
and wrinkled by age, yet the wrinkles
are not deep enough to make the face
as thin ns ono would expect. Above
her face and out from beneath the
graudma's cap, her hair-as white as
snow-strays forth and forms lifting
con trast 10 the sombre hue OF the cap.
Hor hands are thin and seem as n
gIoyed with wrinkled parchment, and
by her side there constantly rests the
good ssoat cane, by the mid OF which che
often walks about tho house and even 80
far as two or three hundred yards from
the door. AZ she looked when she
facod tho camera, che indeed formed O
quaint picture, yot ones mind could
scarcely grasp tho fact that she had
seon the sunshine OF ll9 summers. But
It Is true, aud as one looked at her and
caught that steady gaze, that PARKWAY
look OF her eyes, one could not help
thinking that II tho artist could only
transfer to his plates all the pictures
her eyes have seen, he would indeed
. - IaN $40
Tho years have done much towards
erasing, from Mrs. Conrad's memory the
recollection Of events, except those oil