Middletown transcript., 1896-12-26
a ROLL OF HONOR.


There are doubtless more real old ladies,
ladies over 80, who will eat Christmas din
ner in Middletown than any other town of
its size In the state. They are all bright and
happy too and are as much interested in
the Christmas festival as the children
themselves and some of the very happiest
homes here to-day are SO because Of the
presence of grandma" "auntien or
mother" as the case may be, who in their
various cosy corners, are giving reminis-
epces of the Christmas days of long ago.
And they do much more than that, for all
the year though they patch and darn and
mend and make and are ever busy doing
for others, and upon none are the Christ
mas favors more worthily lavished than
upon them
One of these honored DANES is Mrs. Mar
garet Jones. the venerable mother of Mr..
0has. Jones of North Broad Street. She is
IS years old and is well and active and an
expert at patchwork, in which she takes
great pride and pleasure, and no member
Of that large family, children, grandchil-
dren and great grandchildren receives
the tender reverence bestowed upon her,
and Christmas is always the me. rier "if.
Grandma is here"
Another home that feels the sunshine Of
a sweet spirited old lady is that of Mr.. and
Mrs. J. Il. Emerson at the East End
where mother VAIL" Mrs. Emerson's
mother resides. She is S3, but you would
never think so. R was only three years
ago that she retired from farming, and
but for rheumatism, is now in health and
fine spirits. She too is fine needle
woman, and during the summer cut and
made "eyery stitch herself as pretty and
well fitting dress as the modistes could
turn out, and she wore it with very proper
and becoming pride.
Mrs. Rosin, her opposite neighbor, was
S4 this month She will spend Christmas
with her daughter, Mrs. Thos. Scott. She
was recent visitor to her son in Chesa-
peake City, and in spite of her age, enjoys
coming and going and having her friends
visit her.
Mrs. Sallie McWhorter, known better as
AUNT Sallie" was S5 last May. She resides
with her nephew, DR.. R. B. Mckee, and is
type of old lady rarely seen nowadays.
She wears the prettiest, ,daintiest little white
caps from beneath which her snow white
hair peeps out. She is great reader as well
as knitter and sewer, and reads the daily
and weekly papers and magazines with
very intelligent interest There will be no
more honored guest at DR.. McKee's family
dining today, than she.
Mrs. Catharine Merritt is another very
remarkable woman at S3. Though frail
looking she is in good health and has the
same keen perception, good judgment and
strong sense that have always made her
opinion of things in general of special
value, Although her Christmas is dark
ened by bereavement because of the death
of her brother, she will have her children
with her and spend apeaceful day with
them.
Mrs. McCoskin, familiarly known as
"Auntie' at Mrs. Massey's, is 81 and is ever
busy with many things, and has been for
days interested in the holiday home comers
and the Christmas surprises.
There are two of our over-eighty ladies
spending Christmas out of town. Mrs. H.
A. Houston. the mother of Mr.. VIM. H.
Houston, is quite traveller at 80. A few
weeks ago she made visit to her grand
daughter in Baltimore, and is now visit
ing her son, Mr.Geo. q. Houston, in Phila-
delphia. Although she feels the weight Of
her more than four score years, she is won-
derfully bright and cherry, and enjoys
nothing SO much as a visit with or from
old friends, who remember the "good old
days"
Mrs. Roberts, widow Of the late Zacha-
riah Roberts, is spending Christmas with
her daughter in Baltimore. She is 80 and
has very clear memory. She loves espec-
tally to tell of a grand parade in Philadel-
phia, in which Lafayette figured, when
she was wee one, and was favored with a
kiss from. the great French hero of our Rev
olutionaly war. Mrs. Roberts is very in
teresting talker, being we'll informed on
matters of local and national history.
There are also few aged couples who
have passed the golden era of wedlock.
having been married fifty years and over,
among whom are Mr.. and Mrs. Richard |
Cochran, Mr.. and Mrs. Nehemiah Burris |
and Mr.. and Mrs. Fl. N. Willis, all of |
whom will spend happy Christmas here
with their children. There are but few
men living in town who have reached the |
so mark, N. Burris, at so, John A. Rey-
nolds at 81 and Nimrod French at SO being
the only ones, but there are several near
by residents on farms who are worthy |
of this roll of honor.