The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-23
HER % YEARS ABED
SEES WORLD CHANGED.
Difference So Great Mrs. Samuel May
Return to Her Couch


PEN Argyll, Pa, Oct. %. - Mrs.
Samuel Bray of this place. whose rec
ord almost eclipses that of Rip Van
W1nkle, may return to her bed again.
She left it only few days ago after
rest of twenty-three years. In all
that time she arose but once, and only
then when her husband built a new
home and the family moved. Even
then she had to be carried to car
riage and then to bed again. Her
meals have been served to her regu-
larly in bed. Once her husband re-
sorted to a starvation scheme, but the
woman was too plucky and stood the
siege.
Twenty three years ago the family
lived in Ackermanyille, a small village
about four miles from here. In 1881
Mrs. Bray made up her mind to go to
Easton to see circus. Her husband
demonstrated with her and there was a
domestic misunderstanding. She, how
ever, insisted on going, and through the
alteration with her husband missed
her train There was only one train
day from the slate regions to the eoun-
ty seat, Easton, in the early SOS, and
Mrs. Bray walked to Pan Argyll from
train. which made a change and wait
ed at Pen Argyll.
But at Pen Argyll she again missed
it, and she then started for Easton. She
arrived there, distance of fifteen
miles, in time for the evening per-
formance, which she witnessed. She
remained in Easton that night, took the
train the next day for her home, went
to bed, and vowed she would never
get up again.
Eight years later her husband, hop
ing to get his wife to break her re-
solve, built handsome home in this
town. When the house was completed
he told his wife what he had done. She
was al resolute as ever. Money, car
riages and fine houses were no tempta-
ton, and the woman had to be carried
to the coach. She was laid on the floor
of the carriage. and when the house
was reached she closed her eyes and
was carried into her new bed.
That was fifteen years ago, and she
never left her bed until last week,
when she got up and took trolley
ride. She is seventy years of age, and
was never sick a day. She has six
children, all well. During her stay in
bed one brother and a grandchild died,
but she stuck to her resolve ito bed
for ife..4
During-her stay in bed she has not
read line of print and refused to
meet any one. She had never seen a
trolley car until last week, although the
trolley passes within a block of her
home.
Mrs. Bray told her story to a repre-
sentative of the Inquirer Il made up
my mind to teach Sammy lesson"
she said, "and I guess have done 1t.
1t has cost him good many thou
sand dollars, and while I may have
missed a great many sights, saw
that circus almost twenty-five years
ago. and I would have died rather than
have missed it. 1t was long walk
from Ackermanville to Easton, but l
have had long rest, and feel as II
could walk it again tomorrow.
when I went to bed Pen Argyll was
a village with about a dozen or twenty
houses. Now it is an incorporated
town, borough, with over 1000 peo-
pie. There are very few people here
that 1 know, and l am hoping the old
man will take me back to old Corn
wall for visit. If he doesn't I may
take to bed again. At any rate, / don't
know but what / shall, as there is too
much hustle for an old woman like
me-"
When asked for her photograph she
said: "Give you my picture? Why,
child. I haven't had it taken since I
went to the circus. But if you want
that, why, here it is"
Mr. Bray was among the early slate
prospectors, and he has been able TO
live a retired life for many years.