The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-12-07

JIM and folks dream dreams and see
visions even now. You don't be-
lleve it2 Well, I'll tell you of case.
1T was year ago this coming
month that went over to spend n
couple of weeks with Cousin Elvira at
Marshalrs Corners. Now, you proba-
bly, don't know 1t, but Marshall's Cor
ners amt exactly the liveliest place
in all the world. They are mostly
farmers there, and mile from FL
vira's is a store and postofice and a
tack factory. Oh, yes, and there's
schoolhouse in pine grove half a
mile from her house the other way.
II guess 1t was the third day was
there that l says, 'Elvira, who is 1t
lives in the house across the road, and
what's SO much coming and going
there for? Seems to me there's some
one calling there every half hour
"Elvira. she folded UP her work and
stood up. Come along with me- she
says, and you'll see why there's 80
much calling there. It's Mrs. Perry
lives there. Her husbands sick, has
been for long time, but he's getting
batter now. We all think everything
of Mrs. Perry, though we didn't like
her bit the first month or SO she
was here
II noticed, as we went across the
road, what pleasant look the house
had. The curtains were raised quite
high SOS to let in lot Of light, and
there was one window full of bright,
-clean-looking, blossoming plants. A big
yellow cat set On another window sill
and bllnked at us as we went by.
l never liked yellow cat, but some
how this one seemed different, and
no other kind would have seemed so
cheerful.
''The minute laid eyes on Mrs.
Perry 1 knew why everybody liked
her. You know there's some folks
you Just meet on the road they don't
do nothing more than nod and smile
mt you, but somehow feel better for
seeing 'em. Mrs. Perry was like that.
She want what you'd call pretty,
but she had nice clean-looking teeth
and her hair was tidy, and she had
the pleasantest cordial smile l ever
see. She had on plain, calico dress,
but 1t was clean and whole and fitted
her nice, and looked kinder stylish.
She is genuine says to myself.
She's just what she appears to be-
Her house was just like her; 1t was
plain and neat; there was comfort.
able chairs, and there was books and
n piano.
'Mr. Perry was lying in reclining
chair, and although you could see that
he was pleasant sort of person
enough, 1t was his wife that was the
-one folks liked best.
"Wel!, we had an awful nice call,
and just before we went, Elvira asked
her to play and sing for us. She never
made word of objection, and she
didn't say she had cold and couldn't,
but she went right over to the piano
and set down and begun to play. Now
I've heard more or less good music
in my day, and when l heard Mrs.
Perry sing knew she want no ordi-
nary amateur. Her voice want moth
ing wonderful, but 1t was sweet and
true, and she sang with some life and
Z snap. l says somethin' about 1t after
she got through, and she said she'd
studied good deal and been to some
good teachers, but she didn't put on
no airs about 1t.
''After that first call, went over
there pretty often, and we talked to-
gether like old cronies. II was, one
day towards the end of my visit that
we had specially long talk. 1t was
a rainy day, and Mr.. Perry was
asleep In the next room, so we had
quite long spell to ourselves. We'd
come to kind of pause In our con-
vcrsation, and there want no sound
in the room but the clock ticking and
the cat purrlng. Finally Mrs. Perry
laid down her work-she was one OF
the busy kind and we was both sew
1ng-and she says, with a queer little
smile. Aunt Asenath, I'm going to
tell you strange experience I had
when first moved into this neighbor-
hood. never have told anybody but
Alfred, ard was ashamed to tell
even him all of Ii,