Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-02
Celebrated
100 BIRTHDAY
Centcnarian Retains Her
Notwithstanding De-
feCtiVe.

Aunt Peggy Sechler Monday cele-
| brated her -hundredth birthday.
| Seated in her comfortable old fashion
ed rocking chair in the cozy home of
S. b. Kocher, Bloom road, where she
has had her home for many years past
the aged woman gIaciously aud uutir
ingly acknowledged the kind congrat-
ulations of group after group of
friends and relatives that during the
day came aud went. Not only did
Aunt Peggy receive all day yesteI-
day, but even on Sunday she was the
mark of much honor and she was sur
rounded with many reminders that at
last her tottering footsteps had brought
her to the one hundredth mile stone of
life's journey. 1t was happily arrang-
ed to observe the Sabbath Immediate
ly preceding her oue-hundredth birth
day in way that would give APP
propriate expression to the gratitude
for long life and the blessing of health
which dwelt not only in the heart of
the beloved and aged woman but also
in the hearts of those around her, who
love her and care for her. According
ly Sunday afternoon the Keystone
Male Quartette of this city repaired to
the home of Mr.. Kocher and there rem
dered number of their best selec-
tions, not forgetting two that are
"Aunt Peggy s. favorites: Jesus.
Lover of my Soul and Nearer, My
God, to Thee. - She understood the
singing; was able to follow nearly all
of her two favorite hymns and dwelt
most beautifully on the emotions that
the singing aroused within her.
"Aunt Peggy was in the very best
of spirits and not within many years
was her mind any clearer than yester-
day. Her memory, it is true, revols i'll
the events of the long, long past, but
while in pleasant conversation yester
day she proved to her friends that she
was by no means oblivious of passing
events aui recalled the incidents of
last week and last year with astnuish-
ing accuracy.
1t was, however, of the long past
that those assembled Monday desired
most to hear and fortunately Aunt
Peggy" was in reminiscent mood
Nearly all her stories related to her
glrlhood, nearly or quite ninety years
ago. She has keen sense of humor
and laughed heartily as she related
many an amusing anecdote, in which
the actors were the sons of William
Montgomery and others whose names
ae familiar but whom people of the
present generation have never seen.
At the same time Aunt Peggy
thoroughly appreciated the solemnity
of the event. for while the attainment
of hundred years of life is the cause
for rejoicing. yet it is the extreme
limit that carries the man or woman
who survives into the very shadow of
death aud eternity. Years ago Aunt
Peggy realized that she had lived the
repeated the same beautiful sentiment
that was recorded of her on her last
birthday that her work on earth is
done and that she is now only waiting
for the summons that when it shall
please God in his wisdom to call her
hence she>is ready.
There is no telling how many years
yet remain for the aged woman. She
is only slightly more feeble than on
her last birthday. Her hearing, it is
true, is defective but her eyesight aud
her general health is good. Retaining
as she does all her mental faculties
and surrounded as she is by kind and
loving friends she still finds much ell
joyment in every day life.
Probably over a hundred people call
ed to visit Aunt Peggy" Monday.
Not few came from II considerable
distance while still others from Phil
adelphia, Reading, and Altoona sent
letters and kilograms conveying con
CALCULATIONS. She received large
number of presents. A most beautiful
tribute came from the ladies' aid So
ciety of Shiloh Reformed church, i'll
the form of one hundred roses, one for
each year of her life, which were CON
veyed to Aunt Peggy by the Rev.
Joseph +. Guy and his wife.
Among those who assembled to do
the aged woman honor was Mrs Fct-
ter, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. W. p.
Roberts, of Sunburv, neces; Thomas
Sanders, of this city, nephew; Mrs.
A. j. Thrash and Miss Lizzie Cunius,
of Hazleton, grand nieces; John
CuniuS, of Drums, Mrs. Peter Rishel,
of White Hall, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Keefer of Berwick, were also
present.
~