The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-04

be back in . day or two. Of course she did not want me to 70. but go would. for you know Mary lived on the road between our house and my Uncle's, but could not muster up the courage to tell my mother what was the real attraction that was taking me toward my elder relatives home.
 'In a couple of hours or so rode up to the gate where the girl who mad
 fired the first ambition in my heart lived. She was out in the front yard with sun-bonnet on and long gloves on her hands to protect her skin from the sun and was sitting down on a little stool digging around some lovely roses with fork or some other 'n- strument of like character.
 q tell you that was the prettiest picture that ever fell under my vision. and I just sat there on my old mule and looked at her and did not disturb her in the least. Finally she looked up and her eyes met mine and she in- stantIy recognized me. though my own folks had not. She stood as if trans fixed for a few moments and exclaimed in astonishment:
 "Ts that you Edmund"
 "I answered.:
 "'Yes. Mary; have learnt some- thing. and have come back to see you"
 And then General Pettus looked on and commenced to talk about some thing else. The friend who related the above story to me was deeply m terested in the romance of General Pettuss life, and asked him excited!y:
 But what became Of your sweet heart?"
 General Pettus looked at him with tender expression in his eye and re- marked: ,,
 she is the present Mrs. Pettus, sir
 This little story is substantially cor rect. General and Mrs. Pettus lived long and happy life together. She was one of the most lovable women ana was never heard to speak unkindly or any one. Her face was more like that of an angelic being than anything else and she was perfectly wrapped up in
 "Mr. Pettus" as she always called him. She was as gentle a woman as one ever
 met and no doubt but that her telling her sweetheart to go on and learn something. waiting for him till he had acquired an education, laid the founda-
 tion for the long and brilliant career that he mapped out for himself as lawyer, soldier and statesman.
 They tell a right funny little incl dent that occurred between General and Mrs. Pettus at the breaking out or the war with Mexico. They had nor been married very long and General Pettus disliked very much to enlist Tn the service and go away and leave her. He did not say anything to her on the subject and she did not broach 1t to him. But the enthusiasm was so great that he could not stand 1t any longer, SO he remarked to her one day: Mary. I cannot stand 1t any longer; I must go to the front"
 Her quiet reply was:
 "Mr. Pettus, I have been thinking that for several weeks"
 Mrs. Pettus passed to the great be- yond about a year before General Pet tus died She was never the same wo- man after her son, Hon. Francis l.. Pettus,l died, for she was perfectly wrapped up in him. She was on the
 way home from Washington with her husband and other relatives when she
 received the news on the train that her son was dead.
 She did not cry out or give way, but received the news with that Christian resignation that taught her to bear ur under any kind of a burden, but the light had gone out of her life when her illustrious son passed away. She did not show it to the outside world, bu, those nearest and dearest to this gooo woman could see the great suffering that she underwent when this idol oi her heart was called to the great be- | yond.
 The world Is better for two such peo- ple as General and Mrs. Pettus having | lived in it. and the above little romance | of their lives will spur many another 1 couple to overcome obstacles and Sur
 mount barriers that seem almost i'm | passable Their married life was likt . sweet honeymoon, for they were hap piest when in each others company. Few couples have been spared tc | raise such a large family of children | grandchildren and great-grandchildren l all of whom are an honor to the State and were the pride of the declining years of this rand old couple. who oc' ! cupied such a warm place in the heart! l of all who had ever met them.
 They belonged to the glorious past ] They were old they were tired. an(
 they lay down to sleep. Let us cher
 ish and honor them as long as those | who knew them live.