Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-06-14

the home OF Uncle Bob aud Aunt
Ruthy Strbling, who lived about one
mile and half from Richland
school, towards Walhalla, but about
one-half mile from the public road
and near Conercss Creek. Never
was young man just starting out
In his career more Hospitality and
more warmly treated. Uncle Bob
was the personification Of kindness,
and take special honor and pleas
ure in placing this small violet of
appreciation upon his mound in yon-
der city Of the dead, where his hu-
man body lies mouldering in the
tomb awaiting the resurrection
morn. But 1t was reserved to good
old Aunt Ruthy Stribling, with ex-
quisite grace and tenderness, to add
continually to my cup of pleasure and
contentment; for you must know,
my kind friends, that one under such
circumstances as ! was, will, at some
time, feel that sadness that falls to
the lot Of every one, and that no one
has yet been able adequately to de-
scribe. Kind of heart, gentle as the
evening zephyr In her manners, soft
and sweet in her approaches, antici-
pative of every wish, thoughtful,
sweet Of temper, considerate and OBJ
liging, Aunt Ruthy was mother to
.e. My own blood could not nor
would have been more thoughtful Of
my wishes and welfare. Many little
delicacies were prepared by her and
that amiable companion of hers,
whom | shall likewise never forget
cousin" Lou Stribling, her daugh-
ter-in-law, for my special enjoyment.
Let. me stop long enough to Say that
cousin" Lou Stribling, as we used
to call her, was the widow of Aunt
Ruthy's only son, named Robert, who
had died some years before. "Cou-
sim Lou was the sunshine of the
home. She was perfectly devoted in
her attachment to Uncle Bob and
Aunt Ruthy. What beautiful pic
ture that whole-souled devotion Of
ten presented to me, and with both
she heartily Joined in making the
stranger within the gates feel unre-
servedly at home.
Another inmate Of this hospitable
home was William G. Harkey--a big,
brawny, good natured fellow,
great singer, and when singing could
not be criticised for not opening his
mouth-who handled the plow-stock
and Uncle Bob's little sorrel mule
as easily as Samson broke asunder
the new hempen cords that bound
his.arms.
11remember on one occasion, re-
turning from one of my frequent
visiS to Walhalla, whittier went at
oVeN opQoTtUDity-- having sTGnt ny
coll.ge dayn in the good o., .town, /
nf~traliy felt attached to the town
ara her people and it's d great old
Town vet, in NY e%timauou return.
Ing on one Of my trips, driving Uncle
Bob's little sorrel mule, encounter
ed q considerable windstorm, some
thing like cyclone, that uprooted
and blew down numbers Of trees,
some of the huge oaks and tall long
leaf pines that then stood In the
woods just up the Walhalla road
near the home Of D. Frank McAlister.
Aunt Ruthy, with womanly and ma
tenal instinct 80 characteristic Of
her sex, suspected there was trouble
up the road when my coming was
delayed; and when I did reach home,
never shall l forget the anxious So
licitude and parental and affection
ate inquiry as to my getting in the
storm and Its effects-"Is it we'll
with the child"? 1t showed me more
plainly than words can express the
tender, true-heartedness of Aunt
Ruthy. Of course other members of
the family were anxious about my
safety, but the JOY and relief that
! were plainly visible in her counte-
nance that / was safe and unhurt and
out Of harms reach made me feel
more deeply towards her than shall
trust myself to express in words
That kindly feeling towards her
from me never has weakened, and
right here and now ! wish to bear
unstinted and unbounded testimony
to her great love for me and my
great love for her. Though she has
gone to the great beyond, where the
wicked cease from troubling and the
weary are at rest" | feel like put
ting this small bouquet Of immor-
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