Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-07-23
The Turner
Monument
Copyright. The Frank A. Mun.sy Company
BY Alice Lulse Lee.

borrowing habit.
Some people have perfect genius
for being imposed upon. My husband
has always said that 1 am gifted in
that direction myself, and have been
uncomfortably suspicious that he told
the truth. But it was left to the Turn
ers to make my suspicious certainties,
Two episodes began about the same
time for us in Mount Alva the ad,
vent of the Turner's and our owner.
ship in cemetery lot. From the
first there was a close connection be-
tween the two because Mr.. Turner
had purchased the marble-yard and
the family attended our church.
saw them for the first time when
they filed into their pew just ahead
of ours.
noticed that the wife and three
daughters looked decidedly emacIat
ed. l stepped on my husbands toe
to call attention to their consumptive
appearance, but was successful only in
calling his attention to his corn.
AS a physicians wife, lold it is
but natura. that l should inform my.
our church, because there are just doc.
tors enough in Mount Alva for the
churches to have one apiece, and it has
came to be a religious principle with
each church to employ it's own doc.
tor.
But don't think l was rejoicing at
the Turner's pallor. Quite the con-
trary.
They were armored with a certain
manner which would not permit a
self-respecting physician to send in his
account more than once, and as one
after the other raised a thinly-gloved
hand to her mouth and gave series
Of little coughs, l had vision of
sundry future unpaid bills going to
swell the already large number.
OF course after service we intro
duced ourselves.
They were delighted beyond expires.
sion to meet another family of Tur.
ners. did not share their enthu-
siasm. My conviction was growing
that one family of the name was
enough for Mount Alva.
Mr.. Turner grasped my husbands
hand with the unction of long-lost
brother. They Immediately climbed
their family trees as high as they
could go, but found not one branch to
which they could cling together.
Some way l was relieved. The Tur.
ners were very nice and ladylike-that
is, all except Mr.. Turner, and, / was
glad he did not belong to us.
Alas for the frailty of, my ideas!
found there are more ways of belong
ing than being related.
It was not long before the Turner's
were fully Launched in the church,
contributing socially but not financial.
ly.
Mr.. Turner was hurt at sight of a
subscription paper. l found that out
when l was collecting for the min
ister's salary.
He spoke of having seen better days
when his generous soul revealed
| large donations of his humiliation at
seeing his wife and dear ones reduced
to poverty, and himself to the sordid
and melancholy occupation of dealing
In unremunerative tomb stones.
| to the bell over the doctors Office
door, and mentioned the fact that they
were not strangers to tears. By way
| of illustration, he let few fall. He
remarked ESQ smoothly and adroitly
that the words almost lost their sting,
that if he coined money as easily out
| of other peoples affections as a physi-
| clan he could afford to be benevolent.
Whereupon l replied with my usual
| bluntness that he coined money out
of the Doctors affliction, for his bust.
ness represented the end of the doc,
tors gain!
These words he Immediately con.
strued into a reproach on his trade
and retired for season behind his
handkerchief. Any conscience pricked
me for my words to such an extent
that on the subscription paper after
wards ! wrote his name, and opposite
it zone dollar, pd."
l did not tell the doctor, but he no
ticed, forcibly at times, that his coffee
was not sweet enough for month
Then the subject of our new monu
ment came up.
When the doctor decided to locate al
Mount Alva, rejoiced because of the
beauty of the cemetery. have always
had leaning toward beautiful grave
yards, an da partiality for fine noun
ments.
selected the lot myself, little lot
for there would be but two to lie in
on the summit of the ridge over
looking the town. 1t can be seen from
our south window.
spent hours there, summers, trim
ming the hedge and cutting the grass
/ grew to love that spot, until the doc
tor used to remark that he knew where
had been because wore my grave
yard face" meaning was particularly
cheerful.
could scarcely wait for a monu
ment to be put on that lot. | hat
one all planned in mind. plain, slend
er shaft of granite. The only draw