Evening journal., 1917-02-17
LIVING mid RICHLY
GAREERED memories

Mrs. John II. Foard, of Marshallton,
Del, sends to THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL, the following article from the
Chattanooga, Tenn, News, regarding
a friend.
Living amid the richly gathered and
garnered memories of the past, with
keen interest in the present and
resignation TO the future. Mrs. Mary
Ann Elizabeth First, who is now in
her eighty-third year. sits by the win
dow at her home on Carter and Hooke
streets, hens with her fingers and
whips on lace. Last week she made
five pillow cases finished with lace,
by hand and without the use OF
glasses. 81 used to know everybody
who went by here, and everybody in
Chattanooga, and go see everyone
when they were sick, but don't know
many people now"
No wonder that the moving piano.
rama of life presents new and strange
faces to the good mother Of more than
four score and three. when 1t was
learned that she had lived in this
same house for sixty-fOur years, hay
ing moved into it in December, 1852.
She was married in June of the same
year. 70 Jacob First, of Wilmington.
Delaware, a pattern-maker He built
the house and they moved in the fol-
lowing December.
The vines grew around the door OF
this happy home, flowers were cult
waited in the yard, and stables were
built on the adjoining lot and COWS
supplied the family with fresh milk.
six children. five boys and one girl.
gladdened the home and all were
reared in Chattanooga, besides a step
son. the late Robert H. First. who mar
ried and settled in Newport, Della
ware, was also reared as her own.
Never Paid q Cent Of Rent.
This was our home and the home
( of my children, and will be mine as
/ long as ! live. We never paid a cent
Of rent. truly wish that more wives
of today could say what / can. that is
this my husband never gave me a
cross word and never denied me any
thing / wanted. He has been dead
thirty-eight years in March Of this
year"
Mrs. Frist's hair has preserved its
original color OF black, with not a
single gray hair visible. Il is so in
teresting to listen to her talk that one
could sit by the hour and then go back
again and listen 10 this mother tell
of the peaceful, pleasant life that has
been hers. She is the mother OF six
children, twenty-one grandchildren
seven great grandchildren, six OF
whom, children Of Mrs. John Foard
of Marshallton, and John A. First. OF
Newport, Del, and one in Lookout
Valley, who is now only one year old
and the apple of her eye"
Oldest Methodist.
She has the signal distinction Of
being the oldest Methodist in town
having united with that church wher
there was only one church building
here. She never missed a meeting
, except for sickness. She suffered
light stroke on October 4 and has no
been out, not even on her own from
! porch, but sits by the open fireplace
with the windw at her right. On he
seventy-third birthday she left for al
extended visit to her many relatives 4
Delaware, came all the way, a dis
, lance of 1907 miles. by herself an
81 returned home safely.
Carnegie Medal Hero.
II is her honor to be the mother o
b a son who has medals from both Presi
dent Wilson and Andrew Carneg
This is Jacob First, ticket agent, q
Meridian, Miss. who was formerly ON
OF the most popular younger men G
Chattanooga.
The story goes as follows. 81
mother and her boy, who had been il
a hospital and portion of his bod.
was encased in plaster paris. wer,
waiting at the depot for the train, an,
they did not notice another train ap
preaching from behind. Mr.. Fris
sprang forward and pushed them on
of the way. He was struck by tn
engine, sustained injuries about tn
head and broken leg. which con
fined him to the hospital for severa
weeks and from which he has neve
fully recovered"