Houston County Researchers: For the past 3 years, I have been compiling a book entitled: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF HOUSTON COUNTY, GEORGIA 1821-1871: Copyright 2000 by William A. Mills. I thought I had this book finished last year, but I keep finding more interesting items to include in it. By the time that I actually print this book, it may be too large to contain in one volume. But, there is no need to keep all of this good info hidden away. I stumbled across an original story written by a man who was born in 1826, and resided in Perry, GA for several decades. This story was supposed to be published right after the Civil War, but I cannot find any evidence that it ever was. I've checked everywhere that I can, and no one has ever heard of it before. ================>>> Portions from Chapter 11: "Woman! blest partner of our joys and woes! Even in the darkest hour of earthly ill, Untarnished yet thy fond affection grows, Throbs with each pulse and beats with ever thrill! Bright o'er the wasted scene thou hoverest still, Angel of comfort to the failing soul!" Distrusting my ability to pay a fitting tribute to the memory of that class of the friends of my childhood and youth, who were the wives of Houston's first settlers and the mothers of my early associates and companions, I have hesitated until now to speak of them. Eulogistic encamiums and written cenotaphs are proper when not extravagant, and unsatisfactory when they fail to express "heart memories", and these cannot be written. We are wont to boast of an elevated standard of morality and Chritianity in our community, and who can estimate how much of these refining elements is the product or result of the piety and devotion of these genuine companions and matrons of the olden time. They have passed away; being dead, yet their voices are heard, their impress is seen around us, and not until time is over can the aggregate of stars in their crowns be counted. The names of Aunt C., as we learned to call her, Mrs. D., Mrs. H., Mrs. R., Mrs. K., Mrs. O., Mrs. M., and many others, can never be forgotten while memory lives and the heart beats warm. Their kindnesses, reproofs and admonitions, as time moves and age comes on, are remembered more vividly and prized more highly. Contemporary with these pure and good, true in all that elevates, dignifies and adorns female character, was one of Irish extraction who knew and loved me first and best; nourished and blessed me in helpless infancy; sympathized, encouraged and reproved me in youth, and in riper years, at her side kneeling, I first felt there was another life. She was my mother. There was one other of precious memory, who was young and of whose early and lasting affection I was the favored recipient. "On these dear jewels of my memory My heart will ever dwell, and fate in vain, Possessing that, essay to make me wretched." Although they sleep beneath the sod, the pulsations of their warm, loving hearts, sweet voices and soft blue eyes which followed me in the past, are yet felt, heard and seen. These now silent and yet audible monitions still linger in and around my heart, the brightest and best of all earth's cherished memories. Without these, the past would be a blank, the present and the future dark, and other sweet memories with still sweeter anticipation, things of beauty then and now and will be joys forever, never would have been mine. Ah! we have said with deepest anguish, farewell! But not forever, for we shall meet again. ~~ TO BE CONTINUED ~~ _______________________________________ William A. Mills Perry, GA [email protected] ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.