Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

1 88 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
how we laid the table and made everything as nice as our
limitations would allow. We had the supper all ready to
serve. Every five minutes we would look out to see if they
were coming. The sun went down in a glory of brilliant
clouds and twilight was gathering when I made a dash for the
front door, and there I met my new sister, Julia. We were
all so full of happiness as we took her bonnet.
I remember she had a traveling suit of small check made
with a cape, which, as I recall, we designated as a "circular
duster" and which was entirely in accordance with the fashion
of that day. How interested we were in seeing her bridal
things, for was she not our first own bride.'' I think she was
married in white, but what was called her second day dress
was a beautiful blue silk. In this gown, with her white bonnet
and white kid gloves and the tiniest cloth gaiters on her little
feet, she was as pretty as a picture. She brought us liberal
pieces of the wedding cakes, which were kept in memory,
talked of, and used as standards of excellence all our days
together. Her mother was always generous with Julia, and
gave her a fine supper with the Hunt relatives for guests. Cal
Hunt Tilton dressed the bride and did a lot of the planning.
The next May after WilHam and Julia were married, her
mother's health began to fail more rapidly. She had not been
well for some time previous, but it was not known until the
autumn how serious was her condition, when her feet began
to swell and other dropsical symptoms appeared. Her physi-
cal distress was great; as the sweUing mounted she was finally
unable to lie down, but sat up to breathe. It was all most
sad for the family. Will had engaged to teach the school in
Marion, and they left Green Tree to go to that place with
anxious thought and sadness, for they knew Mother Morris
must be in a very critical condition. The doctors of that time
seemed to have no idea of any relief for such cases, nor did
they give the family any encouragement that something might
be done to make her more comfortable.
About this time a young girl came into the neighborhood,
and hearing of the illness of Mrs. Morris, offered to undertake
the nursing of her. She was a capable help during those day