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

CHANGES IN THE OLD HOME 205
Red Lion, with a fine view of the straight road leading north
to the old tavern which stood about a mile away. From that
cozy corner they could see the neighbors coming and going to
the village. I well remember Uncle John's arrival home from
a visit to Indiana, announcing the fact that Aunt Abbie would
soon occupy her own room; so everyone was expectant, and
at table her coming was spoken of as a happily anticipated
event, so we prepared to receive her. When Uncle John and
Uncle Spencer went over to Franklin to meet her we prepared
a fine dinner, made a fire in her room, and were on the lookout
for her arrival with the two old gentlemen.
Soon she came in, all bundled up in hood and furs; a round,
smooth face was hers, well illuminated by a fine large pair of
soft brown eyes. Her figure was portly; she weighed two hundred
pounds. With the rest I greeted her warmly, whereupon
she asked me if she "filled the bill." I told her that she did.
She dressed in the style of the day; a brown "front "was combed
smoothly over a high and broad forehead, and a black headdress
of silk lace crowned her. She had an easy and ofFhand
way of sincere love and kindness.
Thus began a happy acquaintance lasting over a long
stretch of years. Uncle John was not a Christian by profes-
sion; neither he nor Uncle Spencer could read in their Bibles
the religion of feeling their sins forgiven, nor could they believe
in the doctrine of "faith alone." Thus it came about that
the two sisters-in-law, who were so devout, dear Aunt 'Rusha
and Aunt Abbie, read their Bibles daily as they sat in their
large armchairs. I noticed that they read in course and
turned down a leaf as fast as it was read, so I looked one day
to find that every leaf in their well-worn Bibles had been turned
down. At the Red Lion meeting house they were both great
"powers" at the "an.xious seat," both in prayer and exhorta-
tion. Aunt 'Rusha was a good singer, and when she was well
enthused would throw off her wraps and move down the aisle
shouting and singing:
"I'm going home to die no more, to die no more —
clapping her hands and interspersing shouts. Dear, earnest