Perspectives
The blue dress [
1 hitched the strap of my purse
higher on my shoulder and sorted
?rough the blouses and dresses;
then examined a few sweaters lying
across a countertop. There were only
sis customers in the store, and it was
a belief to have so much space to my
sdf as well as a whole afternoon to
browse. It had been a long while
since deadline had lifted enough to
allow such luxury of time.
I made my selections, I noticed
ap elderly couple enter one of the fit
ting rooms with four dresses,
"kice," I smiled inwardly, that a
man of any age, but especially one in
his 80s would actually accompany his
wffe on an excursion like this.
?I narrowed my choices and entered
the remaining dressing room next to
them. The booths were built for the
pBvacy of the eye, not the ear, so it
was impossible not to overhear their
conversation. Though I've changed
their names for the sake of discrep
ancy, I'll carry those words that
drifted across that curtained was
with me forever.
3'Why don't you get them all,
dear," the old man suggested. "They
all fit you well and look nice on you."
Hjs voice was gentle, yet firm I got
thj> distinct impression that he was
accustomed to making the decisions
iivthe family
J'No!" She replied emphatically in
a. -voice that wavered a bit, appar
ently unaccustomed to such force,
"there's no need for so much fuss,
Henry,' she said in a more gentle
totie "All I need is One dress. I like
blue one. Besides, it's your favor
ite color."
3\s I buttoned a silk blouse into
pQice, my instincts told me '.hat there
w>s more going on here than just a
slptpping trip.
>?Tm tired, Henry. Let's just get
the blue one. I think it'll be perfect
enough on me when my times
c<$nes."
J'Don't be talking like that, Millie,"
h?i spoke anxiously to her. The cur
tain moved as if he reached out for
her, striking the flowing fabric with
hi$ elbow. I stood in silence, tears
spilling down my face with the real
ization of what was happening.
"You heard what the doctor said.
We could have as long as six more
months together," he urged gently,
his voice hushed and melowed with
age.
"Yes, Henry," she responded
softly, "but I know it won't be that
long. And I'm really tired today.
Please let's get this over with so we
can go on back home. I don't want to
cover this up and pretend nothing's
wrong anymore. I've got some things
to do, some people to see, and a whole
lot of plans to make."
There was silence between them as
they shuffled about, her redressing
and him hanging the disgarded
dresses on the rack on the wall. ^
"Well, I guess we might as well get
me a new suit while we're here," he
thought aloud, breaking the tension
that filled the air.
"I don't suppose that would be such ?
a bad idea, Henry," she answered /
immediately. "It Has been a while."
As she walked slowly from the cub
icle, I peeped through the curtain to
get one last glimpse of the worn man I
with white hair. And, the words he I
whispered aloud to himself as he '
paused far behind his wife, have
haunted me ever since.
"In over sixty years I ain't never
been without you, woman, and I don't
ever plan on being. I ain't about to let
you take such a long trip as this
Alone. I've got a few plans of my own
to make, too."
And, with his head held high, he
slipped his wallet from his back
pocket and headed towards the cash
register where she patiently waited '
for him to pay for the soft blue dress
that she would be wearing when they
finally took the last long trip... to
gether.
Federal troops stationed
in Perquimans County
In August, 1865, Perquimans
C<ginty was conquered enemy terri
tory so far as the United States gov
ernment was concerned. Although lo
cal authority was ostensible in the
hands of a provisional government,
the Union Army was the true ruling
forcce.
Federal troops were stationed in
the county. As Nancy L. Learned,
military occupation typically breeds
crimes against civilians.
Early one Tuesday afternoon in the
middle of August fifty-five-year-old
Nqjicy was alone in her home near
Woodlawn plantation in Harveys
Neck. A man who would later be
idantified as Jack S. came to her door
and asked if she had anything to sell,
eggs or chickens. She replied she did
not.
Jack asked her if she had seen any
sofiliers passing by that day. Nancy
satd she had not, and inquired what
soldiers he meant. Jack told her they
were soldiers who had been down
Harveys Neck and were going to be
stationed there. He claimed he was
ne of them, but the others had gotten
ahead of them.
jack then began to threaten
Nancy, saying if he did not get what
he 'wanted he or the other soldiers
would kill her. As the terrified lady
would testify in court, "He then came
into the house, walked about awhile
anf) then took a chair and sat down in
frcfit of and very near my bed, upon
which I was at the time lying, very
sick and unable to sit up.
THe again got up, walked about the
rcxjm, threatened to take my life at
least half a dozen times and said he
was going to take one of my dresses,
which was hanging in the room. I
then told him to go out of my house
and let my dress and my self alone,
"He then came up to my bed and
said 'he did bnot want the old dress'
and seized hold of me. I screamed
out. He said he would kill me right
there on the bed if I said another. He
then proceeded in his purposes and
forcibly succeeded in having carnal
knowledge and connexion with me
upon my bed."
Jack then went off, armed with a
crudgel and a walking stick. Nancy
thought, but could not be sure, he had
a knife in his pocket.
It took some time for the stricken
Nancy to attract the attention of a
passerby and for a pose to be gath
ered. About twelve hours after the
crime, Nathan Tucker, Carlton Par
rish and others arrested Jack about a
mile and a half from Nancy's house.
While they were taking him to a mag
istrate, Jack jumped a large ditch
and escaped through a field.
It was later learned that Jack had
made his way to Norfolk. Only after a
long series of requests to the military
authorities in New Bern, Raleigh,
Richmond, and Norfolk could the ac
cused felon be brought back to Per
quimans for trail.
TRY CLASSIFIEDS
.
New Feature
Beginning July 9
This feature will be
called the Perquimans
County Resident of the
week. This feature will
high light citizens of
the county, their activ
ities and interests.
Anyone who would
be interested please
call or contact Gina
Jepson, at the Perqui
mans Weekly Newspa
per at 426-5728.
For best results pick zucchini
nourly
'A
Take time to enjoy the simple pleasures off life
"Old dogs and children and water
melon wine." According to balladeer
Tom T. Hall, these are the only things
that are really important to life.
According to his song, old dogs
care about you even when you make
mistakes, God blesses the little chil
dren before they learn to hate, and
when all else fails, a good shot of wa
termelon wine cures anything else.
Of course, we all know there is
more to life. It isn't quite as simple as
this. But neither should it be as diffi
cult as we often make it.
I often find myself thinking of a
man I knew as a child. Starting from
humble beginnings, this man, at his
death, was worth millions of dollars.
He worked all his life to amass a for
tune, to be able to afford the things in
life that many believe will bring hap
piness. Early in life, he and his wife
worked in the fields by lantern light
in order to save having to hire help. A
cigar smoker, he made sure he got
everything out of one possible. After
smoking it down to a level where it
nearly burned his lips, he would
knock the fire from it and chew what
remained. He approached every
thing in life with his penny-pinching
logic.
As the years went by, he continued
to attempt to remain active even
though his healthand reflexes were
greatly diminished. Without think
ing, he stopped his truck in the road
one day to look at crops in the field.
He was in the middle of a sharp curve
and traffic coming behind him was
not able to see him until it was too
late. While he wasn't killed instantly,
he died later of the injuries.
After living a frugal life, he left this
world without a thing.
All the millions he had worked so
hard to accumulate were left behind
for someone else to enjoy.
Certainly, we should have goals in
life and should strive to better our
selves. We should have dreams, for
without them life would be of little
value. But we shouldn't allow our
selves to become so involved in seek
ing material things that we overlook
the things that God has given us to
enjoy. Nothing sums up what our out
look onlife should be better than the
time-worn phrase, "Take time to
smell the roses."
Chances are, you know someone
who seems to take this philosophy to
heart. And chances are, you probably
wonder why this person has no "am
bition," why he seems to be satisified
with few of the materials things so
many seem to feel are the important
things in life. We have become so en
grossed with attempting to be a sue- '
cess in life that we often forget to en- (0
joy it.
So often I hear people complain ,
about how difficult it is to make it to- ?
day. Whereas one could work a few ,
years ago and be able to afford the
basics of life, now it takes two, and
often, that isn't enough. Perhaps part
of the reason is because our "basics"
have changed. We've placed so much ,
emphasis on material things that we
have forgotten what it is to enjoy the
things we have. . ^
Years from now, when we are , (
nearing the twilight of our lives, we'll
probably look back and wonder why.
we didn't take the time to enjoy the "
simple pleasures God has granted us.
As we think about all the time we
spent looking for greener pastures, v
we'll probably realize the only place
the grass is greener is over the septic
tank. But by then it will be too late.
Vepco pays county taxes
... fi a p.n._ m . d
20 YEARS AGO
Vepco Presents 112,562 Check To
County For Tax: J.R. Haden, Albe
marle District Manager of the Vir
ginia Electric Power Company, has
presented real estate and personal
property tax checks totaling $162,000
to county and town tax collectors in
Vepco's Albemarle District.
r irsi tuuun diuuiii. nuriiey o.
Chappell of Belvidere called in last
week and reported the first cotton
bloom of the season. Mr. Chappell
stated not only had he found the first
cotton bloom, his entire field was
blooming.
Dixie Auto Supply Opens In Harris
Shopping Center: The Dixie Auto
Business Builders
If you are a new business
or a business
who does not advertise frequently
You can advertise weekly
for as little as
$1.50 Weekly for 52 Weeks
*2.00 Weekly for 26 Weeks
*2.50 Weekly for 13 Weeks
(Copy Changes Will Be Once A Week)
Call Anzie at 426-5728
the
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Established In 1932
Published Each Thursday By Tha Dally Advanc*. Eliiabath City, N.C.
Sacond CIom Paataga Paid at Hartford. N.C. 27944 USPS 428-000
toWl Ri JCpSOfl
Editor
Auto L Wood
Advertising Manager
ONE YEAR MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES
In-County
*10.00
Out-Of-County
41.00
1 1 9 West Grubb Street
P.O. Box 277
Hertford, N.C. 27944
Mombor
North Carolina Pross Association i
National Nawspapor Association
North Carolina Association of Community Nawspopors
Supply at the Harris Shopping Center
is now open for business. Charles
Ward, manager, is well known in
Perquimans. He is a native and has
long been in business here. Charles
and Thomas Ward are sons of the
NEWS COUPON
The news and editorial staff of the Perquimans Weekly
would like you to tell us what kind of stories you like to see in
the paper. If there is something or someone you feel is impor
tant ? or some provocative issue you would like us to exam
ine ? please, let us know.
Just clip and fill out this coupon. Include as many details as
possible (Names, addressses, telephone numbers, etc.)
It may not be possible for us to use some of the stories sug
gested but we are always looking for new ideas.
So, next time you think of something you feel would make o
good story, send it to: News Coupon, Perquimans Weekly,
P.O. Box 277, Hertford, N.C. 27944.
STORY IDEA:
manager. All three men are well
known and are qualified men .
Dry cleaner Is Honored Here: Liz
zie Harrell, Cannon Cleaners, Grubb, r
Street, was honored this week for her "s.
professional drycleaning skill.
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IS
COMMENTS:
The Perquimans Weekly
119 W. Grubb St. Hertford
426-5729