I wanted to get away. I grabbed my sunbonnet, went to my bedroom and got my small testament (I can't explain why). I ran out the back way into the peach orchard, and then through a woods, until I came onto the big road. It had not occurred to me where to go, I just wanted to get away.

Then there came to me a very comforting thought. I could go to Marcella Flesher Williamson's grave. I was one among those who loved her. I knew the inscription. on the monument at the head of her grave. I thought, “If God took her, she doesn't have any more trouble. I'll go to her grave; surely HE will take me". So I hurried on. I knew near ways to go by climbing fences and following cow paths. I presume it was between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning when I did reach the grave.

I was so tired and confused, for it seemed I was reaching out for something that wasn't there. I lay my head on her grave and went to sleep. During the time I was sleeping I heard singing, and the words were:

We shall meet on the banks of the river
Happy, happy there for evermore.

We shall dwell with the Angels, and join the Coral Song
With our loved ones, loved ones gone before.

When I was fully awake, I realized the words I had heard were words of a hymn sung at Marcella's Funeral Service held in Fairview Methodist Church. From where I sat I could see the little Church, also the Williamson's home, the home of Marcella's father-in-law. I thought, "What if Hanible, Jr. should come to visit his wife's grave. And I wondered what I should do in case he did come. I decided I would tell him all my troubles, but he didn't

come.

Sometime in the afternoon a woman whom I didn't know passed close by. She asked me, "Are you well?" I was very startled and answered, "Not very," hardly knowing what I was saying. This incident helped me. It seemed to open the door of my heart, and being relieved, I could

weep. That was a relief and I could think more clearly. Then I picked up my testament to read in it, although I could not understand it, even literally.

Just how it happened that I began to read in the book of James, Chapter five, I don't know. But in my childish mind I kept believing that it was talking to the Hills. This is the way I figured it out: Their "reputation" was what they made people think, putting them in the good class. But GOD, HE could see their true "character"what they truly were. This gave me comfort. I felt the Lord was on my side.

Then evening approached, and the noise of the carpenters pounding in the town near by ceased. Only the mooing of the cows here and there; the twitter of birds in the bushes along the fence; the lowering of the sun in the west-all this seemed to mock me in my loneliness and I prayed. Great need helped me to word my prayer, and I know God heard and helped me to decide to go back to the place I called Home; for until darkness came I meant to stay on the ground around the lonely grave.

You may say that the darkness frightened me, but that was not the reason I was frightened; instead it was the dread of facing a "brawling woman" who was sure to mete out some sort of cruel punishment to me. I realized that I was about five miles from home by the county road; this was the road I would have to follow because of the darkness. The birds had gone to their nests, and all was still, and I cannot explain how overwhelmed I was with the whole circumstance. As I started down the cow path toward the county road I could not see to pick my steps, and my feet being so tender I could not go fast. I felt glad when I could see a light here and there in the one-street little village named Rippentuck, so-called because of the sawmill there that provided work for many of the men in the community.

I passed noiselessly along, meeting no one, but every dog (it seemed to me) in the town sensed a passer-by

and, if they were loose, investigated. I knew enough to keep quiet and not run, and the dogs would go back.

The road led up a hill through the woods more than a mile. It was very dark, no moon, but I could look up and see stars whenever I seemed to lose my way. Tree tops seemed to separate and form a trail that helped to keep me on the road. It seemed much lighter at the top of the hill because of coming out of the woods. Here at this point another road came into the county road. I heard horses coming fast, and my heart jumped. I hid behind some bushes until they were by and out of my hearing. I don't know who the riders were.

The road led by three farm houses. I knew at the first one there was a dog and hoped to get by without being heard. I did, and the second house also, but the third house was so close to the road that, barefooted as I was, someone on the front porch heard me and a woman called out, "Is that you, Ellen?" But I did not answer.

A little further on, a private road came into the county road and led up a hollow wooded on each side with pine. It was dark, and the odor of pole-cat was sickening. I knew if I met one I was helpless to defend myself. I knew also the cats could be far from the road and yet seem unpleasantly near, which must have been so in this case.

Passing by Thornton's house I could see a light, and the dog, Major, came to the road, but did not bark for he knew me. By this time I could see the house I called— HOME. No light was there. Grant, the dog, came to meet me and did not bark; he just twisted and wiggled like he was trying to help me.

I went to the kitchen's west porch and sat down-all was still inside. Soon I began to slowly raise the window. I found the stick that was used to hold the window up and after fixing it in place I climbed into the kitchen and went to my bed which was at the end of Mrs. Hill's bedroom. I couldn't get my dress all unbuttoned in the back, so I got into bed, dress, dust and all. In a few minutes I felt a hand passing over the top of the covers. I shuddered.

Then I heard her say to Hr. Hill, as she got back into her bed, "She's here, Jacob". They talked some, and she was very positive that I should be punished, while Mr. Hill was positive that I should not. I heard him say very emphatically, "Priscilla, I tell you, I know many times you are to blame for trouble you any think you have". She said, "If I had known what having a girl in the house was like she wouldn't be here". He said, "You were a girl once yourself, weren't you? Did you ever do anything to upset the house? I wonder." At this I felt so comforted to know Mr. Hill considered my happiness. And then I went to sleep.

It was late the next morning when Mrs. Hill jerked me awake saying, “Get to the kitchen and eat your breakfast. And where did you get anything to eat yesterday?" I told her the truth. But she said, "I don't believe you, you got something to eat somewhere, and I'll find out where, then I'll make you wish you had told me the truth". I ate what she told me to eat, and as much. It was more than my stomach could digest, being so overly tired and having had no food since breakfast the day before. After I had eaten she said, "Now I am going away for a while; you go into the garden and weed in the onion and the beet beds, and where they are thick you thin them out. Don't you come in from the garden while I am gone."

Mr. and Mrs. Hill rode away and I went to the garden and began pulling weeds just as she had told me to do. The sun shone down on me so hot that I became sick. In some way, I am not sure just now, Thornton discovered me and carried me to the house. He made me a bed on the front porch with a quilt and pillow. A neighbor man came to see the folks about something concerning work, and he was sure that I had been sunstruck, and said, "Don't let her go to sleep, for she will never wake up". He kept washing my face with cold water while Thornton made boneset tea and gave it to me to drink as hot as I could drink it. By this time Mr. and Mrs. Hill came home. Thornton and his father both agreed there was a need for

the doctor and Thornton went for Doctor Boone. They came back together and I heard the doctor tell Thornton that it was a good thing that he had given me hot boneset

tea.

Doctor Boone gave me three doses of medicine before he left, saying, "I'll be back sometime this evening". He came with more powders and a big bottle of Tincture of Iron. I must have looked sick. Sarah Varner, the woman that was spinning wool in the loom house, came out on the porch and she exclaimed, "Lord bless the child, what's the matter with her."

It was a long time before I was well. I never knew how much concerned Mrs. Hill was about my health, but she gave me the kindest treatment; and the kindest words one day when she said to me, "I'm afraid my little girl is very sick". The words and the tone she used to say them were so unlike any that I was used to that my whole being seemed to respond and take a new lease on life.

She never referred to the broken dishes or the running away in my presence.