Helen's Babies and more...

Dec. 8, 1880

Our Evergreen Society assembed as usual at three o'clock. Lucy read a scrap called "Too Candid by Half" (this is by John Godfrey Saxe, famous for The Blind Men and the Elephant) which made us all laugh. (See "Pages" on left side of blog to read "Too Candid by Half") Nannie then played a bright little waltz called "Fairy Wedding." Lou played "Monastery Bells" with good taste & time. Mattie Kate read some extracts from "Helen's Babies" which were so much enjoyed that the girls requested that the whole book might be read to them in reading hour. Sallie ended a very pleasant hour by playing "Nearer My God To Thee" with variations.

It's December, 1880

Dec. 1, 1880

Well you may know that I was anxious for Cousin Florence to go to the party, as I consented to keep the record for her. After the usual proceedings Lucy played (while the girls sang) "Beyond the ___?_ and the Weeping". Lucy played it very badly but, the girls sung it very sweetly. Nannie read a very sweet piece called "A Dream." Then Loulie played with much expression "Shepherd Boy." It's a very sweet piece, but the old lady became quite ?palsaic" before she got through, this however didn't destroy the beauty of the piece. Lou read "The Force of Examples." The substance of the piece is this: An old lobster gives her young daughter a scold for walking backwards whereupon she says, "Why mother it would be quite presumptuous for me to change the fashion which my "Great Grand Mammy" & even down to my Mammy. To illustrate this I will use a quotation from the first part of the book. viz: "Put yourself in the place of anyone whose work you wish to criticize and you will find that it is very much easier to say how a thing ought to be done than how to do it." Mattie repeated a piece called "Gentle Words and Loving Fondly." I wish our tongues would roll off some of these oftener as Sister Blount said the other day that her head was about to roll off & I think we had better roll out some gentle words than she should lose her "pretty" head. Cousin Lou read "Counsels for TheYoung," which if we would practice them we would be so happy and everything would be all right. Then as usual we reserved the best for the last, which was a beautiful piece called "The Music of the Sea" by Mattie Kate. She did full justice to the piece. Cousin Lou then marched us out to walk which of course ended a pleasant evening.

B

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO LEFT US...

This past Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 we said good-bye to our little friend Fred. He'd been with us since a cold snowy day in January 2001. He passed away on a warm sunny day, just the way he loved for the weather to be. Fred was around 14 years of age. He was found on the side of the road, shivering, lonely, abandoned. My husband sited him and stopped. He said, "You look like you could use a friend." We tried to find his owner, who probably did not want to be found. We were lucky to have our little buddy Fred. Sometimes we called him our small speckled pony. He never hurt a flea and followed me everywhere. He could be encouraged to howl, and when he did we said he was singing Happy Birthday! Only the past few months was he no longer trudging up the staircase behind me. But, he'd wait patiently at the bottom or bark if he wasn't sure where I was. He had been having kidney issues for which he was medicated; a small scoop of aluminum hydroxide powder with his meals worked wonders for him. The vet said he wasn't expected to live through last August. Well, he's our little rebel and he lived happily until Tuesday. His last week was rough though as his condition deteriorated rapidly. We couldn't let him suffer, and he was. We took him to our vet, Dr. Forrester who lovingly let him rest eternally. She was as heartbroken as we were. He was in my arms sleeping and we said our good-byes. We'll miss our little Fred and his grave is just out the window next to where I'm typing. I wish everyone I knew was as true a friend as he. One of our friends, Tom from New York, said, "I know dogs go to heaven, because it wouldn't be heaven without dogs." That made me feel so good. Thanks Tom and to all of you who have sent your sympathy. Fondly, Tere

Fred at the door of Green Mount and playing Santa and just hanging out in the yard here.

Fred's last nap at home and his little grave in the side yard.

This is the first pet we've had to bury here at Green Mount. Makes me wonder how many are buried here throughout the yard and gardens. As much as the Fleets loved their animals, I'm sure there are many such graves and each one special.

With all that said, I would like to add a few more pictures. The owner of Green Mount visited the other day and brought with him the family Bible.

Fleet Family Bible

Recording of deaths of Fleets from Civil War era.

Pa, Ma, Florence, Fred, Lou, Bessie, Willie and his wife Nannie. There is no record of David's death.

Benny's death, written by Pa...on the facing page.

Benjamin R. Fleet was murdered by the Yankees on Wednesday 2nd March 1864 in King Wm Co. near Mr. Anderson Scott's, whither he had gone as a Scout where he met the Advance Guard of the Enemy dressed in Confederate Uniform, and was killed by them. Aged 17 yrs. 5 months & 1 day.