ly as she explained that he was

ly as she explained that he was shunned by the community for se\ erai >ears over this breach of duty.

Ethel Tyner split her own wood, made apple butter and lived without plumbing until the age of 100 when she moved to Palmyra to live with her son and daughter-in-law. Before her sister Nellie died, the two women maintained a loving but combative relationship for nearly a century, arguing in their late 90’s about who’s cooking Papa liked better. She had a bottomless capacity for hard work. And though she was a woman of the most modest means who thought of Wonder Bread as a luxury purchase, she never considered herself poor

But perhaps most remarkable was that in spite of 105 years of hardship, loss and plain old every day living, she remained both sweet and innocent, even girlish. Her simple belief in kindness, modesty and gratitude withst<x>d two World Wars, the Depression, over a dozen presidents, the Vietnam War, the unrest of the 60's and. closer to home, creation of the Shenandoah National Park and the demise of the mountain life her forefathers had known.

Those values are tenderly evident in the poetry she wrote intermittently throughout her life and in particular, in the following poem. The Thorn.

I stood in earnest prayer to God

Before His royal throne

And begged him for one priceless gift

For me to call my ou n.

I took the gift from out his hand

But as l would depart

/ cried but Lord, this is a thorn

And it has pierced my heart!

This is a strange and hurtful gift

Which thou has given me

He said I love to give grx>d gifts

I gave the best to thee.

I went home and thought at first

The cruel thorn hurt sore.

But long years passed and 1 grew at last

To love its blessing more.

I learned he never gives a thorn

Without his added grace.

He takes the thorn to pin aside

The veil which hides his face.