Peeping through my Venetian blind, I felt a sense of Keatsian beauty as I watched the autumn leaves float to the ground in a myriad of colors.

I turned to Miss Cora Covington, who was sipping her second cup of tea, and continued our conversation about the other night when a small group of us, by invitation, stood around the piano at Covington Hall for a sing-a-long. Miss Dora played, especially, the songs of Stephen Collins Foster, some of the most beautiful music ever composed by an American.

The Covingtons have a sing-a-long at least once a month.

You know, when one considers all the good music one can hear, and the noise usually played on TV and radio, one can quickly regret the time he has wasted on so-called “music.”

Good music stirs the heart to noble thoughts and lovely deeds. Bad music stirs “wiggleonomy,” as Colonel Covington terms it.

Miss Cora and I recounted people we had seen this past week.

I ran into Benny Bozeman the other day; and we fell to talking about Dan Shehan, who moved to Savannah about ten years ago and is still living in Georgia’s oldest city.

Miss Cora said she had seen Fran Davidson, having lunch at Tabby D’s with her daughter, Whitney (Davidson) Queen, visiting from Atlanta, the “Capital of the South.” Whitney is a young newlywed, having been married to Justin Queen of Opp on October 10.

The Portly Gentleman dined at the Surly Mermaid Tuesday afternoon and observed that it doubles as a “deli” and art gallery. He was impressed at all the creativity. While there, the Portly One talked with Katie (Bible) Lord and her husband, Bryan Lord, and his daughter, Maddi. Now, there’s a religious family!

I was sorry to miss the Andalusia Chamber Music Society’s fall concert. Many of those attending said that it was a beautiful program of Armenian classical music with some lighter classical blues and jazz, presented by the Argot Trio.

The trio is composed of pianist, Dr. Lois Leventhal; violinist, Caroline Holden; and clarinetist, Jonathan Holden. The featured composers were Alexander Arutiunian, Aram Khachaturian, and Luigi Zaninelli.

Following the concert there was a reception to meet and visit with the trio in the parish hall. Paula Harr and Lisa Reidel provided wonderful, homemade desserts, punch, and coffee. Approximately thirty-five people attended

The Chamber Music Society has completed three seasons of concerts. There is yet one in the spring and one in the fall. The next concert is set for April 22, 2016, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and will feature the Loyola University Quartet from New Orleans, Louisiana.

On their recent visit to Memphis, Tennessee, for the birthday party of Mark Wiggins, Alan and Angie Cotton took the opportunity for an “Elvis Side Trip.”

They were able to tour Elvis’s Graceland, both house and grounds, in Memphis.

On the way back home, they took a detour off Interstate 22 to Tupelo, Mississippi, to see Elvis’s birthplace.

I hear tell that the Cottons have been listening to Elvis music ever since!

The last day of October Dr. Morgan Moore, his wife Wilma, and their friend, Douglas Golden, a retired minister, motored to Montgomery to attend the Alabama-West Florida District of Civitan in First Baptist Church.

Dr. Moore is a former governor (’08 – ’09) of the Alabama-West Florida District.

While dining at Tabby D’s, I ran across young Bill Alverson, whose dad is picking up fame as the star of a reality TV show.

The Pilot Club’s annual Pancake and Sausage Day is set for December 5 in the Kiwanis Building, 5:30 a.m. – noon. The cost is seven dollars for all one can eat.

Please support these hard-working and civic-minded ladies.

Elaine Manning announced a reception to honor mural sponsors December 4 at City Hall. The Andalusia Mural Committee met October 29 in City Hall (originally, East Three-Notch High School) to discuss mural booklets, to edit identification plaques for the murals already completed, and to edit commentary about each mural.

This reception is sponsored by the City, its TNR Committee, and the Mural Committee.

Pat Palmore, chairman, opened the meeting with prayer.

Attending were Elaine Manning, Sara Catherine Patrick, Hazel Griffin, Robert Anderson, Barbara Tyler, and Joe Wingard.

The Covington Historical Society met the evening of October 29 in the Dixon Memorial of the Andalusia Public Library.

President Dr. Morgan Moore called the meeting to order.

Bill Law led in prayer.

All stood for the pledge to the flag.

All sang the state song, “Alabama,” accompanied by Sue Wilson. The group sounded good and put the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to shame.

Nancy Robbins, secretary, distributed minutes.

George Harmon Proctor, treasurer, distributed the financial statement.

Sue Wilson, vice-president, reported on the state of the museum.

A nominating committee announced that next year’s officers would be the same as this year’s with the addition of Norma King as assistant secretary.

The next meeting was set for the third Thursday of November. All are to take dishes for a supper.

Mrs. Wilson reminded members to pay their annual dues of $25.

Mrs. Wilson then introduced the guest speaker, Judge “Trippy” McGuire, who spoke on William Weatherford (Red Eagle), the famous Indian of Alabama. McGuire told many stories about the brave warrior, whom he admires.

Among the guests were students from Lurleen Burns Wallace Community College, who were given extra credit by their teacher, Mrs. O’Neal, for attending.

Refreshments were provided by Sue Wilson, Jan White, Nancy Robbins, and Joe Wingard.

Anyone who attended Samford University and is interested in meeting annually with other Samfordites, please call Joe Wingard.

Once again, I ask the citizens of Andalusia to join the Covington Historical Society and pay its annual dues of $25 to help preserve the history of our county, whether you attend meetings or not. Mail to CHS, P.O. Box 1582, Andalusia, Alabama 36420.

The mysterian is the membr of the AHS Class of 1926, still living.

Born this week were William Cullen Bryant, American poet of “To a Waterfowl” and “Thanatopsis”; John Philip Sousa, American bandmaster and composer of many a stirring march, such as “Stars and Stripes Forever”; and James Arthur Wilson, a teacher at the Andalusia High School for 36 years, 18 of which he served as principal.

The Portly Gentleman likes to recall a pleasant afternoon during which he took a walk with the elderly Robert Albritton, a cultured gentleman. Mr. Albritton began quoting Bryant’s “Death of the Flowers,” especially the line, “The melancholy days are come – the saddest of the year.”The older man made such an impression by being able to quote words appropriate to the moment. Such moments are golden.

Now, gentle reader, allow me to join Buffalo Bob Smith in encouraging each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend, Lord willing.

Fare thee well.