From: RANDYNOLES( Included because of its interest)

Subject: Orange Blossom Special

On March 20, Hattie Rouse Miscowich died at the age of 81. She was the widow of Ervin T. Rouse, composer of "Orange Blossom Special." I had spent a lot of time with Hattie and other Rouse family members last year researching my book, "Orange Blossom Boys," a biography of Ervin and his brother Gordon, who performed as the Rouse Brothers. (It will be out in June).

Hattie was always grateful to Johnny Cash, not only for recording "Orange Blossom Special," but also for the ways in which he quietly assisted Ervin over the years. Ervin was afflicted with mental illness (probably schizophrenia) and alcoholism, and died all but forgotten in 1980.

But one person of note didn't forget: At Ervin's sparsely attended memorial service, a huge spray of flowers in the shape of a train was delivered to the funeral home; the sender was Johnny Cash. According to Hattie, Cash also called Ervin during his final hospitalization and prayed with the old fiddler. She never forgot this act of compassion.