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Anonymous Photograph Tucked in "Holy Bible"
ReplyDeleteShe wrote to her Ma that "she werent going to die an old maid like you all had thought me to."
The letter was written on rough, tan stationary. Heavy cotton. Now flowery imprint nor feminine touches, just a capital "M" stamped on the top center of the page. Her name was Margaret, but in those days to have such personalized writing paper would have been much too extravagant, much too big city--too Park Avenue.
Her handwriting was small and cramped. The handwriting of a much older person. Handwriting that said as much about the person as the words on paper.
"Dear Ma:
I know you had given up it ever to happen, but last Saturday, up in Whalen, I married John. W. Porter, age 33, a pipefitter by trade up at the Whalen Home (that's the home up here for the mentally feeble). I'm sorry but there was no time to let you know in advance of the nuptials as we decided on the spur of the moment. A justice of the peace up here stayed open until 9:00 in the evening and that is where we married. I know you and Sis wouldn't have been able to make it as the times are hard and we couldn't afford to buy you both a train ticket out here. I have sent you three photographs taken on our wedding day and honeymoon so you can see for yourself that the "miracle" did happen and what a fine fellow John Porter is.
There werent any bridesmaids or best man at the wedding. The Justice's wife and their handyman were our witnesses. The Justice's wife gave me a bouquet of daisies for the wedding photo, but I had to give it back as for the next bride who the Justice would marry. Since I had no time to sew a wedding dress I wore that white cotton dress with lace at the collar that Sis gave me when I moved out here. Sis will recognize it in the photograph, I'm sure.
After the wedding, John borrowed his brother's Packard and we went up to Hampden Beach in New Hampshire for two days. We stayed at the Beach Breaker Hotel and we had a wonderful spaghetti dinner at an Italian restaurant called Strambone's. I had my first glass of Chianti--an Italian wine. I didn't much care for it, but didn't want to disappoint John, so I just sipped it the entire meal. For dessert we had this wonderful ice cream called Spamoni. It is chocolate, cherry and pistachio ice cream all mixed together. On top of the ice cream the cook poured a claret sauce which I think is boiled down wine. Well, it sure tasted like heaven! When the owner of the restaurant heard we had just gotten married he gave us the Spamoni on the house! John said we got to tell this this to everybody every time we eat out and see what we can get for free! Ha, ha.
As you might tell from the photos John is a couple inches shorter than me. I told him I don't care if he don't. He doesn't care that I'm 37 and wear glasses so I don't care that he is shorter.
That is all for now. I hope you and Sis might be able to visit in the near future. I am moving out of the boarding house when we get back and moving in with John's brother until we can afford our own place. Money is tight as you well know, but John has a steady job and I will be keeping my job at Stilene's so I'm hoping we can bring you and Sis out by next Christmas.
All my love, Margaret
P.S. John says he can't wait to meet you and good health and good luck to you and Sis. He has enclosed $2 for you and Sis and said to do whatever you want with it.
Catherine Powers
August 27, 2013
Copyright 2013