Dad made this cedar chest for Mom early in their marriage. This little chest became the repository for all of Mom's special treasures, particularly the letters she and Dad exchanged during those lonely long months and years during the Great Depression when Dad was away from home finding whatever work he could find wherever he could find it. Dad saved all of Mom's letters. Dad was not a great letter writer, and I can remember so many times that Mom watched for Ezra Lewis, our rural mail carrier, to see if he would stop by our mailbox with a letter. It was always hard to watch Ezra drive right on by the mailbox. When we were home, we children would sneak into Mom's closet when our parents were not home and open the ribbon-tied bundle of letters and read them. Perhaps we should not have done this, but we each learned poignant and moving things about our parents that were forever indelibly impressed on our minds. I have excerpted some of the most touching moments in these letters in some of my other writings. I cannot think about those letters and the struggles and devotion they so earnestly and eloquently portrayed without tears coming to my eyes.
4 comments:
This one of those "perfect" treasures. You have so many memories of the little chest. I don't know how you older kids found a way to sneak a peek at its contents. Amazing!
Thank you for reminding us of an important part of our heritage. Ann, guess we were just a little sneaky. It wasn't until later years that I found out that Dwight had read the letters, too.
When Ann, Steve and I came along, Mother was much wiser. She now knew how to protect her territory. However, we were invited to view the contents of this chest, with her, when she was in the mood to do so. (But we were definitely not allowed to read THE letters.) This chest also housed the Blood Family Silverware of which we all have a piece or two. Yes, this small chest held secrets to the past.
I have some memories of reading the letters, and I remember where the chest was in the closet. Do you think Mother ever suspected? Did we fully understand back then what they had gone through? It's good to have parts of the letters in your story - they tell us so much about the times and Mother's feelings (that she didn't tell in her story.) The picture of the chest certainly brought back memories, along with a tear or two. Thank you.
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