A Letter From An Admirer

While sorting through stacks of the correspondence between my Great Grandfather and my Great Grandmother before they were married, I ran across this letter.

A letter from an admirer.

He must have been special to Claude since she saved the letter. And it reads….

At school Thurs. A.M.

Dear Miss Beasley,

I’m sorry but it will be quite impossible for me to call for you Monday according to promise. Our fodder will be to pull next week and I will have to stay out of school and help with it. We will go to church but will work between services.

Fern Wynne promised me that he would take you to church. I hope you will not be offended and will be in the position to consider me most kindly for I really like you and am desirous of furthering our acquaintance, are you?

I hope to have the opportunity to be with you quite a bit. If you care to grant me the privilege of your society at a near future date, kindly send me a line on Friday and I will greatly oblige.

Your humble servant,

Samuel B. Woodall

8-6-14

My imagination takes over. If Claude and Samuel had connected at this time, there would be no "Queen of Barlow Bend." I can't imagine never knowing Claude! I'm happy she turned her attention to my Great Grandfather at some point. She said they met through "The Lonely Hearts Club." As I read more letters, I'll find that out for sure.

In this world of technology and immediate gratification, we’ve forgotten what it’s like to anticipate getting a letter in the mail from someone dear. It is evident in the letters between my Great Grand Mother, her friends and her family, just how precious the time between letters was to them.

Sometimes two or three now fragile letters per yellowed envelope sent with two cent stamps.

It’s nice to be reminded of the manners, respect and formality of our ancestors…..from the mind of me.