Footnotes: Novel Inspirations from History

Annie May's Mother

I don't know how long this portrait had been hanging in a low spot below other framed prints in the antique store, but when I took her photograph in my hands and read the message on the back, I couldn't leave her there. In shaky script on the cardboard backing, Annie May York had signed her note. 

"This is Henry York

at my death

take good cair of 

This Henry for I am

gone to meet her

Love, sis

Annie May York" 

Whatever had happened to Annie May or Henry, the photograph had not been treasured by descendants, for here it hung, gathering dust in a vast room dedicated to untold piles of china, silver, glassware, pottery, Pyrex, and kitchenwares. I couldn't leave it there. lI brought it home with me to Nebraska. 

And then, one day, I got brave and removed the cardboard backing. And yelped with amazement. 

Can you see the writing? Someone had filled the back of the photograph with ... I didn't know what. But after hours of squinting, magnifying, manipulating, and guessing ... I have most of it transcribed. It brought tears to my eyes because of the emotion. Here's what Annie May wrote about her mother (with spelling and capitalization as written long ago--and an "x" in places where I still haven't deciphered a word or three):

Dear god this is my

mother the mother of the

x x x and x

x. Oh how I love her. She

x gone 1 year 4 mos. looks as

if it been a life time but not a day

or night doe I miss asking god to help me

be good enough to meet her for that was

what she ask me to do to live a good life

and meet her and I thank god I am ready

to go meet her any time. I had rather be with

her in sweet slumber than hafto endure this

one sided life hear oh god may I clasp her in

my arms again. I stood by her untill death

parted us. Just what she ask me. s x

to do a promies I made promises I filled

I know god a just god when he take this

precious one from me he taken all and

all I loved mother so dearly and

I could talk to her and get comfort when

I talk to her and a good advice from a precious

mother who trusted god. and had faith beyond

doubt more than anyone I ever knew. She

left loving all her children regardless what they

done. they was still precious and good in

her sight. Oh I miss her But not for x

would I call her back to go through this old

world of trouble again May god bless all

her children that they may live a good life

and meet her for she want that more than

any one thing on earth. May god bless me and

have mercy on me guide me and give me

x and grace faith and wisdom to be

good and meet her again. She cant come

to us but we can go to meet her oh god

each day and night I pray for her

to see x--heaven when I die

I want x x (a name) to have this picture

for she understand it was my treasure

and her Grandma x love -- her

may god bless. E___ baby Pray

(a date inscribed April the rest illegible) all alone

x Jesus:

Annie May x 

And yes ... I think I have found Annie May (thank you Ancestry.com). But that's part of another post after I've verified some things and asked for help from a wise genealogist I know. 

More to come!

Stephanie Grace Whitson