Earlier today, I went into a thrift store found a great golf book and a children’s book. The latter was published in 1929, an author, illustrator and publisher that I have never heard of. Some nice illustrations and I noted there was an envelope tucked inside the book as well. You never know what you find in books. I’m still waiting to find money in a book, although I have found other things worth money in books.
Later in the day, sat down did some research on the author of the children’s book, who was very well known and heavily involved in the rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. An interesting woman.
Gabby Gaffer by May Justus; illustrated by Carrie Dudley; published by The P. F. Volland Company, Joliet, 1929.
I did some research on the book, saw a few copies on Abebooks, and decided to price it at $50. That all changed when I picked up the envelope.
Postmarked 1947, with part of the address missing, but it was to someone in Montreal. Then I looked at the return address “NIAGARA SANATORIUM, LOCKPORT, N.Y.” The scourge of tuberculosis reared its ugly head.
Inside the envelope was a small gift card.
Opened up the card and a nicely typed letter, dated November, 1946. But not posted until March 1947. Addressed to “Rahno Darling”. Ah, I went back to the name on the half title, that I could not make out – yep Rahno. Above the gift inscription “Happy Birthday from Harry”
And then I read the Letter:
“I wonder if you know how very much joy & happiness you have always given to me? Words could not possibly express all the things I would like to say to you, on this your 21ft (sic) Birth-Day. You have reached what is “commonly” known, as maturity, some one independant (sic), your decisions, your future in a way, is all in your own hands now. But to me, you will always be “MY LITTLE GIRL” that privilege of Parents. However, my Sweet, you know that if at anytime there is something you want, anyway in which I can help you, any joys or sorrows to share, I will always be waiting for your call.
The sincerest Wish that I could possibly send you, is this, that God will Bless You, Guide You, Keep You as You are, Happy, Tolerent, & understanding, & that if faced with things that “HURT” you will have the “GUTS” to “Hold your chin UP, & Carry ON”.
All my Dearest Rahno
Mum”
Now I had to wipe my nose and blink my eyes.
Inside the letter was another note, folded up quite neatly.
I unfolded the lined piece of tattered notepaper, written I would say in a juvenile hand, and read the following:
“to MISS Aken
July.11, 1946
Dear Miss Aken
How are you and everybody? I am feeling fine. When are you going to leave?
If you have time write and tell me how you are. I will be very pleased.
Are you going back to the Alexza… Hospital after your holidays.
Love Charles
xxxx’s filled up the next 7 lines”
Now, I went back and looked at the envelope again. Miss Rahno’s last name is only partially there. The next line looks like “Nurses Home”, “Montreal Gen…”
I reached and found that at the time there was an institution the “Alexandra Hospital for Contagious Diseases” in Montreal.
Mother and daughter in hospitals far apart.
Your guesses are as good as mine: did they ever correspond again, meet again…
But we do know that Rahno kept these letters in the book given her by Harry. It was her little memorial.
I took the book and its letters down to Glenda and she looked through them and said “We have to keep this in our library” to which I wholeheartedly agreed,
We now have a small memorial in our library to “Rahno and her Mum”