She was paralyzed by polio as a young girl. She had to wear leg braces and use either crutches or a walker to walk from that point forward. As I heard in a fairytale version of her illness, she was playing near a stagnant pond when it happened: She became very tired while wading in the water to catch a frog, fell asleep on the pond's edge, and could no longer walk when she woke up. From that point on she rarely left the house. She did, however, occasionally go on small errands without help. One of my earliest memories is of visiting her with my father. When we arrived at her house she was in the front yard picking dandelion leaves for a salad.
Of course, her low state of mobility left her unfit for marriage. She eventually lived alone and supported herself by sewing, stitching, and embroidery work. With no children to take it, I ended up with her diary after her death in the 1990's.
Quoting from the diary:
________________________________________
1928
Jan. 1: A man, our first company
that’s good luck. G. St. Fair cold windy
Jan. 6. Finished the 13 hand’kys. send
them. Was glad I finished.
Jan. 11. The 13 unlucky hand’kys came
back today, because I had a small
written slip in it. Will keep them
to get my moneys worth but .I
feel lighter now that I need not
do any more eye straining
work on more hand’kys.
Not enough cash in that work.
Jan. 12. Still melting but windy.
Took the Xmas tree down yes-
terday. The same work to do
always.
Jan. 13 – I baked my first cake in
this year. “Devilsfood.” cloudy &
a little colder. Finished my 3th
butterfly today. G. H. here this morning
on business. cake turned good
Got a letter from the girls.
Baked 3 rye breads. Churned
________________________________________
Jan. 14. Washed my hair. Dusted &
sweep. Fogy & muddy. Pa. got two
pigs. Wish my hair would
always stay like after they
are washed.
Jan 15 – Sun. passes like always
never a change. I crochet in
the afternoon & read in the eve-
ning. Mr. Mrs B. were here
in evening. I am trying to
play the harmoica but it
takes long to learn. Hope I
will be able to put some
tune in it soon. cloudy & colder.
Jan 16. A little snow last
night. cloudy. A card fromet.
crocheted.
Jan.17. cold windy & the sun is
shining. Washed today. Invited to
suprise stripping party on J.
S. Got Sears new Sring & Summer
________________________________________
CLIPPING INSERTED HERE:
A PRAYER
FOR
COURAGE
by Grace Noll Crowell
God make me brave for Life–
Oh, braver than this!
Let me straighten after pain
As a tree straightens after the rain
Shining and lovely again.
God make me brave for Life–
Oh, braver than this!
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow, with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.
God make me brave – Life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight,
Help me to see aright
That out of the dark – comes Light.
________________________________________
FLIP SIDE OF INSERT:
but David was first, after all. It
of triumph. “I’ve – won – Edda”
he village, Harriet? There’s that blue
l we’re short of, and Aunt Clare’s
hday coming ever so soon. I shan’t be
inute – really!”
urely the sunlight had lent her courage.
had never asked such a thing before.
seus – in the shape of nature – was
ely breaking Andromeda’s chains.
Harriet’s deep-drawn sigh shivered the
like glass. “Oh, well!-- Yes, I sup-
e so! And bring in a paper, Edda – a
ure paper! It’s years since I saw any
________________________________________
catalogue of all the nice things.
Wonder what new things I’ll
get? I baked the cake for the party
Jan. 18. Sun is shining & seems
like spring. Party was large
last night. Eatables were
hardly touched. I ironed clothes
this forenoon and mended them
this p.m. Made my bed just now.
The story “Blazing Horizon” ended
yesterday & the new story “Canary Murder”
started today.
Jan. 19 – It looked so beautiful
when it started to snow this
morning just covered the ground
and then stopped it is still cloudy
and windy. It is slowly melting.
I wonder if the dream I dreamt
last night will come true it
be good if it partly would, and
better still “all.” We got “Wards
catalogue. good styles and
many other things in it
________________________________________
that would be nice to have.
but are out of reach. Ma & Pa
are still working in the woods.
I am baking wheat & rye bread
today. I did not sweep the
floor this morning yet but
will in a short while. I
think I will call you “D”
I started to read “The Keeper
of the Bees” last night.
a cold bitter wind started
this afternoon. drifted a lot.
Jan. 20 – If was so cold all
day nearly zero. We got a letter
from the girls today. Sis still
on her place. Sun was shining:
I finished my fourth butterfly
motif & washed the linen to
the blue prints but now I have
the best part to do.
Jan. 21 – Sun is shining &
still so cold. Did the
________________________________________
same house cleaning. I am
keeping a record of some of my
dreams to see if they will come
true. “The Keeper of the Bees”
is very interesting but “Little
Women” is still more interesting.
Jan 22. The sun was shining
but it was a little warmer.
I got the linen ready to hem -
stitch. We had no company
today
Jan 23: Weather same as yesterday
A. K was here and nearly talked
till dinner. Started hemstitch-
ing
Jan 24 – Snowed some. Colder.
Jan 25 – Cold but sunny. Pa went
to the mill. The stories “Silver Slippers”
& Garden Oats” are good, they run
in the good Housekeeping now.
We got it yesterday. I have been
useing Epsom salts to was my
face in the evening for about a
week and it seems to help. “It
must because I want to look
my best now and not wait
________________________________________
because I don’t want to wait.
If other girls can have their
beauty when they are young
I do to.
Jan 26 Today I and Winnie start-
ed to take yeast Foam it’s also
to help clear our complexion.
“O”D.” I am hoping with all
my might that it will.
Jan. 27. Pa paid taxes today at
jergensen. D. today I didn’t do
no hemstitching I made a pond
Lily but it did not turn out
right.
Jan 28. Today is cleaning day
again the week gos so fast.
This morning it was 10o below
zero. I finished “The Keeper of the
Bees” this evening. It was real
good at the end.
Jan 29. It was again so cold &
the sun shone to. I gave my feet
a bath yesterday too. Did quiet
a little hemstitching today.
________________________________________
Jan 30 – Still so cold. I finished
hemstitching my table center today
now to put the butterflies on the
corners. Ma is making a rag
rug she as not been feeling
well for a few days. Baked
a fruit cake to-day.
Jan 31: cold and cloudy. I sewed
the butterflies on ready to button
hole them on & did some of that to.
I have not been able to write
anything very nice this month
D but hope in the fallowing one
I will do better and be able
to write better things.
Feb. 1. Sunny cold. drifting.
Baking rye bread. Pa was to
school met G. H. on the way and
made a day of it. We washed.
Feb. 2 = cloudy. Ma went but to
work again stayed in doors
so long. Pa to the mill. I
hope to finish buttonholeing
________________________________________
…
LAST 2 PAGES ARE HERE UNDER
________________________________________
Winifred also was there 2 months
1932
Mar 5. O**nele Albert died today
May 20 Pa, I, Winnie & Earl drove
to Columbus in our buick .
Our car broke down going to
Madison. Winie & Earl went home
Sunday. Pa, I & Aunt Lizzie
Wednesday. Stayed four days to long
1933
Jan. Shirley has been in Evenston
since to first of Sept.
Feb. 3 Grandpa Died.
Feb. 6. His funeral was today.
Mar. 22. Sister Adelia had
prematured twins.
April 9. I stayed at Adelia’s
two weeks.
May. Winnifred is engaged to
Darenee J.
June 13 – 24. Uncle Gus, Aunt
Hattie & Ralph, Mr & Mrs Harman
Born & daughter were here from N. D.
________________________________________
Sept 14 – Winifred was married.
Sept 27 – 30 – Earl was to see Worlds fair.
June 29 – 1934
Adelia & Fred have a baby girl.
Oct 14 – Carl & Pa went to North Dak.
for a week. Cousin Emma’s funeral.
1938
June 9. One year ago Pa, Shirley,
myself and cousin Martha Fass
left for North Dak.
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