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Authors: Nancy Brewer
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for fear I would not hear if someone approached. I played a few tunes I knew by heart. When I got bored, I turned to the shelves to look for sheet music. I saw one piece of music which almost seemed to be on display. All the other shelves were wedged with books and papers, but this one hosted only the single sheet of music, a photo album and a small silver box.
It was a piece by Julia Ward Howe. I had read about her in the newspapers. Her name was associated with the feminist movement and many social issues in America. The piece was written in 1870 and entitled “Mother’s Day Proclamation.”
I opened it up and scanned over the words:
Arise, then, women of this day!
“Arise, all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be of water or of tears!”
Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.”
The words did not offer much appeal and the score seemed difficult. I was not up for the challenge. I started to return it to the shelf when a letter fell out on the floor. I picked it up and saw it was not sealed. It was addressed to a Captain Julius LaBranch.
I knew it was dishonest to read a letter that was not intended for my eyes. Yet, feeling its content might offer some clues or provide me with needed ammunition, I took it out of the sleeve and read:
My dearest Julius,
By the time you read this letter, I will be on my way back to England. I know my words will sound unjust, but you must hear me out.
Since our wedding day, I have brought nothing but curses upon you. First, two days after our union, your father dies. Shortly thereafter tragedy strikes again, two of your ships are lost a sea. I prayed that I could bless the man I loved with a child, but three of our children died in my womb.
Desperate to be a mother, I secretly sought advice from a known mystic medicine woman in the village. I was at first reluctant that the treatments she performed on me were not all-together Godly. However, once I was with child, I laid aside my fears. With her help, I carried the child to term.
Then my horrible sin was birthed. I delivered not one, but two children. One was deformed and the other a fraud of nature. The doctor said it was his humane responsibility to destroy the babies. If I had given my consent, your only knowledge would have been the babies were born dead. However, I was too weak and I shared the burden with you.
The doctor tells me the babies will not survive. I have hired a kind woman to administer care for the infants until the end.
You must not try to find me darling, for our union is unclean and unblessed. If I were to stay and more children were brought in this world, I would only bring more suffering to you and your good name.
I leave you with a good-bye filled with love and hope that you find happiness. I ask that you not fret for me, for I know in my heart that what I do is best. God be with you and may he give you the peace of understanding to forgive me.
Your loving wife, Nellena
“They lived!” I found myself saying aloud.
Ox is Nell ’ s brother. Their mother deserted them. I was stunned and sat down at the piano stool and cried. I knew what it felt like not having the protection of a father or the loving arms of a mother.
At least I had Auntie. Nell and Ox had nothing but the cruel world pointing a finger at their differences. I felt the pain of their mother and the burden of their father fall upon my shoulders. I vowed to keep this knowledge to myself and to be a little kinder to Nell and Ox.
Carefully, I returned the letter and thumbed through the photo album. It was the wedding album of Captain Julius Labranch and his beautiful bride Nellena. In the little silver box was a pair of wedding bands. If the Captain was dead, I wondered if Nellena was still living in some faraway land.
I went into the kitchen, ate my portion of the stew and set the pot aside for Arlene and
It was a piece by Julia Ward Howe. I had read about her in the newspapers. Her name was associated with the feminist movement and many social issues in America. The piece was written in 1870 and entitled “Mother’s Day Proclamation.”
I opened it up and scanned over the words:
Arise, then, women of this day!
“Arise, all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be of water or of tears!”
Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.”
The words did not offer much appeal and the score seemed difficult. I was not up for the challenge. I started to return it to the shelf when a letter fell out on the floor. I picked it up and saw it was not sealed. It was addressed to a Captain Julius LaBranch.
I knew it was dishonest to read a letter that was not intended for my eyes. Yet, feeling its content might offer some clues or provide me with needed ammunition, I took it out of the sleeve and read:
My dearest Julius,
By the time you read this letter, I will be on my way back to England. I know my words will sound unjust, but you must hear me out.
Since our wedding day, I have brought nothing but curses upon you. First, two days after our union, your father dies. Shortly thereafter tragedy strikes again, two of your ships are lost a sea. I prayed that I could bless the man I loved with a child, but three of our children died in my womb.
Desperate to be a mother, I secretly sought advice from a known mystic medicine woman in the village. I was at first reluctant that the treatments she performed on me were not all-together Godly. However, once I was with child, I laid aside my fears. With her help, I carried the child to term.
Then my horrible sin was birthed. I delivered not one, but two children. One was deformed and the other a fraud of nature. The doctor said it was his humane responsibility to destroy the babies. If I had given my consent, your only knowledge would have been the babies were born dead. However, I was too weak and I shared the burden with you.
The doctor tells me the babies will not survive. I have hired a kind woman to administer care for the infants until the end.
You must not try to find me darling, for our union is unclean and unblessed. If I were to stay and more children were brought in this world, I would only bring more suffering to you and your good name.
I leave you with a good-bye filled with love and hope that you find happiness. I ask that you not fret for me, for I know in my heart that what I do is best. God be with you and may he give you the peace of understanding to forgive me.
Your loving wife, Nellena
“They lived!” I found myself saying aloud.
Ox is Nell ’ s brother. Their mother deserted them. I was stunned and sat down at the piano stool and cried. I knew what it felt like not having the protection of a father or the loving arms of a mother.
At least I had Auntie. Nell and Ox had nothing but the cruel world pointing a finger at their differences. I felt the pain of their mother and the burden of their father fall upon my shoulders. I vowed to keep this knowledge to myself and to be a little kinder to Nell and Ox.
Carefully, I returned the letter and thumbed through the photo album. It was the wedding album of Captain Julius Labranch and his beautiful bride Nellena. In the little silver box was a pair of wedding bands. If the Captain was dead, I wondered if Nellena was still living in some faraway land.
I went into the kitchen, ate my portion of the stew and set the pot aside for Arlene and
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