Words To Her Firstborn: Maria’s 1886 Letter
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week and as a mom who’s sending her first born child to college next week, I thought I’d go back to 1886 and publish a letter that Wagner matriarch, Maria, is writing to her first-born child, John Henry, who is off at his first semester of Bingham Military Academy. I was entertained by the name “Puss Wilson” in this letter. I was sure it was some sort of misspelling until I looked the name up on Ancestry and saw that there are several Puss Wilsons throughout our country’s history. Why am I not surprised?
I appreciate and relate to Maria essentially begging her child to be good make smart decisions. I also appreciate her ending her letter with an the in-the-moment health update about the repercussions of eating “fatty bread.” I think that line will be my new email sign-off.
Saturday Eve , 5 o’clock
My dear son,
I received your letter this morning and was very glad to get it, but sorry you’ve been so poorly. Do take care of yourself. That is one thing you will have to do for yourself, for neither your father nor your mother can do that for you.
We have had a wet, muddy, rainy week. I am so tired of it — so much sweeping in bad weather and everything so dirty. I had quite a time yesterday opening the water pipes; it took me and Bill nearly two hours, but we did it, and I feel paid for my work and time. It looks like it might be going to snow.
Daniel must be very busy; he has not been to dinner and there is no sign of him yet. I’m always worried when he goes so long without eating and working hard and worried besides.
I see by the paper that an old acquaintance is in town — Puss Wilson. I would like to see her. She used to amuse your grandma so very much. Mrs. Simpson is at home again. She has been suffering very much with rheumatism and can hardly get about sometimes. She says Harvey will be home one week after Christmas.
Hiram sent me this picture. It is very good. He wrote Daniel a nice letter.
Grandpa was over last night and is pretty well. The children all have Christmas on the brain — it is all they talk of. Eugene sings, dances, and acts and is very smart. George loves to go with Bill and haul sawdust as much as anything else , and Bill loves it as well as George.
John Smither is still at Oxford. He has not been well since he was at home. He says he’s going back to Texas — to Wichita Falls. He likes it better than Temple.
It’s getting so dark and I can’t see the lines but if you can read it, all right. I ate fatty bread for my dinner , and it is coming up again.
Well, my son, I hope you will soon be well and be a good boy. Be patient and don’t forget how many, many things your father has to trouble him , and how very, very anxious he is for your improvement. Try your best. Write soon.
With the best love
and many kisses
from your loving Mother
