From a Long Line of Mothers

Along with the war correspondence of the men in the family, Agnes Tully Stevens—the woman from whose pack rat tendencies I gained a treasure trove of family documentation—also passed along the dainty keepsakes only a mother could love.

While I’ve mentioned before that I’ve come to the end of the many letters she passed along, there are several other cards and items I’ve reserved for the special occasions they were originally intended to commemorate.

Some of these are cards for Mother’s Day. Whether they were presented to Agnes by her own children, tokens tucked away by her own mother—or her mother—or fanciful items she just purchased for the sentiment or presentation, I don’t know. Today through Mother’s Day, I’ll bring these treasures back out from their storage spot to share for the occasion.

This gilt card, tinted in lavender and printed in purple, seems to come from a former age that appreciated simple beauty. Thanks to Photoshop, though, I was able to enlarge the picture to read the barely perceptible marking just below and to the left of the verse. Though my eyes can hardly be trusted, the line seems to contain the date 1978, and the name, “A. M. Davis Co.” If that is so, printed only a few years before Agnes, herself, passed away, could the card have just been something that caught her eye? Or did a family member tuck it inside a Mother’s Day card—yet not sign or date the enclosure?

Whatever the story behind this little remembrance, to my eye, it looks like a token of a time long since past.

With Love for Mother

Your love is like a sunbeam

That gives its warmth to me.

And brightens every pathway

Where I may chance to be.

Because I have the blessing

Of love so good and true,

It always makes me happy

To tell my love for you.