MARY'S FORGET-ME-NOTS

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Part 5.  The Heirloom Watch

Since this is a family gathering, I thought Folklore might add a chapter about our Mother's Watch and the children who read it will get the flavor of the Gay Nineties as remembered by me as a child --

After little Willie's death (when grandma O'Donnell was dying she saw and spoke with Little Willie who died of diphtheria as a baby)

and when Tom was born - our father gave the gold Elgin watch (a status symbol in those days) to my mother. In the box where she kept it, was a butterfly watch pin with a gold hook which I still have.

At this time, Aunt Ellen Stapleton of Auburn (Grandma Burke's sister) often came to visit us - bringing us most interesting tales of gossip about a SCANDALOUS WOMAN named Amelia Bloomer - who brazenly and openly - and in bold public glare wore PANTS!!! - big voluminous Turkish pantaloons - instead of the decorous floor-sweeping skirts which Aunt Ellen herself wore. Bloomers immediately swept the country for golf, bathing suits, gym suits etc. - In fact, they were the bikinis of their day.

This was the emerging age of the bicycle - and a most exciting time it was for us, when, one day, my father brought home THE BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO -a tandem -- man in front, lady in rear (ladies were not trusted to steer). Later this was turned in for the Columbia bicycle I spoke of in another "folk lore" tale.--But on the tandem, I had my first bicycle ride.

For my mother, of course, this new contraption meant a big sewing session - to make a bicycle skirt suitable for riding at high bicycle speed. This skirt was of gray wool with a deep flounce weighted with fifteen rows of stitching to keep the skirt from blowing ABOVE the ankles -- as the lady wheeled off in her high buttoned shoes.

The skirt had a watch pocket at the waist, so fashion called for a watch chain instead of a pin - so - when Ed was a baby, she was given the lovely gold rope chain with the little pearl crescent slide. In the "Four-Generation" picture in our cabinet, you'll see her wearing her treasured watch and chain. Years later, when I was a demonstration teacher, she gave it to me. I had it oiled and adjusted - and wore it locket style and, now, I have passed it on to Margaret -- A Fine Timepiece it Proved to Be. This is the watch Margaret is wearing today!! (May 4, 1969) AND THEN, AUNT MARGARET GAVE IT TO ME and a fine timepiece it is still - I wear it a lot and it keeps perfect time,, probably because it is an Elgin. (Mary O'D. Montague)

 

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