Letter from Ellen M. FitzSimons to Amy, Jan. 1, 1948 — page 2 of 2
Book 1, Page 496 ·1948
Transcription
[Continued from page 495.]
the clan! I think I have to thank you my dear for the box of delightful jars of guava which I have enjoyed so much. When you sent them before. They are not only delightful to eat but very nice to have on hand when Company turns up.
I got such a nice card & note from your Mary Anne. I wish that I could see the developement of your dear grand children but I do think of you & them with warm love. I am so glad that you & Puck are planning to settle in Fitzburgh & Louisa & I are all in for it, so are The
GoldenGlows & After Glows & Donald Allstons. Bo & Sissy are planning to go to the St. Cecilia. It is nice to see how happy they are. You heard all that dear Minnie Alston did for me! Sums Children stick by the family! Love & ahappyNew Year for you & Puck & the children & grandchildrenAff. Aunt Ellen (“Ellie”)
AI Notes
Second page of the Jan. 1, 1948 letter from Aunt Ellen (Ellen Milliken FitzSimons) at 4 Savage Street, Charleston, to her niece Amy. Thanks Amy for the box of guava jars, comments on her grandchildren, expresses delight that Amy & Puck are planning to settle in Pittsburgh (written punningly as ‘Fitzburgh’ in Aunt Ellen’s hand — playing on the FitzSimons family name), mentions Bo & Sissy planning the St. Cecilia ball, and the kindness of Minnie Allston. Signed ‘Aff. Aunt Ellen (Ellie).’ Aunt Ellen’s playful spelling ‘Fitzburgh’ is kept in the body (= Pittsburgh, PA, where Puck Walker’s family is). ‘The Golden Glows & After Glows & Donald Allstons’ is Aunt Ellen’s affectionate group-name for branches of the family circle and is preserved verbatim.
‘Fitzburgh’ = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Aunt Ellen’s affectionate pun on the family name. Puck and Amy Walker lived in Pittsburgh in this period. ‘Mary Anne’ = Amy’s daughter Mary Ann Walker (1918-1957). ‘Minnie Alston’ = Amy’s sister Mary Annie FitzSimons Allston, whose home was Willtown Bluff (cf. p495). ‘Donald Allstons’ refers to the household of Donald McKay Allston Sr. + Minnie. The capitalised ‘Sums’ before ‘Children’ is the compiler’s writing — possibly a slip for ‘Sums up:’ (i.e. ‘In summary: children stick by the family!’).