I have a plethora of old Christmas postcards to transcribe, along with researching the senders and recipients of the cards. One in particular jumped out at me because of the compassionate message inside.
This postcard dates back to 1922, making it 103 years old. The Great Depression was just around the corner. I attached things as they were written.
“Dear Doris,
I hope you are feeling better. And that seemingly with the odds against you, you may have much to be thankful for this Christmas. And when counting your friends count me among the number.
Gladys B. – Route 3”
The hand-stamped postmark was December 23, 1922, Versailles, Missouri, with the addressee living in the same vicinity. This would make things easier for me to research. A painting on the front of the card shows a snowy farmhouse and barn with the following poetic message:
“A CHRISTMAS WISH
That sweet contentment and good health be yours, with happiness and wealth.”
Doris May Todd was born on August 10, 1901, in Missouri. Her parents were Robert and Vergie. Robert Todd was a farmer. His wife helped out, along with keeping house and raising the children. Oldest child, Doris, had one sister, Gertrude Mabel Todd.
Tragically, Robert Todd, at the age of 47, died of a heart attack on July 12, 1920, leaving his wife, Virgie, 19-year-old Doris, and 10-year-old Gertrude to run the farm. That would’ve been a sudden and drastic life change for all three of them.
Somehow, Doris was able to find the time to advance her education while doing her farming chores. She became a school teacher in Versailles, with that income helping her mother make ends meet.
On April 26, 1925, Doris married Joe Lloyd Sims. The couple had one child, Mary Ann. Mr. Sims was successful in his farming and ranching operation, with the postcard wish coming true for his wife, where happiness and wealth were concerned.
Gladys Matilda Sanford-Ball was the postcard sender. It seems that her postcard message dealt with the trials and tribulations that her friend Doris was going through. Health can often deteriorate, especially when stress enters one’s life, undoubtedly, the kind that Doris and her family incurred.
Gladys was born on August 29, 1889, making her a few years older than Doris. They attended the same church, Glenfield Methodist. Gladys was married to Nelson Ball, also a farmer. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy.
Doris May Todd-Sims died on January 3, 1989, at the age of 88. Her friend, Gladys Matilda Sanford-Ball, passed away six years earlier, on December 6, 1980. She was 91.
The touching Christmas card that Gladys sent her friend must have been something special for Doris to have kept it. In another 100 years, we’ll see how many digitized Christmas messages remain.
I like to write junk... 