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Dianne burst out loud laughing with tears streaming down her face and replied, “She has her mother’s singing voice!” That’s when I woke up Dianne said—when everyone was laughing.
After everything was cleaned up with me, the doc went to sit in a chair. His head was down so his chin touched his chest. It looked like he was praying hard. “Holy smokes!” he said softly. “That was the fastest one I’ve ever seen!”
They got clean sheets under me and a pillow for my head. I stayed the night at the doctor’s office. He said I lost so much blood, he needed to keep a watch on me. Dianne went to find Frank. Momma stayed with me.
“Have you decided on a name, honey?” Momma asked. “The last time we talked you had three or four you were thinking about.”
That sweet baby was in my arms already nuzzling at my breast. I could hear her breathing. It was the sweetest sound I ever heard. I looked at my baby’s face and said to Momma, “Momma, she is a child I wanted because it is from me and Frank. Even though the Pollards don’t want the baby, Frank and I do. I read somewhere that the name Marie means wished-for-child. So, her name will be Marie Frances Nash.”
Momma put her arms around the two of us and said softly into my ear, “That is perfect, Ethel. Just perfect.” At that point my breathing, Momma’s breathing, and Marie’s small breath were all the same rhythm.
Yes, Frank went to Virginia as planned, but it turned out Marie and I didn’t.
1930
Nash Sisters
The Nash Round-Robin Letters Begin
The Nash girls lead different lives now that we are grown. Marie and I still live in the family home with Momma, Florence Nash.
Dianne got married and moved with her husband so Joe could take a job with Burlington Mills near Greensboro, North Carolina. They could make a better living at the mill than at farming.
Annie finished school and decided to move to a “big city” as soon as she could. She took the train to Washington, D.C. to look for a job and a rooming house. She found both and moved that same trip.
Caroline moved from place to place. She lived with families who needed help with their children or housekeeping. Even though she was good at her job, she did not stay in one home for long. Sometimes she lived at home. She said she could not be a caged bird. She needed to fly.
We stayed in touch by writing round-robin letters. It all started when Dianne and Annie moved away. I desperately missed my sisters and decided news about each other could be a gift. Like a present that arrives in the mailbox. The Nash Round-Robin Letters began with me.
Instructions for the Nash Round-Robin Letters
We talked about this when you were last home, but in case you don’t remember the details, here is what was decided.
Add a letter to the round-robin letters each time the envelope comes around. I hope we can have the robin go ’round at least once a month. Don’t hold the letters more than a few days before mailing them. Even if you are busy or can’t think of anything to say, just make comments on what other letters have said. You can write letters front and back and no more than two sheets of paper to save on postal costs. Here is the way the Nash Round-Robin Letters will go.
I’ll start it since it was my idea. I write my letter and mail it to Dianne. Dianne, you write to us about your life in Burlington and mail my letter and yours to Caroline. Since we are never sure where Caroline will be living next, she has asked the postmaster to hold her mail. She promised to save some money for stamps and go pick up her mail once a week.
Caroline, please write your letter as soon as you can, add it to letters from Dianne and me then send all of them to Annie.
Annie, you contribute your letter and send all four back to me. I know you have a Roaring Twenties life to tell us all about, but please try to keep to two sheets of paper.
When I get the letter from Annie, we have completed one round-robin. I take out my letter and start it all over again with a new letter.
My dear sisters – March 5, 1930
Since we were together a few months ago at Christmas, I am not sure I will have much new news to share. Today is Ash Wednesday, and I just got home from church with Momma. Now is a good time to start this letter.
You know that I still have not gotten married. Now that Frank is out of our life I need to move on. I am courting pretty heavy with Lawrence Martin. I call him Larry. I am not sure I told you how we met. Larry travels around towns selling insurance. He found out from Dr. Walker that I had baby Marie a couple of years ago. He came to the house looking to sell me some life insurance. I don’t like salesmen. They always have a scheme to wrestle money from you.
He came up to the front door looking dapper in a suit, tie, hat pitched a little to the right, and leather shoes. I noticed he had a handkerchief sticking out of his suit pocket. He did not look like men I usually saw. I assumed that was because he had money, so I decided to talk to him. He told me about life insurance and why a young mother needed some. He said, “It is kind of like a savings account, Mrs. Nash. Let’s say you die before your daughter is old enough to work, she is going to need some money to bury you and make ends meet.”
He handed me a paper that told the details and said I could read it later. He said he wanted to come by another day and explain a little more.
Well, he has been coming by “to explain” almost every week for two months now. I enjoy his company. He tells lots of stories about places in the South where he has traveled. Next week he is driving to Atlanta to set up a new office for the company. He will be gone for a few weeks but says he wants to come back soon. I haven’t bought any insurance from him yet. That might be why he keeps coming back. I want to think that it is because I am a dashing young woman who is funny as all get out. That might be true, because I clean up good and I tell stories about our crazy mixed up family all the time.
Last week, Mr. Frank Pollard sent me a letter begging my forgiveness, again, for leaving me “helpless.” His exact words were, “I know it must be hard to raise a baby on your own. I pray that you will come to your senses and move up to Virginia so I can be a part of Marie’s life.” Ha Ha. He better pray. If I ever see him again, I will slap that pretty boy face! He left me. I did not leave him. And besides I am the best mother in the world for Marie. We don’t need a man!
I know what you are thinking—”Shucks, Ethel, you are only so great at mothering because you have Momma and Caroline around.” Well, you are right about that. But I will never let him know I have help.
