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The Spiker Gazette |
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Oxford, WV | Volume 15 | Issue 1 | January 2021 |
In this Issue: | The First Letters Announcements: none submitted |
The First Letters
Written by: Bobbi Spiker-Conley The oldest “courting letter” found in the box was from Gay, dated April 18, 1905. Unfortunately, the first two pages were missing, but it was obvious from the rest of the letter that Gay’s attempts at writing it were frequently interrupted. The missive began mid-sentence, "...visiting. I led the meeting. We had an awful good meeting. It was because they had such a good leader. There is a crowd of us going to Grove to an all day service next Sunday. I will close for tonight and finish tomorrow. Good-night." She resumed the next morning, "Here I am again today. I am awful lonesome." But the next several sentences suggested she couldn't remain so for long: "Goldie Ward1 was here this morning. She was talking of you. We are all getting ready to go to Sunday School. Coe’s2 beau was here awhile today, and she was gone. A Mr. Gabberts3 has just come." "I am going to finish my letter. I don’t care if the king comes.” Apparently, she finally surrendered, “There is two or three dozen people here now. They are coming thick and fast. I will hafta close for this time.” I doubt the king was among them. Considering the number of people she had seen over the course of two days, I can’t imagine she was “awful lonesome.” Perhaps she was simply pining for Jake’s company. And he for hers??? Jake replied:
To Jake’s inquiry about Gay’s other beaus, she replied that she and Charlie Debrular had “quit for good” (see November edition.) “I haven’t seen my other beau yet but hope I will before this time next week (presumably to “quit him for good” too.) She casually asked, “Who is your girl now,” then abruptly changed the subject. In the letter dated April 24, 1905, Gay continued:
At the end of his next reply Jake wrote, “I haven’t got any girl. I will wait ‘till you come back,” then signed it affectionately: “Yours forever, Jake.
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Announcements
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