Anna And Rosie: 2 - Anna And Rosie
Jean Day continues her story, told in letters, of Anna and Rosie, two sisters, daughters of Polish immigrants who lived in North Dakota during the first 25 years of last century.
February, 1902
Dear Aunt Anna,
Thank you for writing to Pa. He was so pleased to hear from you, after all these years.
He was just upset with you for leaving Jamestown and getting married without telling him. He knows you are a grown woman and can look after yourself, but he felt that since he was your older brother and had sponsored you to come to America, that you should have asked him about how you had planned to change your life.
But he is not mad at you anymore. In fact, he has now said that the new baby is to be called Anna, after you, and he when he heard that Moma was thinking about giving the baby away he said, “You must be out of your mind, woman.”
She is such a sweet good baby. We took her to Fried in the horse drawn sled to be baptised on Sunday. We hadn’t decided on a name, but on the way Pa suddenly said, “The new baby’s name will be Anna,” and his voice was all choked up. It was the most emotional thing I ever heard him say.
Uncle Frank, Moma’s brother, was the godfather. He isn’t married yet and has a job drilling wells. Mrs. John Filla was godmother, again. So her penance is now over. You know, don’t you, that the priest said she had sinned when she refused to be godmother to Alec, and her punishment was that she had to ask Moma and Pa if she could have the privilege of being godmother to their next four children.
So she is done now, but Pa isn’t. And with Pa up to his usual tricks again, another new baby will probably arrive before the new year is up.
Much love from Rosie.
