Caption: “Tirzah saved the beautiful pink blouse and tan skirt for Frank!”
The album is made in the shape of a heart, roughly. The red paper and red ribbon, not to mention the Cupid’s arrow and the mid-February date, confirm that a heart shape was intended. You can see the album in the photo to the left (click to enlarge).
The front and back are made of red construction paper, with cream-colored pages, cut in the same shape, making up the interior. The first few pages are old-time photos, with captions (reproduced on this page). The rest of the album consists of messages from various family and friends, some of which are copied below.
Caption: “The Wedding Party – Tirzah’s best college chums – taken the day of the wedding.”
Caption: “Tirzah’s Sunday School class – taken after a shower at our home.”
Caption: “Courtship days at Blue Bluffs – taken while they were in the academy.”
Frank and Tirzah on a buggy ride.
Frank and Tirzah on their wedding day.
From Tirzah’s sister Mildred (13 years younger):
“My first recollection of Tirzah and Frank was the Sunday nights when Dad & Mother left me home while they went to church. I was three or four years old. How I wondered why – oh why – did Frank give me a penny for sitting on a chair (in the next room) for 1/2 hour – sometimes longer. It was a small paying job. I should have demanded more.
Many – many things stand out in my mind during their long courtship. I’ll try to tell the most outstanding occasions. The first thrill they ever gave me was my first and only sleigh-ride. It was on a cold, crisp Sunday night. They took me around the block – then dumped me right out at home again, but the five minutes I had were great.
Then the next time was the long buggy ride to Leota Mattern’s. Frank had a whole box of nabiscoes to entertain us with.
Then we moved to Wichita. Frank was plowing in the field when we pulled out. How Tirzah cried! All she could do was watch for Frank’s letters. Everything was rosy when she got one but Wow! if she didn’t.
One night (when she hadn’t a letter for 3 days) she told Mother I kicked her in bed which earned a big whipping for me. The truth about the matter was I was only rubbing my cold feet on her warm ones. Because Frank didn’t write was the cause of it all.
How well I remember the first morning Frank arrived in Wichita. It was real early, about 5 a.m. He came out & knocked on the door. I was so shocked when Tirzah spent her first hour with him in her kimona.
Then his second visit was the wedding. How I hated for him to come. I knew he was taking one of the best sisters a girl ever had away “back back to Indiana.” I was the ring bearer. They dressed me early on the wedding day and made me stand up until noon. They even made me stand up in the cab on the way to church.
After they were married I spent several happy summers with them. Had many happy times – all from letting an old sow eat up Tix’s best little chickens – learning to milk – cook – to having dates with my sweetheart.
We’ve had lots of fun and we’re still having it. Poor Frank – how he has been babied!! Here’s hoping you live many many more happy years together.
Your sister, Mil.
From Tirzah’s brother-in-law Harold:
“My first recollection of Tirzah and Frank was the bride & groom eighteen years ago today. Of course I knew nothing of the groom except that he was taking away our good Sunday School teacher. I was privileged to hold a smilax rope and gaze upon their pretty little ring bearer.
During the next eleven years I was kept informed about the chickens and sometimes the big sales. It was swell stationery those Spotted Poland China Farms had too.
After the eleven year interim I was royally entertained at the farm where delicious checken dinners are almost daily occurrences. I had found that I had fell in with a family of generous, warm-hearted good home folk – always giving and serving, and expecting nothing in return.
They furnished good opportunities for me to see little sister, and since have done more that we can repay in helping and advising us. We like to be with good folk. The least we can do is with thjem many many more years of happy married life.
Harold
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