Forget-Me- Nots

Antique autograph books and journals. Upper left autograph book is Mary
Williams, gold and brown.
From time to time I'll share the wonderful contents from my collection of autograph books, journals and scrapbooks. They are wonderful time capsules of history that capture the memories, emotions and hopes and dreams of the young women who kept them. Besides the beautiful handwritten sentiments the pages are sometimes filled with hand drawn pictures, small photo's, floral cut-outs and little surprises tucked inside.


Presented to Mary Williams by her friend Florence, October the 23rd, 1879.
                         The first entry is from Florence;

                     I have looked your album oer and oer
                    To see what others have written before
                      And now I write that others may see
                       These simple words -remember me.
                              Your true friend, Florence

They seemed to be more sentimental in their messages, more poetic in the late 1870's to early 1880's compared with some of the other albums that I have from even the late 1880's to the 1920's.

                                                     Tis' not the value of a gift,
                                               That friendships hand may tender.
                                                Tis' not the things intrinsic worth
                                                 Though gems of rarest splendor
                                               That calls the hearts best gratitude
                                                     Or wake a deep emotion
                                              The simplest flower may be the gift
                                                    And aim a life's devotion.
                                                                    Your true friend,
                                                         Mary A.Wetmore        Oct.29th,1879

                                                                       To A Dear Friend, 
                                                                May heaven's blessings on you wait,
                                                                  While journeying to thy rest.
                                                                May you while in this vale of tears, with
                                                                   happiness be blest,
                                                                And when about to close your eyes
                                                                   In deaths last final sleep
                                                                May you be seen to smile with joy
                                                                   While all around you weep.

                                                                  Fine wishes from your friend,
                                                                         Fannie Wilson           Jan 26,1880

                                                         Forget-Me-Not
                                                  Your book is a garden plot
                                            In which all your friends may sow
                                            Then let me place in that fair spot
                                              A simple flower, Forget-me-not.

                                        Elizabeth Amesbury      Dec 25th, 1883

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