Journal of Eunice Mariah (May) Walker Pasco Edminston; Muscogee, Indian Territory (OK) Other Places Mentioned: Sherman, Grayson Co, TX; Denison, Grayson Co, TX; Strong, NE; Washington Co., KS Submitter: B. Jo Branch Owner: Mariah Pasco Burton Date: July 2001 * ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** NOTE FROM SUBMITTER: Eunice Walker Pasco was the wife of Judge Gilbert W. Pasco. After the Judge's death, Eunice married Mr. Edminston. The Ben referred to in the letter is Benjamin G. Pasco, the son of Judge and Mrs. G. W. Pasco. Grandmother is Judge Pasco's mother, Marilla Pasco. Benjamin G. Pasco was the father of Mariah Pasco of Winn Par. The PASCO and WALKER families have been traced to Washington Co., KS and WI. There are also connections in New York, Pennsylvania and Conneticut. "Just a little Journal - Mostly about Ben" Sherman, Texas - March 9, 1888. Dear Ben Gilbert-- I regret I did not commence this little journal when you first came to Texas, but I did not think any thing about it and perhaps I never would have thought of it, but __??__ this little household paper I take --some one had written how nice it was to keep a little journal of the funny sayings and doings of the babies--so I'm going to write a few of yours. Well, you came to Texas a little more than four years ago. One cold night in December, Sunday, 7 AM, Dec-16-1883- and we had for company Dr. Wilson & Mrs. Heans (or Weans), our nearest neighbor. What a little blue mite you were, and how your Father did worry -- for less your head would not be the right shape. But I thought you were probably sweet, and just thankful that you arrived safely. Of course you grew as babies generally do, and one morning there you were about six weeks old in walked your Uncle Charlie Walker and he thought you were pretty nice, but said if you were only a girl how much nicer you would be! But I did not agree with him, and was glad you were a boy. About this time you commenced to be pastly yellow, and your Uncle called you a Mexican. He would talk Spanish to you, and you would laugh and coo back to him just as __??__! And how I did love you. Grandmother gave you a little saffron tea and all the Mexican "disappeared" and you had the prettiest white skin. Every body would say what a pretty baby! Of course you cut your first tooth, and they were the prettist little things, so white and sharp! And how you would bite with them some times. Your Grandmother made you some little red socks and one day I pinned one up by the fine _odny(?), when suddenly, all I was holding you in my arms, you commenced to cry and what do you think it was about? Well you noticed the sock hanging __??__ & you were afraid of it! It was a great big __??__ shiney(?), and you thought you might just as well cry about it, so you did--and you used to be quite a little coward. By and bye you commence to sit up alone, and I'd put you in the middle of the bed with pillows all around you & then you would sit, and look around as though you wondered what it all meant, and what those great big things were that were all the time moving around -- Some times you would look up at the picture of your brother Cyrus, and smile at it as though he might be talking to you from Heaven and I would pray that God would let me keep you, and that you would grow up to be a good man. [NOTE: Cyrus was born c 1876 and died c 1881.] Then after a while you commenced to creep and how you would fly all over the house. Just as fast as you could go, and how you would get into mischief--pulling down things from shelves & then you thought you would woak a little, and you felt so proud when you could walk alone. You were about fifteen months old then, and not very shaky on your lets. I had to keep the corner of the bedstead wrapped up, so if you fell against it it would not hurt you so much. Of course you commenced to talk and you were so very particular to pronounce every letter, almost. it was really amusing to hear you . You called me Til & Tilty, and do until this day--and you are now more than four years old. Your Grandmother you call "Muther". Once when you were a little over two years old I said something to you and after a while you wondered what it was, so you said "Tilty, what was that you said when you didn't say what you did say". I think that is very funny don't you? Don't think I told you what I said, when I didn't say what I did say. About this time I cut off your pretty long curls, and then I took a __??__(cap?), for it seemed to me my little boy was gone--but you were more comfortable, and you did look pretty and cute. Last summer I took you up to town to have your hair cut, and the barber cut it with one of those shaving machines, and we almost almost __??__, __??__ your Father thought we would never forgive him for having it done-- and you did not like it very much __??__ but it's all grown out nicely now. Today March 30 -- 1888 You have been playing out doors nearly all day. Playing house with Sammy & Myrtle Rice, little children who live next door -- swinging in the hammock and making "begining" as you call din? & water mixed together in a cup. Then you had a gay time. blowing soap bubbles on the front porch. The little pistole Papa brought you other day you think is very fine and you talk about killing the little chickens with it. This winter when I'll get up and I have you in bed, if the cold air would get in under the covers you would say it made you feel as broad and every once in a while you would say your head wasbroad as your stomach was broad, and I wonder what kind of a sensation you tried to empress. One might this writes(?) Pop was down to Laredo. I had undressed you for bed, all but your stockings. You took them off, and Grandmama said to give them to her and would turn them. Instead of handing them to her you threw them as hard as you could. And as you were in very good position I gave you a little slap and told you to go & hand them to Grandmama. You got out of bed in a hurry without a word, handed her the stockings, climbed back to bed & of __??__ you were coverd up nicely, you looked up into my face & said "You played smash , didn't you?" Of course I had to laugh, for you looked so funny. And once when I wanted you to ask God to take care of Popie & bring him home safely, you wondered if he wouldn't do it without you asking him. Today April 7th you have not been feeling very well --walked around too much yesterday I guess. Went with us to the cemetery to set out some plants by your little Brother's grave, then as you had been teasing to go fishing we concluded we might as well go -- went down to the creek and you did your best, but the fish would not bite. The bobble as you call it only jerked onse and I'm afraid it was not a fish that pulled it that time. You have not sead or semed any for a number of days -- and I must set your __??__ or you will forget it all. You have such an idea of the points of the compass and talk about this north closet, the east window & the west side of the house and the other day when you and Grandmama were taking a walk down towards the bridges, so said as you started back -- "Let's go a little further west than we did east and tonight you were asking me about the north and south-pole, and if it ever got warm there. And for a long time every morning you would ask me if it was getting light in China -- dark I mean -- and every night you'd speak about its getting light there. And you want to know if China is another town, and if it is very far away, and if it would take all night to go there. Once this __??__ while Papa was gone down to Laredo, you were saying your prayers, and I asked you if you didn't want to ask God to take care of Popy and bring him home safely and you wanted to know if God wouldn't do it without you asking him and did seem inclined at first to ask him, but finally concluded you would. How I hope you will grow up to be a good man and love God. One night you wondered if the angels would break their wings against the chimney, "flapping around" as you called it -- going to and from Heaven. And you wondered how they could get us when there isn't any door. Denison, Tex. January 5 - 1890 My Dear Little Son -- Yu see it has been a long while since I have written any thing in the "journal" & so many changes have taken place, I hardly know how to commence again. I will say first, my darling, always do right & trust God. We have sold our home at Sherman where you were born, and are now living here while your Father is at Muskogee, I. T. We hope he will move us up there soon. We have been living here nearly a year & is has been very lonely, if you were not so bright & gay all the time, don't know what we would do. After some time I wrote in __??__ last, your Father came home sick. [We could him??] thought he would open an office at Dallas.-- had not long until he was taken very ill & I went down to take care of him & you staid home with GrandMother & GrandFather, & __??__ why we came home & your Father concluded he would not stay there, but come up here. So here we are. when we first came you were so lonesome you did not know what to do, as you did not have Sammy Rice to play with you. Kept us pretty busy reading to you. You wrote a letter to Santa Claus for a bicycle & a desk, but as he did not bring you any, guess he must have been out. Your Father came down from Muskogee & got you a train & a __??__, so with the other things, you were happy. Since we have moved here, dear old grandpopie died & he will never tell you any thing more about the moon, sun & stars. May he rest in peace. After his death I was feeling so badly we thought we would take a little trip. So you & I went up to Strong, Nebraska to make Uncle Charlie & his family a visit. There we found Aunt Ellie, Lillian, Dewey, Grace, little Eunice & a new little baby boy, just a month old, Chas Wellington Walker. Such a sweet little thing! I think you thought more of him than you wanted us to know--& you did not like me to hold him very much. You did not call me Til after we got there--but Sis, & have been calling me Sis ever since. Isn't that funny, for a little boy to call his Mother sis?--But I do not care-- I love you very much my darling, & pray for your welfare. Remember you are a part of God. And that you must keep yourself pure & holy. Sunday 9:30 PM Jan - 12 - 1890 Dear little boy-- you are in bed and asleep & I'm going to write a little bit if the wind does blow & it is very cold. The fire is nearly out, I have just written a letter to your Father, & your Grandmother this is in bed-- but I must tell you that you have been going to Kindergarten for a week & that you like it ever so much. Mrs Waples is your teacher, & it is just in the next block so you don't have far to go. Last Monday morning when you waked up, you whispered "Sis, Sis, isn't it almost time for me to get up, so I can go down there". You see you were in a hurry to go. So __??__ we got up and after breakfast I took you down & staid with you, & we just like it so much-- and I guess I'll go with you tomorrow. I'd like to learn too-- might want to __??__ [work??] some time. You have brought home a little card you have worked with blue & yellow zephyr & a day rolling pin you made-- both real nice for a little boy. While you are learning about all the beautiful things in nature, remember they are but another poession of God & that he is good. __??__ __??-- the little you prayer you say every night "God is good -- or another "All is good, God is good & we are His children". We are God's children and we must be as near like him as possible. Don't think bad or ungentlemanly thoughts. always think right, then you will always do right. My darling little boy, I love you very much, & my greatest desire is that you be a man in the image of God. I thought the other day of a funny little thing you said once when we lived at Sherman. One time you & I took a walk & when we got back it was nearly dark. There was a fire on the fire place & Grandpopie & grandmamie were sitting by it with their feet out warming. As you came in you said "Two old cats sitting by the fire"-- and we all thought it very funny-- do you? You have been playing all day with your train -- the co?? -- & having "our of jou" as you say, read to you -- Oh! I must not forget to tell you I am sewing for your teachers to pay for your tuition. Don't forget your Mother served as your finest schooling -- & know I would do any thing to help you be a good boy & a just man. I am making a garnet velvet dress & a black polonaise. I must go to bed, am cold -- Good night darling. Denison, Tex. April 13 - 1890 Dear little boy Ben -- I have not written for some time for you have been sick a long time. At the little kindergarten school that you liked so much you caught the whooping cough -- and it is now nearly three months since you were taken sick. It settled in your lungs -- & you have had a hard time of it & have done a great amount of coughing. You have been very anxious not to miss the school, but you were too sick to go & am afraid you will not go again soon. Just now you are asleep, & so is grandmama or "Muller" as you call her. Mrs. Morgens & her little girl Leula came up from Sherman last week & we went out to the Exposition Hall, on the motor-- of course you enjoyed it, as you have not been out much lately. While there you said "Sis, let's go up in the orsenvatory" -- but we did not go up. A few days ago I had to get you a new story book, so I got you Robinson Crusoe, & you think it very fine. You want some one to read to you the most of the time. Aunt Mat Gilbert has a little yellow cat "Jerry" that you go over after nearly every day. You said the other day that he was the only live thing you had to play with -- I must not forget to write that last summer we went to see Aunt Hortie too, who is living in Kansas. We had such a nice time out on the farm & you rode around with Uncle Marshall in the way one would and had such fun with cousin Rudy. You had the greatest little notion of punching with your thumb & you and Aunt Hortie used to have great times with your thumbs. And her kittens got to thinking so much of you. They would come & sniff around your legs & you like "While legs" just a little better than you did the rest I guess. My dear son, remember you are God's child, & never do any thing wrong -- Pray & trust His goodness always. Always do all the good you can. May God Bless you -- Your Mother. Denison, Tex April - 27 - 1890 Dear little boy--- Today you wore your little new blue jersey suit all day & left off your hilt(??), & you did look so sweet & nice -- but you seemed so much like a great big boy -- I can't bear to think of my little one growing up & away from me -- but you will love me all the time, won't you, darling? We thought Pop would come home today, to be here to help us pack up to move, for we are going to Muskogee, Ind. Ter. to live, & I will be so glad when we get there. And so tired of living away from your Father. Am glad to say you have gotten almost well & I hope will soon be entirely so -- don't like to have my little boy sick, & I want him to remember, the nearer he is like God, the lest sickness he will have -- remember you are one with God & that your real self cannot be sick -- Always do right & trust Go. You have a little yellow kitten that Aunt Mat gave you. Jerry they named him & you have so much fun with him -- and the other day you got GrandMother's bird cage, put him in it & said you were going to take him to Muskogee with us. I wonder if you will -- My boy, I want you to be as nice, & good a man all your life, as you have seen joy to day -- and God will bless you -- You have now fallen asleep in bed with a little piece of paper in your hands, you have been reading -- Good night & pleasant dreams --