Chicago, Ill., Jan. 7, 1920.
Dear Miss Ball:-
I wish you could know the very real joy your letter brought me. For you are so much a part of the pattern of my ideal for myself, that you are woven into my life. But I never could see what you could see in me, the friendship was so one-sided, you had everything to give and I nothing but love, and you attracted that from everyone as naturally as a flower, so you didn't need mine, and when you became more and more successful and more and more "driven", I almost felt like a robber, making you use up your little leisure to answer such an uninteresting person as myself, just out of politeness. Now having "'fessed up" you can see just how delighted I was to get that letter, sent of your own free will. You were always remembered in our prayers.
Yes, I have had sorrow. Mr. Rigby was called to God. Of course, Veith and I never mourned as those who have no hope. We are all Christians and believe in a loving Father and Mr. Rigby was of "the pure in heart who shall see God." Never consciously did a wrong or unkind act. I feel and have brought Veith to feel that will - "Papa that's with teh Lord," as she calls him, is always with us, watching over us and rejoicing in our joy.
As all we had was tied up in real estate and Mr. Rigby did not wish me to get out to work and lef leave Veith in the care of strangers, he arranged on his death bed that I should marry a friend of his who had lost his wife and whose little boy was suffering at the hands of incompetent housekeepers. I promised to, but just couldn't at first. Tried going to business and boarding Veith days at a neigbors. She cried, "God took my Papa and now work took my Mama" & was nearly run over by an auto, etc. I came home to a cold house & the whole thing broke down my health. I kept dreaming Will came nights and said "Nell, you promised, what are you doing to my child!" so I went to our Rector, who knew of Will's wish & he said he had thought so all along but had not wished to intrude. So he advised me to marry at once. I said I would and made my preparations, but discovered at the last minute that the man was intensely jealous of Veith and even of his own little boy. Said it was a family trait, etc. But I stopped right there. Will in Heaven would understand for he only wanted me to marry him to secure V's happiness and mine. Again I talked it over with my Rector. Of course he was inclined to be a bit more charitable to Frank than I was, but I wanted peace and unity and jealous destroys that at once. I succeeded in selling the house and V & I took a little flat and lived on the small monthly installments we got from it. Then another friend of Will's came and took Veith out and was like a second father to her, so, when he asked for the right to care for us both, I sent him down to have a talk with our clergyman and all became clear. We were married quietly at the altar of our own church, where I came with Will as a bride and where we took our communion together and where Veith was baptized. Veith carried a basket of roses and the witnesses were an old friend of Will's and the woman I had picked out for Will to marry in case I died, for I had always thought I should die first, tho' Will was older. After the service I put a flower from the wedding bouquet on the altar for Will and for August's Mother. Our two silent witnesses. We were married on August's Mother's birthday. Dall wished it so. Said he had waited 45 years to find a woman fit to take his Mother's place. He adored his mother and always lived clean and right to live up to her ideal of him. I knew I was making no mistake. And I didn't. God has indeed blessed me in giving me two such men. I know Will is happy because we are. Our family life is a circle of love, peace, unity and enthusiasm over small pleasures, just as before, with Will blessing us from above. Veith adores August and he her and it makes me so happy. He is just a big loving boy, wrapped up in us and in his home. In summer we go off into the woods camping on Sundays. Wish you could be along and enjoy the coffee & frankfurts and potatoes, boiled over Dall's campfire. I always loved the woods & fields & wanted to do these things & he always wanted a companion in them who wore sensible shoes & could walk. Veith is some walker, too! Slang! Our tastes are so alike Books and outdoors and simple joys of home. He reads beautifully Reads to Veith and me both. God certainly blessed me.
We have a cute 7-room house here with a big yard and playroom upstairs for Veith. Wish you could drop in. We only rent here. No more real estate for me. All I had left from Will, I sold and put the money away for Veith when she grows up. Dall insisted on that. He said if either or both of us died nobody could touch what was in her name.
There, you brought this deluge down on yourself!
Veith would enjoy playing with the little niece. What is her name? Have you still got that cat? If so will mail some catnip next time.
So glad you got that appendix out and recovered so nicely. Father is still waiting for that second operation on his eyes for cataract. Veith and I were on [sic] there this summer for seven weeks. Nobody but Mother & Father (they were on here you know) had ever seen Veith and we caused quite some commotion. This Christmas they sent her so many things, we can't get around! I enclose a picture my cousin Helen snapped of us in Central Park. It's our latest photo, so thought you might like to have it. Wonder if you have one of yourself? I'd like to introduce it to Hubby! Just as you feel about it.
Must stop and mail this and then peel some potatoes for Hubby's supper. But I just had to sit right down and answer that by return mail.
All our love and good wishes in the New Year.
Mizpah.
Lovingly,
Nell, Veith, and August Dall
Princeps
Dickie (cat).
[Inscription on the reverse:]
Lovingly,
Helen Veith Rigby Dall
Veith Clifford Rigby.
Taken in Central Park
New York City
Sept. 1919.
[I looked up the details on this family on FamilySearch.org. Helen Veith (age 27) married William Rigby (age 54) on Feb 3, 1912 in New York City. Their daughter Veith was born on Apr 26, 1914 in Cook County, Ill. Helen married Augustus Dall on Sep 11, 1918 in Cook County, Ill. He was 45 years old, and she was 33.]