Yesterday’s story included a poem from a letter Mom wrote in 1944. We’re back today with the rest of the letter.

Her pen pal? Mom’s aunt Marguerite (baptised Margaret Josephine, after her parents, in 1895). To non-family members, she was Sister Amabilis.

This tiny eight-page time capsule includes updates on Mom’s family, who lived on Chatham Street in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dear Marguerite,

Thanks so much for your letters and congratulations. I can never thank you enough for praying and all those other things you did for me. When I first heard the news I could scarcely believe it and even now my scholarship doesn’t seem a reality.

It was a lovely day that Saturday when I went to St. Mary’s. Some of us were brought to a certain classroom to take the tests. The sunlight was streaming in and the scenery outside was, oh, so different from Fair Haven High. I knew it then that I wanted to go to the Academy more than any other school. The Sisters are sweet.

I feel so sorry for some children who came to take the exams and cannot go because they didn’t win. Lennie (Joseph Leonard) McNulty up the street was one who wanted very much to go. So, because he lost, I don’t think he can go.

When I went to the vestry to thank Father Sullivan for his calling up, Monsignor Fitzmaurice shook hands with me.

The other evening I found pear blossoms down the bank and Mary, Jane and I gathered them. I arranged them downstairs and they fill the atmosphere with spring.

Ray is getting to be so much fun. The other day a boy smaller than he hit him over the head with a pole. Since the tot was much younger Ray did not hit him. So my Mother told him to chase anyone who pestered him. Soon after, a boy about nine, known for his toughness, came and punched Ray in the stomach for absolutely nothing. Then Ray became angry, and went after the kid. The latter ran and Ray became the hero of the day.

I’m working on my prophecy now and getting somewhere. Bunny thanks you for the bow and ribbons and we all love the pictures.

God bless you. Your loving niece, Joan

The Academy mentioned in Mom’s letter was the local Catholic high school, St. Mary’s Academy. She was thrilled to win a scholarship there. (I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me sharing that her future husband was already at the Academy, a grade ahead of her. He was sweet, too.)

And what about Joseph Leonard McNulty, who’d also hoped to win a scholarship? It appears he was still able to attend the school for at least a year, as mentioned in his graduation information in the 1948 Hillhouse High School yearbook.

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