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In a message dated 11/4/2003 10:53:03 PM Eastern Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
>>There's a ballad called "Babes in the Wood." It's very short and comes in
different versions, but the one I know best they were lost, not abandoned,
"as
I've heard people say" (it says, so it puts that into question too).

"And when they were dead, the robin so red
brought strawberry leaves and over them spread;
and sang them a song the whole winter long
poor babes in the wood who never done wrong"<<
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That's the one! Wow...memory flood...I must have gotten the abandon part
mixed up with Hansel and Gretel. I really liked that book! I vaguely remember a
picture of children covered with leaves with just their feet sticking out.
****************

>>During the early 20th century, such "tearjerkers" were really popular. I
guess with flu epidemic, polio, rheumatic fever (which my mom had, and which
her
15 year old brother died of), scarlet fever... they were both less attached
and more sentimental in some ways.

Sandra<<
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My great grandfather was a pioneer of sorts, went back and forth from
Oklahoma to New Mexico. His first wife and 4 of his children died of Typhoid Fever.
He was left with 2 children. He then met and married my great grandmother
(15 years his junior! Their marriage certificate says "Indian Territory,
Oklahoma) and had my Grandma and 3 more kids. They settled in Albuquerque (where my
mom was eventually born.) :o)

I sort of like he way kids then were not so sheltered about death. Sad that
the reason was that so many more children died, but I think being a part of
the wake, preparing the dead for burial, and burying them helped people get
through the grieving. We just went to a very old fashioned "home" funeral for one
of my husband's best friends. They buried him on/in the "back 10" acres. It
was really, really nice, almost like a picnic (tons of food)...and just felt
so homey and comfortable (I guess as comforting as a funeral can be.)

Nancy B in WV


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