Betsy Devine: Funny ha-ha and/or funny peculiar

My grandfather Lieutenant Maurice Francis Devine (known as Frank) sailed for France with his regiment in mid-1918. His wife, born Marie Dubuque, returned home to live with her family in Fall River. Four months later, their first child was born.

The baby was born at home, in Marie’s girlhood bedroom, at 6:30 a.m. on September 3. Her father, clearly shaken by the experience, wrote her a tender morning-after letter.

Boston September 3rd 1918
My Dear Marie
At last the great event of your life has arrived. You are now the mother of a boy (Joseph Murray?) whom I hope will become worthy of his ancestry on both sides, and be the joy of his immediate parents.
I congratulate you on the arrival of this welcome boy, my first grandson. I now have the proud distinction of being the grandfather of a nice little couple who will share, in equal degree, the affection of their grandpa.
May you live long to see your first born the object of your tender care and devoted motherly love.
I cannot tell you how glad we all are that you came through the ordeal all right. How pround Frank will be when he gets the happy news, and his folks also.
You can now see, better than you ever realized before, why a mother is the center of such sweet and tender affection. The explanation is that she has earned it by going through the great trial and suffering for, and devotion to, he offspring.
Suffering purifies and ennobles all things.
You have now laid the first milestone in your home career. Think of the blessings which will flow hereafter around your hearth. The light of a new world, so to speak, has burst upon you and your husband. You must both try to be worthy of this reward of your sacrifices.
May God bless you and your dear little son, and bring back to you safely his father home. The news from abroad are very encouranging. Let us hope it will not be long before his return.
With love to you and my dear little grandson
Affectionately grandpa
Hugo Dubuque
P.S. I am writing to Frank.

My great-grandfather Hugo Dubuque was a Massachusetts Superior Court Judge, who spent many days on the circuit from courthouse to courthouse. He sent many tender letters home, ostensibly to the baby Joseph Murray Devine, but in fact to amuse and comfort his daughter Marie.

Superior Court
Judges Room
Court House, Boston
January 6 1919

My Dear Murray
I envied you this morning, my boy, nice and warm in your cozy bassinette. It was very chilly for grandpa — the wind was North and snowing — the walks were very slippery, but Gaga is always careful so he did not fall down.
There is no heat at all in the Elevated cars in Boston on account of the influenza.
What was that I heard this morning? that you gave an unearthly shriek, like a sore of Indian war whoop, because you were so hungry? That is very rude for a little boy to do that, and scare his Mamma and Atta Paul [Aunt Pauline]. But, of course, when a young man is hungry he cannot always repress his feelings. So be a good boy and we will all love you dearly.
Best love from Gaga Dubuque.

I must inherit my singing voice from Grandpa Dubuque, to judge by this letter.

Boston City Club, January 27th — 1919
My Dear Murray:
It is the first time, yesterday, that my voice as a singer was ever appreciated. And you, sweet little grandson, were the one to do so. Nothing pleased me better than to see you apparently enjoy grandpa’s singing. You evidently could stand it with delight, on the ground, presumably, that any noise will do as an amusement.
Wait until your Dad gets home, he will sing “lullybys” for you. I t will be great for you to be carried around by a hero of the greatest war in the history of the world, that of 1914 – 1918. Oh my! but won’t you be proud! Keep on growing in strength so that you may wrestle with your Papa when the first chance comes–
Best love to you and yours,
Gaga Dubuque

I’m not sure what rare-ripes are, but it seems that my family comes honestly by its great love of gardening.

The Superior Court
Middlesex County
Lowell March 3, 1919

My Dear Murray
You missed it, Murray, in not getting up at 5 A.M. the same as your Gaga did this morning– There was a nice white frost, the harbinger of spring, spread over the trees and ground. The air was so sweet and pure. It is a real delight to be out early.
The spring will soon be here, and by the way this is your first spring. While you have seen flowers in the house, they are much nicer on their own stems in the sunlight outdoors.
Gaga expects to have a garden this spring, back of the house; so you’ll see things grow and you will learn farming and horticulture — garden and flower production — And you will sleep surrounded by flowers and vegetables, which will form a background to the picture of my little grandson–I hope your dad, when he takes you to Manchester, will have a little garden, if it is only to grow some flowers and a few of the ordinary vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, rare-ripes, and the like. Best love to you and your dear ones who love you — Gaga Dubuque

A sad footnote, from a 1926 Manchester, NH newspaper recording the February 1 arrival of Marie’s second child, my Uncle Shane: “The friends of Captain Devine will be saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Devine February 8.”