Helen’s Birthday
Feb. 23, 1861
“My Beloved Wife: Your feet stand upon the summit-level of half a century. Today completes your fiftieth year! Our dear children and I most lovingly congratulate you on the auspicious event, not on account of increasing age, but because of the prolongation of your life to this hour, in good health … therefore wish you to accept the accompanying gold watch, which will mark the hours as they fly till time with you shall be no longer, and you shall enter that heavenly sphere where there shall be neither death nor decay … with its every tick will beat in unision our hearts…” 1