Hidden Treasures

As stressful as moving can be, I'm finding that there are some plusses to it.

First, it's a great time to clean house. You get to go through everything and take inventory and get rid of everything you have forgotten you had, or have not used in years, therefore, you don't really need it.

Another thing I can say I like about moving is the treasures you find as you are going through taking inventory. These are the things you forgot you had and haven't used in forever, but you could never throw them away. They hold a lot of value.

I want to share with you one of those treasures.

A while back I wrote a letter from my Grandma Platt to my children who never knew her. Well, I have found a letter that really was written to me from my great Grandmother, Henrietta Hope Platt. I don't remember her because I was just little when she died. I would have only been a toddler when she wrote it. I think I've seen this letter before, but I don't think I even knew what it was until I found it yesterday and read it. Since I don't have my scanner up right now, I'm just going to type it for you. Maybe later I'll have to scan it in and show you the real thing.

It starts:

Christmas Thoughts

For all my dear ones . . . . Dec. 1975

Dearest Sharon (written in her own hand)

(Typed) I'm so proud of all of you because you bear the ancient and honorable names of PLATT and RUSSELL . . . and of the names of those you marry.

May Christmas mean as much to you as it did to me as a child long ago. We had rag dolls with glass beads for eyes and lots of molasses candy and popcorn. Our boys made their own sleds and would have great fun on the hills as you do.(small hole=missing words) strung popcorn and cranberries to trim the tree. My uncle Alma Pratt had (hole=missing letters) up Parley's Canyon up in the mountains and would always come down dressed in a red hat . . and a red face and a red nose . . to bring us a christmas tree. I remember one time my mother gave him a big bowl of bread and milk and I watched our "Santa" eating it and oh how I wanted to eat it myself. We had very little to eat then.

My father always carried a red handkerchief tied on his cane to put goodies, candy and  surprises to bring home for us children. He used to sing to us many songs as we loved to sit on his lap in the green rocking chair. Both he and mother would sing songs together to entertain us. We didn't have records or TV then. He liked to sing "Uncle Ned", Bell Brandon", Katie Wells, etc the old Negro spirituals and we all liked to hear them over and over again. My father was only 16 when he came to Utah with his widow mother and family. He had known many hard times in his young life. He served in the Spanish American war. He was a hard worker and built a fine home and farm on West Temple, and did a great amount of genealogy and Temple work. He died when I was only 7 so my mother was left with a great responsibility for us children.

In 1907 when I was 18 I went on a mission to Chicago. I recall how we used to go with the Elders to help them with their cottage and street meetings . . . and help them sing. When they sang "Oh My Father" people would come up after and offer them money to sing it again. But of course they told them they couldn't take any money but would be happy to sing and to explain the gospel. At Christmas time we always had a good time in the mission Home, where I was a secretary. The people there were very good to us. My sweetheart, Frances Platt, went to Holland while I was still in Chicago and we wrote often. I still have many of his letters and cute Dutch post cards. I thought you would like to have a picture of me when I was a young girl . . . and though I'm now 86 I can still remember how it is to be young! (There is a copy of an old black and white picture of a beautiful young women - Great Grandma Platt).

Now . . Remember who you are and be careful what you do with your precious name.

May you always have a Merry Christmas to remember . . and all things you'll need in each New Year ahead. May our Father in Heaven ever guide and protect you and your dear ones.

(written in her own hand) Love and prayer for you

Grandma Great

Hope R Platt

These are the real treasures.