Dear Pauline and Mary –
Your
registered letter arrived with the rain and snow. Our streets are caked with
ice and the temperature is at freezing point.
I just came home from work and my mind has been on the letter all evening.
There are some points that are not very clear to me. Suppose we all get together and try to get
things straightened out. It may save us some embarrassment in the future. In your haste to finish the letter you wrote
two return addresses, Mary’s and yours on the envelope. I suppose the envelope should get the
preference but being as this is a personal family affair, I thought it wise to
address the letter to Mary. So don’t get the wrong slant. Don’t either of you
feel slighted, because what’s intended for one is meant for the other or visa
versa.
I have a
lot more questions to ask and you have more explaining to do. The first thing
is: Mary, you received a letter from the clerk and he states he has no record
of my birth in his files, but still he knows the name, time, place, and
date. How come? He is not taking your word for it, is
he? After all you got to have proof.
This one is for you, Pauline. Answer
this, I wrote to our church for my birth certificate without your knowledge, or
the rest of the family. I received it, and on it was writing. (Now get
this) Peter the child of Feklist Savastone and Lula. How
come the name, Savastone is on the church records,
that’s 35 years ago.
Now you write and say our name is Sevastenok. Are you trying to say Sevastenok
translated in English is Savastone? Who’s kidding who, and whets it all
about. Another thing you say: Rabich is my godfather, but on the birth certificate it
says Nik Redikov. How many godfathers has a bozo got
anyway? You know you can not choose any
name; it’s got to be legalized thru the regular channels. You have to file a notice of intention in the
Probate court. The judge sets the date
and when the hearing comes up all persons concurred must be present. I think the fee is ten dollars. You say all I need is my birth certificate
and the letter from the clerk, well I’m not going to
do any thing till I hear your plans. Have any of you written to
My main
concern at the present is the name Savastone. Whatever are you going to do about it? Has anybody mentioned what an unusual name
that is for a Russian? As long as the
name is spelled Savastone on my birth certificate, it’s
good enough for me. How about you? You
say mothers been married before she came to this country; what was her first
husband’s name? I thought the old man
and her came over on the same boat.
Where did she first meet him, in
Do you mind
if I ask you some personal questions? What is Frank; Irish or Scotch? Where did
you get married; at our church or by a judge or out of town by a justice of
peace who was best man and bride’s maid? What name did you write on your marriage
certificate? I received your letter dated April 3rd, the one with
the snap shots must have got lost. Too bad. What were
the snaps about? Pauline, I sent you a
registered letter with money in it. Did you get it? And how about you Mary; how you making out
with the canary? Did you buy it yet?
Well,
sisters, two my eyes are starting to smart and the clock says five and so with
a word or two, I’m sending it to you
Your
bro
Pete
P.S.
The
best of the best to all.
Dad – came from state
County is Novozebkov
Borough – Starobobov
Village – Starch Vishkoff
The above location is near Keis
(author writes names here in Russian)
Mother – State Mogilov
County Homel
Borough Vileo
Village Chacoruda