Will U B Mine?

A Pennsylvanian schoolmaster with the unfortunate name "Hugh Pugh" drafted a marriage proposal in 1801 directed toward a young woman named Mary Fisher. Now, his sappily sweet missive is amusing conservators at the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia.

There is but one
And only one
And I am only he
That loves but one
And only one
And thou art the only she.

Sadly, Mary turned Hugh down despite his penchant for silly abbreviations ("X" stands for "cross").

AX, AX, ICUB
A double XU are to me. [Link]

Mary married another man, but she kept the love letter, which was passed down in her family. Perhaps she retained a spark of affection for the amorous schoolteacher.

Or perhaps she liked sharing a good joke.

[tagged: genealogy]