Mr. George West lived in Marlborough, a town in southwest New Hampshire.
The community was first settled as a fort in 1754.
Through most of the 19th century there was a granite industry in the area.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlborough,_New_Hampshire
In December of 1911, George received a Christmas postcard from his sister, Nettie.
Nettie mailed the postcard from Meriden, an unincorporated town in west-central New Hampshire.
Meriden is about 63 miles north of Marlborough.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meriden,_New_Hampshire
The face of the postcard bears a Christmas verse within a gilded border of blossoms and bells.
Entitled, “A Merry Christmas”, the verse promises the light of affection.
“With all my heart I wish
You well and say:
May the sunshine of affection
Light today!”
On the reverse, Nettie addresses her message to “Dear Brother and Sister”.
From later references to “the children”, it seems that the “Sister” refers to George’s wife.
Nettie reports that “The B. (?) came Wed. night”.
The embossed design makes the written message much harder to decipher.
This seems to refer to a person, as Nettie adds, “We are having a good visit”.
Apparently, George and his family could not join the gathering, as Nettie expresses regret, “Sorry you can not be with us.”
She adds, “Frank misses you…the good stories.”
With love, Nettie concludes her Christmas greeting.
One hopes that George and his family, and Nettie and her family, and Frank and all the other visitors enjoyed a wonderful Christmas in 1911.
