The entries below were taken from the autograph book of Anna Duffus, of Newell. Anna was the daughter of Alexander Duffus (1849-1921) and Anna James Duffus (1857-1885). The messages are from relatives, teachers and friends, and are sweet and sentimental Victorian poems and sayings in the florid style of that period.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Newell, Iowa, Dec. 28th, 1891

Dear Anna,

May the God of heaven bless you,
and keep you from all sin,
and when you knock at heaven's gate,
may the Angels let you in.

From your friend,
Mable G. Mitchell
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Des Moines, Iowa, April 17, 1902

Dear Anna,

"Much fudges"

Yours as ever,
Dallas E. Alldredge
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Newell, Iowa, January 4, 1891

Dear Anna,

I wish you health,
I wish you wealth,
I wish you earthly store.
I wish you heaven after death,
What can I wish you more?

From your sincerely friend,
Lottie Smith
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Newell, Ia., Dec. 29th, 1892

"May your joys be as deep as the ocean,
And your sorrows as light as the foam."

Your friend and teacher,
Anna J. Jeffery
"Forget me not"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Newell, Iowa, Dec. 11, 1893

Count that day lost,
Whose low descending sun,
Views from thy hand
No worthy action done.

Your father,
Alex Duffus
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Newell, Iowa, Oct. 26, 1898

Dear Anna,

When you at last shall reach the stream,
To cross the majestic tide,
May he who rules the universe,
Your bark in safety guide.

Your sincere friend,
Jule E. McNamara
"In the golden chain of friendship,
regard me as a link"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Newell, Ia., Aug. 23, 1896

Cousin Anna--

When some lonely walk you stray,
And distant object view,
Think of a friend that's not far away,
That often thinks of you.

Ever your friend,
Daisy James
(note: Anna's mother and Daisy's father were siblings)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Des Moines, Iowa, May 21st, 1901

Friend Anna--

Apples are good
Peaches are better,
When I am far away,
Write me a letter.

Your friend,
Wm.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Newell, Iowa, 6/12/96

Dear Anna,

Our conversations should be such that
Youth may therein find improvement,
Women modesty,
The aged respect,
and men civility.

Your friend and teacher,
Corrina Parsons
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Des Moines, Ia., Aug. 25, 1899

Dea Cousin,

Consider me a friend forever.

Your cousin,
Cloy A. (or Cloya) Smith
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Submitted By: Sheryl McClure (also the owner of the book)