Two Little Monkeys – Mary and Peggy

(from MERRIMENT AND CHAOS WITH FIVE YOUNG ‘UNS
by Lois Myers Harris)

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and hurt her head.
Mother called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more jumping on that bed!”

Do you remember the time Deezee and Aunt Lois brought you to Duck Run? We had no sooner gotten out of the city limits of State College when you asked “How much longer until we get to Duck Run?” You kept asking that same question every mile or so until we reached home, a distance of about 180 miles.

There were two beds in the room where you slept and that brought a bright light to your eyes as soon as you saw them. Being gymnastic minded, it was just the spot to jump from one bed to the other. We asked you to “Please stop” but you did not obey. Finally a little pat on your “fannies” helped to stop the jumper.

Mary, you loved to “measure noses” and you were the dearest little girl while doing that. I think this was a trick taught to you by Nanny Myers.

Peggy, you were loved and adored by Grandfather Sprague. Do you remember how he would comb your hair when you went to the Sprague’s home? Then he would take you to town and buy you ribbons for your hair. Once, he took you to the photographer and had your picture taken. When you returned to State College after living at Port Jefferson, Long Island, during the time your father worked at Brookhaven, you and Mary walked up to Hillcrest School on the first day and you enrolled yourself. You introduced yourself to the teacher saying, “I’m Peggy Myers and I’m in the first grade.”

Mary, do you remember your High School graduation gift – a trip to Europe to visit your godmother, who was employed at the Embassy in Germany? Isabelle, Bill, and Uncle Nick had come from New Castle to visit Aunt Lois in Alexandria, Virginia, and attend Billy McCombs’ graduation from Quantico, Virginia. We all drove over to Rockville, Maryland, to say “bon voyage” to you but arrived there too late, as you had already left for Dulles Airport. We immediately took off for Dulles with Betsy to direct us. She said, “I didn’t know we had an Uncle Nick in the family.” She pointed out places of interest to us on the way and when we crossed the river, said, “That’s the Potomac. It’s polluted.” We finally found Mary in the busy airport and stayed with her until her flight left Dulles.

Peg, I know you well remember enrolling yourself at Cornell University. Your dad took you to Washington, put you on the train for Ithaca and said, “You will be okay.” You arrived at Cornell without knowing a soul, but managed to spend four happy years there and graduate with honors. From Cornell to dental school at Doc’s alma mater, Loyola University in Chicago, and [sic] are now a full fledged dentist. How proud your grandfather would have been of you!