Unusual Nuptials – A proposal

Thirza left her teaching post in Johannesburg to visit her older sister, Victoria and her family, on their farm near Durban. The letter Thirza received from Victoria asked her to come ‘for as long as this war continues, and while here you can teach the children’.

It was there that Thirza received a proposal for marriage, by mail.

“Thirza there’s a letter for you. It’s from Jerry,” said Victoria inquisitively handing her the letter, postmarked ‘Pietersburg’, and mailed a week ago. Thirza sat at the kitchen table, broke the wax seal, and read…

My Dear Thirza,

I have given this much thought in the last little while. Since our chance meeting in Johannesburg we have come to a mutual understanding, a meeting of the minds if you will. It seems so long ago. If five years is a long time where did it go?

…Thirza remembered going to meet her uncle George for dinner after the mining symposium he was attending. When she arrived he was deep in conversation with another delegate. It was Jerry…and Oh, how she set eyes on him and he on her…She continued reading…

I stopped briefly in Pietersburg to see George on my way home. Despite loosing his fortune from his mining endeavours, and his failing health, he is in good spirits, and asked after you. I told him we hadn’t seen each other for a year and you are now staying with Victoria. He hinted that it was time for you to settle down, get married. In no uncertain terms he placed his arm around my shoulders as if I were the one to his bidding, but my mind was already made up.

I confess I will never be a gardener attending to a bed of roses or lilacs, neither the hedgerow, or greenery surrounding a suburban abode. It is not for me. A house and furniture with trappings – Oh, no!

It is the bush-veld, the plains and open skies to which I pay homage. Free to roam in a gypsy-like life.

And you, my dear, are of the same cloth. How elated we both felt when we discovered our non-conventional bearings that in my mind cleared any doubt I had, that you might not wish for such an existence.

Why don’t we join forces, get married, and live the life we yearn for? By the time you get this letter I will be back home in Aliwal North after visiting my brother in Portuguese East Africa, as you know.

Please write and let me know how you feel about this proposition.

My love,

Your Jerry.

Thirza read his letter again. Victoria interrupted her, “What does he say?” She was more excited than Thirza who was still engrossed in thought.

“He’s asking me to marry him….”

Victoria yelped, and gave Thirza the sisterly hug they realized meant so much to them, coming from their nomadic childhood. Victoria was four years older than Thirza and always took care of her, often covering for Thirza who neglected her chores in favour of reading.

“Oh, Thirza I’m so happy for you. You are going to accept aren’t you?”

“Well…”

“Of course you are. We will go to the post office this afternoon so we can send a telegram to Jerry.”

Victoria had noticed how lovingly Thirza talked of Jerry, and in her blood knew her sister yearned for a companion, and who knows maybe Thirza’s fierce feminist nature deterred many suitors. She was attractive, but refused to be subservient to the whims of any man. It would be on her terms that a man might cohort with her. It would be someone special and that someone was Jerry.

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When Jerry received the telegram he read,..”Yes! Yes! Arriving Tuesday next week, by train. Please make wedding arrangements. Love. Thirza.

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