Transcription
of Emma Pauline ("Pauline")
transcribed by Allison MacDuffee, [email protected]
Emma Pauline
"Pauline" Johnston,
about 16 years old, Saint John, New Brunswick,
About
the Autograph Book:
My grandmother, Emma Pauline ("Pauline") Johnston received this book as a birthday gift in 1882 (1), when she was about three years old, and entries cover the period 1882 to 1893 The book measures 8 x 13.5 cm and has a grey cover with an embossed design of flowers, leaves and a feather. It contains 54 leaves (i.e., 108 pages), of which 17 contain some writing.
Genealogical
Note:
Emma Pauline ("Pauline")
i. Stuart J. MCDUFFEE, b. 25 Apr 1905,
ii Kenneth
Gordon MACDUFFEE, b. 19 Nov 1906,
iii. Jane Rhoda MACDUFFEE, b. 18 Mar 1908, Saint John, NB, d. 1990, Toronto, Ontario
iv. James
Johnston MACDUFFEE, b. 1 Apr. 1910,
Pauline died on 5 August 1953 in
Information about Pauline’s friends who wrote in her autograph book was gleaned from the 1881 Canadian Census transcription online at www.familysearch.org on December 8, 2002.
In transcribing the book, I have used the following symbols:
r = recto (front side of page)
v = verso (reverse side of page)
strikethrough = text that is erased or crossed out in the
original.
Transcription of the Autograph Book
The first inscribed page of the autograph book, 1882. I have not
yet discovered the identity of "Aunt Belle.".
[endpaper]
Pauline
[1r]
Autographs
[2r]
A birthday Present,
From Aunt Belle
To Pauline Johnson
April 12 1882
[3r]
Remember My Dear Pauline
When on these lines you look;
Remember it was – Father
Who wrote this in your book
James Johnston
[6r]
Remember me
Bad Ink
Bad Pen
Good Paper
Amen.
Nov. 20th, 1891
[7v]
for-get-me-not
To Pauline
In after years when this you see,
I wonder what your name will be.
Sincerely yours
Nov 7th – 1889
[8r]
love me ever.
Dear Pauline,
I have been told
That you want your
name wrote in Gold
and if you do why tell
me so and then I’ll
write your name in Gold
Nov 19th 1891
N.B.
[9r]
[smudged] July 15th 1890 [1891?]
[10r]
Rember me long
Rember me
[16r]
Nov. 19th
1891
To Pauline
May your joys be as
deep as the ocean and
your sorrows as light as
the foam Is the wish of your
friend
Ethel
Remember me.
[20r]
Kind hearts are the gardens
Kind thoughts are the roots
Kind words are the blossoms
Kind deeds are the fruits
Jan. 1888
[24r]
Nov. 1891
To Pauline
When twilight draws the curtain
And pins it with a star
Remember your friend Jennie
Though you may wander far.
[26r]
Believe me your friend.
Nov. 1st ’89
[27r]
To Pauline
Now is the time for buckwheat
cakes
And
Your Friend
[35r]
Nov. 20th 1891
To Pauline
Remember well and bear in mind
That a constant friend is hard to find
But if you find one good and true
Change not the old friend for the new.
[41v]
To Pauline
Never trouble trouble
Till trouble troubles you
Your friend
Leah Gaskin
Nov 20th 1891
[43v]
To Pauline,
I turned these pages o’er and o'er.
To see what others wrote before.
And in this quiet little spot
I’ll write the words forget-me-not.
Your friend
A.G. Boyne
St John N.B.
March 2nd/93
[45v]
F [sic]
[54v]
July 15 1890
To Pauline
Rember me long
Rember me ever
Rember the fun we
both had together
Notes
- Although
Aunt Belle gave Pauline the book on April 12, Pauline’s birthday was two
days later, on April 14.
- There is a
discrepancy on her baptismal certificate, which lists her birth date as
“April 14, 1879,” and her baptism as “Jan. 3rd, 1879.” Baptismal
Certificate, Diocese of Fredericton, Parish of Portland, St. Luke’s Church,
Saint John, NB.
- Probably
the “Gertrude Edgar,” born about 1879 in Ireland, listed in the household
of “William Edgar, carpenter,” in the 1881 Census of Canada, in Ward 2,
Portland, Saint John, NB. Pauline Johnston’s family lived in Ward 1,
- Probably
the “Bertha Courtney,” born about 1877 in New Brunswick, listed in the
household of “Rob A. Courtney, surveyor,” in the 1881 Census of Canada, in
Ward 1, Portland, Saint John, NB. If so, Bertha was 12 years old when she
wrote in Pauline’s book.
- Probably
the “Louisa Chesley,” born about 1879 in New
Brunswick, listed in the household of “J.A. Chesley,
Manufacturer,” in the 1881 Census of Canada in Ward 1, Portland, Saint
John, NB. If so, Louisa was 12 years old when she wrote in Pauline’s book.
- Possibly
the “Elenore Aitken,”
born about 1863 in New Brunswick, listed in the household of “Amanda Aitken” (no occupation listed, widow) in the 1881
Census of Canada in Ward 1, Portland, Saint John, NB. If so, Nellie was 25
years old when she wrote in Pauline’s book.
- Probably
the “Jennie Loretta Rupert,” born about 1879 in New Brunswick, listed in
the household of “David Crandell Rupert, Ship
Carpenter,” in the 1881 Census of Canada, in Ward 2, Portland, Saint John,
NB. If so, Jennie was 12 years old when she wrote in Pauline’s book.
- Possibly
the “Harriet M. Green,” born about 1865 in New Brunswick, listed in the
household of “John Green, Sea Captain,” in the 1881 Census of Canada in
Ward 3, Portland, Saint John, NB. If so, Harriet was 24 years old when she
wrote in Pauline’s book.
- Possibly
Pauline’s brother, J. Guy Johnston.
- Possibly
the “Jessie Berton,” born about 1878 in New
Brunswick, listed in the household of “William Berton,
Dyer,” in the 1881 Census of Canada, in Simonds
Ward, Saint John, NB?
- Probably
the “Bell Jenkins,” born in
Links
Saint John
County, New Brunswick Genweb
Rootsweb Message Board, Saint John County, New Brunswick
Saint John
Heritage Multiplex
A rich source for social history and photographs of
A final word....
I would be delighted to hear from descendants of the people who wrote in
Pauline's autograph book, and/or from anyone with further information to share
about Pauline and her family. Please write to me at [email protected] .
Web Design courtesy John Spragge,
Last updated: September 12, 2011.