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Dearest love,
I know that I shall be long gone when this letter finds you, and
sadly, I have planned it so. I have seen many things in my days,
from the soils of the Shenandoah valley with the
1st West Virginia Infantry Regiment, to the propsperity and
growth of Cumberland, seen through my duties as editor of the
Cumberland news and postmaster. But now I am seeing an end to my
journey and the twilight of my life. And so I have decided to write
to you.
As you know, I lost my young wife, just one year after our marriage
and as my time draws nearer, I cannot help but remember all of the
good things I have experienced. My friends and aquaintences have
always been my utmost concern, even in times of war, I chose to
focus my letters to my dear sister Clara on the people in my life
rather than the atrocities of battle.
Far before my marriage, it is no well-kept secret that I enjoyed
the reputation of a ladies man in this town, and I certainly earned
it! But none compare to you and I have never forgotten our time
together. And so, dear one, I have saved some of the treasures you
bestowed upon me and hidden them as close to my heart as I could
manage. I have used an old jar from the pantry, and inside I have
saved your locket, and bearing your lovely likeness within.
I know not where your journey will end, but my final destination is
certain. I can only bring you to my resting place. Now, on the
off-chance that a great many years have passed before you choose to
visit, and you have yourself one of them there GPSr contraptions,
find your way here:
N 39° 39.ABB
W 078° 46.CDD
Where A is the month of my death, BB is the day of my death, C is
the month of my birth, and DD is the year of my birth (last two
digits).
This will lead you to the location of my gift to you. Take what you
want for yourself, but I ask only that you leave your locket in
the jar, so that I may have it near me always. If anyone shall
find my secret hiding place before you do, I hope that they obey my
wishes, leaving the locket only for you. And if they choose
to take a treasure from the trove, that they leave something in
return for when you finally arrive.
I hope this letter finds you well,
Yours eternally,
Henry Johnson |