A Birthday Of Historical Proportions

    Tomorrow was to be my sixieth birthday and my husband would be back from New York. My children and grandchildren would be planning something special for me, as always. I wondered up to now had I accomplished anything of importance.
    Our two oldest sons were married and had families of their own. However, our two youngest children kept me in a sad state of affairs. My daughter’s children were tossed from one hourse to the next. Our youngest son drank and gambled, leaving us to support his family. I spent as much time as I could with the grandchildren who needed me.
    I have always admired Dolly Madison. We were both born in North Carolina, on May 20th. Through  the Historical Society. I studied and read anything I could get my hands on about her.  I was presently trying to get an old building restored in her name and this work was my saving grace.
    I fell into a restless sleep and soon the nightmare began. In my dream, I was one of her servants helping Dolly take out the silver and china. We were loading it onto wagons as fast as we could.  The Bristish were fast approaching.
  “You must take the all of the valuables, including Stuart’s famous Portrait of George Washington.”
  “But Madam, we don’t have time,” I exclaimed.  “The British are fast approaching!”
  “But you must! Take several servants and take it off the wall, even it you have to break the frame!
We have to preserve our history, ladies. Please hurry!”
    I woke up, yelling out to my heroine. Dolly herself was standing there, dressed in a beautiful pink satin gown.  She was eloquent, with her dark hair in a cascade of curls. A beautiful strand of pearls adorned her neck. I envied her and told her so. 
    “Things weren’t always so perfect. There were many unglamorous stories, including the one of my alcoholic son, Payne who mismanaged everything. Congress agreed to buy my husband’s papers finally, but the money had to be put it in a trust, so Payne couldn’t squander it away. However, I remained vigilant and protected our country’s history, just as you must do.”
    The following evening, I received a huge birthday surprise. A couple of my friends from the Historical Society dropped by to announce that the old house down on Market Street would finally receive the monies to have it refurbished and would become the Dolly Madison Museum.
    “We want you to oversee everything there. It will be a wonderful opportunity for you, Caroline. Here’s to you and Dolly!”
    My husband kissed me and handed me a box and inside, there was a strand of pearls, with a note that read, “You are the perfect hostess.” 
    Hugging my husband, I felt the tugging of little hands and looked down into innocent blue eyes.  Picking her up, she whispered, “Grandma, did you see the beautiful lady with the pink party dress?”
    Dolly Madison smiled an approving thank you and disappeared.

Work Count: 500