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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Death / Heartbreak / Loss
- Published: 08/22/2021
Dying for Motherhood
Born 1955, F, from Lovelock, Nevada, United StatesNine months after ten year old Florence Rosette left her parent's home to begin life as a married woman her husband was frantically summoning the doctor , the community midwife, anyone who knew anything about birthing a baby. His wife, ten year old Florence Rosette Jennings Holly was in labor. Their first born was going to be a breech , their baby was entering this world sideways.
Rosy or Rosette was in terrible shape. She had given her all to deliver a child. She wanted more than life to give her husband a child. Her mind raced with the sights and sounds of June 1, 1898 when her mother and infant brother died during birth. It was God's will everyone said so. Rosette was afraid she and her baby would die.
Rosette Holly was given the privilege of seeing and holding her son for three very short hours. Then God took her baby away from her husband and her. It was God's will those around her pressured her to say it is God's will blessed be the name of God.
The physician counseled the very young Mrs. Holly. I strongly advise Mr. Holly and you do not attempt another pregnancy for two, possibly three years. Florence Rosette, your body needs that time to recover from this ordeal, your mind and body needs time to recover from the stress , the trauma you've been forced to endure during the last twelve months. This pregnancy has taken a very heavy toll on you physically. You've got a lifetime to present your husband with children and you will.
Florence Rosette looked the doctor straight in the eyes. I will not deny my husband his marital rites to my body. If God agrees with you I'll wait two or three years before being pregnant again. Doctor, I will not attempt to prevent any future pregnancies. Bearing babies for my husband is my Christian and womanly duty.
When Precious, the acting midwife, heard Florence answer the doctor she wanted to grab Rosette and shake her very hard until the light came back on. This woman, this child was being extremely stupid. Had she not heard the doctor? Had she not understood that if she conceived too soon that baby would also die ?. The doctor was as plain spoken as a man could be. The very next pregnancy could kill the baby and her.
Rosette was being selfish, a self centered brat. Her Papa needed her alive. The loss of this grandchild may lengthen his recovery time. Rosette wasn't thinking what losing the baby and her might do to her Papa.
In a year he had the loss and unpleasant responsibility of burying his mother, Elizabeth, his wife, Nancy and son, James Junior. To lose Rose would kill him especially when it could possibly be prevented. He also had his laudanum demons and the pain of recovering from a broken leg. His Rosette wasn't thinking.
Bill Holly had also heard the doctor's advice. He told the doctor if giving birth to his child or children could possibly cost Florence her life, there would not be any children. He would choose his wife every time.
The doctor assured both of them individually and as a couple in time, in a year or two, once her body had matured into womanhood they could have children. There was every reason for them to expect to parent many children. Florence was ten, almost eleven. The pregnancy and stillbirth was too much for her young body to handle.
Each time Bill Holly suggested they delay or postpone performing their marital duties . His beautiful child bride would cry. She would plead with him begging him to fall back in love with her. When he suggested they listen to the doctor's advice and wait a year before attempting to have another child. Florence would attempt suicide. More than twice he had been awakened by his hysterical bleeding wife.
He sent for her father, Precious, and the doctor. always came. The doctor always gave Florence something to calm her. In addition the doctor suggested some intimate techniques Bill could try privately in their bedroom. The techniques failed to calm her obsession to conceive and bear children. The sedative never worked long enough.
Florence whined and complained that her husband no longer found her desirable. She said Bill loved her as his wife. He treated her as a child or his baby sister. Her words were she'd rather be dead than married in name only.
Her husband reminded her of what the doctor had said. He assured her he loved her more than she could ever imagine. Bill vowed to prove his love every night when it was safe for them to have physical love.
Florence screamed it is God's commandment for husbands and wives to love each other. Her Papa tried to convince his daughter, that bringing a child in this world knowing it will die is a form of murder. He asked, have I sired a heartless murderer ?
Florence always responded, God alone has the power over life and death. If I conceive Papa it is his will. If my babies continue to die, it is God's will. If I die, I die in obedience to God's divine purpose.
By the birth, death and burial of the fifth grandchild Mister Jennings had completed the cure. For each dose of laudanum he took, he put twice that amount of water in the tincture.
He was encouraging Rosette to take the cure but, sadly Florence was laid to rest in the church cemetery beside her children. The fifth infant was buried cradled in his mother's arms.
The unspoken underlying factor was her Papa had given Florence small doses, half doses, of his laudanum for her migraines and other pains. The thought that he was harming Rose or her baby never entered his mind.
Florence proved to be a woman of her word. In the following years there was a second infant death, then a third, and a fourth. Her Papa was there with his file of laudanum to ease the physical and emotional pain his precious child felt.
By the fifth infant mortality James Jennings and William ( Bill ) Holly laid Florence Jennings Holly to rest in the Community Church Cemetery. Her infant remained cradled in her arms.
Dying for Motherhood(Martha Hume)
Nine months after ten year old Florence Rosette left her parent's home to begin life as a married woman her husband was frantically summoning the doctor , the community midwife, anyone who knew anything about birthing a baby. His wife, ten year old Florence Rosette Jennings Holly was in labor. Their first born was going to be a breech , their baby was entering this world sideways.
Rosy or Rosette was in terrible shape. She had given her all to deliver a child. She wanted more than life to give her husband a child. Her mind raced with the sights and sounds of June 1, 1898 when her mother and infant brother died during birth. It was God's will everyone said so. Rosette was afraid she and her baby would die.
Rosette Holly was given the privilege of seeing and holding her son for three very short hours. Then God took her baby away from her husband and her. It was God's will those around her pressured her to say it is God's will blessed be the name of God.
The physician counseled the very young Mrs. Holly. I strongly advise Mr. Holly and you do not attempt another pregnancy for two, possibly three years. Florence Rosette, your body needs that time to recover from this ordeal, your mind and body needs time to recover from the stress , the trauma you've been forced to endure during the last twelve months. This pregnancy has taken a very heavy toll on you physically. You've got a lifetime to present your husband with children and you will.
Florence Rosette looked the doctor straight in the eyes. I will not deny my husband his marital rites to my body. If God agrees with you I'll wait two or three years before being pregnant again. Doctor, I will not attempt to prevent any future pregnancies. Bearing babies for my husband is my Christian and womanly duty.
When Precious, the acting midwife, heard Florence answer the doctor she wanted to grab Rosette and shake her very hard until the light came back on. This woman, this child was being extremely stupid. Had she not heard the doctor? Had she not understood that if she conceived too soon that baby would also die ?. The doctor was as plain spoken as a man could be. The very next pregnancy could kill the baby and her.
Rosette was being selfish, a self centered brat. Her Papa needed her alive. The loss of this grandchild may lengthen his recovery time. Rosette wasn't thinking what losing the baby and her might do to her Papa.
In a year he had the loss and unpleasant responsibility of burying his mother, Elizabeth, his wife, Nancy and son, James Junior. To lose Rose would kill him especially when it could possibly be prevented. He also had his laudanum demons and the pain of recovering from a broken leg. His Rosette wasn't thinking.
Bill Holly had also heard the doctor's advice. He told the doctor if giving birth to his child or children could possibly cost Florence her life, there would not be any children. He would choose his wife every time.
The doctor assured both of them individually and as a couple in time, in a year or two, once her body had matured into womanhood they could have children. There was every reason for them to expect to parent many children. Florence was ten, almost eleven. The pregnancy and stillbirth was too much for her young body to handle.
Each time Bill Holly suggested they delay or postpone performing their marital duties . His beautiful child bride would cry. She would plead with him begging him to fall back in love with her. When he suggested they listen to the doctor's advice and wait a year before attempting to have another child. Florence would attempt suicide. More than twice he had been awakened by his hysterical bleeding wife.
He sent for her father, Precious, and the doctor. always came. The doctor always gave Florence something to calm her. In addition the doctor suggested some intimate techniques Bill could try privately in their bedroom. The techniques failed to calm her obsession to conceive and bear children. The sedative never worked long enough.
Florence whined and complained that her husband no longer found her desirable. She said Bill loved her as his wife. He treated her as a child or his baby sister. Her words were she'd rather be dead than married in name only.
Her husband reminded her of what the doctor had said. He assured her he loved her more than she could ever imagine. Bill vowed to prove his love every night when it was safe for them to have physical love.
Florence screamed it is God's commandment for husbands and wives to love each other. Her Papa tried to convince his daughter, that bringing a child in this world knowing it will die is a form of murder. He asked, have I sired a heartless murderer ?
Florence always responded, God alone has the power over life and death. If I conceive Papa it is his will. If my babies continue to die, it is God's will. If I die, I die in obedience to God's divine purpose.
By the birth, death and burial of the fifth grandchild Mister Jennings had completed the cure. For each dose of laudanum he took, he put twice that amount of water in the tincture.
He was encouraging Rosette to take the cure but, sadly Florence was laid to rest in the church cemetery beside her children. The fifth infant was buried cradled in his mother's arms.
The unspoken underlying factor was her Papa had given Florence small doses, half doses, of his laudanum for her migraines and other pains. The thought that he was harming Rose or her baby never entered his mind.
Florence proved to be a woman of her word. In the following years there was a second infant death, then a third, and a fourth. Her Papa was there with his file of laudanum to ease the physical and emotional pain his precious child felt.
By the fifth infant mortality James Jennings and William ( Bill ) Holly laid Florence Jennings Holly to rest in the Community Church Cemetery. Her infant remained cradled in her arms.
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Radrook
08/22/2021Very interesting story. Thanks for sharing. Where do they permit a ten-year-old girl to legally marry?
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Martha Hume
08/23/2021It was permitted in 1899 in Mississippi. I think it is still allowed with the parents concent. The characters are based on my great grandfather, ?Florence or Rosette who was my great aunt and sadly, I estimate she died at age 16 or 17.
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