Magpie Tales #69, "A Legacy"

Photo Courtesy of Magpie Tales - Tess Kincaid

A Legacy

“Sally sells seashells by the seashore

She sells seashells on the seashell shore”

Olive and Lulu, born in 1882 and 1887.

As a youngster I couldn’t get enough

of their master storytelling and

tongue twisters.  At their feet I sat, listening;

“The seashells she sells are seashore shells,

Of that I’m sure.”

laughing and enjoying their frivolity.

Innocent fun, two uniquely educated

woman, inspiring a generation to live

life to it’s fullest.  To embrace the mind.

“She sells seashells by the seashore.”

A fascinating mixture of ladylike manners

and snappy, intensely focussed minds.

Worlds of imagination lurked behind 

Lulu’s laughing eyes and dancing voice.

She hopes she will sell all her seashells soon.

Olive a bit more demure, laughter a bit softer

was not outshone by any means.

Sweetly she matched her younger sister’s wit;

both master storytellers, they.

If neither he sells seashells

Nor she sells seashells

Life cloaked them with eternal youth

as their legacy is one of uplifting hearts. 

To this day when I hear “Sally’s Seashore”

tongue-twister of letter “S”,

Who shall sell seashells

Shall seashells be sold?

Olive Ruth & Lulu Belle Beckington live on.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-9-11

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These two woman never married and devoted their lives to education and teaching.  They bought a house and lived together, teaching in the state of Oklahoma.  (If a woman got married "back in the day", they had to give up their career.)  They were my grandfather's cousins. As I recall, the tongue twisters were NO problem for them!

I have also submitted this to "Magpie Tales" #69.  I wrote this back in April, but since my summer has been so busy that I barely have time to sit and eat (which isn't a bad thing), I will "cheat" a bit and use this one.