The content begins by introducing the story of Henry Bedinger and Alec Boteler, two young lawyers who shared a passion for art. While Henry had a love for poetry, Alec was drawn to drawing and painting, a talent likely inherited from his great-grandfather Charles Willson Peale, the leading portrait painter of early America.
The two men were also good friends and enjoyed spending time together with their wives and children. In 1851, Henry left his role as the area’s Congressman to become the first American Ambassador to Denmark, a position he held for most of the 1850s. Before departing, he invited Alec over for a night of fun, inspired by Robert Burns’ poetry, and wrote a playful limerick:
My wife’s awa;’ my wife’s awa’,
Na mair she can me tease;
She’s gan til her father an’ mither an’ a’,
And I can do as I please.
So if you’re in for a night of joy,
And gin grat fun ye wad see,
Just don your plaidie my merry boy,
And o’er the meadow to me.
A wee bit room in eastern wing,
A ceiling so love and snug,
A cheerfu’ bleeze in the chimney neuk
And ablains a bit of a jug.
A bit of jug wi’ the barley bree,
A jest and merry sang,
And twa, thra friends what helping me
To push the hours along.
The wind may roar an’ the rain may fa’,
My wife’s awa’, my wife’s awa’;
Na mair she can me tease,
She’s gan til her father an’ mither an’ a’,
An’ we can do as we please.
Shortly after Henry’s departure, Alec entered politics and was elected to fill his friend’s former congressional seat. He continued to treasure their friendship and their shared love of art.
In 1858, Henry returned from his ambassadorship and reunited with his wife and children in Shepherdstown. While he was away, they had introduced a Christmas tradition to the area: a decorated tree. This was a completely new idea that had only recently caught on in Europe, thanks to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. The Bedingers’ neighbors and friends marveled at the new tradition, with many following suit in later years.
Overall, the content is a brief look at the lives and friendship of two men, united by a love of art and a passion for life. The story is charming and offers a glimpse into a bygone era, rich with tradition and whimsy.
Posted by Jim Surkamp on 2015-03-26 12:49:18