a new house

a new house

I saw a photo from a long time, so long it doesn’t matter when
the photo was taken; by a couple still youngish with four children
of school age outside a newly constructed house
The year was 1909. looked straight at the camera as was
the norm back then, they had the Sunday’s best on
The family was not prosperous but exuded repose of moving
into their own home.
The father looked like having a secure job, perhaps in a bank
or working for a railway company, the new-middle class
that with limited education, could do well and move forward
with enough money to give the children a good start in life.
They didn’t know of the many hurdles they would overcome
a war was on the horizon, perhaps the oldest boy would join
and overcome by trench warfare and die of typhus.
We don’t know what the future holds but on this day. 1909. was
their happiest day, remembered as long as they lived.