27 December 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.On Christmas, I introduced Abe to the traditions my family brought over from the old country. We had a wonderful day and made merry into the afternoon, whereupon Abe collapsed rather suddenly. I was barely able to rouse him, and found he had developed a terrible rash. I summoned a doctor, but he could find no cause. I knew then that the matter was beyond his ken, thanked him for his attempt, and allowed him to leave in certainty he had done all he could.
I tended to him as best I could over the night, and with the help of a carriage driver brought him to the Monongahela in the morning. He was able to muster some strength on reaching the water, but not as much as I had expected. The river spirits came, and informed us that Abe was growing too attached to mortal life, and it was only a matter of time before he was fully severed from the water, and warned that his river must be dying without him. They refused to help, claiming that he was too far gone now, and only his own river would have him. We returned home and I helped him back into bed, and saw that the rash had grown. He insists that he will survive this, given time, and that he wished to stay with me. I was able to convince him to agree to return to the river if this seemed like it would kill him. I do not know if God still hears me, but I prayed over him all night. It is now just after dawn, and I must rest. He is comfortable, and there is little more I can do for him in my current state.
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26 December 1905EXCERPT FROM THE DAILY RECORDS OF DR. HAROLD PRICE, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNA.The Reverend brought Old Tom to the clinic after lunch. They agreed to wait as I tended to the youngest Parnitski boy, and we spoke in my office. It seems that he had a regular meeting with some local clergy, and a colleague asked after young Miss Wozniak. It had come to this man's attention that she was married by a judge late last week to a man with a foreign name, and he, having remembered her as someone Rev Halzberg had mentioned as a member of his flock, was wondering why he was not tasked with such a ceremony. The Rev was able to dismiss the other's concerns and gather some information on the whereabouts of the pair. Old Tom made his urgency clear, citing the river running red over Christmas. I agreed to help, if we were certain this would set things right in our city. Both insisted it would. I have cleared my schedule for tomorrow, we shall depart at dawn.
21 December 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.Brandon and Marilyn arrived yesterday and we had a celebratory dinner. It was a lovely evening and we all retired well into the night.
In the morning, Marilyn helped me select a nice dress and we went to speak with a judge. He agreed to perform the ceremony, after we filled out some simple paperwork. Abe has not learned how to read and write, so a court clerk assisted him. It seems there was some confusion, Abe did not have a surname and when asked for one he noted that he is from Madison. The clerk took that as a name, and spelled it in a manner similar to a family he knew. We took our vows, and I became Mrs. Aaboukingon Matteson. Afterward, the four of us went and had a nice day in town with discussed the future. A splendid time was had by all. We parted ways after supper, each returning to our homes. I am eager to put the troubles of the past couple months behind us and make a new life for ourselves. 16 December 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.Abe was feeling much better to-day. We have made a journey to the river every day and the time spent in the water seems to be doing him much good. I stay on shore, but the cold don't seem to bite him. Today, for my birth-day, he insisted on taking me somewhere more private, along the Allegheny. We left early to find a place he knew north of Pitsburg, where we could enjoy the water in peace. He surely knew this land well! Even covered in snow, it was magnificent. It looked like no one had been to that place since God Himself shaped it.
The water was still moving, despite the ice on the edges. Abe asked for my hand, and gently led me to the water. I told him I was hardly dressed for a swim, and anyway, there was no way I could handle freezing out here. He assured me there was nothing to fear, and I carefully kept to his side. Much to my surprise, we were not going into the water, but onto it! I felt like Peter himself, standing on that river as it ran away under me, and on memory of how that went for the good apostle I grabbed tight to Abe. He laughed, and led me to the middle of the river. He asked me to let go, just enough he could grab something. I was sore afraid, but slowly let go of all but his hand. He knelt down and put his free hand into the water, and when it emerged again it had a small pile of sand in it. As I watched, he clenched his hand around it, and when he opened it again, he was holding a most beautiful ring! He asked me to be his bride, to stay with him as long as we both should live! Well. After a stunt like that, I could hardly say no. 16 December 1905Marilyn,
I have just returned from a most beautiful day out with Abe, and I would like to inform you that I have accepted an offer of marriage from him. I understand that you may have concerns you would wish to speak with me about. You have expressed as much before. I would welcome a discussion with you when next you visit, but I would ask also that you support our decision. Brandon and yourself have been the only friends who have stood by us through everything, and I would be shattered to know something that brings such joy to me would mean the loss of your favor. As such, I ask that you both come quickly. There is little reason for us to delay such a ceremony, as I need not wait for family that will not come or a reverend who will not perform the rite. The two of you will likely be our only witnesses, and we would be delighted to share the experience with you. I will tell you all about his proposal on your arrival. Patiently yours, Joanna 5 December 1905RECOVERED FROM THE LOGS OF THE RIVERBOAT HASTINGSAsked after Manfred as I hadn't heard from him in a few days. No-one in town has seen him, but Old Tom spit when I mentioned his name. I fear he and his boys have linked M and his bell to that business with the red Indian, there had been word he'd been raising ghosts on the river, and turned on him. These logs are the only place I know are safe to record what they're doing now. Word has it the Wozniak estate has been all but shunned. Old Tom came around asking if I'd heard anything on the river about Joanna and the boy. I told them I hadn't, and made sure to remind him that the river was starting to improve. I don't believe he was listening. Whatever they have in their heads, I don't think it will come out now but through their hands.
30 November 1905PORTIONS OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.Brandon and Marilyn came last night to bring food and check on Abe and I. Marilyn expressed concern about the community back home, says the river is getting worse and tensions are rising. Fishermen haven't caught anything edible in days. The Reverend compared it to the plague of blood in the Nile, Marilyn fears men will come looking for us. She had me sore afraid, but I told her there was nowhere else for Abe in his condition. I told them how he seemed to do better when I could bring him to the creek out back, but it was a small comfort and I can't do it anymore. They were staying the night, so Brandon offered to carry Abe to-day so we could travel to the Monongahela and see if that works better. Abe seemed hopeful.
We set out at first light in their carriage. Brandon carried him down into the water, and I went along to comfort Abe while Marilyn tended the lunch and towels. When we entered the river, two lumps of water formed and stood upright and greeted us! Brandon dropped Abe and fell backward toward the shore, then ran to Marilyn. I was terrified, but took courage and tried to hold Abe while introducing ourselves. They knew him, called him Aaboukingon, said he was their brother from the next leg of the river. They saw me trying to hold Abe's head above water and stated that his nature as a spirit will not let him drown. I stayed cautious all the same. The water circled round Abe and I, it felt like it was trying to squeeze us, but it never hurt. Abe regained all his color and strength and stood on top of the water itself. I heard Brandon and Marilyn muttering on shore. The river spirits and Abe spoke for a time in a language I could not understand--Abe told me at home it was the tongue of his people, I did not ask whether he meant spirits or the Indians--before addressing me again. The spirits told me that Abe and his river would be okay for a time, but he needs to return or he will die. They then left. We had a quiet lunch on shore. It was a lovely day for a picnic. Marilyn and I talked while the men tended to the horses, and she expressed concern about Abe really being a pagan spirit. She encouraged me to let him return to his river, as it seemed best for both of us. After we returned home and they left, with one more urging from Marilyn for me to let Abe go and come home, Abe determined to stay with me and assured that the spirits were overeager. He believes he will be fine if we visit the river frequently. 27 November 1905From microfilm records of the Pittsburg DispatchAfter much public discours in the city of Allegheney and many opinions sent to this very paper on the matter of the younger lady Wozniak, the esteemed patriarch of that estate issued a stern public condemnation over the week-end of her "illicit and unchristian behavior of late". She has been officially dis-owned by that family and is believed to be now living on the grounds of her lover.
The condemnation was announced on Saturday afternoon, and was incorporated into the Sunday sermon of the Reverend Liam Halzberg. Rev. Halzberg called on the community to reject the bewitching influence of the Red Indian and on Miss Wozniak to repent and return home. Mr. Wozniak expressed concern over rumors of a local body seeking to return Miss Wozniak to Allegheney by force and urged his neighbors to pray with patience for her safe return. 23 November 1905Official transcript: portions of the damaged diary of Joanna Wozniak, as recovered by the police department of Erie, PA, on the evening of May 28, 1974.I have determined to keep a record of all I have learned thus far of Abe and his story. I cannot continue investigating at the moment, as he has fallen terribly ill, but this information is too important to be lost as he recovers. On the evening of Tuesday, the 21st of November, I received word that Abe had been bedridden all day and was refusing doctors. I made arrangements with my family, who were deeply frightened for my safety after an event earlier that day with the Reverend Halzberg, Doctor Price, and Old Tom. I know not the details, but Father warned me that my home may be less welcoming Portion damagedI arrived around lunch on the following day, and found Abe in dire straits. He was delirious, his body bruised, and he was coughing up the most dreadful bile. He continuously muttered in a language I did not recognize, but would occasionally say fragments of a thought in English. It took me nearly the entire evening to piece these words together, and realized that he seemed to be claiming to need moving water. He appears to believe he has a connection with it, Portion damagedI solicited help from my driver, and we carried Abe to the stream at the edge of the property. When placed in the water, his mood grew more stable, and his words became more clear. Within the hour, his symptoms passed to where he could maintain his own composure. I sent the driver away, and we discussed his condition. Abe believes himself to be a spirit of a river, and not a native man at all. There is a part of me that wants to believe this is simply part of his poor health, a fleeting fancy that will pass as his mind grows strong again. But, it all makes sense. I fear that I have thrown in my lot with a pagan spirit, that the Reverend was right about him. No, I know Abe better than that. If he is a spirit, he is a blessed one, his heart pure and his touch soothing. If he is a spirit, let him be an angel. If he is an angel, let him be my angel. pages from here until entry dated 30 November have been torn out20 November 1905Marilyn,
I’ve just returned from a mostly delightful weekend with Abe at the old Madison house. Spending it here seemed unbearable with the judgement of so many friends, but he is such warm company and a light in the midst of a dark time. We were able to talk in peace and I learned much about what he does and does not remember. He has these glimpses, pieces of memories and dreams. He insists we was called Aaboukingon before, by his people, and he seems to recall exchanging favors and gifts with them, all tied to the river. On Friday, while we were gathering wood for the fire, I cut my hand. He called forth water from a nearby stream, and ran it over my hand, and healed the injury! It showed so sign of having ever been hurt. I don’t know how he does these wondrous things, but it seemed to tire him this time. He did seem to be suffering from his situation. I know not whether he was simply growing more homesick, or if he had caught an illness, but he talked of missing the river and of wishing he was not such a burden on me. Before he moved, we would visit every day, but he has no carriage in Madison and it is much farther. I promised him that I will make arrangements for him to visit it, or perhaps the Monongahela, which is much closer to him, soon. I assured him that I would return soon. There are enough guest rooms for us all, we should arrange for you and Brandon to visit sometime. You must see what he’s done with the place, it is far more vibrant than mother kept it. Sincerely, Joanna |
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