|
|
A Texas-Norwegian-German
Valentine
"No Person
Shall Put Asunder" by Benard Burson
A synopsis by Coleman St. James |
|
Benard
and Mary Burson of Round
Rock are in their 63rd year of marriage. While their wedding was
performed by a pastor, it’s our belief that their 1945 wedding vows
were at least witnessed by a well-wishing blacksmith for the strength
of their commitment seems to have been forged by iron bands. Their
words of promise have certainly withstood the test of time - especially
the parts about sickness, health and “richer and poorer.”
This tiny self-published volume of 90 pages has the makings of an
epic saga, but (as it will be explained in the book), Mr. Burson has
the economic mind of an inventor and problem-solver. He may deal only
in facts - but wonderful facts they are.
Besides Ben and Mary’s Burson’s personal tale, which, in the right
hands could be written into an inspirational screenplay, this modest
book contains other stories of courtship and devotion. Perhaps quaint,
by today’s standards, the purity of these tales has the ring of classical
romance. |
|
|
Benard
and Mary Burson, 1945 |
| |
|
|
SSgt.
Burson with Mother Burson, 1943 |
| |
Mr.
Bursons’ grandparents immigrated from Norway and settled in Bosque
County in the 1860s. The book touches briefly on some of their stories
and then proceeds to the second generation and of Benard’s father
(Benny Burson) and his induction into the army during WWI
and adventures as a railroad
brakeman.
Before he could be sent to training, Pvt. Burson contracted Spanish
Influenza in 1918 at a camp in St. Louis and was left for dead. He
wasn’t expected to last the night and the nursing staff had been ordered
not to feed him. A chance meeting with a Lutheran Chaplain and a meal
of communion wafers spared Benny’s life – the first of many miracles,
both large and small that the family would receive over the years.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of the book is Benny’s railroad
career and courtship. In the 1890s the railroad laid tracks across
countless Texas farms. One particular farm was near the Washington/
Austin County line, close to the town of Kenny,
Texas.
From the porch of one particular farm, a widow (with four girls and
two boys), watched the semaphore signals that would raise or lower
with the approach and passing of trains. She believed that “God and
his angels” controlled the railroad signals and considering that it
was a train that would bring her a son-in-law, she wasn’t too far
off.
Benny Burson was a brakeman on the railroad and when the train passed
this farm, he couldn’t help but notice the four girls that waved to
the train (making absolutely sure they were noticed by the crew).
Before long, presents were thrown from the caboose and kisses were
blown back. A block of ice thrown when the train was heading north,
had the girls saluting the train with glasses of lemonade when it
returned southbound.
Before long, Benny was borrowing the railroad handcar to visit the
girls, pumping the machine eight miles – one way. Benny would come
to dinner and soon sister Minnie became the focus of Benny’s attention.
Dinner evolved into a private picnic (with chaperoning sisters in
the bushes) and a first kiss was followed seconds later by a proposal
of marriage (complete with ring).
Benard
was born in 1922. In consideration of time and space, we’ll fast-forward
to 1945 when Staff Sergeant Benard Burson was stationed at Avinger
Field at Sweetwater,
Texas. SSgt. Burson was in charge of tower communication for the
field, which became headquarters for the WAASP.
Off duty, he’d visit a town eatery known as the City Café where he
became enamored of a laconic waitress who was “the most beautiful
angel to my eyes I had ever seen.” Benard kept ordering chicken-fried
steaks until the other waitresses took pity on him, and gave him Mary’s
name and some helpful hints on winning her heart. (Details of their
courtship and wedding are included in the book.)
The Burson’s built their house near Austin
“from scratch” using kite string to mark the foundations and free
coat hangers for reinforcement wire. A barn was salvaged for the boards
and only the fireplace was contracted out.
Benard’s mechanical mind was forever in gear and a series of problems
brought before him resulted in eight separate inventions. Several
of them years before their time. Trusting that the people who had
sought his knowledge would compensate him, Benard was sorely disappointed.
He seldom got so much as a thank-you, although some of his “solutions”
went on to make a lot of money for someone else.
While his life has been blessed with love and family, sadly, finance
and health were not included in the blessings. Mary has suffered a
disease for decades and Benard, in his seventies, attempted to fix
appliances to supplement their diminutive SS benefits. There isn’t
much of a demand for appliance repairs in a throwaway society and
between jobs, Benard began writing a family history. His attempts
were recognized to have worth beyond the immediate family (we concur)
and Benard took the step of self-publishing his book.
Although, the book's main flaw is editing, it’s still a delightful
collection of inspirational stories that would be right at home in
the Texana section of small town libraries and especially the towns
along the old Santa Fe Railroad line.
Mr. Burson’s book can be ordered from:
http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432709518
More
Texas Books | Love
and Marriages | |
|
|
