Love stories are the best. Especially true love stories. Among them are Abigail and John Adams, Elizabeth Barrettt and Robert Browning, and my Grandfather Alphonse and Catherine from Belgium. He fought under Napoleon III in the Franco Prussian War and was a cook for his commanding general. When released from the Army, around the age of twenty-five, he failed to see a fast coming train which resulted in an accident. The doctors amputated one leg and four toes from the other foot. After several years of doctors and hospital stays, Alphonse became a maker of high button shoes and carved intricate chests and wall shelves. Around the age of thirty-three years old, Alphonse met Catherine. Possibly she purchased shoes from him. She was twenty-seven years old, quiet and soft spoken. Both of them loved music and singing together. They were married and seven children joined this union. She purchased the buttons, nails, needles, leather and material for the shoes, and wood for his carving. In addition, Catherine knitted children’s sweaters and socks along with vests and coverings for the stump on her husband’s leg. Alphonse made shoes, note the picture, and did most of the cooking, helped the children with school work, and chores. In spite of his condition, he was jovial and cheerful, well learned in history and countries. When they immigrated to America, he was invited to give lectures at the local college. After Catherine’s death, he never married.
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