Valentine's Day 191 Years Ago

by

Mike Welton

As this is the month of February and Valentine's Day falls within, see if you can decipher this illustrated Valentine letter (it’s called a Rebus) sent to my great, great grandfather ’s sister, a lady called Emma Hemmans. It is postmarked 2:00pm February 14th 1820.

I make no apologies for some of the names mentioned in it, I have no idea who they are or what they mean, I can only assume it was some kind of nickname they had between them.

The illustrated letter above deciphered.

       Deer

My Dear little Emma

Eye   Hope       Yew                  Liberty (Bell)Eye    Ham

I        hope        you will excuse the liberty        I        am

                   Inn               Letter   Toe   Yew   Sign

now taking in writing a letter     to     you     signing

        Butt Ass                                   Eye

John but  as     it is Valentines day   I   consider it

           Bull Eye      Knot                      Yew

Allowable - I     do not know whether you

Will                               Butt   Toe       Yew

will find me out or not but     to   give you some

Eye Deer      Eye Ham Yew                           Crow

  idea   of who I   am   you must know that Chro

           Ton                               Ass Bean

nonhotonthologotetibusque has been seen by

                                                       Yew        Bean

Altiberontefoscofornie who says you have been

           Mother and child         Yew                     Last

A good little girl since he left you on sixth day last

Hand        4      Eye   Ham   Well

And therefore   I       am     well pleased

Yew                  

You must know that Chrononhotonthologotetibusque

is my old man.

Yours Sincerely

       Altiberontefoscofornie