hands

My husband's grandmother...
born late in the 19th century,
grew up on a Webster County Missouri farm.
Helping a careless brother chop firewood,
she lost the first joint
of her right index finger.
She had dainty little hands.
After she died, I found a dozen pair
of beautiful little kid gloves in
her top drawer.
I have very small hands too.
Thinking they might fit me,
I discovered
a tiny wad of cotton...
tucked into the right index finger
of each right hand glove.