Five years later, in 1908, she drew this sketch of birds flying under daisies, accompanied by two literary quotes. In this, the only surviving example of her handwriting, she was carefully copying a quote from the author William Makepeace Thackery and one "Rambler," which may have been a quote from Samuel Johnson's periodical The Rambler.

At 21 years of age, she would not be creating this as a school assignment, but for her own amusement. One quote refers to developing strength of character in order to face one's destiny, the other speaks to the characteristics necessary to build solid friendship.

Given the fact that this small piece of paper has been preserved for nearly a century after its creation, did these words hold a special place in Bina's heart? Considering the difficulties she would face over the next six years of her life, did she turn to this recipe sized paper, with its images of flowers in bloom and birds flying merrily between the blossoms, for strength or comfort?

Created two years before her marriage, she held on to it, and preserved it during her marriage and for the remainder of her life. Did Ethel, her surviving daughter also carry on this tradition, cherishing this fragile piece of paper as a treasured heirloom of her mother's?

For young Ethel, was this cheery little drawing of summer flowers, birds in flight, and the words that accompanied them a tangible reminder of happier times? Did Ethel also find comfort and the assurance of her mother's own strength of character, living on in this fragile piece of paper, long after its creator's body had failed her?

Jakobina and Albin's marriage was blessed with the birth of two children, Ethel Josephine Olson born on April 20, 1911 and her younger brother, Albin Ferdinand Olson born two years later on August 16, 1913.

But tragedy soon struck the young family. Tuberculosis, sweeping the United States, took a heavy toll.

In November 1913, when baby Albin was only three months old, his father died. The child followed his father in death four months later, on March 20, 1914. And Bina, having lost both husband and child in the space of four months, succumbed to tuberculosis eight months later, on November 9, 1914.

Little Ethel, at three and a half years of age, was now an orphan. On October 27, 1928 when Ethel was only 17 years old, she joined her family, dying from tuberculosis.