Dear Sir, - Although I have been a one-legged reader of your paper for several years, I have never before contributed to its columns.
I am 24 years of age, and was married when I was 18, and whilst on a motoring honeymoon with my husband (who was Frenchman, and much older than myself) we were involved in an accident which resulted in my husband being killed and my right leg being badly smashed, which necessitated its amputation.
After the amputation I stayed in the nursing home for several months, getting used to crutches and eventually finding favour which just one slender crutch, which I consider the best way for a one-legged girl to get about.
I eventually got back to my parents house, and shortly after, my little girl, Celeste, was born. She is now five years old. My husband left me fairly well off, so I had no troubles of any kind beyond the fact that I was a one-legged girl and a mother. My little daughter cannot understand why I have only got one leg, and she often says, "Why is it, mummy, that you have not got two legs like other mothers, instead of a long wooden one?" Meaning my crutch, of course.
I must say that my amputation was a splendid success, as I never had the slightest trouble since, which is perhaps because I have never tried to wear an artificial leg, and I do not intend to, as I am quite enamoured with my little collection of different types of crutches in various colours.
I took Celeste and her nurse to the South Coast last year to a bungalow I had rented, and whilst we were done there I met a most charming one-legged boy two years older than myself. I was feeling rather tired one afternoon, and was hopping one-legged along the front on my crutch, when a car pulled into the kerb and a voice said:
"Can I give you a lift, my one-legged colleague?"
He opened the door, and I then saw that he was minus his left leg. So I said, "Thanks so much," and put my crutch in the back with his, and hopped on the seat beside him.
He told me that he was an accountant with a very big firm, and that as we were both one-legged, I was to call him Jim, so I told him that my name was Julie. I asked him to come and have a cup of tea on the lawn, which he did.
I went to a show with him that night, and the next evening he called for me to take me home to dinner and introduce me to his mother, with whom he lived. She was a very charming lady, and at once made me feel quite at home, wanting to know how and when I had lost my leg.
Jim lost his in a motor smash, too.
To cut a long story short, Jim and I were married twelve months ago. We went to the South of France for our honeymoon, and Jim's mother took care of Celeste whilst we were away. Needless to say, whenever Jim and I go hopping along together we get a lot of attention paid us. I must say, however, that when we are together we make a handsome one-legged pair, and we are not adverse to going anywhere at all.
I have just started getting about again, having presented my daughter Celeste with a little baby sister whom we have named Margaret, after Jim's mother.
I have no regrets at all in regard to my one-legged condition, and neither has Jim, and we make the best of things. We have a car and a good income, so what more could two married monopedes desire? We have taken a vow that we will never wear an artificial leg of any sort, but just go on in our own one-legged way.
Wishing "London Life" the best success is the ardent desire of two happy one-legged mortals.
Yours truly,
One-Legged Wife.