Annie May's Mother

I don't know how long this portrait had been hanging in a low spot below other framed prints in the antique store, but when I took her photograph in my hands and read the message on the back, I couldn't leave her there. In shaky script on the cardboard backing, Annie May York had signed her note. 

"This is Henry Yorkat my deathtake good cair of This Henry for I amgone to meet herLove, sisAnnie May York" 
Whatever had happened to Annie May or Henry, the photograph had not been treasured by descendants, for here it hung, gathering dust in a vast room dedicated to untold piles of china, silver, glassware, pottery, Pyrex, and kitchenwares. I couldn't leave it there. lI brought it home with me to Nebraska. 
And then, one day, I got brave and removed the cardboard backing. And yelped with amazement.  Can you see the writing? Someone had filled the back of the photograph with ... I didn't know what. But after hours of squinting, magnifying, manipulating, and guessing ... I have most of it transcribed. It brought tears to my eyes because of the emotion. Here's what Annie May wrote about her mother (with spelling and capitalization as written long ago--and an "x" in places where I still haven't deciphered a word or three):Dear god this is mymother the mother of thex x x and xx. Oh how I love her. Shex gone 1 year 4 mos. looks asif it been a life time but not a dayor night doe I miss asking god to help mebe good enough to meet her for that waswhat she ask me to do to live a good lifeand meet her and I thank god I am readyto go meet her any time. I had rather be withher in sweet slumber than hafto endure thisone sided life hear oh god may I clasp her inmy arms again. I stood by her untill deathparted us. Just what she ask me. s xto do a promies I made promises I filledI know god a just god when he take thisprecious one from me he taken all andall I loved mother so dearly andI could talk to her and get comfort whenI talk to her and a good advice from a preciousmother who trusted god. and had faith beyonddoubt more than anyone I ever knew. Sheleft loving all her children regardless what theydone. they was still precious and good inher sight. Oh I miss her But not for xwould I call her back to go through this oldworld of trouble again May god bless allher children that they may live a good lifeand meet her for she want that more thanany one thing on earth. May god bless me andhave mercy on me guide me and give mex and grace faith and wisdom to begood and meet her again. She cant cometo us but we can go to meet her oh godeach day and night I pray for herto see x--heaven when I dieI want x x (a name) to have this picturefor she understand it was my treasureand her Grandma x love -- hermay god bless. E___ baby Pray(a date inscribed April the rest illegible) all alonex Jesus:Annie May x 
And yes ... I think I have found Annie May (thank you Ancestry.com). But that's part of another post after I've verified some things and asked for help from a wise genealogist I know. 
More to come!Stephanie Grace Whitson