True treasures
Letters discovered in second-hand book hold sentimental value for local woman
NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — It was meant to be.
Three years after her father passed away, a New Glasgow woman received a call from her brother in Kentucky telling her she needed to get down to Second Edition Used Books in Stellarton — ASAP.
“It was really emotional,” said Ann Pellerine, sitting at the kitchen table in Priestville with letters spread in front of her, each bearing the seal of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The letters came from Germany and were sent by Pellerine’s father, Matt (Buddy) Corbett.
Corbett served in the First Canadian Guards, stationed in Germany after the Second World War. His letters, addressed to Pellerine’s grandmother, Helen Corbett of Westville, ask about the weather back home and tell of plans to spend time in Spain during the winter to catch some sunshine.
Pellerine’s mother had also recently passed, and she chose to bring some of her mother’s books to the Stellarton book store, where it’s owner, Gerry Smith, did with them what he does with every other item his shop — he shelved them away.
“The letters were in one of these,” said Smith, looking through the shelf for non-fiction war books and pulling two items down. “I think it was one of these two but I’m not sure.”
Whichever book it was, at the time it seemed to stand out.
“When I went to pick them up, (Gerry) said that the book looked like it was about to fall off the shelf,” said Pellerine, recalling the afternoon on Nov. 21 when she went over.
Pressed inside the pages were the letters that her father had sent home. When Smith found them, he said he only had one thought: “Somebody would probably like to have these back.”
Smith posted the find on social media. From there, it was broadcast over the radio and heard by a local woman who used to work with Corbett. She connected with Pellerine’s brother who lives in Kentucky, and the rest is history.
“As kids, there’s a lot of stuff that you don’t ask about,” said Pellerine. “Having these is really comforting. It was almost like we were meant to have it.”