Bio: Audrey Livingston

Interview conducted June 21, 1910, by Emily Clementine

(Audrey Livingston is a friend of Emily.) 1. Name: Amalise Camilla (Audrey) Livingston

2. Date of Birth: October 30, 1893

3. Place of Birth: Helena, Montana

4. Parents: Otis and Darla Livingston

5. Siblings: Tyler Jermaine (1891-), Grant Connor (1899-) Denise Ormond (1902-)

6. Describe your childhood. I grew up living in an apartment attached to Livingston's Department Store in Helena over on 4th. That was the first Livingston's, there are now 22 of them in five states. I met Jan in the Last Chance Gulch District Livingston's when I was nine. We hated each other for years, but lately, I've had a change of heart. Jan and Karen are now dear friends.

7. What did you enjoy doing as a child? Running around the store after dark and making the mannequins into actors for a play.

8. What is your earliest memory? My mother feeding me mashed carrots.

9. How old were you when you went on your first date and where did you go? 13. Joshua Greenbaum took me to the Pumpkin Ball. Karen and Jan went too!

10. Pets? Douglas, a guinea pig.

11. Education: Senior, St. Albans High School. I hope to attend Jennings University after graduation.

12. Current friends: Karen Aldridge, Jan Johnson, Simon Hastings, Harriett Dallas

13. Occupation: Ambassador for the King of Kings. Simon said that in his sermon last week.

14. What was your first job? I was the unofficial greeter at the store since I could walk. I handed out coupons and even operated the elevator by standing on a milk crate.

15. How much did you make? Room and board.

16. What do you like to do in your free time? Study the Bible. There is so much to learn. I envy you, Emily; you've had the opportunity to be in church your entire life! I'll bet you read the Bible every night, don't you?

Um… I… um… have a Bible in my room, so, in a way, I like to think that it is always near my heart.

17. What are you doing now? Relaxing in Jan's pool. She is so sweet for inviting me over here.

18. Do you admire a famous person? Fanny J. Crosby. She is blind but still manages to be a prolific hymnist. I like a poem she wrote called "A Serenade for New Year's Eve." It really touched my heart.

19. What makes them admirable? She's unstoppable. Several circumstances would have served to impede the progress of most folks. Fanny just keeps going, joyfully intone with the grace of God.

20. What is your favorite food? Strawberries.

21. What is your favorite color? Mustard

22. What is your favorite song? Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah by William J. Kirkpatrick

23. Hobbies: Visiting the infirmed. I've made a friend out of Kellar, this elderly man that I met at a home that Simon and I went to one Sunday after services.

24. Name of the last book you read? Say And Seal by Susan Warner. It is from this novel that we get the song, "Jesus Loves Me."

25. Tell me about a memorable moment in your life; a time you will never forget. For my birthday, I got a new pair of knit gloves from this fashion house in Paris. My father arranged for them to come over on a steamer and....

"Audrey? Audrey?"

"A-a-a-are you ok?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

Simon and I were at the jail last Tuesday doing a Bible study. There was a young woman, maybe nineteen or twenty; the police had found her during a raid on an opium den. Before that, she'd been arrested in December for shoplifting a pair of gloves from our store. The judged sentenced her to a month in jail and then she was released. Remember when we had that big blizzard on Valentine's Day? She got frostbite. She lost three fingers on her left hand, two on her right. I probably would've not even noticed her. We get shoplifters from time to time. Our guards rough them up and we call the police. She probably saw my fancy gloves on display in the window and… my goodness, how could I ever live with myself?

26. What things do you find yourself doing that you said you'd never do? Feeling the way I do right now.

27. What are the goals you are still working toward? I don't want anything. I've been surrounded with fancy stuff my entire life and now, all of a sudden, I despise it!

"Audrey? Audrey, relax. She was just some dope fiend who tried to steal some stupid gloves from your fathers' store . She got what she deserved!"

Karen, you don't get it.

"I for one da-da-don't get it."

Listen, Jan, Karen, Emily, I'm just going through a lot of changes in my life right now.

"I'll say. Speaking of changes, have you seen Blake Filmore lately? He's a hippo!"

Karen, I use my lips to praise God not tear down my fellow man.

"Oh pla-pla-pla-please!"

"Enough with the sermons, Audrey. Get back to Emily's questions."

You're right for once, Karen. Emily, what's your next question?

28. When people look back at your life, how do you want to be remembered? Different. Actually, I want no memory of me at all. I would, however, like to leave a legacy of goodness in people's lives that would live on well after I am forgotten.

29. What is your favorite outdoor activity? Lacrosse.

30. Do you attend church or religious services? Ewing Street Church of Christ. Simon preaches there once a month. We’re thinking about having a mid-week Bible study at the church building, maybe on Wednesday or Thursday night. Everyone in town has electric lamps and the streets are illuminated.

That's too far-fetched. It'll never catch on. God made Sunday morning and only Sunday morning for church. It says so in the Bible.

Seriously? Where?

Um..? Um…? In Isaiah chapter… one… nine… seven… verse two.

But, there aren't that many chapters in the book of Isaiah. Also, why would he mention anything about Sunday morning?

31. Never mind. What is your favorite Bible verse? Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." That's what I'm trying to do, live a new life. It's really hard at times but it's always rewarding. What's your favorite Bible verse, Emily?

Um… I… um… what's that… one where… the guy says… that thing about… doing stuff?

I dunno. There are thousands of Bible verse that encourage people to do stuff, Emily. For example, Galatians 6:10 says "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

And that is exactly the verse I was trying to think of! That's the one where the prophet Galatians says to the other guy, from the Philippines, to do good stuff. See? See? I am a Bible reader too!

32. What makes you happy? Making new friends. I've found that just about anyone can be a friend if you'll let them in.

33. What makes you sad? Realizing that there are some mistakes I cannot correct because of time or circumstance.

34. What frightens you? Hypocrisy.

I had that once as a child. Mrs. Conrad made Sarah and I eat this disgusting soup made from yams. Gross!

35. What is there about you that would surprise people if they found out? I collect spoons.