Aunt Mary's Memoirs: Chapter 2: II

Papa's two sisters we saw frequently: Aunt Rose had never married; Aunt Mary married my mother's brother and they had no offspring of their own. This was a disappointment to them with the result they took a great interest in all the nephew and nieces. The oldest brother had eleven children; the youngest brother had three girls; and there were two boys and a girl of another brother, besides our large family. Aunt Mary and Aunt Rose gave parties and although we were younger than our cousins, we were often invited to these gatherings in the pretty parlor in South Philadelphia to play games and enjoy the good eats. The older boy cousins brought their lady friends and as they married, the brides would then be included into the groups.
No Byrne ever married into another family but rather he brought his wife into our Clan and must meet with the proper approval by the elders. It was not until I was long married and with children of my own, and most of the aunts and uncles had passed on, that I felt free to be myself.