Perhaps you have noticed this lovely blue sapphire ring I wear now. This is the amazing story of my ring. My Aunt Grace Bancroft (who had no children) willed this ring to me because my birthstone is sapphire. She told me this story.

A cousin on her mother’s side, was a very independent little girl, and at about the age of 10, her parents kicked her out of the house. She lived on the streets in New Jersey. She slept in a doorway but a kind woman who lived there let her sleep in her apartment. But she had to work selling newspapers on the street. Her name was Babe. At least that was the name she was called on the street. She hung out with the boys who sold newspapers and learned how to gamble and win! She kept saving her winnings because she had a dream.

When she grew up, she wanted to go to Monte Carlo and gamble. Babe realized her dream in her teens and boarded a ship headed for France. On the ship she met a very rich man and later married him and lived a long happy life in New York. This ring was her engagement ring.

In the 1940’s she took my Aunt Grace to France and to Monte Carlo. I can remember as a child hearing Aunt Grace talk about Babe. She must have been a strong, wonderful woman.

The ring is set in a platinum setting with 2 small diamonds on each side. All I know about her is this story and her name, Babe Ritchey. I wear it now and feel my distant relative’s spirit. I believe it shows the tenacity of our family and how even unfortunate circumstances can be turned into beauty by the belief in your soul.