I'm lucky. Most everything I write elicits a favorable response from faithful readers. But no column has had as much of an emotional impact as the one I wrote last month to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. In fact, I'm still hearing from folks.

The column ("A St. Patrick's Day gift, from one sister to another," March 17) told the tale of my dearest piece of St. Paddy's memorabilia - a lovingly handcrafted book from a bygone era. The pages reveal a poem about Ireland written in longhand and illustrated with vintage postcards. Quite a few readers, including Ruth Roller of Los Altos, believe the work to be a unique, sweet, sisterly tribute.

In her handwritten note, Roller said, "personal gifts that people made in the past are more beautiful and treasured than ones bought today." She went on to say, "I have several from different members of my family that I dearly treasure. Thanks for the article and the walk down Memory Lane."

I asked readers who knew anything about Annie Cowan Sangster, the book's creator, to contact me. Laverne Bornschlegel from Mountain View, among other curious readers, called or wrote to see what I learned about the woman who had assembled such a remarkable keepsake.

To my great surprise and everlasting thanks, Sharon Hoyt - a genealogist living in the San Jose area - took it upon herself to do some research. In the first of a series of letters to me Hoyt said, "I enjoy your columns each week, but this morning's story on the St. Patrick's Day book given to Ethel Cowan by her sister Annie particularly piqued my interest. What a great story, and a beautiful book as well."

Hoyt graciously researched the history of the Cowans. Annie's father, Robert H. Cowan, was born about 1832 in either Ireland or Scotland. He moved to Canada where he married Lydia Peer, Annie's mother, in 1861.

The couple and the first of their two children, including Annie, moved to the United States in the 1860s. The family added three more children after settling in California. From additional information Hoyt provided, it's likely that relatives remain in the Bay Area. I will follow through on her leads and keep you posted.

The most loving response to the column came from Beth Moore of Rio Del Mar. Moore told me how much she enjoyed the story, and said she was glad I was carefully guarding the fragile piece of ephemera.

Moore continued by telling me about the untimely death of her beloved daughter Carole from cancer. Moore told me about the frequent times the pair went hunting for antiques.

Moore said she "wanted to get her daughter's treasures to where they needed to be." And she insisted I take care of Carole's postcards despite my pleas to keep them in the family. We agreed to meet later that week.

It was tough to remain strong as Moore tenderly placed a small parcel in my hands. Moore said, "Carole kept these wrapped in archival paper. She took good care of her things." I undid the package and gently held Carole's holiday postcards. On the top of the pile were two issued for St. Patrick's Day. Their bright green hues as vivid as the day they were made nearly a century ago.

Together we looked at the postcards as well as a group of trade cards (advertisements) Moore wanted me to have. I knew this brave woman fought back tears as she remembered those happy days spent with her daughter.

As I thanked Moore for the precious gift, a quote my wise grandmother repeated now and then over her long life came to mind. Grandmother said, "And if my ship goes from your sight, it doesn't mean the journey ends. It only means the river bends."

Contact Steven Wayne Yvaska at syvaska@mercurynews.com or (408)920-5986. Fax (408)288-8060.