FAMILY HISTORY: POETRY Collection written by Elsie Strawn ARMSTRONG File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Les Howard Strawn Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ CHAPTER THIRD When I was at a wedding About thirty miles from home, There I met a stranger, Who to see me soon did come "Twas reported he was rich; And his family was good; And all my people seemed to say Marry him, I should. He said his house was good, And was already swept and garnished, His furniture was of the best, His house it was well furnished. He said he had a brew-house For which he paid a thousand, And on the lot two others Smaller, but good houses. And he'd ninety-five acres About one mile from town, Under good improvements, And it was the best of ground. He had sold a large red house Near the center of the town, But some short time before, And got half the money down. He said I need not wet my hand, Nor do nothing in the world, He would not like to see me work, He would rather keep a girl. I told him that our family Were all bound for the West, They had all made up their minds That Ohio was the best. And my brother and my sister Are now already there, A living on some land That my father did prepare. And there are two hundred acres A lying there for me, They say it's very good, But the land I did not see. He answered, "I'm determined That I will go there too, And how happy I should be If I could go with you." So the ninetieth day of May The fatal knot was tied, And in the month of September We took a horseback ride. We rode on to Ohio To see our friends and land, At which he seemed well pleased, And said it was most grand. When we rode among the walnuts That lay upon the ground, The cherry and the oak, And the poplar standing round. He exclaimed, "I am astonished, I am tired of the town, I'll go home and I'll sell out, And come here and till this ground." And the clear fork of the Licking, Ran through along one side, And on it a good mill seat, In which he took much pride. He said, "I will improve it As quick as ere I come, For the mill seat and the race Are already nearly done." And we found peculiar crab apples, They were so large and yellow, They looked so well and smelled so good, You would have thought them mellow. He said, "When we go back We'll take some of those to town, To let them see the natural fruit That grows upon this ground." So after we got back He offered to sell out, But his old companions Kept turning him about. They love to meet him at the grogshops, The tavern or hotel, For there he was no stranger, And knew how to ring the bell. I saw his time and property Were all agoing to waste, And I thought it would be better For us to leave the place. At length he did determine Upon his price to fall, Then there came a rich old Dutchman Bought his brew-house, lots and all. And so we left Pennsylvania In the year of eleven, The fifteenth day of April, And now it's fifty-seven.