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/ ________________________________________________ And another family has come in That's living near to me, And with them I have bargained Over my cares to see. This man is nearly six feet high, Athletic, stout and bold, His teeth are white, his eyes are blue, He's thirty-nine years old. He's what the world calls well put up, Stands straight and is erect, About the sort of man you'd choose A house to protect. He weighs exact two hundred pounds, He's of a fair complexion, And since I am in his care, I feel I have protection. He starts my fires and leaves me coal, For me to burn by day, To keep me warm if it should storm, Sometimes, he goes away. His wife is of the smaller kind, Scarce weight a hundred pounds, But she is of the smartest kind At business, all around. She's industrious and ingenious At every kind of work, Persevering, energetic And never known to shirk. She washes and she irons And brings me in my clothes, To be faithful, kind and hones She seems to be disposed. She is pleasant, kind and cheerful, Help me, she often would, And feeble age and blindness Such a friend's very good. She is straight and neat in person, And of graceful form, In attachment she is steady, In her friendship firm and strong.