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/
  ________________________________________________
  
  July, 1863.  When I was going to Jacksonville with my brother Jacob Strawn and 
  three young ladies, we spent a day in Springfield.  Jacob engaged an omnibus to 
  take us through the city.  We went first to the Matteson house and there I met 
  special old acquaintances that I have known since their childhood.  Mr. Eaton 
  Goodell of Springfield, and Mrs. May Spicer of Chicago.  The ladies, after 
  looking through the house and grounds, went on with brother, but I stayed and 
  had a pleasant visit with my friends and Mrs. Goodell and her grandmother.  Mrs. 
  Spicer wished me to get up some rhyme on my visit there, especially for Mr. 
  Goodell, so I made an attempt.
  
  Near thirty years ago
      A little boy I knew
  His skin was fair, his cheeks were red,
      His eyes were pretty blue.
  
  And then, when small and young,
      In a store he did engage,
  And there he did more business
      Than others twice his age.
  
  No matter where the goods,
      If they were high or low,
  He would spring upon the counter
      And the goods he soon would show.
  
  So pleasant and so active
      To wait on all came in,
  Faithful and persevering
      That boy has ever been.
  
  He grew in stature and in favor
      With all the good and great,
  When something over twenty
      He chose himself a mate.
  
  She was the Governor's daughter,
      The Governor of our State,
  In every sense a lady,
      Worthy to be his mate.
  
  They are living now in Springfield,
      Magnificent and grand,
  But still they're kind and pleasant
      To their friends on every hand.
  
  When I was in Springfield,
      I went to see the grounds,
  Hearing of the garden
      And the splendor that surrounds.
  
  When I entered in the door,
      To my joy and surprise,
  Familiar old acquaintances
      Were the first things met my eyes.
  
  They took me by each hand
      As soon as I got there,
  And said, "Oh, Mrs. Armstrong!
      Why! How did you get here?"
  
  When I told them how it was
      They said, "You must stay here today,
  Your company is not going,
      And with us you must stay."
  
  I thought it was my privilege
      To stay with friends so kind,
  And the pleasing invitation
      Did exactly suit my mind.
  
  We all went in the garden
      And he showed us all the grounds,
  And the girls seemed much delighted
      With the scenery around.
  
  So much delicious fruit
      Was a pleasant sight to see,
  And the ripest and the best
      He picked and gave to me.
  
  The girls picked for themselves,
      For they could choose and see,
  But as I was old and blind
      He was picking still for me.
  
  Till my pockets all were full
      And I told him to desist,
  But still he was finding extras
      That I must have, he did insist.
  
  One acre and one quarter
      Of the riches kind of ground,
  Ornaments and flowers
      And lots of fruit around.
  
  When the girls ate all they wished
      They went riding with my brother,
  But I stayed there with them
      And their good old grandmother.
  
  He took me through the house
      And showed my every part,
  There could be nothing wanting
      To please and cheer the heart.
  
  So rich and so convenient,
      It doth surely far excel
  All I ever saw before,
      And there this couple dwell.
  
  That house in which they live
      Cost ninety thousand dollars,
  They are both superior persons
      And both of them are scholars.
  
  They're what the world calls well put up,
      And both full medium size.
  Straight, well formed and handsome,
      And both have got blue eyes.
  
  And that lady from Chicago
      That in the house did meet,
  I was very glad to see her,
      And to me, it was a treat.
  
  And that interesting lady
      Whose age was eighty-three,
  Intelligent and smart,
      And nine years older than me.
  
  Toward evening he took his carriage
      And took me all around,
  Showing me the richest
      And best part of the town.
  
  And took me to the State House,
      Showed me where my sons did sit,
  And pleasant, friendly people
      In that house we met.
  
  Then he took me to the depot
      To the ladies and my brother,
  And when the cars came on,
      We all went off together.
  
  If I had been their mother
      They could not have been more kind,
  To make my visit pleasant
      And cheering to my mind.
  
  O, may sweet smiling comfort
      Still throw their ways with flowers,
  Yielding them fresh fragrance
      On every passing hour.