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/
  ________________________________________________
  
  In August, 1863, at my nephew's in Lacon, I met a Methodist preacher who 
  asked me if I was not rejoicing at the idea of the Negroes being free.  After a 
  few words, I told him to read his Bible.  He said he did read his Bible, I told 
  him he would read from Genesis to Revelations of master and servant through 
  every generation.  I gave him some of my ideas in rhyme.
  
  When this war commenced,
      We thought it was to save the Union,
  But now the war is changed
      All for Abolition.
  
  They never would have gone
      If they had not been deceived,
  Murdered for Abolition,
      My heart is doubly grieved.
  
  When Noah left the ark,
      He with him all did bring,
  For God commanded Noah
      To take every living thing.
  
  Shem, Ham and Japheth
      Were the names of Noah's sons,
  But Japheth had the promise
      More than both the other ones.
  
  Japheth shall be enlarged
      And in Shem's tents shall dwell,
  Canaan shall be his servant,
      And that, the Book doth tell.
  
  Ham, for misdemeanor
      On his seed was left a curse,
  And the meddling abolitionists
      Have made it ten times worse.
  
  And I will multiply thee
      As the stars of heaven,
  So vast will be thy seed
      The numbers can't be given.
  
  Three hundred and eighteen servants
      In Abraham's house were born,
  And how many more he had
      From the Book we cannot learn.
  
  But it speaks of all those
      That with his money he had bought,
  Not how many he from Haran
      To Canaan with him brought.
  
  But the Book says he was rich
      In servants and in cattle,
  And yet about the servants,
      Abolitionists will prattle.
  
  God changed his name to Abraham
      And told him in his seed,
  All nations of the earth
      Should be blessed indeed.
  
  So Abraham was the first man
      That had the promise of our Savior,
  Notwithstanding all his servants,
      God granted him that favor.
  
  And Abraham greatly prospered
      In cattle and in servants,
  The father of the faithful,
      He served the Lord so fervent.
  
  To the Jews a law was given,
      And thus the Book hath said,
  Take of the heathen round about you
      For bondman and for maid.
  
  They shall be an inheritance
      To you and your seed, forever,
  So this is not the time
      For abolition, now or ever.
  
  You may just as well expect
      To make the sun rise in the West
  As to free all the servants
      When you have done your best. 
  
  Canaan, the son of Ham,
      On him the curse doth rest,
  He shall be Japheth's servant,
      And Japheth shall be blessed.
  
  A servant of servants
      To his brethren he shall be,
  Can you reverse the sentence
      Or alter God's decree?
  
  Beware you do not trample
      Upon the law of God,
  For fear that he may scourge you
      With His iron rod.
  
  From these three sons of Noah
      The earth was overspread,
  The three nations of the earth,
      And that the Book hath said.
  
  We have been dwelling in Shem's tents
      More than three hundred years,
  We have been pressing back the red men,
      The Indians, plain and clear.
  
  The children now of Shem
      Are committing depredation,
  To follow your example
      And help destroy the Nation.
  
  God commanded Abraham,
      To leave the land of Haran,
  Take his servants and his cattle
      And go away to Canaan.
  
  To leave his native land,
      His parents and his kin,
  And go away to Canaan,
      Where he had never been.
  
  "Take with thee thy wife and substances    
      Thy silver and thy gold"
  But not a word about the servants' kin
      God to Abraham told.
  
  But he said, "I will go with thee
      And guide thee in the way,
  In blessing I will bless thee
      And with thee I will stay"
  
  You now have those nations
      In an unlawful riot,
  Oh! If God would speak
      And say, "Peace, be quiet."
  
  I would lay aside my pen
      And strive to be thankful,
  And wipe my poor old eyes,
      For they are very painful.