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/ ________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION [aes-introduction] INDEX To the First Lines of the Poems Contained in this Volume followed by original page number, [is the txt file name ]. Index [aes-index] An Apology, a Kind of Prologue 1 [aes-prologue] [PENNSYLVANIA] When young I did commence upon the stage 1 [aes-001] Then the next we had to do was to weave the linen 5 [aes-002] When I was at a wedding 8 [aes-003] [OHIO] When I came to Ohio 11 [aes-004] When we came upon the land 14 [aes-005] When we went to Ohio 18 [aes-006] Between my bed and fire 22 [aes-007] I want you to remember 28 [aes-008] And when they cleared six acres 29 [aes-009] And when I left my farm 34 [aes-010] And here I should say something 38 [aes-011] [ILLINOIS] And so we left Ohio 42 [aes-012] I heard of a good claim 51 [aes-013] Twenty-nine years ago 56 [aes-014] Before it was a month 67 [aes-015] My third son had enlisted 73 [aes-016] And when the war was over 77 [aes-017] We had more than three hundred chickens 79 [aes-018] Brother Jacob came from Morgan 86 [aes-019] Over thirty years ago 93 [aes-020] My little friends if you will hark 97 [aes-021] My brother Jacob charged me 100 [aes-022] Such trouble for our seed corn 107 [aes-023] In pain and anguish (omitted) When weary, on my restless bed (omitted) My eyes are so sore that it 110 [aes-024] [A SELECTION OF NIGHT THOUGHTS] Of late I thought I had a fear 113 [aes-025] I was born in Pennsylvania 114 [aes-026] Well, I was just a thinking 117 [aes-027] Dear Aunt, O come and visit me (omitted) Sacred the hour 122 (omitted) Just four months after 123 (omitted) My grandfather came from England 124 (omitted) It is raining and it's wet (omitted) Don't you think when you're at home 127 (omitted) What though my sons neglect me 128 (omitted) I should be very thankful (omitted) Dear Libbie, do stay with me (omitted) I have a little pet (omitted) Last night when I retired (omitted) I lately had a visit 129 (omitted) And there I met a teacher 131 (omitted) Dear niece, you will excuse me (omitted) I will not go abroad for pleasure (omitted) My dear little grandchildren 133 (omitted) My little friends, when I was young 139 (omitted) On Saturday night at parting (omitted) O, may the Lord protect him (omitted) This world, my dear Libbie (omitted) Open, open lovely breast (omitted) I had a little dog, and his name was Rover 141 (omitted) Now where are those pleasant sons (omitted) There is a fine young gentleman (omitted) There is a good physician (omitted) I did hope to share his care (omitted) 'Tis not that loss of life's assurance (omitted) When first I saw this Doctor (omitted) If I could only tell him (omitted) I wish that I could only show (omitted) I have a noble set of nephews (omitted) One evening by my fireside 143 (omitted) Both day and night I'm here alone (omitted) I must go and cook my dinner (omitted) [LINES WRITTEN FOR INSPECTION OF ELDEST SON] Most earnestly I covet 145 [aes-028] When thou didst first begin to travel 148 [aes-028] Before that he was seven 149 [aes-028] [HOOP RHYME] I am close approaching seventy 151 [aes-029] [BUSTLE RHYME] Did you ever see a lady 153 [aes-030] We have an aged citizen 154 [aes-031] I fondly cherished social joys 155 [aes-032] My pocket book they robbed 157 [aes-033] Twenty-fourth day of December 161 [aes-034] But now my prospect's changed 161 [aes-034] The weather most terrific cold 161 [aes-034] And another family has come in 162 [aes-035] [WAR BREAKS OUT] Protect them, Heaven! 163 [aes-036] That crazy old fanatic 164 [aes-037] Abe Lincoln and Jeff Davis 164 [aes-037] This morning, e'er yet 165 [aes-038] About the first of March (omitted) Accept these lines which (omitted) The evils of the day (omitted) Assist me now, ye Muses (omitted) Ye wise, instruct me to endure (omitted) It must be owned, in vain we guard (omitted) Thou Lamb of God! Whose spotless soul (omitted) Both day and night (omitted) A well appearing gentleman (omitted) My head aches bad this morning (omitted) I think I have a chill fever (omitted) We part in body, not in mind (omitted) [In blindness wrote about past regarding a trip to Pennsylvania in 1814] In the fall of fourteen 167 [aes-039] [DESCRIPTION OF MY MOTHER] In height she was five feet 170 [aes-040] [DESCRIPTION OF MY FATHER] My father, always well 171 [aes-041] My uncle Letts was telling me 173 [aes-042] I am in my seventy-fourth 175 [aes-043] [ANGRY WORDS] Angry words are sometimes spoken 176 [aes-044] Nearly thirty years ago 177 [aes-045] One of those fanatics 180 [aes-046] When this war commenced 182 [aes-047] Again about the servants 185 [aes-048] Poor old father Abraham! 186 [aes-049] I always thought the lowest 187 [aes-050] This trifling, lying Tribune 190 [aes-051] Last summer I made a visit 191 [aes-052] By your underhanded meanness 193 [aes-053] The clock has struck eleven 194 [aes-054] Remember, Mr. Lincoln 195 [aes-055] Oh! This cruel war 196 [aes-056] On the river down below 198 [aes-057] My sister's Sunday clothes 200 [aes-058] Brother Jacob came to Ottawa 203 [aes-059] The old year is gone and the New Year's come in (omitted) Far away in the wild wood sequestered and alone 204 [aes-060] Dear Maggie, well you know (omitted) An interesting nephew says, "Make some rhyme for me"204 [aes-061] I was thinking today myself I'd report 205 [aes-062] [NOTE: text file name and information added by File Manager. Some of the poetry was not included in the contributors copy, these are marked as (omitted). If anyone should stumble across the omitted portions the contributor and I would appreciate it if you would share it with us. Thank you]