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/
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          SKETCHES OF MY LIFE
      An Apology, a kind of Prologue.
  
  Excuse bad spelling
      And poor writing,
  And what is worse,
      The poor indicting.
  
  Both age and blindness
  Plead my cause,We must submit
      To Nature's laws.
  
  I have lived the appointed time of man
      The wise man says, "Is but a span,"
  'Tis but a span to me it seems so true,
      For 'twas not long since I was young as you.
  
  A yellow pen was given to me,
      It marked so fine I scarce could see;
  But when I write, a quill I choose
      Rather than gold for me to use.
  
  And now my little friends,
      I would give you information
  Of the work of other times,
      And my childhood's occupation.