Very lovely! There are few I would say to whom it doesn't bring a tear to the eye. BILL in CT -------------------------------------------------------------- For Jean Quiggle: Here is the newspaper article: AN OLD COLUMBUS POETESS Elsie Philips, of English descent, was born in 1749. September 1, 1851, when she was 102 years of age, she resided in Columbus, N.Y., and composed the following verse, which was printed and which was recently handed to me by a lady who found it in an old scrap-book (note from Elaine - Apparently this was entered into the newspaper by Spencer B. Pope.): I am like a little turtle dove, Seeking for some place to light, Where I may land my weary soul, Where I may rest both day and night. And when my night of rest doth come, The night for me to rest in sleep- I am lamenting for my loss Until the tears roll down my cheek. I love my Lord for what he's done, For what he's done to comfort me, And if I trust in Jesus name, I shall forever happy be. I went unto my husband's grave, And thought of comforts long since past; His body lies low in the dust, His soul with Jesus Christ, I trust. I looked up to the glorious sun, To see how fast my glass did run; But soon my glass will pass away, The moon moves on-the sun don't stay. And when I have done all I can, My feeble limbs can do no more; Then I desire to meet my friends, On that delightful, happy shore. These verses that I now do tell, I with my feeble tongue did make, All for my lamentation here And my poor lonely feeble state. These verses that I have made, I've made by night as well as day; The Lord, He knows my lonesome hours, That I have here to pass away Elsie Philips is my name, Unto the English I belong; Columbus is my dwelling place, And Jesus' love shall be my song. But, O! the Lord he comforts me, The Lord consoles my woes so high, That when I leave this mortal dust, I'll live with Him beyond the sky. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean Quiggle" <quiggs03@yahoo.com> To: <RIGENWEB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 9:22 PM Subject: Re: Re:Re: Re:Re: [RIGENWEB] Book on Mystic > Hello Elaine, > > Do you have the poem and are you willing to share? I would love to read > it if so. > > Thanks to all who have responded to my query. Your insights, thoughts, > information, and leads have been very helpful and inspiring. > > I am really looking forward to some free time this weekend to pursue what > you have offered today. > > Jean Q > > elainedecker@frontiernet.net wrote: > Bill, > > Yes, you are right. That particular grandma lived to be 102 and wrote a > beautiful poem the year she died and she wrote it after she walked to the > cemetery to visit her husband's grave. > > Elaine > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bill Waterhouse" > To: > Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 7:28 PM > Subject: Re:Re: Re:Re: [RIGENWEB] Book on Mystic > > >> Elaine: I believe this is the way-walking-that most of our ancestors >> traveled to their newly adopted homestead sites. Walking several >> hundred miles was no great burden to those of "pioneer stock" & it >> undoubtedly contributed to their longevity. Unlike today when many >> cannot go across the street without getting in the car. God Bless >> them & the memory of their sacrifices. >> BILL in CT >> -------------------------------------------------------------- >> Jean, >> All my ancestors walked here along side their wagons full of goods to >> start a new life. Sometimes a husband would come with a son or brother >> to clear the land and put up a shelter and then go back to RI and pick >> the rest of the family up. My Phillips ancestors came here with their >>