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High Spots in My Life
I've traveled far on life's rough way
As seasons came and seasons went.
My carefree days have been but few,
And now I'm feeble, old, and bent.
In life's springtime, a farmer's son,
I early learned to slave and toil
In winter's cold and burning sun
To wrest my keep from woods and soil.
In years of youth the winter months
In school I spent. I was so shy;
The girls I dreaded then to meet.
My troubles seemed to multiply.
My father's death left me in charge.
Much land had we and debts far flung.
To make ends meet my duty was.
The task was stiff, for I was young.
I married as the years sped on.
The children came. Times pressed us sore.
We kept our faith and struggled on
Though cash was scant and needs grew more.
When times began to brighter look,
Our barn and crops went up in smoke.
The neighbors came with helping hand
And bore us up, though we were broke.
Like wrestler thrown again comes up,
To baking next we turned our thought.
Seemed all was well for one short spell,
Then dreaded typhoid its mischief wrought.
Down, down we went, and hard the fall,
But up again before the count.
We staggered, dazed, determined yet
To win, and troubles to surmount.
In Flint we next a venture tried.
We bought a lot; a shack built we.
Privation, toil, and hardships, too,
Our guardians seemed to be.
By work and car we gained a home
And thought we had some beside,
But old Depression came along
And swept it nearly all aside.
I've reached my threescore years and ten.
The psalmist says if I have strength
To reach fourscore, yet is there strength
For labor and sorrow still to come.
Written by Henry Brander, my great-great grandfather, on January 12, 1933. 1863-1938.
Notes: This is definately one of my favorites. He basically told his life story in a poem! He mentions alot of hardships and trials that he has experienced. He also makes note of the Great Depression. Lastly, when he says that they ventured a try in Flint, he is referring to a city in Michigan, where the family lineage stayed from generation to generation.