Amanuensis Monday - Grandma Hill's Poetry, week 21

There were two little boys, very proud of their goat

For this pet wore a very soft, silky, white coat.

They hitched her to their wagon, she went down the hill

And the two little boys, from their wagon, got a bad spill.

The two little boys got up, brushing off the dirt.

Says Bob, to Dick, "Brother, are you very much hurt?"

"No", says Dick, "to hurt me, nothing has a chance

For you know, I'm wearing a pair of Dad's old pants."

Note:  These two little boys are grandsons Robert Leroy Kern (1926-1990 and James Richard "Dick" Kern (1929-2011)

I couldn't find a picture of Bob and Dick with the goat, but this photo from 1924 shows their 3 oldest siblings, Wilma Kern, Donald Ormsby and Charles "Victor" Ormsby

Nancy Jane Wiley Hill (1875-1960) was always writing something.  Many of those poems are now in the possession of her granddaughter Shirley Kern.  Shirley, with the help of her sister-in-law Ruth Ormsby, transcribed these poems in 1996 for a Hill-Ormsby-Kern family reunion.  I am going to post many of these poems so that they may be enjoyed by all.

These are copyright 1996 and reprinted with permission.

Amanuensis Monday - Grandma Hill's Poetry, week 20

There is a very cute little boy named Larry

Sometimes he is good, sometimes raises old Harry.

Then his grandmother begins to fume and to fret

And finally paddles that on which he is supposed to sit.

Then he storms, raves, threatens, and shakes his fist

So she has to punish him by a slap on the wrist.

But when he is shown the dark closet door

He says he will be good, not do it any more.

He plays with Pearl, Charkie, Dobbin and Nigger Joe.

But carries old Sumantha Ann where'r he will go.

He gets his wagon, firetruck and together his train he'll splice.

While Gumbo, Neddy and Bobcat sit up and look nice.

With his bag of blocks he builds many, many things

Castles, cottages, hoosegows and railroads in log strings.

Where his kin folks lie, he'll tell you the name of the place

And rattle off big words without even making a face.

The roomers all love him, think things he does are funny.

When they pay me, he tells the names of the faces on money.

He does the duck waddle, turns flip flops and does drop four

He reads Mother Goose, does many smart things more.

When outdoors, he plays with Sally who lives next door,

Goes with me when I go for groceries at the store.

Has his wagon, mess of junk, Charley horse or engine to ride

Sometimes plays with Stanley who lives on the other side.

All in all, his grandmother thinks he's a smart lad.

Note:  This is about her great-grandson Larry Ormsby.  This was written sometime in the late 1940's when Larry was between 3-7 years old.  Grandma Hill ran a boarding house with "roomers".  Most of the names in this poem refer to his toys, but Sally and Stanley were neighborhood kids.

Nancy Jane Wiley Hill (1875-1960) was always writing something.  Many of those poems are now in the possession of her granddaughter Shirley Kern.  Shirley, with the help of her sister-in-law Ruth Ormsby, transcribed these poems in 1996 for a Hill-Ormsby-Kern family reunion.  I am going to post many of these poems so that they may be enjoyed by all.

These are copyright 1996 and reprinted with permission.

Society Saturday - The Ties that Bind

Our Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter recently hosted the State DAR Regent at a meeting.  The State Regent makes an official visit to all 110 or so chapters in the state during her two year term.

The Illinois State Regent for 2013-15 is Pamela Peterson Bork.  She gave an interesting talk about the "DAR Ties that Bind".  This included some interesting facts from the history of the National Society, as well as a few facts from the State Organization.

She seemed impressed with the amount of community service and honoring of veterans that our chapter accomplishes.  She also commented on the fact that we have so many young members.  We chose an "Outstanding Junior" and welcomed another new Junior member.  A junior member is a regular member who is under 36 years of age.  Our chapter has always had a high percentage of younger members.

Amanuensis Monday - Grandma Hill's Poetry, week 19

George Edward Ormsby, you cute little dear

I wish it was so you could live near.

So I could cuddle, and maybe spoil you a bit

And paddle your little butty, when I saw fit.

I hope you grow up healthy, happy and strong

And nothing for you ever, ever goes wrong.

When you grow up to be a big manly man

I hope you'll make mama and papa as happy as you can.

George Edward Ormsby with his father Charles Victor Ormsby in February 1950. 

Note:  This poem was written to her first great-grandson, born in 1945.  He was born in Cumberland Co., IL, while she was living in Toledo, OH.

Nancy Jane Wiley Hill (1875-1960) was always writing something.  Many of those poems are now in the possession of her granddaughter Shirley Kern.  Shirley, with the help of her sister-in-law Ruth Ormsby, transcribed these poems in 1996 for a Hill-Ormsby-Kern family reunion.  I am going to post many of these poems so that they may be enjoyed by all.

These are copyright 1996 and reprinted with permission.

Amanuensis Monday - Grandma Hill's Poetry, week 18

WINTER

 'Tis winter here, and the trees are bare and stark,

Folks hurry home, ere comes the early dark,

The leaves have fallen to cover the flowers

That will come again with the April showers.

They hurry home to rest and enjoy the fire's glow,

For the skies are grey, and soon will come the snow

That will cover each bug and plant, like a warm hood,

And so, what makes one siver is for another's good.

So we must learn to live, and with life be content

To use each day so we can count if well spent,

For it was only loaned us, not to fritter away,

But gladden each other, while here we like to stay.

Nancy Jane Wiley Hill (1875-1960) was always writing something.  Many of those poems are now in the possession of her granddaughter Shirley Kern.  Shirley, with the help of her sister-in-law Ruth Ormsby, transcribed these poems in 1996 for a Hill-Ormsby-Kern family reunion.  I am going to post many of these poems so that they may be enjoyed by all.

These are copyright 1996 and reprinted with permission.