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Subject: [MIHOUGHT] A Poem by my Grandmother
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 14:52:33 EST
This was written by my grandmother to commemorate a camping trip in 1900. I
think it is fairly clever for a woman who only had a fifth grade education.
Jolly Camp Hurry - Eagle Harbor, Mich. - Aug 22, 1900
By Yettie Schneider
A crowd left Calumet Wednesday Morn,
Twas the happiest day since they were born.
To Eagle Harbor they went to camp,
And it happened that night to be very damp.
They pitched their tents upon the ground
Where the grass and trees grew all around.
They arranged their pantry, made their beds
And then prepared to feed their heads.
And while at the table they all stood
The rain came down as fast as it could.
They held umbrellas over their heads
But the chuck got wet and was like lead.
The dishes they did not need to wash,
The rain did it for them, by gosh.
To their tents they then did go
The rain poured down; it was not slow.
They went to bed but could not sleep
The beds floated round for the tent had sprung a leak.
One had toothache, two hysterics,
Another a tongue that couldn't scare us.
Twelve in all were in one bed.
Maybe you think there was nothing said.
Rest for some there was none
And two rolled out at half past one.
With the lantern outside they went
And met the boys coming from their tent.
They built a fire on the shore
To dry their feet and heads so sore.
The coffee it was cooked so fine
The pasties were sent along the line.
Another shower cam that way.
Back to their tents but not to stay.
For at daybreak they started out
With fishing tackle to catch trout.
But success wouldn't bite for them
So Edith and Yettie went home again.
But Ed and Tom they could not scare
For they knew that fish were there.
The Dr came and dropped a pill
To move the fish and they're moving still.
Ra Ra Who Are We - Jolly fifteen
Oh Camp Henry Aug. 22, 1900
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