Grandma Jennie Austin’s Ledger

I was pretty excited to receive my grandmother Austin’s ledger that Mom sent for me to copy. It is mainly poems and recipes glued into a ledger book that I am assuming they had used for their Mountain Grove boarding home. Here is the inside cover and I have typed up the poems.

At the top of the page:

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me
And may there be no meaning of the bar
When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam.
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

At the bottom of the page:

Home’s not merely four square walls.
though with pictures hung and gilded
Home is where affection calls
Filled with shrines it’s heart hath builded.

Isn’t it strange that princess and kings and clowns that caper in sawdust rings
And common folks like you and me
Are builders for eternity.
To each is given a bay of tools
A shapeless mass, and a book of rules
And each must make ire life is flown
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.

One Response to “Grandma Jennie Austin’s Ledger”

  1. Deb Says:

    The scanned photos of the ledger cover have a very interesting pattern to them…very pretty. I think that she may have really enjoyed being able to visit our time for just a bit; time enough to complete a Creative Memories style scrapbook :)

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