Two Poems

RECOLLECTIONS OF A GRANDMA

(Ellen K. Birch)

By ERNEST ALFRED BIRCH

February 26,1909

Written by Ernest A Birch, it is unmistakably in the style and words of Ellen Birch herself, and addressed (as was the “Family Poem”) to her grand-daughter Rica, who lived with them.

How long have we been married, dear? Your dear Grandpa and I?

My! What a child to ask questions. Let me count - How the years do fly.

Well, Darling, we were united over fifty years ago.

Fifty-six did you say, John? Well, there, perhaps ‘tis so.

Of course. Why our Darling Ellen[1] would be fifty-five today.

She was our life’s first sunshine, but she did not come to stay;

And I had been married a year when her coming gladdened my heart.

Only five years of her presence and then … Well, we had to part.

Only a servant’s carelessness in letting our Darling fall.

Was it God’s will for our Darling? Or wasn’t God in it at all?

Life is not all bright sunshine; oft it is dark and drear;

Now rings the happy laughter, now falls the scalding tear;

Now with the stream we are gliding, now on the billows we’re tossed.

Sometimes we’re sighting the harbour; sometimes we fear we are lost.

What came of our little Ellen? We laid her beneath the sod,

But that only part of our Darling - the real Ellen is with God.

Yes - Grandpa and I were married over fifty years ago.

Fifty-six did you say, John? Well, it is - if you say so.

Wintry and wild was our wedding day. John! What are you laughing at?

The people laughed when the Bridegroom o’er the snow had to chase his hat.

Your Grandpa’s hat blew away, dear, he chased it across the snow.

Fifty-six years ago. Love, fifty-six years ago.

We drove from my home in Penn right up to Norwood Green,

For John had bought a business there, your Grandpa was always keen.

“He’ll do” said the village wise ones, he’s got his head on straight.

He worked, and so did I, dear, from early morn till late.

Then other sweet baby faces looked at us one by one;

Edward, our joy and pride, dear, Edward, our first born son.

He was the wisest of babies, Edward, our cleverest boy.

When he recited his lessons, well, dear, we cried for joy.

He could spell A-B (ab), dear, I-B (ib) OB (ob) and the rest.

He was always good at lessons, Edward was one of the best.

And now he’s a bearded man, dear, noble and wise and true.

I remember his first little knickers, I remember his first little shoe.

Then Nina and little John[2] came. Where are they now do you say?

Perhaps they had wings, dear Rica, for they both soon flew away.

Next came our baby Ernest, born in the month of May.

Oh, child, he was a beauty, but his beauty did not stay.

“There’s a bonny babe for a week”, said Milly, the nurse, with joy.

But the Doctor called her a stupid, and said, “Don’t you spoil the boy.”

But alas! Our Ernest is married; he never was over-wise;

Always so shy of the girls, too, till he looked into Aunty’s eyes.

I’ve heard how she looked from the choir and beckoned - you know the way.

So Ernest married his Lizzie[3] - he was always one to obey.

Then Lilly came, our sweet Lilly; she was the bonniest child.

Strong as a horse - such a romp, too, only a wee bit wild.

Sweethearts she had plenty; one saw her off by train.

When she arrived at Oxford there was another swain.

Mother of eight is my Lilly; she is a fruitful vine.

Oh, how her absent children round my old heart entwine.

Far away from the Homeland[4] is Lilly, my darling pride,

For five thousand miles of ocean my Lilly and me divide.

Then Rose came - our youngest daughter, our tenderest flower, our pet.

We hardly thought we could raise her, but she’s giving and with us yet.

Loved and sheltered she was, dear, shielded from storm and wind;

Yet stormy has been her life here[5], can Providence be unkind?

Does He put on us Life’s burdens? Do they come from above?

If so, He gives strength to bear them, for, darling - Our God is Love.

Then came our youngest baby, Fred[6], my darling, my pride.

Everyone loved our Fred, dear, I thought I should die when he died.

And now he has gone, my darling, my youngest boy - my flower,

But how can I grieve for him, dear? He has but gone for an hour.

Gone for a minute, dear love, from this room into the next.

I, too, shall go in a minute, what time have I to be vexed?

Are all my children away, dear? No, no, I am richly blest.

Your Mother[7] - my dear boy’s darling is here - of daughters the best.

And I have you, dear Rica, Grandfather’s darling pet.

We are proud of our dear grandchild[8], we shall be prouder yet.

And I sit here in my home, dear, with my John as the days go by.

Does life seem long, do you ask, child? No, the years just seem to fly.

Here from my home I watch, dear, my loved ones far away.

I cannot do much to help them, but I can always pray.

And prayer reaches up to Heaven, to God - Whose Heart is love,

And He can bless the children with blessings from above.

Past ten o’clock did you say, John? Time we were off to bed!

Dear, how quickly the time flies when there’s so much to be said.

Let us raise our Ebenezer,

Then let us kneel and pray.

It’s long we’ve been together, John,

FIFTY-SIX YEARS TO-DAY!

[1] Ellen died at Age 5. Since the poem is dated 1909 when she would have been 55, she must have been born in 1854. However, other documents suggest an 1855 birth date.

[2] According to the dates in the family tree, John was later in order.

[4] Lilian G and Thomas W Moores emigrated to Canada (see other documents)

[5] Her marriage proved unhappy; Marjory Hick’s autobiography goes into details.

[6] Frederick Birch died when his daughter Rica was only 2 years old.

[7] Rica’s mother, Rebecca Jane Warder, was known affectionately as “Auntie Tat” or “Tattie”.

[8] Rica was an exceptionally accomplished musician.