I recently shared a poem written by my 2nd great grandfather, Washington Marion Crawford. While discussing this poem with my cousins, one shared a comment about his having a copy of Josie’s ledger of poetry. This comment reminded me that I have the actual ledger. In remembering this ledger, I realized that I hadn’t done enough to share with future generations.

When the Internet was young, I did transcribe some of these poems and contributed them to the Kansas Memory project. However, I did not submit all of the poems. Evidently, I also had never scanned the ledger. I have since scanned the ledger and created a document with the scanned image on the left and the transcription on the right. This PDF file has been uploaded as a memory to Josie Hammond’s profile on FamilySearch. I’ve also uploaded Josie’s Ledger to Archive.org. Thus, I’m hoping that her ledger will be preserved well into the future.

Answer to the Playhouse Under the Porch

I saw the little story
Of the playhouse under the porch.
And as I read it over
Memory flamed up like a torch.
And I thought of another playhouse
Of a long ago day
Where my boys and their little neighbors
Often came to play
Some days they played so happily
With cousins and little friend
And some days there were squabbles
That Mother had to end
Now, the playhouse is forgotten
The boys to manhood grown
Are scattered. Some are far away
With children of their own.
One, dressed in a soldier’s uniform
Sleeps the last sleep of all.
While we still thought him only a boy
He answered his country’s call
So, Mother, be very thoughtful
For the mudpies by the door.
I often wish my boys could be
Playing under the porch once more.