A Strong, Godly Mother

My wonderful grandfather, Daniel F Wilson, was the most prolific poet in our family to date.  I don't have a total count of his works, (because there are duplicates and the poems are written in hard-to-read, old-timey cursive, in pencil)  But my estimate is 230 - 250 poems.

As his mother before him (Mary W Cox) and his daughter after him (Erma W Walker) he had a sentimental spot when it came to mothers.  This is his poem in tribute to the way his mother courageously cared for the family, with God's help, after her husband's premature death in 1894.

Mother

Our dear mother is now at rest

She is now in heaven with the blest

The Savior called and she could not stay

An angel guided her on her way

Many years have come and gone

Since Father left her side

But she bravely carried on

With Jesus for her guide.

She is happy now we know

But we dreaded to see her go

With long life she was greatly blest

And has earned a blessed rest.

Now with father reunited

She will be so happy and delighted

And the friend that went before

Will greet her on that golden shore.

She was so cheerful and so gay

We would have her always stay

Now on this Christmas morn

We are so sad and forlorn.

But we know that she will wait

To greet us at the pearly gate

There on the golden street

Her brothers and sisters she often will meet.

There in her mountain retreat

In her cottage clean and neat

With the vines around the door;

When our work is done

And the Sabbath begun

She will greet us smiling as of yore.

by Daniel F Wilson

written 1946-47

Mary, Daniel, Jonathan and Ella Wilson in 1883