Stevens, Caroline. Manuscript poem about the death by drowning of the child Martha Stevens of Factoryville. [10986]
Undated manuscript poem, single blue-lined water-marked leaf written on both sides in brown ink, 12 1/4 x 8 inches. Good. Manuscript.
A poem about the death by drowning of the author's daughter, Martha. The place mentioned is Factoryville. The body was found in a mill dam. The child was found after four days.
This came from an old Bible that was from the Athens/Sayre area of Pennsylvania. We believe that the "Factoryville" mentioned is from the area of Waverly, New York, on the Susquehanna river. Factoryville is now called East Waverly.
"Oh now see the father and hear his deep sigh | When going to the carrage [sic] and sees where she lies | He raised his hands up to heaven in tears and did cry | Oh Martha my dear but I can't make you hear | Are you my dear Martha so altered so altered I see | That fondly I've dandled and rocked on my knee | Well pleased with they prattle while in my arms | And must you be food for the hungry worms."
Eight groups of four lines, the front full and about half of the back side of the leaf.
