Lend yo ear while my story is told --

‘Bout the dearest and sweetest old lady I know

Who is now past eighty years old.

Although she has lived her four score years,

Every minute full to the brim --

She still has a heart full of love for each one

And a smile that the years cannot dim.

"Elizabeth and Benjamin Franklin."

These were her parents good name --

T’was the year of 18 and 59

When Laura Safrona came.

Two years went by down in Georgia.

Then the Franklins started to roam --

In a big covered wagon they traveled

Till they found Arkansas and a home.

Along came the war they called "civil".

Laura’s father went with the rest --

On sick furlough he came. Brought her a gold ring.

But ere long, duty called him to test.

Back to campt, the Confederates took him,

Back to fight for the South. He must try --

And somewhere, alone, he was wounded

And left there to suffer and die.

Now there was another girl, Molly,

Who was younger than Laura, they say --

So with Mother they’d go back to Georgia

And there with her people, would stay.

They crossed the Mississippi River,

By ferry boat, soon reached the shore --

In Memphis, they learned that their money was blank,

Confederates had lost, and the war was no more.

Then the terrible plague, they called cholera,

The mother fell ill with it too --

In a short time, she went to her maker

The two girls now had no one they knew.

Soon: Their adoptions were legal

They were too small to realize this, and yet --

From then their life’s path would be different

For only one more time they met.

When Laura was nine, she was christened.

And "Elizabeth" was her new name --

Her Catholic parents soon had her confirmed

"Mary Gertrude". to them, she bacame.

T’was "Lizzie" they later did call her.

(And that name continued to be) --

Yellow fever soon spread over Memphis

In the year of 1873.

The Sullivan family was taken,

And Lizzie once more was alone --

At the age of 14, she was making her way.

Tho she had no real place to call home.

She finally found work with Mrs. Johnston.

(Dave Block’s place) at Wittsburg that fall --

Through their trade, then in February later

She consented to stay with the Halls.

It was here that she found her companion

He was nineteen and Lizzie was twenty --

On April the eighth, they were married.

Life was full then, with happiness aplenty.

Many sweet years they lived through together.

Close devotion was always their creed --

Altho sometimes the way was rough going

With their ten little children to feed.

Some died in their tender young childhood

One boy lived to be twenty-one --

I know he was tall, quiet, and handsome

His fond parents only son.

Today there are five daughters living.

All married with families their own --

All thankful they still have their mother

To honor and have in their home.

But she’s my own precious grandmother.

And I love her wil all of the rest --

Out of all the grandmother’s the world over

I know she is the dearest and best.

So I’m sending my love with this story.

Along goes my best wishes too --

And I’m hoping the day will be happy

For each one, but especially you, Grandma!