Darius and Ethel Ratcliff
with Elizabeth “Betty” Louise, age 5 weeks
THE DAY BETTY WAS BORN
November 8th, 1915, Scriba, New York
There was not a leaf on the old pear tree,
The neighboring hill was bare and brown,
A cold wind tossed dead leaves about,
And through dead branches snow sifted down.
And all our song birds south had fled,
And summer flowers were long since dead.
The day made dark by gloomy clouds,
Grew darker still when high snow walls
Came sweeping in from the darkened lake,
And lashed us fiercely with blinding squalls.
The neighbor’s chickens that graced our lawn
Into their shelters were all withdrawn.
The village park was all deserted:
No children cared to venture out:
The chill wind’s joy finger tips,
Had put the loiterers all to rout.
And when we took a shortened walk
We both were far too cold to talk.
But then before the evening came
The clouds gave way, the sun shone through:
The sunshine danced on hill and tree,
The sky arched over with brilliant blue:
And joy, our home was all awhirl,
Our God had sent us a baby girl.
Photo above – Source: Personal photo collection of B.J. Johanningmeier
Betty Jo, what a fabulous idea! Thank you for doing this. I had never heard about Grandpa’s birth & early years. I knew bits & pieces of his seminary years & beyond. I really enjoyed reading his poetry & I look forward to reading more about our grandfather. I wish he had been around in my adult years, to learn from & to be in a position to really value his life experiences as a long time pastor . Thx again!
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Thank you for your comments!!
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Sandy,
I have become much more appreciative of the Lord’s work in our grandfather after reading his writings. Stay in touch….there’s a lot more to come!
B.J.
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