Saving Memories

Willa Cather's scrapbook, covers verse This book was made by little Willie When he was rather young & silley He was of an artistic mind And all his freinds inside you'll find This book, made when he was a kid Is the best thing he ever did His cheek was red, his eye was keen His brain was of a tender green. This book, with many sorrows rife Is but a history of his life. For from the cradle to the grave, from rise to set of sun, He never did a single thing he did not wish undone He had a magic lantern once & put a pix upon it. And straightway wished with all his heart that he had never done it. He build a billard table once, a great and stately table And when complete he burnt the thing as soon as he was able. He made a panaramma once that stretched from shore to shore But when folks saw it once they did not care to any more. And once he stuffed a little bird which looked exceeding sweet A ramrod stuck down through its neck & a spike in both its feet. And so it was through all his life from early morn till night What 'er he did what 'er he tried he never did it right. What the cause was I could not tell unless that was it were, He was to holy, good and pure to live among us here. For troubles lay full thick & fast where'er his footstep trod From the first moment he was borne till he went home to God. His heart it was so good & true his soul so pure & good That he would faint when'er he saw a little drop of blood He killed a little kitten once, by accident of course And wept untill his eyes were dim & till his throat was horse He threw himself upon it's grave and with his mighty love He closed his lovely eyes & went up to his home above When 'er the evening's damp & chilly I hope you'll pray for little Willie.      Willa Cather

NSHS Home Exhibits Introduction Hide Paintings and        Ledger Books Diaries and Journals   J.A. Hill, Civil War   W. Richards, Surveyor   J.S. Morton, Statesman   Sara J. Price, Teacher        & Homesteader   W. Danley, Businessman   J. & E. Green, Farmers        & Homesteaders   S. Buck, Farm Wife Autograph Albums   S. & E. Allis, Missionaries   E. & L. Correll, Suffragists   W.J. Bryan, Orator   Lucy Drexel, Student   Viola Barnes, Student Scrapbooks   D. Canfield, Author   Willa Cather, Author   C. Calvert, Educator   Fenton. B. Fleming,        Businessman   Myrtle Soulier, Student   Verna Cort, Student   Martha McKelvie,        Movie Columnist   Emogine Moor,        Women's Army Corps   Scrapbooking Today Photograph Albums   W. B. Watson, Porter   Margaret and Edward        Gehrke, Adventurers   Nan Aspinwall,        Entertainer   Frances M. Creech,        Musician Quilts   Edith Withers Meyers,        Quilter   Sierra Nevada Bunnell,        Educator Home Movies Future Memories