My Aunt dug up a poem writtten by James McLaughlin in 1909, and mailed me a copy. It has a lot of clues to the family and where they lived. I figured I would post it and maybe something might sound familiar to someone. Names listed seem to correspond with information that was posted like Francis working at a Bank.
My Home
Yes, this is my story now put afore ye-
In the light lilting strain called a roun'
Of my home on the highland in the dear little island
That slopes to the fast flowing Bann.
With sunlight all rosy, the house is so cozy
and comforts on every han'
I'm sure if ye all come, we'll make ye quite welcome
Every colleen and wan of the clan.
An' so if ye listen, not one of us missing
I'll tell ye how matters now stan'
Father ill or else scheming, rain regretting vain dreaming.
Mother house-keeps as only she can.
Then Eddie's in Kerry an' Mary in Bury.
An' Jack still in Derry with Dan.
While Jimie and Harry in Yankeeland tarry.
An' Frank's in the Bank at Strabane.
Young Eileen and Bridie both useful and tidy
Are learning at school the pian'
Oh and such hard, hard studies
Lord help them poor bodies
They're doing as well as they can.
Then there's Dick the Canary
Ren the terrier so airy
Oh so cross and contrary "wee man".
This then is the photo, you'll know it when you go to
My home on the Bnaks of the Bann.
Ah! River fast flowing. Oh! Life fleetily going
To join in eternity span.
May God guard the brothers and sisters and others
Who have know the dear home by the Bann.
I'd forgoten completely the new porch so stately
With its glass roof & pillar so grand.
And its gold (brass) door handle
Rome could ne'er hold a candle
To its new Michaelangelo plan.
But its portals wide open and still I am hopin'
To see ye back every wan.
In the dear home and haven we call it Ardavon
On the slpes of the pastoral Bann.
James McLaughlin, January 1909
Ardavon, Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland
