MAMA
Grandmas come and grandmas go but Mama came to stay,
As she was born into this world eighty years ago today.
Her hair was not the color then that it has turned today.
With all her living through the years it now has turned to gray.
The years have been so very kind to Mama with good health,
Not one complaint is heard from her for lack of earthly wealth.
Her name is Ethel Hotchkiss Wells but we all call her "Mama."
Except to Chris she's simply "Wells" like the butler in a drama.
When we would go to spend the night, while Mama told us news,
Papa held us on his lap and tied our little shoes.
I remember Mama best when she would rise so early,
her hair in braids hung down her back - the top and sides so curly.
The breakfast she would cook for us was fit for any king,
Gravy, biscuits, ham and eggs and ask, "Have I left off anything?"
With visit ended, she'd comb my hair, give me a dime and then, oh brother,
Let out a sigh of great relief and send me home to mother.
Two daughters Mama raised to ladies, Mary and Ruth are their name so
She made their clothes and combed their curls and played their childish games
They used to play for days on end without a single bauble,
But play would end, a fight begin and end up in a squabble.
"Mama, how can you stand Ruth?" Mary was heard to say,
"it's just a mother's love my dear" and went about her way.
To show their love to Mama for all that she had given,
They in turn, gave back to her, six adorable grandchildren.
Jean and Joe, Betty and Evelyn, Doug and Kenny last,
But even now their childhood days are also in the past.

They too, have added to Mama's clan with an even dozen names:
Debbi, Roger, Tom and Janie and then there's Sherri, Pat and Van,
Susan, Chris, Julie, Michael and Brian make the great-
grandchildren list complete.
To hold a family gathering like this we reach out to the street.
I've never seen our Mama mad, never heard her scream or shout:
Many things in life she's had and much she's done without.
We want to show you Mama dear, our love on your birthday,
By our gathering and our gifts, each in his own way.
life thank you God above, the giver --
for giving us our Mama and may she live fore ever.

June 20, 1968
Betty McCown Cook
A Loving Grand-daughter