Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sewing (02/22/07)
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TITLE: Heavens to Betsy! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Powers
02/24/07 -
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I wanted everyone to understand
That sometimes it’s the little things that matter
Even when life doesn’t go as planned
John and I both worked for Squire Duncan
We learned from him a trade: to mend and sew
We fell in love and married and were happy
'Til he died in the war two years ago
With dear John gone, I opened a small business
I thank God that we chose this trade to learn
With every stitch I treasure his dear mem'ry
And with this skill, a living I can earn
We were so blessed with friends while we were married
And many statesmen were among John's mates
To my surprise, John's good friend George was chosen
As president of these United States
George and his wife Martha give me business
I mend and sew their clothes, and yet I prayed
To do a greater service for our country
And honor the great sacrifice John made
So, on my knees I asked the Lord for wisdom
And help to use my needle for some good
I truly wished to find my special purpose
Yet I admit I didn't think I could
I only wanted to use what God gave me
To give the gift that I had in my mind
God brought the answer when George came to visit
And told me of a flag that they'd designed
Our brand new country wanted its own banner
Based on the Union Jack but not the same:
Red, white, and blue but where the Jack had crosses
They’d penciled thirteen stars into the frame
George handed me the plans, and said "Friend Betsy,
I trust you to look over this design.
I've seen the care you take with all your stitches
I know you put your heart in ev'ry line.
"The stars mean we're a brand new constellation
That’s shining bright for freedom in this world
The flag you make will celebrate our country
Whenever this new banner is unfurled"
I thanked the Lord for giving me this honor
And took his detailed sketches in my hand
I vowed to give each stitch my utmost effort
And make a flag to honor our new land
My eyes were misty as I joined its colors:
The red stripes for the blood our heroes shed
This made me think of John and his dear mem’ry
I thought of him with every single thread
Next to each red stripe there was a snowy white one
To stand for innocence and purity
And in the corner, a blue square for justice
And then a new idea came to me
When I looked closely at the plans George gave me
I knew that I’d found something I might fix
I thought the stars should be placed in a circle
And each should have five points instead of six
You see, when John was courting me he showed me
A special skill that helped him stand apart
He knew a special way to hold a scissors
He’d cut a five point star in just one start
It charmed me every single time he’d do it
I’d practiced it ‘til I could do it, too
So with those thirteen stars I did it his way:
Five-pointed stars upon that field of blue
I stitched each star with love and tender mem’ry
I pulled my needle through each seam so tight
My love for John and love for country mingled
When it was done it was a wondrous sight
I gave the flag to George when it was finished
He thanked me for the changes that I’d made
He took the flag to show to all the statesmen
And they all cheered when it was first displayed
So now the flag I made is flying proudly
It’s brought me lots of trade and even fame
I have more business than my hands can handle
And through the country people know my name
You know my name and now you’ve heard my story:
How even though I bore a bitter loss
I used my thoughts of John to serve our country
And history will honor Betsy Ross
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagtale.html
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