Our Old Family Bible

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When I turned 50, my Mom and Dad did entrust me,
With the care of our family bible from back in history,
The bible originally belonged to the Slatten Family,
Way back on my Dad’s side of our long family tree.

 

 

 

 

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Our Old Family Bible

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The bible was secured by the Slattens about 1850,
It is a pictorial bible with hand drawings so very nifty.
My oldest daughter, Kristi, will be the entrusted keeper,
When we both pass on someday to meet our maker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The bible is bound in a thick brown leather so old.
With nice panels engraved in the cover looking bold.
“Holy Bible” is on the front all trimmed with gold.
It’s about 8″ wide, 12″ tall and 4″ thick as it was sold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The cover page is inside near the bible’s front page,
“Pictorial Family Bible” appears on that page so aged.
Published by the National Publishing Company then,
They called this one the “Superfine Edition” for our kin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The illustrative drawings are hand done so very fine,
They appear to be done with a pen with very fine lines,
I will include a few of them in here for you to review,
So you can take a look at them as you read on through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Lord’s Prayer appears on a colored page alone,
It is written in large very fancy letters there as shown.
It appears to be exactly the same today as back then.
It is very nicely done for something surely done by hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After the Old Testament is a section for the family,
Listing some marriages and deaths there for us to see,
The marriages were for 1858 and 1876 on the list.
The births ranged from 1824 to 1876 that were blessed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the back of the bible there is some old family photos,
Of what appears to be family from back then on the go.
None of them are labeled so I don’t know who they are,
But they were all pretty good looking back then that far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This old bible over 160 years old has been used a lot,
It has been kept dry for all those years so it did not rot.
The pages are thin and most seem to be well worn,
And a few of the old pages have places that are torn.

 

 

 

 

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But the old bible is very legible for us all still to read,
As we go through our own lives sometimes in need.
And the words inside haven’t changed over the years,
Through the good times and those filled with tears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Someday the old bible will be entrusted to my grandson,
Ben to take care of a short while during his life’s run.
And read and enjoy with his family as he does see fit,
Treating the bible with respect while he takes care of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PS  Kristi provided our family tree back to the Slattens who owned the old bible. So here it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Bill

 

 

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Thanks for reading Our Old Family Bible,
Bill