James Leatherman

Plymouth, Indiana, USA

I was born Jan. 8, 1945 in Line Lexington, PA. My dad died when I was ten. I did farm work about 3 years after high school. In 1965 I came to Indiana and become a truck driver and still am.In Jan. 1978 I met a woman with eight kids, 2 girls, 6 boys. The dad hadn't been home for 3 years. By Oct. 1978 we 10 were in a new house built by us and her family,I became "Dad" that year and Granddad the next . I/we enjoy gardening, hunting, fishing, old cars, poetry, and I better mention baby sitting.

There's A Place In A Valley

There's a place in a valley by the turnpike
At the bottom of a Pennsylvania hill;
Smokey Bear's waiting there to shoot you in the back.
Hold em back, brush your teeth and comb your hair:
Hold em back, hold em back, hold em back
Rolling down the mountain,
Hold em back or the next time you will;
No spot is so hard on our livelihood
As the bottom of a Pennsylvania hill:
There's a place in a valley by the turnpike
One trip I remember so well;
He said 'That was too fast around the bend'
Then introduced himself as my friend:
Hold em back...etc.
There's a place in a valley on I eighty
Where a truck once ran over a bear;
I said 'serves him right' on the radio
And later stood by his side at the jail:
Hold em back,...etc.

Happy Child

I'm their only daughter, You're God's only son
His plan for us to meet here took me away quite young;
I've never been higher never felt lesser pain
Now I know it's for my sake, the reason you came:
Tell Mommy and Daddy I'll make it up here
Whether working or playing they've no need to fear;
I'm safely abiding in my savior's arms
Learning all about Heaven, free from any harm:

A Prayer To The Lord

Hevenly Father we thank you for all
Your blessings so rich and bouties so full;
For shedding your blood on Calvary's tree,
Paying the ransom for sinners like me:
Help us to live as each day's our last
Think of the future more than the past;
Stand by our friends closer than brothers,
Love our neighbors as ourselves,
Take more time to read the Bible
Less time dusting the shelves:
We know the grass will be greener
When you take us to the other side;
The air we breath will be cleaner,
Over there no pollution abides,
Over there we'll have no temptations,
The devil cannot get inside;
Dear Lord, your presence will be sweetest
Once we look into your sinless eyes:
In thy precious holy name, we pray,- amen.